Newt Gingrich is speaking in New Hampshire this morning, where the AP reports he’s rolling out just the latest plan in the GOP field to fundamentally change Social Security forever.
Gingrich “wants younger workers to have another option and wants to end the expectation that Social Security is the only safety net for older workers,” the AP’s Phil Elliot reports. The Gingrich plan “would also let the markets determine how much money workers who choose private accounts would get each month.”
Elliot notes that “President George W. Bush offered some similar proposals for Social Security soon after winning re-election in 2004.”
This makes Gingrich just the latest among the Republican field to suggest blowing up Social Security as we know it. Rick Perry, before he was known as the worst debater in the primary field, tried to make his campaign about attacking Social Security benefits. Romney hasn’t suggested privatizing the program, but is calling for a higher retirement age and curbing benefits for the rich.
