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  • Truth Squad: Busting Myths on Health Care Reform


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    THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
    ~ Celebrating 25 Years of Advocacy for Older Americans ~

    January 7, 2008

    NEWS RELEASE

    We Don't Have to Trade Health and Retirement Security for Economic Stimulus

    Leading Seniors Organization Urges Congress to Reject This False Choice

    The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare's millions of members and supporters congratulate the new Congress and President-elect Obama for making economic recovery an immediate priority.  Skyrocketing medical bills, shrinking savings and plummeting home values have hit retirees, living on fixed incomes, especially hard. For many, Social Security and Medicare have provided their only stable economic security during these tough times.  That's why the National Committee has written Congress urging Members to reject suggestions by some that these vital safety net programs be cut to pay for rising deficits.

    “Cutting programs like Social Security and Medicare as a trade off to pay for stimulus expenditures is a false choice which will hurt generations of retirees.  Social Security and Medicare need to be adjusted modestly to reach solvency, but that is doable.  We don't have to enter into a grand bargain pitting our economic recovery against the health and security of future generations of seniors and their families.”   Barbara B. Kennelly, President/CEO

    The current economic meltdown has reinforced the importance of Social Security as the basic foundation for retirement.  Surely, the lesson of the current financial crisis is not that we should reduce the protections of America 's most successful retirement security program. Nor is the lesson that we should cut health benefits for those over 65 when health coverage for all Americans has emerged as an achievable goal in the very near future. 

    Read the full letter to Congress on the National Committee's website at www.ncpssm.org

    Media Inquiries to:
    Pamela Causey 202-216-8378/202-236-2123
    Kim Wright 202-216-8414
    www.ncpssm.org

     

    The National Committee is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the board of directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.