"Raising the retirement age would inflict further hardship among a group of workers who are likely to face health and economic problems in their 60s." –Doug Hart, President, Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
"Of all the lies and confusion that still surround the Affordable Care Act, perhaps the greatest is that it is bad for seniors." - Dave Meinell, President, Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans
"My father died when I was three. Because of Social Security (survivors) benefits, my Mom, my younger sister and I survived." – Diane Fleming, DC Alliance Member
"We fear that Congress will balance the budget on the backs of the 98 percent, which is working Montanans and retired Montanans. We simply cannot afford these devastating cuts to vital services such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid," –John Forkan, President, Montana Alliance for Retired Americans
"Along with national parks and Social Security, Medicare is one of the best ideas we Americans have ever devised." -Tim Cunningham, New Mexico Alliance Member
"Seniors have earned and deserve their Social Security checks, and they shouldn't have to go to Congress every 10 years and beg for the program to be renewed." –James Parent, Alliance for Retired Americans Regional Board Member
"Today's retirees paid Medicare and Social Security taxes in every paycheck we ever earned. Now that we are retired, these programs help us to be able to stay healthy and pay our bills. They are the promise we make to people who worked hard all their lives, and we need to keep that promise for today’s workers." –Tony Fransetta, President, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
"Today's seniors want to lower the budget deficit. We do not want a large debt to be the legacy we leave to future generations, but we should not punish people who have paid Social Security taxes all their lives." –Jim Moore, President, North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans
"Social Security should remain what it has been for 77 years – a solid, reliable way that generations of workers have been able to retire with dignity, economic security, and peace of mind." –Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
"The fight for Social Security and Medicare is part of a larger fight for justice and fairness"—Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
"The health insurance reform helps not just seniors, but also middle-class families and young Americans, who are just starting to see the benefits. Don’t let Republicans take all that away." –Don Rowen, President Emeritus, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
"Honoring the promise of Social Security and Medicare should not be a partisan issue. Honoring the contributions that we make throughout our working years so that we may feed and clothe ourselves, keep a roof over our heads and those of our family, there is no reason for that to be a hotly contested partisan issue." –Edward Coyle, Executive Director, Alliance for Retired Americans
"We need to make sure that people who need Social Security to make ends meet will have it, and not fall victim to ill-informed and unnecessary cuts to these vital programs."
–Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
GOP Leaders Threaten Social Security
February 18, 2011
Retiree Leader Rejects “Cold-Hearted” Proposal
For Immediate Release
February 18, 2011
The following statement was issued today by Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans:
“The Alliance for Retired Americans, a grassroots advocacy organization with over 4 million members, is outraged by the cold-hearted ways in which House Republicans are trying to lower the budget deficit on the backs of seniors, persons with disabilities, and young survivors.
“Their plan would create massive furloughs – shutting down the entire agency for 20 working days. This would be devastating for the people in our country who are most in need. For example:
• Phones and offices would be shut down, leaving current recipients who have questions or concerns unable to get the help they need. 3.6 million people visit Social Security offices each month. Social Security receives 119,000 calls a day to its field offices and 280,000 calls a day to its 800 number. A twenty-day furlough would block 8 million callers who need immediate help;
• Over a half a million people who are applying for benefits would be forced into a long backlog of delays that could extend well into next year; and
• Those grieving from a recent death of a spouse would be unable to change their benefits status, banking information, and other details to help them through this difficult time.
“Millions of Americans would not get the help they need, all because of political gamesmanship and pettiness by the Republican Party.
“In my opinion, this is a back-door effort to cut Social Security. The Republicans have caught some much-deserved criticism when they have suggested cutting Social Security benefits, raising the retirement age, or turning privatized system over to Wall Street.
“But with this move today, they are hoping nobody notices.
“But we notice and we are here today to defend Social Security, one of America's greatest success stories.
“Social Security is a promise that our government makes to the American people.
“To keep that promise, the Social Security Administration must have the resources and staffing its needs to make sure that seniors, persons with disabilities, and survivors are able to receive the benefits they have earned and need each month to make ends meet.
“The Alliance for Retired Americans strongly opposes this bill and urges the Senate to reject these cold-hearted cuts.”
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Contact: Contact: David Blank (202) 637-5275 or dblank@retiredamericans.org
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