Michaud, Allen Defend Social Security

BDN Article:

Maine's two Democratic congressmen returned home with a dire warning about President Bush's plan to reform Social Security by allowing workers to invest some of their payroll taxes in private accounts. "Social Security is under a threat as never before," 2nd District Rep. Michael Michaud told a town hall forum at the Hammond Street Senior Center, where about 70 people gathered Tuesday afternoon.

"If the administration is truly concerned about protecting Social Security, [Bush's] privatization scheme is the last thing we should do," said Michaud, who was joined in Bangor by 1st District Rep. Tom Allen.

The Congressmen will hold another forum in Portland on Monday. Here's the info:

Monday, February 28, 2005
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Ludcke Hall - University of New England
716 Stevens Avenue, Portland

For more information you can contact Allen's Portland office at 1-888-862-6500.

Michaud is also holding town-hall meetings on the issue today in Lewiston, Norway and Fryeburg. (Unfortunately, there's no information about these up on his website).

[Update] Michaud is holding two more forums this week.

Thursday, February 24
4:00-5:00
YMCA
30 Park Street, Dover-Foxcroft

Friday, February 25
9:00-10:00
Greenville Town Office
7 Minden Street, Greenville

The Sun Journal has an excellent editorial (registration required) summing up the fight over social security and how it is playing out in Maine. They go over much of what I mentioned yesterday and reveal another layer to the campaign:

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington, D.C., think tank has one of its scholars working in Maine. As a visiting fellow for the Maine Heritage Policy Center, James Hamilton will edit a new publication called "Social Security in Maine." For those familiar with either Heritage group, the publication's point of view won't come as a surprise. It will advocate for dismantling the current social contract of Social Security.

Visit the new Maine Politics.