The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has released a Youtube video of Tim Walberg, Republican challenger to Rep. Mark Schauer — and the man Schauer defeated for the seat in 2008 — in the 7th District of Michigan, calling for the privatization of Social Security and agreeing with a questioner that Social Security was unconstitutional and a “Ponzi scheme.”

The statements were made in an interview with the Independence Caucus, a Tea Party-affiliated group. Here’s that Youtube clip:

Walberg’s spokespeople call this a “cut-and-paste hit job” but do not deny the authenticity of the audio, which is pretty unequivocal. Walberg is heard saying clearly, “I definitely support the privatization of the so-called Social Security system.”

Walberg is also heard on the audio saying, “I’d be very much in favor of saying that there ought to be a date certain when no longer does anybody have to put into Social Security.” When a questioner says that Social Security is unconstitutional, Walberg replies, “I wouldn’t debate that with you at all.” And when another calls Social Security a Ponzi scheme, Walberg replies, “You’re right.”

The full audio of the interview is not yet available, but the ICaucus website set up for those interviews says that they are “in the process of updating” that page. I guess we’ll find out when the full audio is released whether there is anything in the context that changes the meaning of the statements made above.

http://michiganmessenger.com/41102/walberg-wants-to-privatize-social-sec...

Washington -- Former Rep. Tim Walberg defended his stance on Social Security on Monday, with his spokesman downplaying a YouTube video showing Walberg calling for privatization of the popular program and calling it "a cut-and-paste hit job."

In an interview with the Independence Caucus website, an organization affiliated with the tea party movement, Walberg was asked whether he would like to see Social Security privatized.

"... A seasoned campaigner like me understands that that is a buzzword that is just about as negative as a noose hanging around your neck," Walberg said. "But in talking with you, we all understand what that means. I definitely support the privatization of the so-called Social Security system."

Walberg spokesman Joe Wicks didn't dispute the authenticity of the recording, but said the Republican candidate for the 7th District U.S. House seat supports "keeping the promise of Social Security and looking into reforms to empower younger workers to save."

Democrats pounced on the video, saying the challenger to Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, was trying to wage war on one of the country's most popular safety-net programs.

"Michigan seniors deserve to know the truth, that Tim Walberg has been lying to them about his plans to privatize Social Security and cut retirement benefits," Gabby Adler, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement.

As the Social Security program marked its 75th anniversary, Democrats have pushed Republican electoral foes to take a stand, just as many Republicans have renewed a push to phase out such benefits.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100817/POLITICS03/8170335/1022/Walberg-...

ADRIAN, Mich. — Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, pledged Saturday to fight any attempt to privatize Social Security or cut the program’s benefits, including by raising the retirement age for full benefits.

Schauer, who faces Republican Tim Walberg in the race for the 7th Congressional District seat, spoke to a group of about 35 people at the Adrian Senior Center on the 75th anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act.

To make his point, Schauer signed a written pledge on a poster board in front of the group, promising to strengthen and protect Social Security and fight any attempt to convert its funds to private investment accounts.

“I will oppose with every ounce of energy privatization of Social Security,” Schauer said.

Schauer was joined by Max Richtman, executive vice president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, a group that lobbies on behalf of those programs.

Richtman said his group is worried that President Barack Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform will take aim at Social Security as one way of reducing the deficit. Richtman expressed particular concern about Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s “Roadmap for America’s Future,” which calls for alowing some Social Security taxes to be invested in private accounts and would replace the current Medicare system with a health insurance voucher system.

Ryan is a member of the commission.

The commission is expected to present a plan to Congress by Dec. 1, and Schauer said he would not vote for the plan if it includes Social Security benefit cuts or privatization schemes.

Schauer took aim at Walberg, playing a tape of Walberg talking to a group called iCaucus in which Walberg said, “... I would definitely support the privatization of the so-called Social Security system. ...”

He said Walberg’s plan for allowing younger people to invest in private accounts instead of paying Social Security taxes will harm the system.

“Either he doesn’t understand or he doesn’t care” how Social Security works, Schauer said in an interview after Saturday’s event. “He will be cutting benefits to current beneficiaries.”

He also accused Walberg of duplicity, saying he was unwilling to call his plan “privatization” to most groups.

Contacted Saturday, Walberg campaign manager Joe Wicks accused Schauer of using a snippet of the tape, in which Walberg goes on to explain his plan for allowing younger workers to get out of Social Security.

“Tim has the same position he’s always had,” Wicks said.

Schauer cited a statement by Social Security trustees that even with no changes whatsoever, the system could pay all the benefits it owes until 2037 and could pay 78 percent of benefits after that.

Social Security is “not in crisis,” Schauer said.

Schauer said he is not ready to commit to any plan to raise the level of income on which Social Security taxes must be paid — currently up to $106,800 a year — and that he is for extending all of the Bush tax cuts for the “foreseeable future.”

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x297557624/Rep-Mark-Schauer-pledges-to-pr...

U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek was in Jackson Wednesday as he continued to kick off his reelection campaign, which he has been doing at events around the district.

His “Made in America” event took place at Full Spectrum Solutions in Jackson, a company that specializes in energy-efficient lighting, and one that Schauer and his staff have spent a considerable amount of time trying to help.

In June, Schauer sent a letter to Vice President Joe Biden on behalf of Full Spectrum to make him aware that companies were cheating the system to win contracts with municipalities that have grants from the stimulus fund, which includes a Buy American requirement.

Full Spectrum said it had identified and had proof that at least a half dozen firms were defrauding the government in order to win stimulus-funded contracts.

“They’re cheating you out of jobs,” Schauer said. “There should be more people here.”

Biden responded last month and directed several federal agencies to make the changes Schauer suggested.

“I’m running for reelection for Congress because we’ve got the best workers in the world, we’ve got the best innovators and if you’re given a level playing field, you will out compete anyone,” Schauer said. “And we will create more, good manufacturing jobs right here in Michigan.”

As he did in the 2008 campaign, Schauer intends to make trade issues and jobs a major focus of his reelection bid.

Schauer said free trade is a myth, and something that is supported by his opponent in the November election, former U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg.

He added that he co-sponsored a bill this year to have the U.S. withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"I'm going to be talking about jobs and what it takes for Michigan to be competitive," Schauer said.

He said he will also talk about pushing China to break down trade barriers.

In May, Schauer introduced a bill that would limit the number of products made in China being used for U.S. government contracts.

http://blog.mlive.com/jackson-politics/2010/08/post_12.html

ADRIAN, Mich. — Congressman Mark Schauer kicked off his re-election campaign Thursday in Adrian with a “Made in America” tour emphasizing trade issues.

Schauer, D-Battle Creek, faces former congressman Tim Walberg of Tipton, whom Schauer beat two years ago, in the November election for the 7th Congressional District seat.

Between 40 and 50 people crowded between washers and dryers at the Fabricare cleaners and laundry on North Main Street to hear Schauer speak and answer questions. The gathering originally had been scheduled for the adjoining Biggby Coffee shop, but the number of people made it necessary to move it to the laundry, which has the same owners.

Most of the audience appeared to be Schauer supporters, though a few members of the audience attempted to interject comments as Schauer was speaking, and at least one person carried a sign calling for smaller government.

In his opening remarks, Schauer sounded what appears to be the Democratic campaign theme for the upcoming election: that George Bush’s policies wrecked the economy and Republicans want to go back to those policies while Democrats have been laying the foundation for a recovery.

“(The economy) went off the cliff because of the economic policies of Tim Walberg and George Bush, and they want to go back,” Schauer said.

Schauer accused Walberg of supporting tax loopholes that allow companies to ship jobs overseas. In an e-mail to the Telegram after Schauer’s appearance, Schauer aide Zack Pohl named the Trade Promotion Authority Extension and Enhancement Act of 2007, co-sponsored by Walberg, as an example.

The act allows the president to sign trade agreements with countries whose trade policies restrict U.S. trade.

Pohl also cited an Americans for Tax Reform pledge signed by Walberg that opposed new taxes but, according to Pohl, also demands opposition to a law closing some tax loopholes that create incentives to move jobs overseas.

Schauer took special aim at what he said are unfair trade practices by China, such as China’s refusal to sign an agreement that would require it to open its doors to American bidders when the Chinese government makes purchases, just as the American government opens its doors to Chinese bidders when the American government makes purchases.

As he has in the past, Schauer carried a U.S. Census cap, bought by the government for census workers, that was made in China.

“What makes me mad is when I found out that your tax dollars are creating jobs in China,” he said.

Schauer has introduced a bill in Congress that would require U.S. government purchases from China be limited to the dollar amount that the Chinese government buys from American companies.

Schauer said he did not know off-hand the amount of U.S. government purchases from China, but that the amount of Chinese government purchases from U.S. companies is “zero.”

Asked about the possible benefit to taxpayers when the government takes low bids on products from China, Schauer said: “I don’t think there is a short- or long-term benefit to allowing Chinese companies to come in and take our jobs.”

After the event, Schauer said any number of companies in the 7th District could have made the census caps and key chains that the government bought from China. He also said that his proposed bill would benefit American companies, such as a wind power company in Eaton County, in instances such as a much-reported case where federal economic stimulus funds were used to buy wind power equipment from China.

A request to Walberg’s campaign manager to get Walberg’s position on Schauer’s bill did not receive an answer Thursday afternoon.

Answering questions from the audience, Schauer defended the health care reform bill, which he voted for.

“The biggest part of that bill is health insurance reform,” he said. He cited provisions in the bill that immediately bar insurance companies from refusing to cover children because of pre-existing conditions and require insurance companies to allow young adults to stay on their parents’ policies until age 26.

Walberg has said he will work to repeal the health care bill.

Schauer criticized the Troubled Assets Relief Program, often referred to as the Wall Street bailout, and said he voted against release of the second half of those funds in early 2009. The initial bill was passed in late 2008, before Schauer was in Congress.

Walberg voted against the initial TARP bill.

http://www.lenconnect.com/topstories/x1028348017/Mark-Schauer-talks-trad...

The GOP primary race in the 7th congressional district has been largely civil between the two main candidates, former U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg and Iraq war veteran Brian Rooney.

But in the final days leading up to Tuesday's primary, both Walberg and Rooney have put out negative television ads attacking one another.

In Walberg's ad, it calls Rooney a "Pennsylvania lawyer" who thought about running for Congress in Florida and then decided on running in Michigan. To back up the Florida claim, the ad cites a statement from Rooney's wife Tiffany from last year, but doesn't say where she made it or to whom.

The ad also says Rooney inherited a fortune from his family's casinos and is "raising money from liberals."

It also hits back at Rooney for his recent mailers critical of Walberg for missing votes after he was defeated by Democrat Mark Schauer in 2008. Walberg explained to Rooney at a debate in Adrian he was having surgery.

At the end of ad, it calls Rooney "just another political opportunist."

Rooney's ad calls Walberg a "career politician" and criticizes him for having a golden retirement package. It says Walberg lives on a $50,000 "gold-plated taxpayer pension," and that "he wants to go back to Congress, where we'd pay Walberg 174 grand in salary, and we keep paying his pension too."

At the end of the ad, Rooney looks into the camera and says "it's time to take back our government from the career politicians."

The ads are running on local television now, but are not on either of the candidates YouTube channels.

"Walberg and Rooney have aired two ads apiece without ever mentioning the word jobs," Schauer's campaign spokesman Zack Pohl wrote in a statement. "I don't know what planet they're living on, but by ignoring the number one issue in this election, it's clear these guys just don't get it."

http://blog.mlive.com/jackson-politics/2010/07/gop_congressional_candida...

U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer is waiting for Republican voters to tell him which Republican he'll face in November. That isn't keeping him from chiming on the Aug. 3 primary.

Schauer's campaign today suggested its own questions for Marvin Carlson, Brian Rooney and Tim Walberg, who all take the stage at 2 p.m. today for a debate at Jackson Community College. The event is free and open to the public, and will be broadcast on WILX-TV at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Schauer, D-Battle Creek, will not be the moderator, but here is a statement from his campaign and his questions:

"To all candidates: Would you have voted for legislation to extend jobless benefits for the 24,600 unemployed workers in the 7th District whose benefits will expire by the end of this year?"

"To Brian Rooney and Marvin Carlson: Tim Walberg has said he doesn't believe the federal government should set any minimum wage [Battle Creek Enquirer, 2/20/07]. Do you agree? Why or why not?"

"These extreme candidates have some explaining to do," said Zack Pohl, spokesman for Schauer's campaign. "Michigan voters deserve to know if these candidates would vote to extend unemployment benefits for people who've lost a job, and if they support the minimum wage. The number one issue this year is jobs, and since Walberg and Rooney didn't even bother to mention the word in their first TV ads, it's time for them to take a stance on these critical economic issues."

http://blog.mlive.com/jackson-politics/2010/07/us_rep_mark_schauers_camp...

After viewing the first television ads of the campaign from the two leading contenders in the Aug. 3 GOP congressional primary, U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, noticed something missing from both.

In a fund-raising e-mail to supporters this afternoon, Schauer points out that the debut ads from both former U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg and former Marine Brian Rooney, never mention the word “jobs.”

“These guys just don’t get it,” Schauer wrote.

Rooney’s ad is about the struggles his youngest son went through, being born with a heart defect, which led Rooney to run for Congress.

Walberg’s ad is about returning the country to traditional values and touches on the economy, albeit without using the actual word "jobs." It begins by showing a closed up business, followed by a “store for lease” sign. He then calls for for lower taxes and less spending.

Also in Schauer’s e-mail he brings up the Tea Party debate in Adrian from last week and writes that his “extreme opponents” said they “wanted to abolish the Department of Education and privatize Social Security.”

It is true they said they wanted to abolish the Department of Education. At that debate they also said they wanted to abolish the IRS and favored making English the official language and implementing a federal ban on affirmative action.

And they all were opposed to making any changes to the Second Amendment, amnesty for illegal immigrants in the country, U.S. citizenship to babies born in America by illegal immigrants and same-sex marriage.

Schauer's claim about all wanting to privatize Social Security isn’t as cut and dry.

What the three agreed to at that debate, is to “support legislation making available independent savings accounts to optionally reduce long-term participation in the Social Security system.”

Whether that is tantamount to privatization was a subject of heated debate during the 2008 debates between Schauer and Walberg. And it appears as though that debate will continue this fall.

“That’s the choice this year - while my extreme opponents are ready to turn their backs on Michigan students and seniors, I'm fighting every single day to level the playing field for our workers and businesses,” Schauer wrote. “That’s why I’m counting on your support with a contribution of $25, $50, $100 or whatever you can afford, so I can keep fighting for fair trade policies to help small businesses create jobs here in Michigan.”

http://blog.mlive.com/jackson-politics/2010/07/us_rep_mark_schauer_knock...

Two outspoken Michigan critics of China's currency policies offered guarded praise for the economic giant's signal over the weekend that it would allow its currency to slowly appreciate.

"I welcome China's decision to allow flexibility in the renminbi exchange rate," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak. "This is a positive first step, but it remains to be seen whether this move will be more symbolic than significant. The significance of this policy will depend on how much the government of China allows the renminbi to appreciate over time.

"We have seen actions like this before and it is clear that China did not allow enough appreciation the last time it adopted a policy like this one, from 2005-2008. If China takes that same approach again, the United States will still need to take action."

Levin has held two hearings on China's currency and trade policies as part of the growing pressure in Congress to force China to make course corrections. He and other critics charge that China keeps the value of its currency low to make its exports more attractive.

The New York Times reports that the renminbi rose today to a near two-year high -- the largest one-day jump in five years.

"Monday's gain showed a striking hands-off attitude on the part of Chinese authorities who manage the exchange rate. But analysts will closely watch Beijing's announcement Tuesday morning of its daily reference rate to get a better sense of how swiftly China will allow financial markets to determine the renminbi's level," The Times reports.

"The weekend's statement and Monday's gains in the currency were widely interpreted as a precursor to a gradual and modest appreciation of the renminbi, which has been informally pegged against the dollar since the middle of 2008."

Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, jumped on the development.

Schauer, who faces a tough re-election battle, has blamed China's policies as one of the reasons Michigan has lost jobs.

Schauer is pushing legislation to only allow the U.S. government to buy as much Chinese-made products as the Chinese government buys U.S.-made products. The freshman told Levin's committee last week that he was outraged when he learned the U.S. Census was buying Chinese-made hats and key chains while China was not agreeing to open its government procurement to U.S.-made goods.

"While this is certainly welcome news, actions always speak louder than words. It's been nine years since China said it would sign the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) -- which would allow American businesses to contract with the Chinese government -- and it still hasn't happened yet.

"Over the past nine years, we've lost 2.4 million American jobs due to unfair trade with China, and yet our own government continues to waste U.S. taxpayer dollars on goods that create jobs in China," he said. "We are effectively subsidizing China's economic boom at the expense of American workers, when we should be focused 100 percent on creating jobs here.

"I look forward to seeing additional details and concrete actions from the Chinese government over the coming days to free up its currency, but I would also urge them to immediately sign the GPA and let American workers and businesses compete on a level playing field."

http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/dcblog/index.php?blogid=1055

Washington -- Waving a U.S. census cap made in China, Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, today urged Congress to take a "strong stand" against China for closing off its government procurement to U.S. companies while the U.S. government buys Chinese-made products.

"When will we play tough? When will we get it? At the very least -- the very least -- we need to show China that we are willing to be strong until they open their procurement markets to us," Schauer told the House Ways and Means Committee.

Schauer proposes restricting the amount the U.S. government can buy of Chinese goods to how much in U.S. products the Chinese government buys.

Schauer outlined his legislation at a hearing examining China's trade and industrial policies.

Other options offered included retaliatory penalties on Chinese goods or working through global institutions such as the World Trade Organization to press China for change.

The hearing coincided with mounting pressure in Congress for the Obama administration to push China harder to adjust currency and trade policies to enable U.S. companies to sell more products in the growing Chinese domestic market.

The stakes in the issue are huge for Michigan businesses, which, while seeing overall exports to China soar, complain about intellectual property theft and unfair trade barriers.

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Sander Levin warned "Congress will act" if China doesn't change trade policies he and other critics say undermine U.S. companies.

The Royal Oak Democrat said China "has made no progress" on its alleged currency manipulation, selectively uses tax rebates to boost exports, puts export restrictions on raw materials and engages in other unfair trade practices.

"All of these policies have a common thread: They have the purpose or the effect of tilting the playing field to favor Chinese companies and against U.S. companies, workers and farmers," Levin said. "This is not a sound or sustainable basis for a mutually beneficial trading relationship."

"China is not acting in good faith and is aggressively engaged in a series of troubling and downright protectionist policies that put our economic relationship at risk," said Rep. Dave Camp of Midland, the ranking Republican on the committee.

"Allowing China to run roughshod over us is not an option. It is in our best interest, and that of the global economy, for us to find a path forward," Camp said.

Christian Murck, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, said many U.S. companies are doing "extremely well" in China since it joined the WTO in 2001.

He said the chamber's Business Climate Survey found 46 percent of its companies reported a higher profit margin from their operations in China than their global average.

"There is concern in the American business community that in managing through change, China will resort to top-down industrial planning," Murck said, "and to discriminatory measures favoring domestic enterprises over foreign companies and the state-owned sector over the private sector, potentially resulting in narrowing market access and slower movement toward a market economy."

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100616/BIZ/6160401/1022/Rep.-Shauer-urg...