Recent News: Democrats Petition Obama to Limit Social Security Reform

The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform may recommend budget cuts with regard to social security benefits, but members of Democratic members of Congress are vehemently warning President Obama that they will oppose such propositions, reported SeniorJournal News.

136 Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to Obama last week, raising opposition to any future notions of benefit slashing, raising the retirement age, or privatization of the program. The train doesn’t stop there, however, as reports indicate that another letter will be prepared for the Senate.

The opposition comes as a product of the “Strengthen Social Security Campaign,” an effort backed by the Social Security Works organization. The organization is relatively new, and sums up its mission as follows: “The mission of Social Security Works is to protect and improve the economic status of disadvantaged and at-risk populations, and, in so doing, to promote social justice for current and future generations of children as well as young, middle-aged and older adults.”

Who or what exactly is “Social Security Works?” On its website, the organization broadly asserts that: “Our coalition is made up of over 215 national and state organizations representing over 50 million Americans.” It goes on to list seven principles:

1. Social Security did not cause the federal deficit;

2.                  Social Security should not be privatized in whole or in part;
3.                  Social Security should not be means-tested;
4.                  Congress should act soon to close Social Security’s funding gap by requiring individuals who can more easily afford it to pay more
5.                  The retirement age should not be raised past 67;
6.                  Social Security benefits should not be reduced, including by changes to the COLA or benefit formula;
7.                  Benefits should be increased for the most disadvantaged

Evan H. Farr on Google +

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