Seniors Rally Over Social Security, Call On Lawmakers To Scrap The FICA Wage Cap

[limpyhobbler]

Chanting “scrap the cap” at a rally in downtown Chicago, members of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus (JASC) offered up a list of legislative demands for Illinois congressional delegates to adhere to as a way of keeping America’s social safety intact.

Joined by U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D, IL-7), an estimated 100 demonstrators rallied in Federal Plaza Monday to call for a lift on the wage cap that is imposed on the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax. The ralliers also want to see the full benefit retirement age stay at 67, and avoid modifications to cost-of-living-adjustments.

Representatives from the JASC delivered a letter to the offices of U.S. Sens. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) urging them to schedule a meeting to discuss the caucus’ demands.

“We’re not asking for much, I see people everyday who struggle because of their dependence on Social Security,” said Jean Horcher, 75, who delivered the letter to Kirk and Durbin’s offices.
...

more: http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2013/04/03/social-security-rally-federal-plaza-demands-scrapping-fica-wage-cap


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Thanks for Rep. Danny Davis. We need more like him for sure.

[JDPriestly]

1. K&R

[WillyT]

2. K & R !!!

[NorthCarolina]

3. Too bad the voters are the only ones demanding that. nt

[zentrum]

9. And Bernie Sanders I believe n/t

[xtraxritical]

19. The Progressive Caucus has clout...

[NYC_SKP]

4. K/R (nt)

[AnotherMcIntosh]

5. K&R

[bhikkhu]

6. Nice! Now if the repugs who won't touch chained cpi will go along as well...

we might see this actually done!

Raising the cap is something I'm sure the president would happily sign into law, but it wouldn't have a prayer in congress if he were openly in favor of it.

[limpyhobbler]

22. Cool so I expect to see the Prez. on TV making these same three pledges.

Should be easy if he agrees with the ideas.

[bhikkhu]

23. A push would be nice, but congress passes legislation

...and the way it works for the past four years is if the president is for it, congress is against it. Raising the cap is likely to pass if he doesn't agree, or seems to be going the other way.

[limpyhobbler]

24. This is about removing the cap, not raising it.

There were three issues raised in this post.

1) Will you work to remove the cap.

2) Will you work against raising the retirement age.

3) Will you work against chained CPI.

I'm sick of the excuse that Republicans are blocking.

This is not about Republicans. This is about Democrats. Will Democrats fight for these principles? Or will they pay lip service to these ideas but then sneakily betray the public trust by joining with the GOP to chip away at the promise of Social Security, like Obama tried to do with the chained CPI.

[bhikkhu]

25. Well, even just raising the cap would eliminate any reasons for #2 and #3

A little bit would make a huge difference.

[limpyhobbler]

27. I don't think so. The Wall Street tools will keep creating fake crises to justify chipping away at

Social Security.

[KoKo]

7. Nice...Thanks!

's

[mbperrin]

8. Yes, scrap the cap is all that's required for SS to pay in full. Forever.

So let's do it and leave the rest of it alone.

[SharonAnn]

11. Then the highly paid will divert their "wages" to some form of income that doesn't pay FICA

Law of unintended consequences could show up.

More is needed than just lifting the cap. Move more compensation to "wage" status.

[AzDar]

10. K & R

[snappyturtle]

12. K&R nt

[freshwest]

13. Excellent. get that bill by Begich and others passed now. Then discuss anything else afterwards.

[Liberalynn]

14. +1

K&R

[pscot]

15. I've been told they all vote Republican

[cantbeserious]

16. Where Is Obama? - No Where To Be Found

eom

[ReRe]

17. K&R

"We didn't start the fire!" Hands off the Big 3. Go after the scoundrels that piled up this deficit since 2000!

[mountain grammy]

18. Scrap the cap!! my people.

[Faryn Balyncd]

20. While we're at it: Here is While House TELEPHONE COMMENTS LINE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022635705#op

[limpyhobbler]

21. cool thanks. (nt)

[demosincebirth]

26. Why is the FICA wage cap a sacred cow? It's the most sensible, cost saving way to keep

SS afloat for decades to come.