A proposal to cut Medicare spending in order to fund the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program is being met with fierce opposition from U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL,9), other House Democrats and senior advocates.
On a Monday afternoon conference call, Schakowsky and U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA,6), co-chairs of the Congressional Task Force on Seniors, joined representatives from senior advocacy groups in denouncing a Senate-passed measure that would reauthorize TAA at Medicare's expense. The TAA program provides aid to U.S. workers displaced as a result of trade agreements.
"All of us adamantly reject using Medicare as an ATM for unrelated issues, regardless of their merits," Schakowsky said. "We support Trade Adjustment Assistance. In fact, I'd like to see it improved by increasing benefits, ... but we are adamantly opposed to cutting Medicare to pay for it."
"We're endorsing Congressman Brad Schneider for re-election to the House of Representatives, and we're doing so on behalf of our membership, and we're doing so because of his commitment to protecting Social Security and Medicare," NCPSSM's President and CEO Max Richtman said on a conference call Wednesday.
Schneider, of Deerfield, said he is "so grateful" and "honored" to have the endorsement of the Washington, D.C.-based NCPSSM, which represents nearly 4 million members nationwide, including about 5,000 in the state's 10th congressional district.
"The decisions we make in Congress today matter to these people [who depend on Medicare and Social Security], because it has an impact on their everyday existence," the congressman said. "We cannot address our fiscal imbalance by putting the burden on those who struggle the most. We have to address it, but we can't do it in a way that disadvantages our seniors, breaks our promises and flies in the face of our values by ending the Medicare guarantee or weakening Social Security."
Illinoisans in support of strengthening Medicare, Social Security and other crucial programs denounced the Ryan Budget at a roundtable discussion in Wheeling Tuesday afternoon, calling the GOP-backed fiscal blueprint a "highway to hardship" for senior citizens, disabled individuals and the poor.
U.S. Reps. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL,08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL,09) and Brad Schneider (D-IL,10) hosted the talk about “keeping Medicare healthy” with their constituents and members of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL,11) also held a roundtable discussion on the topic in Aurora with representatives from the organization.
"I'm proud to stand up to Representative Ryan and his desire to spend taxpayer dollars on corporate tax breaks at the expense of working families and seniors," Duckworth said at the discussion, held at the Wheeling Pavilion Senior Center. "We're going to keep fighting him every step of the way."
With Social Security reform on the table during congressional budget talks to reduce federal
spending, about a
dozen protesters, most of which were retirees, gathered in downtown
Chicago Thursday to call on Congress to reject proposals that
“balance the budget on the backs of seniors.”
The
protesters urged Illinois’ congressional delegates to reject any
legislative proposal that boosts the retirement age above 67,
increases means testing for Medicare premiums or changes
cost-of-living-adjustments to a chained Consumer Price Index (CPI)
inflation formula.
“This is becoming a budgetary issue, but it’s a
matter of priorities,” said Jay Lewkowitz, 65, congressional district
coordinator for the NCPSSM. “Our country needs to tell Congress that taking care of an
aging population and making sure our safety net stays intact is a
priority for us.”
With no resolution in sight when it comes to finding a balance between bringing down the federal deficit and ensuring that the social safety net stays intact, many of the nation’s
most vulnerable citizens are concerned about the future of Social
Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
The
petitions urged Congress to “protect the benefits we have worked for,
paid for and earned” and “defeat privatization and other proposals that
threaten my retirement and health security.”
A proposal to cut Medicare spending in order to fund the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program is being met with fierce opposition from U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL,9), other House Democrats and senior advocates.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL,10) has gained the endorsement of the 
Illinoisans in support of strengthening Medicare, Social Security and other crucial programs denounced the 
With Social Security reform on the table during congressional budget talks to reduce federal
spending, about a
dozen protesters, most of which were retirees, gathered in downtown
Chicago Thursday to call on Congress to reject proposals that
“balance the budget on the backs of seniors.”
With no resolution in sight when it comes to finding a balance between bringing down the federal deficit and ensuring that the social safety net stays intact, many of the nation’s
most vulnerable citizens are concerned about the future of Social
Security, Medicare and Medicaid.