Ellison: ‘I’m in the Social Security Party’

Rep. Keith Ellison continues to fight against a plan to use the new inflation formula as a way to compromise with Republicans and resolve a budget impasse.

During a Wednesday summit on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits, the 5th District congressman pledged to combat a proposed “chained consumer price index” would grow Social Security benefits at a slower rate than they grow under the current formula.

“I don’t care who is talking about cuts to Social Security, we’re going to fight back,” Ellison said. “I don’t care what office they occupy. I don’t care what party they’re in. Because I’m in the Social Security Party.”

Autobiography

Ellison will be pitching his personal narrative to readers this fall in an upcoming autobiography.

“My Country ’Tis of Thee,” to be released in Sept. 24, will describe Ellison’s upbringing as a Catholic in Detroit, conversion to Islam in college and contemporary politics. The Amazon description promises commentary on the Tea Party movement, race, immigration and more.

“With his unique perspective on uniting a disparate community and speaking to a common goal, Ellison takes a provocative look at America and what needs to change to accommodate different races and beliefs,” the Amazon description stated.

Debt Ceiling Fight

Ellison and fellow Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairman Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva slammed a House bill passed Thursday that they deride as the “Pay China First Bill.”

The bill, which President Barack Obama has promised to veto, would let the government to borrow money to pay bondholders and retirees if Congress doesn’t agree on a deal to raise the debt ceiling.

Reuters called the bill, “a tactical maneuver [that] will allow the Republicans who control the House to argue they have done their best to avoid a potential credit default and repeat of 2011's debt limit fight.”

Ellison and Grijalva were even harsher in their statement.

By passing this bill, Republicans have admitted that they are once again willing to risk the full faith and credit of the United States.

The country remembers clearly how Republicans threatened our economy by using the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip less than two years ago.  The ‘Pay China First’ Act would prioritize paying our foreign creditors like China and Iran,  instead of paying doctors and hospitals who treat Medicare patients, programs for our veterans, or education if the government defaults on its debt. Even Speaker Boehner has acknowledged this, and Fitch Ratings has already threatened to downgrade the credit rating of the United States if it becomes law.

Since taking control of the House of Representatives, Republicans in Washington have made it a practice to turn the full faith and credit of the United States into a national crisis. Their threats and austerity plans have cost the country millions of jobs.

We can end this cycle. It’s time we abolished the debt ceiling and focused on job creation. Washington needs to create jobs now.