Alliance for Retired Americans statement on Social Security cuts--petition link included
This is a message from WA State ARA President, Mike Warren:
“Brothers and sisters, we have heard from multiple news sources that the president is offering the chain CPI in exchange for some minimal tax increases. The speaker has already suggested that the change in the CPI is necessary to maintain solvency of the Social Security system and has nothing to do with raising taxes.
We, in Washington, cannot let this insult to seniors, people of disability, and disabled veterans stand without a fight.
The Alliance for Retired Americans has provided a link to contact the president and register our concerns.
Please share this with your members and ask them to take action right away by going to http://bit.ly10CYEd9
Or go to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/washingtonalliance or go to www.retiredamericans.org and you can find the petition there.
The following statement was issued today by Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans.
“Today’s press reports that President Obama will include cuts to Social Security cost of living adjustments (COLAs) and Medicare in his budget proposal next Wednesday are very disturbing.
“The use of the chained CPI to calculate cost of living adjustments is simply not fair. It is not an insignificant tweak; it constitutes a significant benefit cut. Worse, it cuts benefits more with every passing year. It will do real damage to seniors and people with disabilities – in the present and future.
“Not only does the current cost of living adjustment formula not keep up with inflation for seniors, it does not accurately account for the large health care cost increases faced by seniors and people with disabilities. The chained CPI would further underestimate the cost of living adjustments for seniors. We need a higher COLA, one that accurately reflects beneficiaries’ costs, not a lower one.
“Our members are very upset that the President is willing to compromise on this issue of Social Security, one that certainly does not belong in budget discussions since Social Security by law cannot contribute to the federal deficit.
“Our 4 million members are watching closely and remaining hopeful that Washington finds a way to do the right thing – that certainly doesn’t mean wrongly balancing the budget on the backs of our seniors.”
The President’s proposal includes cutting Social Security COLA by using the chained CPI. This would do real damage to Seniors and people with disabilities, current and in the future. The chained CPI:
o is a benefit cut
o cuts benefits more with every passing year
o hits today’s Social Security beneficiaries
We need a higher COLA – not a lower one. The current COLA does not adequately account for large health care cost increases faced by seniors and people with disabilities
It is important to send President Obama and the White House a message that this is not acceptable. Go to this link http://bit.ly10CYEd9 and send your message NOW!
We will be asking, in the very near future, for you and your members to take actions as the budget issues progress. Please check your email or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/washingtonalliance.
