Hollywood, FL – Tim Canova, the Nova Southeastern University law professor, challenging Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the August 30^th Democratic primary for Florida’s 23^rd Congressional District, has accused Wasserman Schultz of dragging her feet on supporting increases in Social Security benefits. 

In response, Wasserman Schultz’s campaign issued a press release on August 11^th accusing Canova of distorting her record, and citing to three bills she has cosponsored that would increase the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries.  However, her statement fails to mention that two of these bills were introduced more than a year ago and that Wasserman Schultz only cosponsored them a month ago, on July 14, 2016.  Both of those bills were cosponsored by other members of the Florida delegation about a year prior to Wasserman Schultz.

Wasserman Schultz cosponsored the third bill, H.R. 4144, the SAVE Benefits Act, in December 2015.  Moreover, Wasserman Schultz was always the last member of the Florida Democratic congressional delegation to formally endorse any of these bills.

The Wasserman Schultz press release also touts three additional bills and one resolution that she cosponsored that would expand Social Security benefits for seniors.  Once again, the timing of her cosponsorship of these bills and resolution presents a similar pattern.  Despite these bills and resolutions having been introduced at least a year prior, Wasserman Schultz did not cosponsor three of these until June 7, 2016 or later, and the fourth in April 2016.  All of these cosponsorships occurred well after Tim Canova began criticizing Wasserman Schultz for dragging her feet on these issues.

Of the seven bills Wasserman Schultz lists as proof of her strong support of Social Security, five were not cosponsored by her until at least June 6, 2016 and four of these bills were sponsored on either July 14 or July 16, 2016.

 
Moreover, Canova has criticized Wasserman Schultz for failing to update the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a Social Security program for the poorest seniors and disabled living below the poverty line on less than $11,700 a year.  Even now, Wasserman Schultz has still not cosponsored the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2015, a measure Canova has been supporting for more than a year.
 
Perhaps instead of calling Tim Canova a liar, the Wasserman Schultz campaign should be thanking him for pushing her to do her job. 
 
It is much the same with the payday lending issue, in which Wasserman Schultz started the year backing a Republican bill to prevent President Obama’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from regulating payday loans, only to walk back her position after weeks of criticism from Canova.
 
Here’s the list of Social Security legislation touted by Wasserman Schultz, along with their dates of introduction and her cosponsorship, as reflected on the Congress.Gov website:
 
H.R. 1811, Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act
Introduced:  April 15, 2016               
Cosponsored:  July 14, 2016
 
H.R. 3351, CPI-E Act of 2015
Introduced:  July 29, 2015                 
Cosponsored:  July 14, 2016
 
H.R. 4144, SAVE Benefits Act
Introduced:  December 1, 2015                      
Cosponsored:  December 1, 2015
 
H.R. 1391, Social Security 2100 Act
Introduced:  March 17, 2015             
Cosponsored:  July 14, 2016
 
H.R. 3377, Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2015
Introduced:  July 29, 2015                 
Cosponsored:  July 16, 2016
 
House Resolution 393
Introduced:  July 29, 2015                 
Cosponsored:  June 7, 2016
 
H.R. 973, Social Security Fairness Act of 2015
Introduced:  February 13, 2015                     
Cosponsored:  April 12, 2016