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Senior Citizen Politics

New Campaign Gets 136 in Congress to Warn President About Cutting Social Security

These House Democrats pledge to oppose any form of Social Security cuts coming from commission setup by President Obama

Oct. 20, 2010 – This week 136 members of Congress – all Democrats -  sent a letter to President Obama stating that they will oppose any recommendations issued by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform that cut Social Security benefits, further raise the Social Security retirement age, or privatize the program in any way. The effort was planned by the newly formed Social Security Works (SSW), which has organized the Strengthen Social Security Campaign.

The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-7), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI-14) and Rep. Dan Maffei (NY-25). Another letter is being prepared for Senators.

A news release from the campaign said the three “worked an effective inside-outside strategy to protect Social Security for American workers, seniors, children, people with disabilities, and other Americans who count on Social Security, by building support within the Congress at the same time as members of the Strengthen Social Security Campaign activated the grassroots. The letter’s authors were able to gather support from over half of the Democratic caucus.”

Said Eric Kingson, co-chair of the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, “The powerful support this letter has received demonstrates that our message is slowly but surely spreading on the Hill: American voters overwhelmingly want Social Security protected. With all the losses Americans have sustained in the value of their homes, pensions and savings, the last thing we should be talking about is cutting Social Security benefits, today or tomorrow.

 “Across the country voters are growing more and more vocal in their support for Social Security – at over 100 parties for Social Security’s 75th birthday, turnout was large and enthusiasm was up. People are emailing, faxing and calling their members of Congress and telling them, hands off Social Security. The so-called ‘enthusiasm gap’ evaporates when you talk about Social Security, a program people care about and value.”

The letter was formally transmitted to President Obama on Monday, October 18, 2010.

The letter and a full list of signers is available at: http://strengthensocialsecurity.org/presscall

About Social Security Works

“The mission of Social Security Works is to protect and improve the economic status of disadvantaged and at-risk populations, and, in so doing, to promote social justice for current and future generations of children as well as young, middle-aged and older adults, according to a statement on the group’s website – StrengthenSocialSecurity.org.

“Our primary goals for the next round of Social Security legislation are that it,

   ● Protects and improves the economic security of disadvantaged and at-risk populations

   ● Safeguards the economic security of those dependent, now or in the future, on Social Security

   ● Maintains Social Security as a vehicle of social justice

“Social Security Works convened a group of organizations to address threats to the well-being of Social Security by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and others.

“In June, 2010, this group formalized to become the Strengthen Social Security campaign.

Core staffing of the Strengthen Social Security campaign is provided by Social Security Works, which is funded primarily by the Atlantic Philanthropies and is a project of The Advocacy Fund.

“Social Security Works is headed by our Co-directors Eric Kingson and Nancy Altman.” (bios)

  ● Link to the rest of staff here

  ● Strengthen Social Security

  ● View the full text of the petition here

About the coalition

The coalition is made up of over 215 national and state organizations representing over 50 million Americans, according to the website.  

“We are here to make sure that real people's voices are heard.  We stand united behind seven commonsense principles.”

Seven Principles

1) Social Security did not cause the federal deficit; its benefits should not be cut to reduce the deficit.

2) Social Security should not be privatized in whole or in part.

3) Social Security should not be means-tested.

4) Congress should act in the coming few years to close Social Security’s funding gap by requiring those who are most able to afford it to pay somewhat more.

5) Social Security’s retirement age, already scheduled to increase from 65 to 67, should not be raised further.

6) Social Security’s benefits should not be reduced, including by changes to the COLA or the benefit formula.

7) Social Security’s benefits should be increased for those who are most disadvantaged.

Read More About Seven Principles

Steering Committee

   ● AFL-CIO
   ● Alliance for Retired Americans
   ● American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
   ● American Federation of Teachers
   ● Campaign for America's Future
   ● Democracy For America
   ● Economic Policy Institute
   ● Food Research Action Center
   ● Generations United
   ● MoveOn.org Political Action
   ● NAACP
   ● National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
   ● National Council of Women's Organizations
   ● National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
   ● National Nurses United
   ● National Organization for Women
   ● National Senior Citizens Law Center
   ● National Women's Law Center
   ● OWL - The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
   ● Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
   ● Social Security Works
   ● The Arc
   ● United Cerebral Palsy
   ● USAction
   ● Voices for America’s Children

For a complete list of the groups and steering committee – click here.

The members of Congress signing the letter to President Obama.

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