Federal Workers Union Calls on Sen. McCaskill to Protect Critical Services ...
'S (D-MO) office urging her to stand up for federal workers and to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security as Congress works to balance the budget. During the rally, Senator McCaskill met with representatives from the American Federation of Government Employees, Missouri Jobs with Justice, Paraquad, Disability Coalition on Health Care Reform, Missouri Budget Project, GRO and Pro-Vote.AFGE asked the Senator to oppose cuts to federal pensions, extending the federal pay freeze and any effort to undercut public services by cutting federal jobs across the board.
"It's time to focus on creating good jobs and making the rich and big corporations pay a fair share. That's the way to generate revenue," stated AFGE National Vice President . "Undermining retirement security by cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and slashing the federal work force is not the answer. Vital federal services such as food and water safety, mine inspection, border patrol and caring for our veterans keep families and communities safe and secure. The federal government budget should not be balanced on the backs of the working class."
The general public was asked to sign a petition at the rally to , of AFGE Local 3354, represented the union in the meeting with Senator McCaskill. "We want to make it clear to all of our elected leaders that federal employees did not cause the deficit. A stable, well-trained work force is needed to do the work of government. Missouri's farmers and rural communities depend on federal employees to deliver adequately funded Rural Development and Farm Loan programs. Senior citizens depend upon a Social Security Administration that is fully staffed to get the correct amount to them on-time. Our wounded and sick veterans depend upon the highly dedicated Veterans Administration Hospital staff to take care of them. Federal employees put their lives on the line guarding and protecting our borders, airports and prisons," explained Hollis. "There are more than 54,000 federal workers in . Federal workers already are under a pay freeze. Cuts to our pensions, cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid hurt us even more and is the wrong economic policy to pursue. We did not cause the economic problems of this country. Raising revenues is the cure. Cutting the federal work force is not."
AFGE was joined by members from Missouri Jobs with Justice, Missouri Health Care for All, Missouri Budget Project, GRO, Missouri Pro-Vote, Paraquad, Disability Coalition on Health Care Reform and Metropolitan Congregations United.
Retirement Security Social - News
"Social Security is a critically important issue for our members, their families and Americans of all ages, especially at a time when many will have less retirement security than previous generations with fewer pensions, less savings and rising health
"Undermining retirement security by cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and slashing the federal work force is not the answer. Vital federal services such as food and water safety, mine inspection, border patrol and caring for our veterans
However, the individual mandate is not nearly as meddlesome and tyrannical as the government's complete control over our retirement security. The only reason why these two programs are regarded differently by the public, is because Social Security has
The Galveston plan is somewhat analogous to a 401(k) plan -- that is, a plan designed to encourage workers to save for retirement -- rather than a social insurance, or safety-net, program like Social Security. "Social Security is a social insurance
Fixing Social Security requires the kind of leadership that is willing to face facts and make difficult decisions. David C. John is Senior Research Fellow in Retirement Security and Financial Institutions in the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic
AARP Willing To Negotiate On Social Security Retirement Age | NewsWire
Reported Friday morning that AARP, one of the most influential lobbying groups in Washington, was softening its opposition to cutting retirement benefits.
AARP initially pushed back against the newspaper's story.
"Stay tuned -- our position has not changed on Social Security," an AARP spokeswoman said in an email to HuffPost.
AARP legislative policy director David Certner said on CNN Friday that "there was some miscommunication with the Wall Street Journal story."
But then Certner acknowledged that AARP believes the program needs to be changed.
"Everybody knows we need to look at a package of different changes to Social Security to make it strong for the long term," he said. "The reality is, we have more people older and who are living longer, so we need to make changes. Everybody recognizes that. And we're certainly willing to talk about a package of changes that will keep Social Security strong."
He suggested raising the age at which retirees can receive full benefits -- currently, 66 years old -- would be on the table even though doing so represents "a massive benefit cut for people."
The 37 million-member lobbying powerhouse launched a national ad campaign Thursday warning members of Congress not to reduce benefits for recipients of Social Security and Medicare.
Jonathan Cowan, president of centrist think tank Third Way, hailed AARP's apparent reversal, per the Journal story.
"Today marks a watershed moment in American politics," Cowan said. "For decades, AARP has stood against any substantial changes to Social Security. Now that they have opened the door to reform, it is time for lawmakers to walk through it."
Yet AARP reassured labor groups that it had not changed its position on Social Security, labor officials told HuffPost.
"The AARP has a history of division between the top folks and their base on these issues. The top folks like to be in the inside game," one union official said. "But they are walking backwards now."
The official said that he and other opponents of benefit cuts had been told that AARP's "longstanding position" hadn't changed, but there was some uncertainty about what that position actually is.
If AARP is open to reducing benefits, it would be a major boost for Social Security reformers who say the program is too generous and therefore unaffordable.
Social Security will start paying out more in benefits than it absorbs in taxes this year which will lead the retirement program's trust fund to become exhausted in 2036, according to the latest annual trustees report . After 2036, the program will only be able to pay 77 percent of promised benefits. By 2085, it will be able to pay 74 percent of promised benefits.
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