Capps Pauses on Proposals
Opposes Increasing Retirement Age for Social Security Recipients; Supports Cutting Military Spending
Congressmember Lois Capps expressed support for Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the embattled House leader, in her quest to become minority leader under the new Republican-controlled House of Representatives that convenes next year. Like Pelosi, Capps has voiced serious concern over some of the sweeping proposals included in the budget-balancing manifesto released last week by former Senator Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles — former adviser to Bill Clinton — now serving on the National Committee on Fiscal Reform. Capps opposed the proposal to increase the age of retirement for Social Security recipients, contending that many lower-wage earners won’t live long enough to collect. Actuarial studies indicate lower-wage earners have lower life expectancies. She also opposed the proposal to eliminate tax deductions on interest payments for home mortgages, a major tax break enjoyed by homeowners. Capps spokesperson Ashley Schapitl said the representative did support the proposal to cut military spending. “To pretend you can balance the budget leaving defense off the table is just intellectually dishonest,” Schapitl said.
