How quickly Tom’s position can change.
Jan 5, 2015 Tom Reed Press Release:
Congressman Tom Reed announced today that he is joining Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) as a co-sponsor of an amendment to proposed House rules for the 114th Congress. The amendment would protect the Social Security Trust Fund from being raided in order to bail out the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Trust Fund.
Here Tom calls transferring funds a raid, a bailout.
http://reed.house.gov/press-release/reed-co-sponsors-amendment-protect-social-security
Feb. 21, 2015 in the Town of Portland:
One of the first questions asked was regarding the long term changes Reed is seeking for SSDI, because according to Reed, reallocation (a common practice that has been done since the inception of the SSDI program) isn’t an option he will back.
https://newny23rd.com/2015/03/02/portland-townhall-meeting-feb-21-2015/
On June 1, 2015, at a meeting in Big Flats, Reed said that taking from retirees to take care of the disability recipients was robbing Peter to pay Paul.
By October 28, Speaker Boehner had negotiated a compromise budget plan:
The plan includes a short-term fix for the Social Security disability program which would transfer funds from the main Social Security trust fund – something many conservatives including Reed have opposed – balanced against stricter enforcement to prevent fraud and abuse in the system.
Then, according to the article cited,
Reed said overall, he’s happy with the solution on the disability program.
“I think the reforms we’re going to get on the Social Security disability trust fund are significant,” Reed said. “They are going to allow us to implement some changes that will lead to the long-term solvency of the trust fund.”
By October 27, 2015 Reed was happy to approve a transfer of funds. Did Tom change his mind, or did he simply find it expedient to vote as he did. He is unlikely to explain.
http://www.steubencourier.com/article/20151027/NEWS/151029748/0/SEARCH
Note: Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) is the new (temporary) chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
Great article. His attacks on the disabled has really scared those have applied and are waiting to hear the SSA’s decision. It is important to see how easily he can do a 180* turn around on a topic that he has invested a lot of time, effort, and political image.
Nothing like written records to expose the Emperor.
Tom Reed will say what is self protective in all circumstances. That fact has nothing to do with what he might know or think. Reed finds himself in this precarious position frequently because he has no real foundation of moral fortitude. Whether he’s voting for government shutdown ( and for it to remain shut down), while being very careful not to take responsibility for his votes – ” We just found ourselves there…”, to taking photo ops at Camp Good Day and Special Times – while simultaneously introducing a bill that cuts parents of disabled children off the funding rolls, if they couldn’t comply with his dictates of meeting school attendance -Tom Reed is an empty suit, flapping echos of political expediency .
And yet the empty suit wins re-election,maybe the DNC can get behind whoever runs against the empty suit in 2016 and at least turn this district from red to purple.
It’s interesting to read comments on Tom Reed’s Facebook pages. Many of his previously ardent followers now label him a “Boehner RINO ” for his recent votes.