In 1935 after three years of trying Franklin Roosevelt was able to pass the Social Security Act. It was a different world. Roosevelt and the Dems had picked up 9 seats in the mid-term election of 1934 and the country was reeling from 6 years of depression. You can see from the vote tally below that the Social Security Act while a Democratic Bill, was supported in a bi-partisan way, probably because the Repubes realized it was hopeless to fight it and didn't want to be seen voting against it.
House
YEA
Democrats - 57
Republicans - 81
Farm Labor - 1
Progressive - 6
NAY
Democrats - 15
Republicans - 15
Farm Labor - 2
Progressive - 1
NOT VOTING
Democrats - 20
Republicans - 4
Farm Labor - 0
Progressive - 1
PRESENT
Democrats - 0
Republicans - 2
Farm Labor - 0
Progressive - 0
Senate
YEA
Democrats - 60
Republicans - 16
Farm Labor - 1
Progressive - 0
NAY
Democrats - 1
Republicans - 5
Farm Labor - 0
Progressive - 0
NOT VOTING
Democrats - 8
Republicans - 4
Farm Labor - 0
Progressive - 0
It was a slightly different situation in 1965 when Social Security was amended to include medicare. You can see from the vote below that though there was bipartisan support, it was the democrats, under Lyndon Johnson, that introduced and pushed through the bill, which in essence was the culmination of a twenty year effort that started with President Truman for universal health care.
House
YEA
Democrats - 237
Republicans - 70
NAY
Democrats - 48
Republicans - 68
NOT VOTING
Democrats - 8
Republicans - 2
Senate
YEA
Democrats - 57
Republicans - 13
NAY
Democrats - 7
Republicans - 17
NOT VOTING
Democrats - 4
Republicans - 2
So all those tea party, birthers that showed up at the health care town meetings, crying about not wanting socialism without understanding what it is and whining that no one should mess with their social security and medicare, do not realize that they have the Dems to thank for it. They do not realize that most of the progressive legislation over the last 50 years that has moved our society forward has been authored by the Democrats and that they really need to get in the reform wagon or be prepared to go broke in a broken system.
Don't you just love when they state "present" or not voting.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that their job? ~ CC
I'm really enjoying your blog - thanks for helping to get us - and keep us - green.
ReplyDeleteMelissa
http://www.megansway.com
ADAM
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS AN EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS --AND PARTICULARLY INTERESTING ARE THE VOTES ON BOTH BILLS.
DOUBTFUL IF WE WILL GET MMORE THAN TWO REPUBS IN THE SENATE ON THE HEALTH BILL. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE CONSERVATIVE DEMS ARE NOW FROM THE NORTH [NELSON OF NEBRASKA, BAYH INDIANA ETC.] NOT THE DEEP SOUTH ANY MORE.
KEEP UP BLOGGING
ART DOMIKE