Democrats: 'Happy birthday, Social Security'

Democrats marked the "birthday" of Social Security on Tuesday while seeking to tout their party's support of the entitlement program.

Several members of Congress tweeted a timeline of the program released by the Democratic Party that marked Aug. 14, 1935, as the day former President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the program into law.

"55 million seniors, disabled workers, widows and children rely on Social Security for economic security," the chart reads. "Since its inception, Social Security's surplus is $900 billion plus interest — $2.7 trillion! It has never added a dime to the national debt."

Many Democrats tweeted about the strength of the program, including Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas) and Bill Owens (N.Y.).

Before Social Security, most working Americans retired into poverty. Today, workers can build toward a more secure retirement.

— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) Aug. 14, 2012

Today is Social Security's 77th birthday. It's critical Dems & GOP work together to strengthen, not privatize system. ssa.gov/history/fdrsig…

— Bill Owens (@BillOwensNY) Aug. 14, 2012

Entitlement programs are particularly hot topics this year, and the anniversary comes at a key moment in the presidential race, with Mitt Romney having just named Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as his running mate. 

Ryan's controversial proposals to privatize some entitlement programs are one of the main lines of attack by those who oppose the GOP ticket.

Romney specifically addressed those programs in his speech announcing Ryan last weekend.

"We will preserve and protect Medicare and Social Security and keep them there for future generations," Romney said, "unlike the current president, who's cut Medicare funding by $700 billion."

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