Tag Archives: Social Security

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At Risk for Social INsecurity


National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change

Women and families depend on Social Security. Don’t let Congress cut this critical program.

You know that the budget talks in Washington are heating up. But you may not have heard that Social Security cuts are on the table.

That’s because they’re not talking openly about cutting Social Security. Instead, they’re saying that they are making a technical change in the way the cost-of-living adjustment is calculated for federal programs like Social Security.

But this is a stealth benefit cut that would mean insecurity for all Social Security recipients, especially women. And, because the cut would grow deeper the longer you receive benefits, it would especially hurt women, who live longer than men, rely more on income from Social Security, and are already more likely to be poor.

Women can’t afford cuts to Social Security benefits because:

  • The average Social Security benefit for women 65 and older is just $12,000 per year.
  • Without Social Security, half of women 65 and older would be poor.
  • This cut would especially hurt the oldest and poorest beneficiaries, who are overwhelmingly women.

Women and their families shouldn’t bear the brunt of deficit reduction—and time is running out. Tell your Members of Congress and the Administration that Social Security and programs vital to low-income families must be protected – and millionaires and corporations must contribute to any deficit reduction plan. Demand Fair Change, Not Spare Change™ in the budget debate.

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

P.S. Want to know more about this stealth Social Security benefit cut? Check out our blog.
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Take Action Today: It’s All On the Line …Joan Entmacher and Judy Waxman, National Women’s Law Center


National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
 
 
     
  Budgetary Threats Loom Closer: Call the Senate  
     
   
     
  Dial 1-888-907-1485 and demand a fair and responsible deficit-reduction agreement that works for women and their families!  
     
  Call 1-888-907-1485 today!  
     

The way deficit-reduction talks are going on Capitol Hill, it’s all on the line for women and struggling families. Programs that help those who need it the most are under threat: Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, child care, Head Start, Food Stamps, Pell Grants and more are at risk of devastating cutbacks. Republican leaders are demanding deep cuts in vital programs, rejecting any revenue increases, and threatening to let the U.S. default on its obligations — causing another economic crisis — if they don’t get their way.

Don’t let these important programs be held hostage in the deficit-reduction debates! Call your Senators toll-free at 1-888-907-1485 today! Ask them to insist on a budget plan that reduces the deficit responsibly and works for all Americans — not just millionaires and big business.

Dial 1-888-907-1485 to be connected to your own Senators’ offices.Tell them:

  • Your name and that you are a constituent;
  • You’re depending on them to prevent harmful cuts or caps to programs for low- and moderate-income people in the negotiations to reduce the deficit;
  • That they must insist on fair increases in revenues from those with the greatest ability to pay to prevent reckless cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and other essential domestic services.

Though reducing the long-term deficit is an important step toward stabilizing and growing our nation’s economy, we must do it responsibly. And, one of the best ways to reduce the long-term deficit is to create jobs now — not to make spending cuts that will eliminate more public sector jobs and weaken the economy.

With negotiations proceeding to craft a deal that may last a decade, we have to act now. So we’re helping mobilize Americans to call the Senate this week to make our position known.

Join our National Budget Call-In Days through the end of the week. We need your voice: Call your Senators toll-free at 1-888-907-1485.

Remember: it’s all on the line. We are determined to Demand Fair Change, Not Spare Change™, and we need your help now, more than ever.

Thank you for your continued commitment. We couldn’t do this without you!

Sincerely,
 
Joan Entmacher   Joan Entmacher
Vice President, Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center 		  Judy Waxman   Judy Waxman
Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights
National Women’s
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… Michael Langenmayr, Democracy for America


John Boehner is forcing the country into bankruptcy as part of his right-wing war on middle class families.

 Here are the facts — Republicans don’t have the votes to increase the debt limit without Democrats, but Boehner has rejected every Democratic proposal to repeal the Bush tax cuts for the rich, end subsidies for big oil, or close tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas. Instead, Boehner wants to gut Social Security and Medicare.

 Cutting Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid is insane. It will be a punch in the gut to middle class families and will send the country deeper into recession.

 Thankfully, Nancy Pelosi and progressives in Congress are standing up against John Boehner and his right-wing Tea Party colleagues. We need to let them know that we have their backs.

 Call your Congressperson right now at (202) 224-3121 and tell them to take Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid off the table.  Click on link for more information >>http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/900?akid=1069.1480546.xAsD8X&t=1

 This is crunch time. Congress has less than two weeks to find a compromise and raise the debt limit. We need to make clear everyone understands that we can’t cut the deficit on the backs of middle class families.

 Thank you for all that you do.

 – Michael

 Michael Langenmayr, Deputy Political Director
 Democracy for America

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Demand Fair Change, Not Spare Change™


National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
The Flip Side of the Coin
Add your voice to our storybank to support critical domestic programs for women that are at risk.
Share Your Story

The temperature is rising in Washington over negotiations on cutting federal spending as part of a deal to reduce the deficit and raise the country’s legal borrowing limit, known as the debt ceiling.

There’s a lot on the line for women and families: Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, maternal and child health programs, Head Start, unemployment insurance, and more are at risk of being cut dramatically. At the same time, some political leaders are threatening to cause the United States to default in order to protect tax breaks for the super-duper rich.

It’s a price we can’t afford to pay. Hedge fund managers and CEOs with corporate jets are one side of the coin. The rest of us are the Flip Side of the Coin, and we want to hear from you. Tell us what domestic programs have meant for you and your family!

Women and their families should not bear the brunt of deficit reduction — women need fair change to survive and thrive. Instead of drastic spending cuts, Congress should protect key domestic programs and services and increase revenues from the wealthiest in our society.

Help us protect these critical investments by putting a face on them: add your voice to our “Flip Side of the Coin” storybank! We will compile the stories we gather and use them in our advocacy efforts, from testimony before Congress to important written materials, to protect vital programs.

With your help, we’re going to Demand Fair Change, Not Spare Change™ for women and families in the budget debate.

Sincerely,
Joan Entmacher Joan Entmacher
Vice President, Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center 		Judy Waxman Judy Waxman
Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights
National Women’s Law Center
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Sign the petition to congressional Democrats asking them to stop a terrible debt deal


BREAKING: Reports say the president just offered to cut Social Security benefits, if Republicans agree not to let the U.S. default on its debts.1
It’s his offering to the out-of-control Republicans, who are threatening to crash the economy in order to ram through savage cuts to crucial government programs.
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It’s sickening to think that millions of seniors would have to sacrifice in order to appease Republican hostage-takers. Especially because every poll shows overwhelming majority of Americans support raising taxes on the rich and protecting Social Security and Medicare.2
But there’s still time to stop this “bargain” in its tracks. Whatever deal the president offers Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass Congress. So we need Democrats in Congress to stand strong and oppose any benefit cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
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Can you sign our emergency petition to Democrats in Congress and tell them to stand up and tell the President they will not vote for Social Security and Medicare benefits cuts?       Add your name here.
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President Obama is making a huge mistake that will cost our country dearly.
This is one of those moments where we either stand up and demand that the Democrats in Congress show a real spine. Or we sit back and watch the Republicans destroy decades’ worth of progress.
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Will you help send a message demanding that Democrats draw a clear line in the sand: no cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits?
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Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Wes, Elena, Julia, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. “In Debt Talks, Obama Offers Social Security Cuts,” The Washington Post, July 6, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=210871&id=28665-17809870-IiKa5ex&t=5

2. “Poll: To Reduce Deficit, Most Americans say Tax the Rich More,” CBS News, January 3, 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20027036-503544.html