AFL/CIO Pres. Trumka goes on the record opposing Social Security cuts!

[LongTomH]

Pres. Trumka adds his voice to the progressive congresspeople, nurses and others opposing any changes to Social Security! Trumka: Social Security Cuts Should Not Be on the Table:

Today as we hear that Social Security cuts may be on the table in the federal budget deficit talks, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and other union and progressive leaders, including House Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid, have come out strongly in opposition to such moves. Trumka says that “at a time when retirement security remains an elusive goal for most Americans, cuts to Social Security benefits – in whatever form they take – should not be on the table. ” Further,

Social Security, our nation’s most effective anti-poverty program, has not contributed one dime to the deficit and should not be part of any deficit-related trade-offs. The AFL-CIO continues to oppose any cuts in Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits, including any cuts in cost of living adjustments. The best solution to our deficit problem is to create good jobs that will rebuild our economy. That should be our first priority.

Ed Coyle, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, which represents millions of retirees, says the organization is “troubled by an idea being floated in Washington to change a federal statistical formula to lower Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) for Social Security. ”

As the administration and Republican leaders have previously said, Social Security does not contribute to the budget deficit. It would be terribly hurtful – as well as contradictory to prior White House statements – to try to balance the budget on the backs of current and future retirees. Lowering the COLA would be devastating for millions of retirees. According to the program’s Chief Actuary, a 75-year-old retiree’s benefits would be cut by $560 per year, while an 85-year-old would have an annual cut of $984.

Today’s seniors want to lower the budget deficit. They do not want a large debt to be the legacy they leave behind to their children and grandchildren. But the fact is that Social Security has not added one penny to our deficit and has no place in any debt ceiling negotiations.

I applaud Pres. Trumka for speaking out for all Americans, Union or not, currently retired or just hoping to retire.
I would also suggest that the Alliance for Retired Americans may be more deserving of your support than the AARP.

[jtown1123]

1. Trumka and Coyle are great advocates. I'd also recommend NCPSSM

www.ncpssm.org

[ProfessionalLeftist]

5. NCPSSM is great, as is strenthensocialsecurity.org n/t

[patrice]

2. Democrats, this is what "balls" looks like!

:blush: I can't believe I said that! :blush:

[Bryn]

3. As long as CEO's get millions of dollars in "bonus"

We should be able to have COLA always, for fuck's sake! Those bonus money CEOs get is actually looted from We The People with our own government's permission and blessing.

[FLAprogressive]

4. Unfortunately union voices just don't seem to matter with this administration

[patrice]

7. Is it even remotely possible that they matter so much that he wants them to get to the table ...

under their own power? so they won't be handicapped by dependence upon him and will, thus, survive on their own no matter what happens to his administration? Is any of that even remotely possible? If you really value someone for the unique entity they are, would you let your relationship to them limit what they can say, when they can say it, and how? Would you let them get weak and out of shape by carrying them around? Would you limit who they could associate with by keeping them in your own shadow?

Labor ***MUST*** do what is good for LABOR, not just be an accessory to power, no matter who is wielding it. And THAT kind of Labor is what a President needs at the table.

[senseandsensibility]

6. I would think so.

But I'm glad he's speaking up so forcefully. We definitely need all hands on deck at a time like this.

[patrice]

8. I passed that Alliance for Retired Americans link on through FaceBook.

Thank you very much!

:hi: