Don’t look for Sen. Richard Blumenthal to be on the frontlines of entitlement reform.
Today, the Democrat from Connecticut announced that he was joining the “Defending Social Security Caucus,” a new group that formed earlier this year by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
“As it becomes increasingly clear that some in Congress propose cutting or eliminating Social Security benefits, I am excited to join the Defending Social Security Caucus to continue my work to make sure that these promises made to Connecticut’s seniors are not broken,” Blumenthal said in a statement Wednesday.
Blumenthal’s remarks may be a reference to GOP proposals to privatize the government program, or perhaps the bipartisan group of senators who have been meeting behind closed doors to craft a politically treacherous proposal that seeks to deal with the ballooning costs of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
The group is working from the recommendations of President Barack Obama’s debt commission, which also called for significant spending cuts and an overhaul of the tax code, among other steps, as a way to get a handle on the nation’s fiscal troubles.
Said Blumenthal: “I look forward to working with my colleagues to strengthen and protect this vital program, ensuring that it is secure for current retirees and future generations of workers.”