Dear John,

GOP hardliners are ramping up their calls to create a “commission” that they could ultimately hide behind to ram through devastating cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Incredibly, legislation that included a commission to fast-track cuts to Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors was brought to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote just last month. Fortunately, it failed to pass but it ended up garnering the support of all but 21 House Republicans.

And you can count on GOP leadership to devote the next six weeks — when we will face yet another self-imposed fiscal deadline to keep the government open — to whipping votes for a spending bill that includes this benefit-cutting commission.

In fact, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington has released a budget plan that includes a bipartisan debt commission that could recommend cuts to seniors’ programs. That’s why we must remain vigilant against any end-of-year spending bill that includes this dangerous measure.

So please, tell your members of Congress right now that you expect them to vote “NO” on any bill that comes across their desk that includes the creation of an “Entitlement Commission!”

Many of these politicians who support an “Entitlement Commission” are the same lawmakers who voted to expand massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and huge corporations that added $2 trillion to the national debt.

Seniors cannot afford for Congress to go down the path of creating an Entitlement Commission. That’s because a commission could be given the power to fast-track proposals through Congress that include raising the retirement and Medicare eligibility ages, slashing the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) and privatizing Social Security and Medicare for the benefit of Wall Street brokers and huge insurance companies.

Right now, too many of our elected officials remain convinced that the only way to “save” Social Security and Medicare is by cutting these vital programs. But what they’re really trying to do is sacrifice your earned benefits to balance the budget and fund massive tax breaks for the wealthy and huge corporations.

So we simply cannot sit back and hope for the best. Now is the time to fight to protect seniors’ earned benefits. Please ensure your voice is heard before Republicans succeed in creating an Entitlement Commission. Sign our EMERGENCY PETITION today!

Sincerely,

Max Richtman

President & CEO