Julie Lassa of Wisconsin attacks Sean Duffy's stance on privatization

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Julie Lassa attacks Sean Duffy's stance on privatization

BY KATHLEEN FOODY • WAUSAU DAILY HERALD • JULY 16, 2010

Democrat Julie Lassa went on the offensive Thursday morning as her likely Republican opponent in the 7th Congressional District prepared for a major campaign event featuring former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Lassa met with local seniors to discuss her opposition to privatizing Social Security, a concept Gingrich touted during his time as a House representative and speaker. Gingrich is scheduled to appear with Lassa opponent and Republican congressional candidate Sean Duffy at 10 a.m. Friday at The Rose Garden in Wausau.

Duffy's appearance with Gingrich sends a "strong message" about his policies for Social Security and Medicare, Lassa told the group Thursday.

But Duffy's campaign said the appearance doesn't mean he agrees with every opinion of Gingrich's.

"They're going to pull a muscle stretching that far," spokesman Matt Seaholm said. "Just because somebody supports your campaign doesn't mean you agree with everything they say or have said. If Sen. Lassa's campaign believes that, they have just adopted a lot of positions of a lot of people."

Lassa's campaign said Duffy's general support of Rep. Paul Ryan's, R-Janesville, budgeting plan indicates he favors privatization of Social Security and creating a voucher system for Medicare.

"(Proponents of privatization) are not looking out for the best interests of the people that have paid into that system," said Lassa, a state senator from Stevens Point.

Duffy has supported Ryan's "Roadmap for America" on several occasions -- and that plan does include the Social Security and Medicare changes Lassa campaigned against on Thursday morning. Duffy doesn't seem to have addressed Social Security reforms directly and has addressed Medicare largely in the context of the national health care legislation passed this year.

Duffy never supported Ryan's approach to Social Security and Medicare expenses explicitly and pushing his general statements of approval for the plan as proof is "grasping at straws," Seaholm said.

Lassa's campaign said stepping back from any portion of the Ryan budget now is a major shift.

"He was asked, 'Do you support the Ryan budget proposal?' and he said 'Yes,' not 'Yes, but,'" Lassa's campaign manager Rick Fromberg said.

The Wausau residents invited to attend Lassa's town hall meeting on Thursday morning at the Labor Temple uniformly opposed privatization. Lanore Rusch of Wausau said lawmakers are responsive when she has questions about Social Security changes or proposals, but she doubts private companies would feel obligated to keep seniors informed.

"If I have a question now, I can call (Sen. Russ) Feingold or (Rep. Dave) Obey. What CEO is going to take my call?" said Lanore Rusch of Wausau.