November, 08 2023, 11:22am EDT
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Over 100 Organizations Oppose "Fiscal Commission" That Threatens Social Security, As Do Former Greenspan Commission Staff
Today, over 100 organizations released a letter to Congress opposing the creation of a so-called “fiscal commission” designed to fast-track cuts to Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors.
Additionally, five former staff members of the 1983 Greenspan Commission released a statement opposing the commission. These staffers include individuals who worked for both Democrats and Republicans. The full statement is HERE and a two-page summary is HERE.
These statements are an urgent response to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who has announced his intentions to form just such a commission. The Biden administration has accurately called this type of commission a “death panel” for Social Security and Medicare.
“Congress should address Social Security in the sunlight, through regular order, as it always has,” said Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works and former top assistant to Alan Greenspan on the 1983 commission. “The only reason to create a fast-track, closed door commission is to overthrow the will of the American people by cutting their hard-earned benefits. Anyone who supports this commission is supporting benefit cuts.”
The organizations opposed to Mike Johnson’s planned commission include labor unions, advocates for seniors and people with disabilities, women’s rights organizations, and more. The full list of organizations is below and the letter is HERE:
ACA Consumer Advocacy
AFL-CIO
AFSCME
AFT Washington Retiree Chapter 8045R
Alliance for Retired Americans
American Family Voices
American Federation of Government Employees
American Federation of Musicians
American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers, Washington
American Postal Workers Union
Arkansas Community Organizations
Beta Cell Action
Blue Future
BOWL PAC
California Alliance for Retired Americans
Campaign for America’s Future
Center for Common Ground
Center For Economic And Policy Research
Center for Popular Democracy
Church World Service
Citizen Action of New York
Coalition on Human Needs
Communications Workers of America
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
Consumer Action
District Eight National Alliance of Postal & Federal Employees
Doctors for America
Economic Opportunity Institute
Equality Federation
Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research
Generations United
Goddard Riverside-NYC
Health Care for America Now
Healthcare for All Minnesota
Healthcare is a Human Right – Washington
Indivisible
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
Justice for All Network
Justice in Aging
Labor Campaign for Single Payer
Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy
Long Island Center for Independent Living, Inc.
Massachusetts Senior Action Council
Metro New York Health Care for All
Michigan People’s Campaign
Michigan United
Midtown South Community Council
MomsRising
MoveOn
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
National Employment Law Project
National Federation of Federal Employees
National LGBTQ Task Force
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Postal Mail Handlers Union
National Union of Healthcare Workers
National Women’s Law Center
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
New Mexico AFSCME Retirees
New Mexico Alliance for Retired Americans
North Seattle Progressives
Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition
NY Statewide Senior Action Council
NYS Alliance for Retired Americans
Office of Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation, Sisters of Charity of New York
One Payer States
Our Revolution
P Street
Pacific Islander Health Board of WA
Painters and Allied Trades International Union
People’s Action
Physicians for a National Health Program
Physicians for a National Health Program – NY Metro Chapter
Physicians for a National Health Program – Washington
Progress America
Progressive Democrats of America
PSARA Education Fund
Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action
Rise Up WV
SEIU 521
Social Security Works
Strengthen Social Security Coalition
Swing Left Bakersfield, CA
Tennessee Health Care Campaign
The Other 98% Lab
The People United
Transportation Trades Department
U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph
United Mine Workers of America
Unity Fellowship of Christ Church-NYC
Upper East Side for Change
Upper West Side Action Group: MoveOn/Indivisible/SwingLeft
Utility Workers Union of America
VOCAL-NY
Washington CAN
We the 45 Million
West Virginia Citizen Action
Social Security Works' mission is to: Protect and improve the economic security of disadvantaged and at-risk populations; Safeguard the economic security of those dependent, now or in the future, on Social Security; and Maintain Social Security as a vehicle of social justice.
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