Senators Conrad (D-ND) and Gregg (R-NH) have come up with a special fast-track commission that they say will cure America's budget problems, and they are holding up other legislation until the Senate votes on their proposal. Debate begins on January 20th.
"It is clear from their press release that Senators Conrad and Gregg have painted a big red target on Social Security and Medicare," Senator Baucus (D-MT) warned. "That's what this commission is all about. It's a big roll of the dice for Social Security and Medicare."
This type of fast-track commission is undemocratic and takes power away from Congress to make decisions about Social Security. Social Security does not contribute to the national debt; it is insurance that workers have earned through their hard work.
Social Security is fundamental to the economic security of all Americans, particularly women, seniors, minorities, the disabled children who lose a parent, people who lose a spouse, and veterans.
"The average Social Security recipient receives $13,860 annually, less if you are a woman. The fact that Senators Conrad and Gregg think the way to fix budget shortfalls is to make seniors poorer is shocking and laughable - first, because Social Security doesn't contribute in any way to the national deficit, and second, because essentially Congress has allowed $150 billion in Wall Street bonuses," stated, Ashley Carson, OWL Executive Director. "Robbing grandma to reward Wall Street fat cats is not sound economics."
The number for the call-in day is 1.800.998.0180 and has been generously provided by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare who has been a leader on this issue and whose members have been making calls already.
Campaign for America's Future www.ourfuture.org & CEPR www.cepr.net - both doing great work on this issue including calling out the Washington Post's relationship with the Pete G. Peterson Foundation (The Fiscal Times)
www.socialsecuritymatters.org