Latino groups push immigration reform to bolster Social Security

Latino groups push immigration reform to bolster Social Security

Gil Halsted, Wisconsin Public Radio

A coalition of national Latino organizations is launching a lobbying campaign to both save -- and improve-- the country's Social Security system. And immigration reform is a central plank in the effort.

Seven national Latino advocacy organizations have laid out a 5-point plan to save and strengthen Social Security. The plan includes raising the FICA tax cap to 90-percent of all earnings, investing more of the trust fund in equities, and passing comprehensive immigration reform.

Brent Wilkes, director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, (LULAC) says by allowing undocumented people in the U.S. to adjust their status, and allowing future immigrant flows to come in legally, there would be additional revenues for Social Security without “paying out into the future” which he says would help soften the blow of the baby boomers.

Wilkes adds saving Social Security is crucial for the vast majority of Latinos who do not have retirement plans. A recent study found that 60-percent of white people over age 65 have retirement plans beyond Social Security compared to only 10-percent of Latinos in the same age bracket.

While the coalition plans to push for improving and expanding Social Security, they will also be fighting the current efforts to extend the Bush Administration’s tax cuts for high income Americans. Latino groups fear the tax cuts will grow the federal deficit and endanger social security.

The group Latinos for a Secure Retirement plans to hold town meetings in Latino communities in every state and work with the AARP over the next year to promote their agenda.

Tags: news, government, wisconsin, money, updates