WASHINGTON -- Social Security Commissioner Dorcas Hardy has denounced a group led by a son of President Franklin Roosevelt for soliciting money from old people for the avowed purpose of saving their Social Security benefits.
Hardy says the benefits are in no danger and accuses the National Commmittee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, a lobbying group headed by former Rep. James Roosevelt, D-Calif., of being 'irresponsible' and 'inaccurate.'
A spokesman for the organization headed by the son of the president who began the Social Security System denies scare tactics have been used to raise money.
The group began a nationwide mass mailing Dec. 26 in which senior citizens are warned by Roosevelt that 'never in the 51 years since my father, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, started the Social Security system have there been such threats to our Social Security and Medicare benefits as (in this) decade.'
The four-page letter says the government has used money from the Social Security Trust Fund to keep its checks from bouncing and that Congress has cut benefits for more than 10 million Americans born after 1916.
It notes that Social Security payments are being taxed for the first time under the new tax reform law and claims that the retirement age for receiving full benefits will be increased from 65 to 67.
'I expect to receive a lot of complaints,' Hardy told United Press International in an interview Wednesday. 'Congress will receive numerous complaints.
'This is really very irresponsible to suggest that current (Social Security) beneficiaries have to pay $10 to an organization to save something that's perfectly OK,' she said.
According to Hardy's office, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has received about 20 letters from constituents and others, asking for information about the group and complaining about the solicitation for money.
'The tactics are certainly irresponsible,' Hardy said. 'The comments are quite inaccurate and (Roosevelt) is scaring people. It's unfair and totally uncalled for.
'My guess is if anybody wants to be silly enough, or worse, to send $10, I sure want to know what he does with the $10.'
Jack McDavitt, the lobby group's director of public affairs, said, 'A number of people have accused us of scare tactics. They are confusing the message with the messenger. People have a tendency to do that.'
McDavitt said for a $10 yearly fee, senior citizens receive 'a personal, gold-embossed plastic membership card,' a newspaper and 'a legislative alert service' that immediately advises them by letter or telegram of any developments in Washington involving Social Security and Medicare benefits.
The group was founded by Roosevelt in November 1982 and has a membership of 4 million, McDavitt said. In September 1986, it gathered 5 million petitions that were delivered to Congress after separation by states and congressional and Senate districts.
McDavitt said about $29 million has been raised and the money has been used for a Washington staff, full-time lobbyists and other unspecified costs.
