Retirees and Workers Tell Congress: "Don't Make Us Work 'Til We Die!"

April 21, 2011

For Immediate Release                                                 

April 21, 2011                                                                      


Events Highlight Opposition to Republican Budget Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid


Seniors, workers and residents from around the nation are holding events next week, many in their old work uniforms, to protest budget cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, all of which have been recently voted on in Congress.  The events are part of a national week of action called “Don’t Make Us Work ’Til We Die,” which are taking place in states including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin during the week of April 25. Nationally, these events are sponsored by the Alliance for Retired Americans and the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 300 other national and state organizations. 

Event participants are protesting an April 15th vote in favor of the House Republican budget, which would turn Medicare over to insurance companies and slash Medicaid spending by $1.4 trillion. Event participants are also telling their Representative that they oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including raising the retirement age.

For a detailed list of the events taking place in the coming week, as well as a video that demonstrates what’s at stake for retirees and workers who attend them, please go to http://www.retiredamericans.org/issues/Working_Til_We_Die.

The events are taking place as the budget debate is heating up in Washington, and as many in Congress propose big benefit cuts to Social Security, including increasing the retirement age to 69 or even 70.

“Social Security belongs to the people who have worked hard all their lives and contributed to the program. It does not belong to politicians in Washington who want to use it as a piggy bank to fund tax cuts for the rich or bailouts for Wall Street,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Social Security is based on a promise.”

“Social Security did not cause the federal deficit. It has not contributed one penny to the deficit,” continued Mr. Coyle. “It has a $2.6 trillion surplus today that workers and employers paid for. Social Security benefits should not be cut to reduce the deficit.”

“These events send a clear message that if Congress raises the retirement age or cuts Social Security benefits seniors will be forced to work harder and longer,” added Coyle.  “Politicians in Washington may be able to work until they are 70 or older because they don’t have physically demanding jobs that leave your body broken. But that’s not the case for many of us.”

“House Republicans have a plan that will decimate Medicare and Medicaid – two programs that are vital to the security of retirees,” concluded Coyle. They want to raise the Medicare eligibility age to 67. How do they expect people to get health care when they don’t have jobs to get insurance coverage and can’t afford coverage on their own?”



###

 

Contact: David Blank (202) 637-5275 or dblank@retiredamericans.org


Download a printable version