Should benefits to middle class Americans be cut to pay forWashington’s fiscal failures? New Englanders say Stop the Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
The Congressional Super Committee has until November 23rd to submit a deficit reduction plan. By all accounts, cutting benefits to Social Security and Medicare are among the proposals being considered by members of both parties, including Senator John Kerry. Millions of Americans rely on these programs, and now, with a ballooning deficit and more and more Americans out of work, it is critical that we ensure programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are preserved.
Social Security has not contributed one dime to the federal deficit, and cutting Medicare alone will not address the skyrocketing costs crippling the entire health care system. These proposals will, however, hurt today’s seniors, today’s workers and tomorrow’s retirees. Seniors and workers say: don’t cut our hard-earned benefits; focus attention on creating jobs, not hurting constituents.
Today, about one million Massachusetts residents rely on Social Security and Medicare. The average Social Security benefit for middle- and low-income Bay State Seniors is $13,900, while their average out-of-pocket cost for health care is $6,800.
Voters from across Massachusetts and New England are angry, and that’s why an alliance of over 55 organizations led by senior groups including Mass Senior Action, Mass Home Care, Massachusetts Association of Older Americans, AARP and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare has joined forces to demand no cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. A huge turnout is expected for a rally at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 9th at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre in Boston where thousands of seniors and workers will voice their opposition to proposed Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid cuts. AllMassachusetts residents are encouraged to attend this important event.
Following the program at the Wang Theatre (at approximately 12:45 p.m.), the group will board buses for a rolling rally throughBostonto the offices of Sen. John Kerry and Sen. Scott Brown.
Can’t attend the event on the 9th? Please contact Senators Kerry and Brown today at 1-800-998-0180 and ask them to make NO CUTS to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, one of the partners on the 11/10 event, has launched a nationwide campaign to fight these cuts. Learn more at www.saynocuts.org.
Following is the list of organizations participating in Wednesday’s event:
1199SEIU ▪ AARP ▪ AFGE District 2 ▪ Association for Behavioral Healthcare ▪ Boston Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO ▪ Boston Center for Independent Living ▪ Boston Workers Alliance ▪ City of Boston, Elderly Commission ▪ Coalition for Human Needs ▪ Community Catalyst ▪ Community Labor United ▪ Chinese Progressive Association ▪ City Life/Vida Urbana ▪ CSJ/CAP ▪ Chelsea Collaborative ▪ Disability Policy Consortium ▪ Dorchester People for Peace ▪ Eastern Mass OWL ▪ GALLAN ▪ Greater Boston Labor Council ▪ Health Care for All ▪ IBEW Local 103 ▪ IBEW Local 2222 ▪ IUE-CWA Local 201 ▪ Jobs with Justice ▪ Latinos for a Secure Retirement ▪ MA AFL-CIO ▪ Mass Association Older Americans ▪ Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants ▪ Massachusetts Building Trades Council, AFL-CIO ▪ Mass Council on Aging ▪ Mass Coalition for a Working Economy ▪ Mass Peace Action ▪ MassUniting ▪ Mass Nurses Association ▪ Mass Senior Action Council ▪ Mass Home Care ▪ Mass Teachers Association ▪ Move On ▪ NAGE ▪ NASW ▪ National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare ▪ Neighbor to Neighbor ▪ New England United for Justice ▪ North Shore Labor Council ▪ Neighbors United Better East Boston ▪ Progressive Democrats of America ▪ Providers’ Council ▪ SEIU Massachusetts State Council ▪ SEIU 509 ▪ SEIU 615 ▪ SEIU 888 ▪ Social Security Works ▪ Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts ▪ Union of Minority Neighborhoods ▪ USW Local 4-366 ▪ Western MA Jobs with Justice
I get a Social Security check direct-deposited every first week of the month. I spent some of it today on warm apparel made right here in my own hometown, Framingham. The 1-800-998-0180 hotline is too automated. I prefer calling the Deputy Campaign Manager of Thomas Patrick Conroy for United States Senate. Better yet, I just saw Tom tonight at Wellesley. With a leader like Tom to follow, I don’t bother fiddling touch-screens on an iPhone during breaktime.
Please, please don’t cut or meddle with Social Security or Medicare or other critical social programs on my birthday. You see, the deadline for your recommendations is on my birthday, and it would be a sad birthday indeed if you were to cave in to the worst elements of our politics and make cuts or changes to programs that DO. NOT. NEED to be cut. Fix the system by RAISING THE CAP and all would be solvent. Do not ruin my future and the future of my generation by going back on your promise to us, the people who have paid into the system all our working lives.
Thank you.