Hi,
House Speaker "MAGA" Mike Johnson says Social Security is "an existential
threat" to the American way of life (yes, he really said that).^1
And now he's pushing forward a plan to destroy Social Security as we know
it.
A Republican-led House committee just passed legislation forming a
fast-track commission that will meet behind closed doors to create a plan
to gut Social Security and Medicare — that Republicans would then vote on
just after the 2024 election.^2
We've mobilized tens of thousands of people to contact Congress to oppose
these cuts and push for an expansion of Social Security to keep up with
the cost of living. Now, with Social Security under renewed attack, we
need to raise funds to ramp up our efforts.
[ [link removed] ]Will you donate to Demand Progress Action to support our work,
including pushing Congress to pass the Social Security Expansion Act of
2023?
[ [link removed] ]Donate $10
[ [link removed] ]Donate $20
[ [link removed] ]Donate $40
[ [link removed] ]Or, donate another amount
Social Security has proven to be one of the most popular and successful
programs in U.S. history. Over 65 million seniors rely on its benefits,
and it's helped elderly poverty rates fall from over 30 percent in 1959 to
under 10 percent in recent years.^3,4
Yet more than half of American seniors are trying to survive on less than
$25,000 a year from Social Security, and by 2035, the program will run out
of money to pay full benefits unless Congress acts.^5
That's why we're renewing the push for a bill authored by Vermont Senator
Bernie Sanders that would fund Social Security through the end of the
century and expand its benefits.^6 Bernie's bill would expand Social
Security benefits by $2,400 per year, per person, and fund the increase by
tax hikes on the rich.
As Bernie put it: "A Wall Street CEO who makes $30 million pays the same
amount into Social Security as someone who makes $160,000 a year. Our bill
puts an end to that absurdity."^7
We must fight to strengthen Social Security — before Speaker Mike Johnson
and the MAGA Republicans kill it. Will you make a donation right now?
[ [link removed] ]Yes, I’ll chip in $10 to stop the Republicans' devastating
cuts to Social Security, and push for other key reforms.
With gratitude for all that you do,
The team at Demand Progress Action
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
Sources:
1. Newsweek, "What Mike Johnson Has Said About Cutting Social Security,"
[ [link removed] ]November 3, 2023.
2. The Hill, "House panel advances debt commission without shields for
Medicare, Social Security," [ [link removed] ]January 19, 2024.
3. Social Security Administration, "Fact Sheet: Social Security,"
[ [link removed] ]accessed February 5, 2024.
4. The Conversation, "Social Security helped slash elderly poverty to 9.2
percent in the 20th century – that triumph is now in jeopardy,"
[ [link removed] ]November 26, 2018.
5. Common Dreams, "On Social Security's 87th Birthday, Progressives Warn
GOP Wants to 'Take a Chainsaw to It,'" [ [link removed] ]August 15, 2022.
6. Common Dreams, "Hey House GOP, Hands Off Social Security and Medicare!"
[ [link removed] ]November 29, 2023.
7. Office of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, "NEWS: Amid Republican Threats
to Social Security, Sanders, Warren, Schakowsky, Hoyle, and Colleagues
Introduce Legislation to Increase Benefits and Extend Solvency Through
2096," [ [link removed] ]February 13, 2023.
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