Lawmakers are pushing a resolution to protest the president’s privatization bid on the House floor.
JEFFERSON CITY — After waiting patiently for nearly four months, Missouri’s Democratic legislators said Tuesday that they plan to force Republicans to at least consider debating a resolution denouncing President Bush and his plan to privatize Social Security.
The action, which required 55 legislators to sign a petition urging lawmakers to hear House Concurrent Resolution 14, effectively moved the resolution out of the committee where it has been sitting since March and will force it onto the House calendar. The calendar is a list of bills and resolutions that eventually will be debated by representatives.
“The resolution was being held up by Republicans in committee and was never going to get its due debate,” said Rep. Clint Zweifel, D-St. Louis. “We are just looking to at least bring this to the floor and talk about it.”
The announcement came at the same time the U.S. Senate began holding hearings in Washington that will begin the long process of examining Bush’s plan to privatize portions of Social Security. Those hearings began as Bush is winding down a 60-day effort to combat waning support and sell his plan to the public.
In Jefferson City, Democratic lawmakers and members of Missourians United to Protect Social Security were quick to jump on declining support for privatization at a protest Tuesday, urging Republicans in the House to oppose a resolution that supports Bush’s plans for Social Security. The event was held in conjunction with organized protests in 35 other states.
Democrats argue that they have been denied a fair chance to voice their concerns and those of constituents.
“We just want to be heard,” said Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia. “We want our congressmen and national leaders to hear the other side and have a fair debate about the issue.”
Still, House Republicans contend Zweifel’s resolution probably will get no time on the floor because the House is busy and because Social Security is a federal issue.
“Right now we are pretty tied up with the funding formula and other issues,” House Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, said. “If people are really concerned about this, they should call their congressman.”
Rachel Wright, a coordinator of the Tuesday protest, said she has tried numerous times to contact U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Columbia, and other congressional representatives but has been unable to persuade them to speak about Social Security with her organization or with Columbia residents.
“The Social Security privatization plan is the president’s self-proclaimed top priority, and we feel we should have some kind of voice in this debate,” Wright said.
Hulshof’s office failed to return phone calls Tuesday night.
Zweifel did not know when or if his resolution will be debated by the full House but said any effort to privatize Social Security would put Missouri residents at a distinct disadvantage.
“The state has already cut health benefits to thousands of people … and now it could become harder to get national benefits,” he said. “This is only going to put more of a strain on the state’s revenues.”