Dear John,

In a parting shot to Social Security and Medicare, Senators Joe Manchin (WV) and Mitt Romney (UT), who have decided not to run for re-election, have introduced a new bill called the “Fiscal Stability Act” (S. 3262) which would create a bipartisan commission tasked with finding spending cuts to seniors’ Trust Fund programs … all to help reduce the national debt.

As you may know, Senator Romney has tried repeatedly to establish a commission that would have the ability to fast track benefit cuts and radical “reforms” to seniors’ programs through Congress. Beneath all the rhetoric about “fiscal responsibility,” the main purpose of outsourcing important decisions to a commission is to give lawmakers political cover for cutting benefits.

Make no mistake, your earned benefits are at risk if Congress creates a debt commission.

John, that’s why we must ACT NOW: Please urge your members of Congress to oppose the “Fiscal Stability Act,” and any other bill that creates a “debt commission,” by signing our urgent Petition to Congress today.

Commissions are designed to squeeze every possible dollar of savings out of the Trust Fund programs without consideration for the adequacy of benefits during their deliberations. They serve as a vehicle for enacting deep cuts to Social Security and Medicare that could never pass Congress on their own because of their unpopularity with the voting public.

While we believe that Social Security and Medicare must undergo changes both to ensure their long-term solvency as well as to enhance benefits, the future of these critical programs must not and should not be determined as part of a budget cutting exercise.

Instead, the committees with jurisdiction over Social Security and Medicare should hold hearings and develop legislation that will have strengthening the economic and health security of the American people rather than budget cutting as its primary mission. And Congress should vote on any consensus package produced under the regular rules of the House and Senate.

Already this bill has bipartisan support, and it could get tied into must-pass legislation as part of budget negotiations that come to a head in January and February. So please help the National Committee stop this commission from getting underway by signing our urgent Petition to Congress today.