Gore Attacks Bradley on Social Security

November 3, 1999

Vice President Al Gore attacked his rising Democratic opponent, former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, for being open to the possibility of raising the retirement age for Social Security eligibility. Bradley "won't make firm a commitment to defending the current age for Social Security," Gore spokesman Chris Lehane said. "We should keep that commitment." Bradley responded by saying that, "any time you put out a big idea to deal with a big problem, it's vulnerable to scare tactics. That is precisely what's going on here."

Raising the retirement age is hardly the solution to Social Security's problems. At the same time, it is ironic for Gore to attack Bradley when the Administration's own plan can do no better than introducing back-door tax increases on workers, and even that doesn't keep Social Security solvent for the long term or improve its miserable rate of return to workers.

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