Theresa Greenfield Background
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THERESA GREENFIELD BACKGROUND The day her husband was killed in an accident at work changed everything for Theresa Greenfield. With a thirteen month- old and another on the way, Theresa had to rely on Social Security to raise her family. Now politicians are talking about gutting Social Security -- letting the same Wall Street banks that have donated to these politicians -- gambling it away on the stock market. Greenfield will fight to protect Social Security to ensure seniors receive the hard-earned retirement they’ve earned and deserve. THE DAY HER HUSBAND WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT AT WORK CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR THERESA GREENFIELD. WITH A THIRTEEN MONTH-OLD AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY, THERESA HAD TO RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY TO RAISE HER FAMILY. Greenfield’s First Husband Was A Journeyman Lineman And IBEW Union Member Who Was Killed On The Job. “Her first husband was a journeyman lineman and IBEW (electrical workers union) member who was killed on the job. At the time of his death, Greenfield was just 24 years old with a one-year-old son and four months pregnant with another. Social security, workers’ compensation and help from her family kept her on her feet during that time, allowing her to go back to college to train for a new career track to take care of her family.” [Iowa Starting Line, 2/3/18] Greenfield Was Just 24 Years Old With A One-Year-Old Son And Another Child On The Way When Her First Husband Passed Away. “Her first husband was a journeyman lineman and IBEW (electrical workers union) member who was killed on the job. At the time of his death, Greenfield was just 24 years old with a one-year-old son and four months pregnant with another. Social security, workers’ compensation and help from her family kept her on her feet during that time, allowing her to go back to college to train for a new career track to take care of her family.” [Iowa Starting Line, 2/3/18] Social Security Helped Greenfield’s Family Stay On Their Feet. “Her first husband was a journeyman lineman and IBEW (electrical workers union) member who was killed on the job. At the time of his death, Greenfield was just 24 years old with a one-year-old son and four months pregnant with another. Social security, workers’ compensation and help from her family kept her on her feet during that time, allowing her to go back to college to train for a new career track to take care of her family.” [Iowa Starting Line, 2/3/18] Greenfield: “One Of The Things That Saved Our Family Was Social Security.” “Greenfield tied her life story to larger political issues in the video. She recounts being a young mother when her first husband died in an electrical accident while working for the Interstate Power Company in Minnesota. At the time, she had a 13-month-old boy, and was pregnant with her second son. ‘One of the things that saved our family was Social Security,’ Greenfield said.” [Little Village Mag, 6/3/19] NOW POLITICIANS ARE TALKING ABOUT GUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY -- LETTING THE SAME WALL STREET BANKS THAT HAVE DONATED TO THESE POLITICIANS -- GAMBLING IT AWAY ON THE STOCK MARKET. Washington Post: “Sen. Ernst Says Lawmakers Should Discuss Fixing Social Security ‘Behind Closed Doors’” [Washington Post, 9/5/19] • New York Magazine: “Iowa Republican Senator Wants to Gut Social Security ‘Behind Closed Doors’” [New York Magazine, 9/5/19] • Daily Kos: “Republican Joni Ernst Wants To Gut Social Security, But Only Behind Closed Doors” [Daily Kos, 9/5/19] • Ernst: Both Parties Should “Sit Down Behind Closed Doors” To Avoid Public Scrutiny When Discussing Changes To Social Security. “‘How do we sustain Social Security for some of our younger workers?’ asked Ernst. ‘We know that there is a point in time when we as Congress will have to address the situation, and I think it’s better done sooner rather than later, to make sure that we shored up that system. ‘So, it’s a broader discussion for another day,’ she continued, ‘but I do think as various parties and members of Congress, we do need to sit down behind closed doors so we’re not being scrutinized by this group or the other, and just have an open and honest conversation about what are some of the ideas that we have for maintaining Social Security in the future.’” [Iowa Starting Line, 9/4/19] The Gazette Editorial: Ernst Supported Privatizing Social Security, So “It’s Not Surprise That Ernst Would Want To Discuss Solutions ‘Behind Closed Doors’ Away From The Scrutiny Of Her Constituents.” “Ernst’s comment has drawn criticism from liberals and advocacy groups for several reasons. And it’s more than just the partisan bickering. Ernst has, in the past, supported the privatization of Social Security. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Ernst would want to discuss solutions ‘behind closed doors’ away from the scrutiny of her constituents.” [Editorial, The Gazette, 9/12/19] Joni For Iowa Took Campaign Contributions From Corporate PACs Of Investment Banks. According to FEC, Joni For Iowa took campaign contributions from the PACs of investment banks including: Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Wells Fargo. [FEC, Accessed 3/24/20] Since 2013, Ernst Took $1,712,816 From Wall Street. • Between 2015 And 2020, Ernst’s Campaign Committees Have Taken $1,064,091 From The Securities And Investment Industry. [Open Secrets, Accessed 3/24/20] • Between 2015 And 2020, Ernst’s Campaign Committees Have Taken $165,327 From The Commercial Banking Industry. [Open Secrets, Accessed 3/24/20] • Between 2015 And 2020, Ernst’s Campaign Committees Have Taken $196,724 From The Misc. Finance Industry. [Open Secrets, Accessed 3/24/20] • Between 2015 And 2020, Ernst’s Campaign Committees Have Taken $20,671 From Finance And Credit Companies. [Open Secrets, Accessed 3/24/20] • Between 2013 And 2014, Ernst’s Campaign Committee Took $73,850 From The Commercial Banking Industry. [Open Secrets, Accessed 10/29/19] • Between 2013 And 2014, Ernst’s Campaign Committee Took $139,020 From The Securities And Investment Industry. [Open Secrets, Accessed 10/29/19] • Between 2013 And 2014, Ernst’s Campaign Committee Took $51,133 From The Misc. Finance Industry. [Open Secrets, Accessed 10/29/19] • Between 2013 And 2014, Ernst’s Campaign Committee Took $2,000 From Finance And Credit Card Companies. [Open Secrets, Accessed 8/26/19] Iowa Public Radio: “Loebsack: Privatizing Social Security Back On Agenda If Republicans Keep Control.” [Iowa Public Radio, 8/13/18] August 2019: Sen. Thune Expressed “Hope” That President Trump Would Be “Interested” In Cuts To Social Security. “Conservative groups — which largely supported Mr. Trump’s tax cuts — have pushed Congress to cut future deficits by reducing benefits for federal health care and retirement programs, like Medicare and Social Security. […] ‘We’ve got to fix that,’ said Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate. ‘It’s going to take presidential leadership to do that, and it’s going to take courage by the Congress to make some hard votes. We can’t keep kicking the can down the road.’ ‘I hope in a second term, he is interested,’ Mr. Thune said of Mr. Trump. ‘With his leadership, I think we could start dealing with that crisis. And it is a crisis.’” [New York Times, 8/21/19] Retirement Security Expert: “Many Republicans [Were] Signaling They Want To” Diminish, Or Privatize Social Security. “The chief target of these proposed cuts is Social Security, which historians have noted the mainstream Republican party has long sought to diminish, privatize, or both. […] Since past behavior is a good predictor of future behavior, and many Republicans are signaling they want to, Republicans will likely argue for cuts to Social Security and Medicare when a recession inevitably hits.” [Forbes, Teresa Ghilarducci, 8/23/19] Republican Party Platform On Social Security: “Of The Many Reforms Being Proposed, All Options Should Be Considered.” “We reject the old maxim that Social Security is the ‘Third Rail’ of American politics, deadly for anyone who would change it. The Democratic Party still treats it that way, even though everyone knows that its current course will lead to a financial and social disaster. […] Of the many reforms being proposed, all options should be considered to preserve Social Security.” [Republican Platform, 2016] GREENFIELD WILL FIGHT TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY TO ENSURE SENIORS RECEIVE THE HARD-EARNED RETIREMENT THEY’VE EARNED AND DESERVE. Greenfield Pledged To Protect Social Security And Keep Promise Made To Seniors. “While politicians in Washington are talking about cutting Medicare and Social Security to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and special interests, Theresa believes that Social Security and Medicare are promises we must keep to our seniors. She opposes the privatization of both programs as they are crucial to the livelihoods of countless Iowans. Theresa will never let anyone lay a finger on them while she is in the Senate.” [Greenfield For Iowa, Issue, Retirement Security, Accessed 3/24/20] Greenfield Opposed Privatization Of Social Security. “While politicians in Washington are talking about cutting Medicare and Social Security to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and special interests, Theresa believes that Social Security and Medicare are promises we must keep to our seniors. She opposes the privatization of both programs as they are crucial to the livelihoods of countless Iowans. Theresa will never let anyone lay a finger on them while she is in the Senate.” [Greenfield For Iowa, Issue, Retirement Security, Accessed 3/24/20] .