News Release
“Social Security and Medicare were spared a terrible fate today when House leadership was unable to pressure 2/3 of their colleagues to vote for a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the U.S. Constitution. The BBA would have prevented Social Security and Medicare Part A from using trust fund reserves to pay benefits for millions of Americans – including retirement, disability, and hospitalization. It also would have required draconian spending cuts, inviting Congress to slash Medicare Parts B, C and D, Medicaid, and many other social safety net programs for seniors, while opening the door to massive new tax cuts. The National Committee supports responsible government budgeting. However, we oppose a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, not only because it would force severe cuts to programs seniors depend on, but because it would also harm the economy and result in a government default. The House members who voted against the BBA did the right thing today. – Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
Read the National Committee’s letter to Congress about the BAA here.
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