Pelosi Opposed to Raising Retirement Age

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Democrats ,; Domestic Issues

(Credit: AP)

LAS VEGAS -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said unequivocally today that she is opposed to raising the retirement age, and that scaling back Social Security should not be a means of reducing the deficit.

"To change Social Security in order to balance the budget, they aren't the same thing in my view," the Democrat said today at the Netroots Nation conference in Las Vegas. "When you talk about reducing the deficit and Social Security, you're talking about apples and oranges."

Pelosi clarified her position before a group of liberals highly concerned that Democrats and Republicans are interested in modifying Social Security as a means of deficit reduction in ways that would reduce its impact for Americans. The Netroots Nation conference, the largest gathering of liberals all year, even featured earlier this week a panel entitled, "Obama's Social Security 'Death Panel': Engaging Activists to Defeat the Drive to Cut Critical Social Programs."

Pelosi: Obama was Happier about Health Care than Getting Elected
Al Franken to Liberals: Don't Check Out Now

By "Social Security Death Panel," liberals are referring to President Obama's deficit commission, which in December will give Congress a plan for reducing the federal deficit. Its co-chairs have repeatedly said that reform of entitlement programs must be a part of the solution. Pelosi has promised a vote on the commission's plan, and lawmakers have generally expressed interest in what the commission will recommend.

While Pelosi said today she opposes raising the retirement age, other Democratic leaders have said they would support it. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said earlier this year he thinks raising the retirement age could be done with other modifications to ensure that Social Security benefits still support those most in need - such as paying out benefits on a progressive scale. House Democratic Whip James Clyburn has also said he would support raising the retirement age.

Conservatives to GOP: Don't Support Any Energy Bill
Sharron Angle to Harry Reid: "Stop Doing More"

Pelosi said today that Democrats are "moving on all fronts to reduce the deficit" with pay-as-you-go rules and Mr. Obama's stern budget, and reinforced the need to keep Social Security solvent.

She also said, however, that it's important for Democrats to make clear to seniors that they support Social Security and oppose changes, such as privatization of the program.

More Hotsheet Coverage from Netroots Nation:

Reid Makes a Promise to Dan Choi for Gay Rights
Governors' Races are 2010's Main Event, Strategists Say
Labor Leader: GOP Has Declared War on Latinos
In 2010, Will Democrats Offer More Than Anti-Tea Party?
Brian Schweitzer: Sometimes Lucky is Better than Good
Are Liberals Too Concerned with Being "Colorblind?"

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

172 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 172 Comments


by lakeweir July 28, 2010 3:50 PM EDT: Tah-Dah!..Here it is! Our Day in the Life video! Adriana and I show you how we're building America's Toy-Friendly Community in Central Florida! We work 24/7 & love what we do--Building dream homes for Baby Boomers who love Big Toys and play hard (motorcycles, boats, RVs...). Enjoy & let us know what you think. Visit our Video Blog:

http://www.lakeweirlivingblog.com; Reply to this comment


by ceoco1 July 27, 2010 2:37 AM EDT: She lies!; Reply to this comment


by wholetruth July 27, 2010 2:34 AM EDT: OK we'll have to make an exception with Pelosi. We must retire her (and those congressmen suffering her mental condition) ASAP.; Reply to this comment


by mickrussom July 27, 2010 12:51 AM EDT: This stupid rat vermin traitor cloward pivenist. The health care premiums are already shooting through the rood and Britains NHS is rationing basic health care items and talking about de-nationalizing. While the rest of the world wakes up to some sense, washingTOON hits the gas Thelma and Louise style off the cloward piven cliff.

These rats and pelosi are radicals and have now crossed the line and must be stopped.; Reply to this comment


by hurrynovember July 26, 2010 11:22 PM EDT: Every day this woman exposes her stupidity more clearly. Is she only 70? Senility has descended early upon her. Social Security was designed to begin at the end of life expectancy. Nobody can put in 40,000 over a lifetime and take out 30,000 a year for 20 years and expect the program to sustain itself. Grow up, Pelosi. America knows this is a ponzi scheme and you people have spent all our money on other entitlement vote buys. Without freedom and liberty and personal responsibility, the Marxists win and we lose.; Reply to this comment


by puntfish July 26, 2010 9:56 PM EDT: She is so ugly and old looking now she knows she will never make it if they raise the retirement. She also knows she will be voted out this November and she will need a retirement check.; Reply to this comment


by boodooboo July 26, 2010 7:40 PM EDT: Where do these people expect the funds to come from?
The Govt does not produce any money but keeps spending and spending....
Where is all this money coming from?

She should have retired 100 years ago.; Reply to this comment


by timmeh60 July 26, 2010 7:01 PM EDT: I'd love to privatize my social security. I'll never get what I put into it. I'd rather take my chances on the stock market, unless the Democrats make it totally useless like they have with SS.; Reply to this comment


by Schratboy July 26, 2010 6:37 PM EDT: Fossil Pelosi lives the life of a vampire, sucking the US Citizen's blood, a feat she accomplishes by bleeding everyone of their freedoms and money, so she can outlive us all without the prospect of retiring. That's why she's opposed to raising the retirement age.; Reply to this comment