BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:www.indybay.org PRODID:-//indybay/ical// v1.0//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:Indybay-18672032 SEQUENCE:18750311 CREATED:20110215T075100Z DESCRIPTION: Protest the Deficit Commission Co-Chairs and their plans to Gut Social Security\n\nOn Monday, Feb 21 (President’s Day), Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson (co-chairs of the Presidents’ Deficit Commission) will be the featured speakers at the Panetta Institute for Public Policy at the Monterey Conference Center, One Portola Plaza, in Monterey.\n\nThis is a great opportunity to challenge their proposals to cut and privatize Social Security and engage the press in this issue. Their proposals to raise the retirement age, tax benefits, means-test Social Security benefits, and privatize the program are all moving forward in the new Congress, even though they did not have the 14 votes to pass these horrendous ideas through the Commission. This is a rare opportunity to confront the two people who are leading the charge to undermine Social Security for future generations. We cannot let this opportunity pass without making our voices known. And what a great way to spend President’s Day – by telling this President and his associates how we feel. \n\nThe California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) and the Monterey Central Labor Council are planning a press briefing and rally outside of the Conference Center at 6 pm sharp. Please join us and send this message on to your friends and colleagues. For more information, contact CARA at 510-663-4086. \n\nThank you and we look forward to seeing you on the 21st. \n\nJodi Reid, CARA Director \n(415) 550-0828 (c)\njreid@californiaalliance.org\nSecond press contact \nGlen Schaller (831) 325-8575, political [at] mbclc.org\n ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++\n\n Some Questions for Simpson and Bowles at Monterey\n\n Questions on Social Security\n\nIf what we’re talking about is reducing the federal deficit,\nand your Report admits Social Security does not add to the deficit,\nwhy are you even talking about Social Security?\n\nHow can you justify raising the age to collect Social Security,\n* when it’s an average 13% benefit cut,\n* when only the wealthy are living longer,\n* when it’s almost impossible for older people to find jobs,\n* when many older people’s bodies are already worn out,\n* when it would make it harder for younger people to find jobs,\n* and when you say Social Security doesn’t add to the deficit?\n\nIf today's 25 year old retired at age 65 in 2050, \nafter earning an average of today's $64,000, \nyour plan would cut their Social Security benefits by 24%.\nHow can you justify that benefit cut if, as you admit,\nSocial Security does not add to the deficit?\n\nYour plan recalculates Social Security COLA increases,\nassuming we can switch to cheaper alternatives \nwhen goods and services get priced beyond our means.\nBut seniors cannot switch to cheaper healthcare,\nand many seniors are already at rock-bottom housing.\nHow can you justify that COLA cut if, as you admit,\nSocial Security does not add to the deficit?\n\n Questions on Jobs\n\nIf what we’re talking about is reducing the federal deficit,\nhow can you justify your recommendation\nto cap revenue at 21% of the Gross National Product?\n* Won’t cutting revenue make the deficit worse?\n* How will we ever renew our infrastructure, \n our highways, our schools, our housing?\n* How can we ever create jobs?\n\nYour plan transfers money from the middle class to the rich.\nIt reduces corporate tax rates, and income taxes on the most wealthy.\nBut we loose deductions for mortgage interest, for state and local taxes, \nfor charities, and even for contributing to our IRAs!\nYour plan gives more money to those who hoard it, and who refuse to hire.\nWe need jobs!\n\n Questions on Healthcare\n\nThe war in Afghanistan has been extended from 2011 to 2014.\nWe’re discovering PTSD is affecting more and more vets.\nAnd more military families are living in poverty.\nYour plan increases premiums and co-pays for vets in Tri-Care.\nHow do you justify that?\n\nOver ¾ of people going bankrupt with medical costs had insurance,\nbut their insurance didn’t cover expenses or had ruinous co-pays.\nYou label insurance that would actually cover us as “Cadillac” plans.\nYour plan would impose a stiffer excise taxes on adequate insurance. \nHow do you justify taxing health insurance that might meet our needs?\n\nAll over the country, States’ Medicaid expenses are increasing,\nas joblessness, and employer cut-backs drive more into Medicaid,\nand State revenues continue to drop.\nYour plan would fix the dollars each state could get,\nno matter how their Medicaid need might grow.\nHow are States supposed to maintain a medical safety net?\n\nThe Obama Health Plan’s Independent Payment Advisory Board\nalready has sweeping powers to cut Medicare’s payments \nfor doctors, home health, medicines, and many other services. \nEven Congress cannot reverse these cuts.\nYour plan gives that Board even more power to make these cuts.\nDon’t you worry that Medicare patients will find it hard to find healthcare?\n\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/02/14/18672032.php SUMMARY:Protest the Deficit Commission Co-Chairs and their Plans to Gut Social Security LOCATION:Monterey Conference Center, One Portola Plaza, in Monterey URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/02/14/18672032.php DTSTART:20110222T020000Z DTEND:20110222T030000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR