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President Obama will address the nation today about the so-called “fiscal cliff”. We’re happy to tell you that National Committee President/ CEO of the National Committee, Max Richtman, has been invited to attend today’s White House event.
That’s a good sign because we think it’s vital President Obama know that American’s of all ages and political stripes don’t support cutting Social Security & Medicare to pay down the debt.
President Obama recently had a press conference about the fiscal cliff. Here is a quote that stood out the most.
![“ 5.3 million Seniors we lifted above the poverty line thanks to [Social Security] in 2012. via twitter.
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Social Security is still the foundation for most seniors’ retirement. Without this critical safety-net program, over half of all older...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec36dc76b18fffe0340252dacfa323c5/tumblr_na9f7maoPg1qd3gmvo1_400.png)
5.3 million Seniors we lifted above the poverty line thanks to [Social Security] in 2012. via twitter.
Social Security is still the foundation for most seniors’ retirement. Without this critical safety-net program, over half of all older Americans would fall into poverty.
Generally, Social Security has been (effective) with other social insurance keeping senior Americans above the poverty rate. But, many seniors live extremely modestly, close to the poverty threshold
Monique Morrissey via Equal Voice.
Related Reading:
With people saving less and less for retirement, it’s important that Congress BOOSTS Social Security benefits for all American workers.
Leave Social Security Off the Table
Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee, wrote a blog on The Hill about Social Security and leaving it off the table during the “fiscal cliff” debates:
For too long, many in Washington have been obsessed with using Social Security’s revenues as the solution for a whole host of fiscal problems that have nothing to do with the Social Security program. Whether it’s cutting benefits in the name of deficit reduction (even though Social Security by law can not contribute to the debt) or diverting payroll taxes to stimulate the economy, these approaches ignore the fact that Social Security is paid for, earned by, and promised to American workers. Thankfully, the White House and many in Congress are finally acknowledging Social Security should not be used as political leverage in Washington’s version of “Let’s Make a Deal” and simply does not belong in this deficit debate. However, as long as the chained CPI and extension of the payroll tax holiday remain under consideration, Social Security is still in the political cross-hairs. (via The Hill)
It’s time for a bipartisan commitment from Congress to tackle this retirement crisis, which impacts the lives of almost every American family. Fifty-eight million Americans of all ages depend on the anti-poverty protection offered by Social Security. Social Security will be even more important to future generations, including the Recession Generation that is facing income loss, diminished net worth and high unemployment during their vital earning years. All these factors ultimately impact their retirement security.
Max Richtman via Baltimore Sun.
Fifty years after the launch of the War on Poverty, it’s time to apply our lessons learned to today’s economic and social challenges to usher in a new era of shared prosperity.
Did you know:
Social Security is still the foundation for most seniors’ retirement. Without this critical safety-net program, over half of all older Americans would fall into poverty.
A sentence more than halfway through the 214 page document reads that the budget proposes to eliminate strategies for claiming Social Security benefits that allow beneficiaries to maximize delayed retirement credits.
Thankfully, Americans have Social Security and Medicare to help ease their transition into retirement and improve the likelihood they’ll age financially and medically secure. Social Security keeps 22 million Americans out of poverty, while Medicare provides universal health care for 55 million seniors and people with disabilities.
The debates continue on the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’. Members of Congress recently met for a press conference to discuss the Chained CPI and how it’s a cut to Social Security.
Additionally, National Committee’s Rally Corps was there to let Congress know to keep their hands off Social Security!