Two years ago, President Obama stood up during his State of the Union address and said something we can all agree with: we should strengthen Social Security without cutting the benefits of current retirees.
But just over a month ago on Meet the Press, the president said: "One of the proposals we've made was something called Chained CPI... an adjustment in how inflation is calculated on Social Security." It sounds simple, but this shortsighted change will mean $112 billion in cuts to Social Security over ten years.
President Obama needs to keep his promise. The chained CPI proposal would lower the yearly cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for current retirees, leaving seniors struggling to keep up with the rising cost of prescriptions, utilities, and health care.
Send a letter to Pres. Obama today and tell him to keep his promise to protect seniors on Social Security.
Throughout your time as president, you've spoken a lot about the need to strengthen Social Security without cutting the benefits of current retirees.
In your State of the Union in 2011, you said "To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations. We must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans' guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market."
[Your comment will be added here]
Even now, your website currently states that you believe "No current beneficiaries should see their basic benefits reduced and [you] will not accept an approach that slashes benefits for future generations."
You need to keep this promise. America's seniors have worked hard for their benefits for decades, and these benefits shouldn't be cut as part of any irresponsible budget deal including cutting benefits by indexing cost-of-living increases to "chained CPI."
I urge you to keep your promise to protect seniors on Social Security. Please keep Social Security off the table as part of any shortsighted budget deal.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
