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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
    ~ Protecting the Health and Economic Future of Older Americans ~

    April 2, 2009

    NEWS RELEASE

    For Social Security Reform, a New Survey Reveals Baby Boomers Preference for Raising Revenue, not Cutting Benefits

    A new survey conducted by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare shows America's baby boomers support protecting Social Security benefits for both current and future generations.  This National Committee survey gauges public opinion on the future of Social Security, reform options and support for the program. The survey questioned Americans 45 years and older and found:

    • When given a menu of options for funding Social Security, the most popular choice among the 45-63 year old baby boomers was raising the wage base (currently $106,800) on which Americans pay payroll taxes (36%) and the least popular was reducing benefits (6%).
    • The survey also revealed that protecting Social Security benefits crosses party lines:  More than 30% of respondents (Democrats, Republicans, and Independents) support raising the level of earnings on which payroll taxes are paid and just under 14% favor raising the retirement age.  Among the small number of people supporting benefit cuts, there is a modest partisan gap on the issue, with 7.4% of Republicans, 5.4% of Independents and 4.7% of Democrats supporting benefit cuts.  
    • Of the baby boomers who responded, more than 80% do not believe Social Security is in crisis. However, most do believe there are problems.  

    "This survey shows that in spite of long-running and well-financed campaigns to convince the American people that Social Security is in "crisis", they're just not buying it.  Social Security is not bankrupting the nation and is in fact keeping millions from poverty; especially as retirees' have seen their healthcare costs skyrocket, savings evaporate, home values plummet during this recession.  The long-term challenges facing Social Security are modest and manageable. Baby boomers understand this and overwhelmingly support changes that strengthen benefits for the future." Barbara B. Kennelly, President/CEO

    The full survey is available online at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare's website. The National Committee's latest Viewpoint, "Commissions, Cuts, and Crisis Calls: Why Balancing the Budget on the Backs of Social Security and Medicare Just Won't Work" provides analysis of Social Security's long-term funding, reform proposals, and the so-called "entitlement crisis" and is also online at http://www.ncpssm.org/news/archive/vp_balance_budget_seniors/ .

      

    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.