Vernon calls Blum ‘bad news’ on Social Security

CEDAR RAPIDS - Democratic congressional candidate Monica Vernon observed the 80th anniversary of Social Security by sharing stories about the Depression-era retirement program with current retirees.

Vernon, a Cedar Rapids City Council member and former business owner, told seniors participating in a Monday morning telephone town hall that she will fight to protect and expand Social Security because it's needed now more than ever.

Vernon called Social Security 'the most successful U.S. government program in history,” providing benefits to 59 million Americans, including 42 million retirees. The poverty rate among seniors, she added, has fallen from 50 percent to 10 percent or less over the past 80 years.

'So why in the world are Republicans trying to dismantle it?” Vernon said.

First-term GOP Rep. Rod Blum of Dubuque voted for a plan that would have raised the retirement age and changed the way cost-of-living increases are determined, which could lead to 'draconian” cuts in benefits of as much as 45 percent, Vernon said.

'I knew this guy was bad news, and his votes on Social Security would just get worse,” Vernon said. 'I won't stop working until we send him packing.”

That might not be as soon as she would like, Blum spokesman Keegan Conway said.

'This is the same old and tired playbook the Democrats tried last election, but the people of Eastern Iowa saw right through it last year and aren't buying it this time either,” Conway said.

He also pointed out that preserving Social Security is personal for Blum.

Blum's mother, who died last year, relied on Social Security and Medicare for nearly 20 years, 'so obviously protecting these programs is not only incredibly important to Congressman Blum, it's personal.”

The Vernon campaign said 3,000 people called into the telephone town hall, and 750 stayed on for the full 30-minute meeting.

'I think that really shows us really tapping into exactly what folks want to be talking about,” Vernon campaign manager Michelle Gajewski said.