Tag Archives: Bush tax cuts

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It’s an American Classic – Our Social Security System


 
What’s an American classic? Something that stays fresh and wonderful generation after generation. Something that says, “This is America.” Like ice cream cones. The Statue of Liberty. Sunday drives. The March on Washington and “I have a dream.” I Love Lucy.And our Social Security system.

Social Security - It's An American Classic! Celebrate Social Security’s birthday. Share this on:

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On this date in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. On its 77th birthday, we hail Social Security as an American classic! Why?

  • Social Security has brought Americans together across generations. Working together, we’ve built a system that provides income and security for workers and their families when they need it — when income is lost due to retirement, disability, or death.
  • For three-quarters of a century, through wars, recessions, natural disasters — and stock market crashes — Social Security has made every payment, on time and in full.
  • Social Security is the foundation of retirement security for most Americans — especially women. Without income from Social Security, half of women 65 and older would be poor.
  • Social Security is a family insurance plan that protects young workers, their spouses, and their children. More than 3.2 million children rely on Social Security.

And Social Security is still going strong! Even with no changes, it can pay 100 percent of promised benefits for the next 20 years, and 75 percent of promised benefits after that. Yes, there’s a long-term shortfall. But to put it in perspective: eliminating the entire 75-year shortfall costs about as much as extending the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest two percent.
Social Security will only turn 77 once! To celebrate this American classic you can:

When he signed the Social Security Act, President Roosevelt said that this law “represents a cornerstone in a structure which is being built but is by no means complete.” Since 1935 Americans have expanded and improved this structure, providing benefits for widows and children, workers with disabilities, benefits for divorced spouses (initially, after a 20-year marriage, later reduced to 10 years), eliminating sex discrimination in the award of benefits, and providing automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that help protect the value of Social Security benefits from eroding over time.
We need your help to protect and strengthen Social Security! Later this year, Congress will make far-reaching budget decisions — and cuts to Social Security benefits, particularly by reducing annual cost-of-living adjustments, are reportedly on the table. After Congress returns, we’ll keep you posted and make it easy for you to take action to protect Social Security. In addition, the policy makers we choose in November will make important decisions about the future of our Social Security system. So be sure you’re registered to vote!
Sincerely,
Joan Entmacher Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center   

P.S. Want to learn more about what Social Security means to women and families in your state? Check out our state-by-state fact sheets!
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A Victory for Tax Fairness:


National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
Did your Senators do the right thing?
                Find out how your Senators voted on ending the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2 percent. And send them a quick message!
Take Action

The Senate voted 51 to 48 to end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2 percent of Americans. Ending these tax cuts would save $1 trillion over the next 10 years and help protect programs that are critical to women at every stage of their lives.
While some Senators did the right thing, others did not. Take two minutes to find out how your Senators voted and send them a message.
Our advocacy isn’t done when the vote is tallied. We need to make sure your Senators know that you are watching their votes because this issue will come up again.
We can’t afford to give even more tax breaks to those who need them least when so many women and families are struggling just to make ends meet. Ending the Bush-era tax cuts on income above $250,000 would help protect programs like child care, Pell Grants, Head Start, Medicaid, and Title X family planning services.
Please hold your Senators accountable by sending them a quick message.
Want to do more?
Next week the House of Representatives will be voting on this very same issue. Let’s help continue the pressure by calling your Representative today at 1-888-744-9958 and say that it’s time for the richest Americans to pay their fair share: we need to end the Bush tax cuts on income over $250,000.
Your calls and emails are making a difference! Thanks again — and keep it up!
Sincerely,
Joan Entmacher Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center   

P.S. Remember that next week the House is voting on this same issue. So please get ready to make a quick call in support of ending the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2 percent.
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Sen. Patty Murray D-WA Raise Revenues and Cut Taxes


Jul 17, 2012 by    

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.): The way forward is clear, we have to raise revenues and cut taxes; and Republicans need to understand that tax reform isn’t a back door for sneaking through more tax cuts for the rich.
On July 16, 2012, the Budgeting for National Priorities project at Brookings hosted Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), member of the Senate Budget Committee, former chair of the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and a member of Senate Democratic leadership, for a conversation on the upcoming fiscal cliff, how she views the path to a balanced and bipartisan approach to avoiding it, and what steps she believes can be taken on the expiring Bush tax cuts and the scheduled sequestration.

Following Senator Murray’s keynote address, a panel of Brookings experts reflected on the current budget situation and prospects for a “grand bargain” to rein in the deficit and spur economic growth.
More on this event at: http://goo.gl/DbQpJ

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Bush-era tax cuts for the richest two percent

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National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
                Stand Up for Tax Fairness
                Call your Members of Congress at 1-888-744-9958 and tell them that it’s time for the richest Americans to pay their fair share.
Call 1-888-744-9958 today!

It’s go time!
In less than 24 hours Congress will start to vote on whether to end — or extend — the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest two percent.
Ending the Bush-era tax cuts on income above $250,000 per couple, as President Obama and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) have proposed, would help restore fairness to the tax code and protect programs vital to women and their families. It would give 98 percent of Americans their full tax cuts next year. And the wealthiest two percent would still receive tax breaks on their first $250,000! We simply can’t afford to give even more tax breaks to those who need them least when so many women and families are struggling just to make ends meet.
Calling is easy. And only takes a couple of minutes. Dial 1-888-744-9958 and listen to easy instructions and a sample script.
Ending the Bush-era tax cuts on income above $250,000 would save about $1 trillion over the next ten years — funding that’s urgently needed to protect programs like child care, Pell Grants, Head Start, Medicaid, and Title X family planning services. It’s time to stop trying to balance the budget on the backs of women and families. The richest Americans need to start paying their fair share of taxes.
There’s no time to waste: Call your Members of Congress at 1-888-744-9958 and tell them that it’s time for the richest Americans to pay their fair share: we need to end the Bush tax cuts on income over $250,000.
Your Senators and Representative are getting ready to vote and they need to hear from you right NOW! Tell them that you expect them to stand up for women and families — and end the Bush tax cuts for the richest two percent!
Sincerely,
Joan Entmacher Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center   

P.S. When we are this close to a vote, calls are one of the most effective ways for us to make an impact. Please take just a few minutes to call your Members of Congress at 1-888-744-9958.
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Tell Congress: Women Can’t Afford More Tax Cuts for the Richest Two Percent


It’s time for Congress to restore some fairness to the tax code. As early as next week, Congress will start to vote on whether to end — or extend — the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest two percent.

Extending the Bush-era tax cuts on income up to $250,000 per couple as President Obama has proposed would give 98 percent of Americans their full tax cuts next year. And the wealthiest two percent would still receive tax breaks on their first $250,000! We simply can’t afford to give even more tax breaks to those who need them least when so many women and families are struggling just to make ends meet.

Call your Members of Congress at 1-888-744-9958 and tell them that it’s time for the richest Americans to pay their fair share: we need to end the Bush tax cuts on income over $250,000.

Ending the Bush-era tax cuts on income above $250,000 would save about $1 trillion over the next ten years — funding that’s urgently needed to protect programs like child care, Pell Grants, Head Start, Medicaid, and Title X family planning services. It’s time to stop trying to balance the budget on the backs of women and families. The richest Americans need to start paying their fair share of taxes.

Can you take five minutes to make a call? Calling is easy. Dial 1-888-744-9958 and listen to easy instructions and a sample script.

Your Senators and Representative need to hear from you! Tell them that you expect them to stand up for women and families — and end the Bush tax cuts for the richest two percent!

Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Know someone with a phone? Please multiply the power of your action by forwarding this to friends, family and colleagues who can help generate some calls.