A group called Floridians United to Protect Social Security rallied on the steps of the Sarasota Courthouse today… then marched single-file to U.S. Representative Katherine Harris’ office. This rally was one of more than 35 such events taking place across the country—in opposition to President George W. Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security. They coincided with the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s first hearing on Social Security reform. Philip Compton of the Florida Consumer Action Network led 75 people on the march to Representative Katherine Harris’s office… where he spoke with her District Director, Sally Tibbits.

“We need to talk in terms of principles. So this is a pledge that we’re going to give to you to give to Rep Harris. We want her to oppose any ss privatization proposal that would require cuts in guaranteed benefits to pay for private accounts, that would weaken the system by diverting money from the ss trust fund that Pres. Reagan set up to cover us baby boomers to pay for private accounts, anything that would increase the federal deficit to pay for private accounts. Has Rep Harris authorized you to give us a response? Just that she will consider your concerns along with other constituents in the district and continue a dialogue with you as organizations and individuals and other organizations in the district that are communicating with her on the issue of ss.”

Floridians United to Protect Social Security also presented a new report by a Washington based economic research group on how the Bush privatization plan would affect Florida’s economy. It claims $34 billion flow into the state’s economy from social security every year… And about 14 billion would be eliminated through privatization. The group is calling for a private meeting with Representative Harris as well as a town hall meeting with her.