Two major Social Security activities not under our control have rapidly developed that we really need your help to make a big success.
· Monday, March 28, 12:30-2:00pm: Major Press Event with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Senate leaders. We need at least 200 people to turn out for this event and we need Social Security beneficiaries who can speak publicly about what Social Security means to them. This is an indoor event with location TBD.
· Tuesday-Wednesday, March 29-30, National Call-in Days to the U.S. Senate: To lobby senators to support an amendment being offered by Majority Leader Reid and Sen. Bernie Sanders stating “that Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries should not be cut and that Social Security should not be privatized as part of any legislation to reduce the Federal deficit.” The amendment, which could be on the Senate floor by the middle of next week, draws a clear line in the sand in support of the SSS Campaign’s position – Social Security cuts should not be included in any deficit-reduction deal because Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit.
A battle is raging in the U.S. Senate over what to do about the federal deficit. On one side are politicians clamoring to cut Social Security. On the other side are our allies who are saying Hands Off Social Security! Our allies need your help.
Social Security has not contributed a penny to the federal deficit. In fact, the program has a $2.6 trillion surplus today. That’s why it should not be cut to reduce the deficit. But some politicians keep trying anyway. Pledge to help stop those politicians.
Next week, the U.S. Senate may vote on the Social Security Protection Amendment (S. AMDT 207, as modified) sponsored by Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Bernie Sanders. It states very clearly “that Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries should not be cut and that Social Security should not be privatized as part of any legislation to reduce the Federal deficit.”
The amendment draws a clear line in the sand – do not include any Social Security cuts in a deficit-reduction deal because Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit.
We need to generate thousands of calls to the Senate just before the vote to ensure that we win this one. Can we count on you to call your Senators on March 29th?
Social Security belongs to you and others 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.
PA NOW, your Senators need to hear from you, your family, and your friends that you support the Protect Social Security Amendment, and that you demand that they vote for it. Please pledge to make a call on March 29th. This is a critical time to take action.
Thank you,
Melissa Byrne
Online Communications Coordinator
Strengthen Social Security