The human chain against Social Security cuts!

[LongTomH]

The Strengthen Social Security Coalition and the Congressional Progressive Caucus have organized a human chain against cuts in Social Security.



Congressional Democrats are joining the pushback against Social Security and Medicare cuts:

At a press conference of the Congressional Progressive Caucus led by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the group said they aren’t waiting to see if the murmurs that it’s a possibility become reality.

“We are each others brother and sister’s keeper,” Ellison said. “Our citizens are precious to us. And our American citizens with disabilities are precious to us. And nobody under the bus.”

Ellison was joined by more than 20 other members and dozens of activists.

“They give their blood, their sweat, their tears, and they sacrifice and they expect certain things at the end of their retirement,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said. “One of the things that definitely expect is to live in dignity.”

[LongTomH]

1. Update from The Nation

Congressional Liberals Mobilize to Keep Social Insurance Out of Shutdown Talks:

This has left some progressives a little nervous—a debt ceiling increase with the promise of a grand bargain and a grand bargain that includes a debt ceiling increase is a distinction without much difference, except the notable removal of some leverage from the GOP side. And President Obama has repeatedly proposed Chained CPI in the past, and it would clearly be in play once during any broad discussions of a deficit reduction package.

Thursday morning, more than twenty liberal members of the House gathered outside the U.S. Capitol, along with a large group of retirees and other activists. The message was simple: they will not support cuts to Social Security or other safety net programs.

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“There is a basic, basic attack going on in this country against so-called entitlements. That’s what this fight is all about. That’s what the budget fight is all about,” said Representative Jerrold Nadler. “This has got to be fought, and it’s shameful if any Democrats, no matter where he or she may be, buys into any of this.”

Their efforts are being bolstered by renewed pushes from outside advocacy groups. On Wednesday, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare released a study examining how much money Chained-CPI might take away from seniors and people with disabilities—and also suck out of the economy. The study uses the Obama administration’s most recent proposal on Chained CPI, and found that it would reduce benefits nationwide by $23 billion by 2023. That translates to a loss of over $31 billion in economic output by that time.