Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) on a conference call Wednesday, reiterated his strong opposition to any proposed cuts in benefits to Social Security, Medicare and Medicare, saying he is happy to let President Obama know that he “won’t use his vote to hurt the needy.”
Grayson, who was joined by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), along with nearly 1,000 media and activists from across the country, has garnered the signatures of 27 members of Congress on a “No Cuts” letter that rejects any cuts in benefits to the social safety nets.
The letter, which would shortly be sent to President Obama, points out that voters across the political spectrum oppose cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and suggests that, “the best way to reduce the deficit and make the economy grow is to create jobs.” (See “No Cuts” letter HERE.)
“Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – these programs – have been the greatest accomplishments of the Democratic Party over the last 80 years,” said Grayson. “All along you have said benefits won’t be cut for old people, sick people and poor people, who have earned the benefits they deserve to get.”
Grayson added he wants there to be a clear choice between what “the other party stands for – tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires – and what the Democratic Party symbolizes.”
“I want people to have a clear choice next election and to have clarity about what’s at stake,” he said. “You are either for the people or against them. Ultimately, the question is, whose side are you on?”
There are grave concerns that Mr. Obama, despite campaign promises leading up to last November’s election, is headed in the direction of cutting benefits to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Unsolicited, the president initially proposed that the traditional manner of calculating the cost of living adjustments for Social Security recipients be scrapped in favor of the so-called “chained-CPI,” before it was taken off the table, only to re-appear once again. If adopted the “chained-CPI” will reduce benefits for seniors, as it does not keep pace with rising prices.
“I believe in keeping promises made to seniors,” said Takano. “Any change in benefits to seniors would be breaking our promise and I would vote against such legislation.
Listen to the audio of the briefing on the Grayson-Takano “No Cuts” letter HERE.
Perhaps mindful that much of the negotiation in Washington, D.C., takes place between President Obama and the Republican leadership, Takano said bluntly that “the Founding Fathers didn’t mean only leaders should strike deals.” It’s best when the people and their representatives have a stake in shaping the debate and in the national dialogue taking place, he added.
Asked whether there was room for cutting waste and fraud from the safety net programs, both Grayson and Takano answered in the affirmative.
“We can eliminate waste and fraud from these programs and in no sense break this promise to our seniors and the poor,” said Grayson. “If we can make the programs [Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid] function more efficiently and not change the benefits, I am all for it.”
“Cutting waste and fraud has nothing to do with benefits…. these programs are bought and paid for,” Takano said. “We made a promise to seniors and these programs should not be cut or altered as a detriment to them.”
President of the National Organization for Women, Terry O’Neill announced NOW’s endorsement for “No-Cuts” letter on the conference call. She underscored how the chained-CPI, if implemented, would be particularly harsh for women.
Today’s conference call was organized by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and chaired by its co-founder Adam Green who said that, over 200,000 supporters had already signed the “No Cuts” letter, “a true testament to grass-roots energy around this issue.”
