Fighting the Catfood Commission locally--Seattle meeting 7/14

[eridani]

For those of you in the Seattle Area free during the day the WA State Social Security Works coalition will be meeting at 1:30PM Wednesday July 14th at the Seattle office of the WA State Labor Council, 314 1st Ave W. For information contact Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans chair Robby Stern at [email protected], or 206-448-9646.


http://www.socialsecuritymatters.org/Resources.html

Welcome and Getting Started
Sample Agenda and Guide
10-minute Video Clip “Social Security: The American Promise.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnWRd_DDxzY
Social Security Matters Coalition Partners
10 Things You Should Know
Sample Presentation (PowerPoint)
Social Security Matters Coalition Messaging
Social Security Matters Supplementary Messages
Resource Sheet (EMAIL Handout)
Resource Sheet (PRINT Handout)
Sample Letter to Congress
Sample Press Release
Sample Letter to the Editor
Responses to Opposition
Sample Tweets

Organizations

Social Security Works
http://socialsecurity-works.org/

Social Security Matters
http://www.socialsecuritymatters.org/Home.html

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
http://www.ncpssm.org/

Fight the "deficit hawks" noise machine with facts

The Century Foundation reports on Social Security
http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=TP&topic=2

Behind the Myths of Social Security
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1381

Center for Economic and Policy Research reports on Social Security
http://www.cepr.net/

[eridani]

1. Meeting minutes

Let's have one in every state. (Posted also in the WA State forum.) Following is the pledge, which we have already gotten agreement on for some of our state congressional delegation.

Social Security Works--Washington Pledge

Social Security is the only dependable source of income for retired Americans and supports millions of families through its disability and survivors programs. Every working person pays into it and earns benefits. For 75 years, Social Security has been America's most trusted institution. It is frugally administered and soundly finance~ to continue providing a foundation of economic security for future generations.

In the interests of my constituents - the men, women and children who are Social Security's current and future beneficiaries,
pledge to:

~ defend the integrity of Social Security against efforts to reduce its benefits or weaken its protections;

~ support responsible efforts to strengthen Social Security benefits;
~ oppose any and all efforts to reduce the federal deficit by failing to fully honor obligations to the Social Security Trust Fund, built by the payroll contributions of working Americans.

Signed__________________
Date____________________

Meeting of 7/14/2010. The following principles were agreed to, but there will be some minor editorial changes.

Social Security Works/Washington Campaign Principles

We stand together in support of Social Security, a promise made to Americans of all generations. Social Security represents the best of American values—rewarding work, honoring our parents and caring for our neighbors. Social Security belongs to the workers and their families who have worked hard, paid taxes in, and earned its benefits. It is a legacy we are committed to passing on to future generations.

In this, Social Security's 75th Anniversary year, we are united in support of the following principles:
1. Social Security's financing is sound, now and into the future. For 75 years, working Americans have paid into the system. Their contributions have both supported benefit payments and built a $2.6 trillion Trust Fund. Social Security did not cause the federal deficit and benefits should not be cut to reduce the deficit
2. Social Security has stood the test of time. It should not be privatized in whole or in part.

3. Social Security is an insurance policy and as such should not be means-tested. Workers pay for this insurance, and they and their dependents are entitled to it regardless of their income or savings.

4. In order to modernize and strengthen benefits and assure long-term stability for future generations, Congress should act to eliminate the earnings cap on contributions.

5. Social Security provides vital protection to Americans of all income levels against the loss of wages as the result of disability, death, or old age. Those benefits should not be reduced in any way, including changes to the cost of living adjustment or to the benefit formula.

6. Social Security's retirement age, already scheduled to increase from 66 to 67, should not be raised further. Raising the retirement age constitutes a benefit cut. The present age limits already impose a hardship on Americans who work in physically demanding jobs or those unable to find or keep employment.

7. Social Security's benefits should be strengthened and modernized to reflect the dignity of all work regardless of income, to better cover health and care costs, and to improve fairness. This can be accomplished by: changing the benefit formula to replace a higher percentage of low earnings; providing a care-giving credit for at least 5 years; guaranteeing elderly survivors 75% of the couple's benefit; and allowing benefits for state-recognized same-sex couples.

Robby Stern will send out the results of the latest CEPR study. The deficit commission will probably try to adjust the formula used to calculate initial benefits downward, raise retirement age and/or change the way COLA is calculate. Our strategy should be to prevent this from coming to a House floor vote.

Letterhead approved. There is still plenty of space for listing endorsing organizations. A website is being set up at www.ssworkswa.org. The email address will be info {at} ssworkswa.org, but it is not active yet. Endorsements should be forwarded to aaron {at} eoionline.org until it is. The snail mail address is c/o PSARA, 2800 First Ave, Room 262, Seattle, WA 98121.

The wording of the pledge for legislators and candidates is attached. The coalition has met with McDermott, with Inslee staffers, with Cantwell’s aide Nate Camino and with one Smith staffer. They may come to the planned Social Security Birthday Party on August 16th. Murray is committed to attending the function and may sign the pledge there. The del Bene campaign is also interested. Plans for the event follow.


Celebrating the 75th Birthday of Social Security
Protecting Millions of Seniors, Children & the Disabled
Sponsored by the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans & Phinney Neighborhood Association's Greenwood Senior Center August 16th, 1:30 p.m. 525 N. 85th St., Seattle, WA

Proposed program:

Cecily Kaplan welcomes people - introduces Robby - 3 min.
Robby welcomes - introduces OWL video - 3 min.
Introduce face of Social Sec. - senior, survivor, disabled each tells personal story for 3 minutes
Introduce Sen. Murray -15 minutes (sign pledge?)
Possible intro of McDermott, Inslee, Cantwell if they want to sign Pledge - ? min.
Someone (possibly Will or someone else to talk about threat - 5 min.
Birthday cake
Call to action(what?)

Turn out - Greenwood & PSARA at least 50 each, others? Further turn out ideas?
Publicity - we need to produce flyer and post card size version, union bug, need info on parking before producing; websites
Media - Kathy Cummings - press advisory, press release--phone calls day of. Other media, Real Change (Robby)
Senior media (Maureen);
Logistics - parking, possible van from Greenwood Market or else neighborhood parking with 30 spots at center; Greenwood has podium & microphone & screen; Robby getting cakes; anyone want to donate 36 bottles of sparking Apple cider; anyone have a flag that can stand on stage?
Materials for distribution (Maureen)


Next meeting at 1:30PM at AFL-CIO, 314 1st Ave W.

[jtuck004]

2. eridani - have you heard of anything like that in Spokane? n/t

[eridani]

3. Hoping the state website will be active soon

There is a lot of union backing for the coalition, so I'm sure there will be a Spokane presence before long.

[eridani]

4. 75th birthday party for Social Security in Seattle 8/16. Fight the Catfood Commission!

PSARA Update List
PSARA ACTION ALERT! Please plan to attend:
CELEBRATE the 75th Birthday of SOCIAL SECURITY with us.

MONDAY, AUGUST 16 at 1:30 pm
Greenwood Senior Center of the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Association,
525 N. 85th Street, Seattle 98103

Celebrate Social Security, the best federal program in our nation, learn
about the current threats and what we need to do about them. Senator PATTY
MURRAY and others will speak on the political crisis which is brewing. We
need a full house. Please attend and bring a carload of your friends and
family. We must get the word out.

Cake, cider, fun provided. The cake has been donated by American
Federation of Teachers Retiree Association, the cider by Jeff Johnson of
the Washington State Labor Council and we all create the fun.

Limited parking is available in the Senior Center lot. Parking is
available in neighborhood and additional free parking at Greenwood Market,
8500 - 3rd Ave NW. A free van provided by the Wallingford Community Senior
Center will serve as a shuttle from the Market to the Senior Center. Metro
Transit bus route #48 passes the Senior Center on 85th.

If you have questions, please call our office and leave a message:
206-448-9646.

READ ALL ABOUT IT: 1)Buy a copy of this week's REAL CHANGE newspaper to
read an article about the Social Security campaign we are launching, by
our PSARA President, Robby Stern. 2)See the front page article in the
August RETIREE ADVOCATE which will be in your mailbox soon.

[eridani]

5. Action --Call Washington State Insurance Commissioner

--Mike Kreidler at: 360-725-7000.

Thank Commissioner Kreidler for standing up to corporations in the past and ask him to urge his colleagues in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to support consumers by recommending stringent regulations over the health insurance industry under the new health care law.

Ask that the insurance companies be required to disclose their massive lobbying expenditures. The public has a right to know how much they're spending to protect their excessive profits and outrageous CEO pay in lobbying the NAIC and other state officials.


Background Information (Adapted from the 8/13/10 e-mail of Melinda Gibson of Health Care for America Now. Updates by Aileen Satushek are in bold type)

The HMO (Health Maintenance Organizations) and insurance industries have spent a breathtaking $769 million since 2007 to influence federal public policy and elected officials 1. In 2010 they have not let up, despite passage of the new health reform law. They're now trying to undermine the law with intense pressure on state officials to water down the federal provisions and interfere with their implementation.2

As we all know, the insurance industry mounted a massive campaign to defeat health care reform and maintain their stranglehold on our health care. Now they are turning their attention to undermining the new law so they can continue their obscene profiteering, their unconscionable denials of care and their shameless practice of giving CEOs jaw-dropping pay packages.

The insurance companies are now coordinating a lobbying assault on regulators. Activists are fighting back and we can all help.

This weekend, approximately 1400 insurance lobbyists and executives have come to Seattle and are expected to pressure the 50 state members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to undercut important new rules intended to control costs and make health insurance more affordable for families and businesses.3 Today, August 14, 2010, the insurance lobbyists were met by nearly 200 activists who picketed the Sheraton Hotel and the Washington State Convention Center.

The amount of money riding on the outcome of this battle is huge. If the new law had been on the books in 2009, the six largest insurance companies would have been required to refund $1.9 billion for last year alone because of over charges.4 Unlike federal lobbying disclosure rules, health insurance companies aren't required to reveal what they are spending to influence state insurance commissioners, but the numbers are staggering.

Footnotes


1. http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/insurers_spent_769_million_on_lobbying_to_protect_profits
2. Center for Responsive Politics
3. Battle in Seattle Over Insurance Company Profits
4. http://healthcareforamericanow.org/newpremiumrules

[eridani]

6. Another demo planned for Monday 8/16

PNHPWW members are involved with planning and participating in a street demonstration in front of the Sheraton Hotel on Monday, August 16th at 12:00 noon. The occasion is the quarterly meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, converging on Seattle from all across the country. A most important agenda item will be how the Commissioners will interpret and enforce the regulations of the new health care legislation. 1400 lobbyists representing the medical industrial complex will also be there to make sure their interests are strongly represented. Our message asks the Commissioners “Which Side are You On?” - The Corporations or We the People? There will be single payer activists from PNHPWW, HCFA-Wa, United for Single Payer, Single Payer Vashon and the Backbone Campaign carrying signs, leafleting, doing media-friendly street theater with giant puppets and singing led by Bob Wickline. Final signage still under consideration – but “Protect the People, Not Profits” and “Medicare for All” will be included. No need to RSVP, but please let us know if you definitely will be there.

JOIN US AT THE TOWN HALL (EIGHTH AND SENECA) PARKING LOT BY NOON. IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THEATRE, JOIN US THERE AT 11 AM.

[eridani]

7. OK--the site is finally live!

The Social Security Works Washington blog/website is now live: http://ssworkswa.org/.

BY TIM HAECK
KIRO Radio

Seattle seniors say cuts to Social Security would be disastrous. This month marks the 75th anniversary of the federal program that provides benefits for the elderly and disabled.

Marilyn Watkins' husband died suddenly of a heart attack. She says "with social security, it's like the whole nation has your back." She spoke at a birthday party for the program instituted during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Senator Patty Murray told an overflow crowd at the Greenwood Senior Center (Monday) that she'll continue to oppose changes to Social Security, including attempts at privatization. She says the program has provided dignity and safety for millions of Americans.

Reducing or changing Social Security benefits are often mentioned as ways to slow the skyrocketing federal deficit.

The crowd at the Greenwood Senior Center party enjoyed birthday cake and toasted 75 years of Social Security.

[eridani]

8. Don't Cut Our Medicare site live

Also, join the Google announce list.

Website: http;//dontcutourmedicare
Google Homepage: http://groups.google.com/group/dontcutourmedicare?hl=en
Group email: dontcutourmedicare {at} googlegroups.com

[eridani]

9. Social Security Forum; Lacey 10/28

Keeping Social Security Strong: What You Need to Know
Please join our new Field Representative, Jo Jacobson and her Guest, Marilyn Watkins on Thursday, October 28th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for an interactive discussion about Social Security.

As you know, there has been a lot of concerns regarding privatization, altering benefits and raising the retirement age.



Come to this informative presentation to get the facts and ask your questions.


What: Social Security Forum
When: October 28, 2010 from 5:30-7:30 pm
Where: Lacey Community Center
6729 Pacific Avenue Southeast
Lacey, WA 98503

Special Guest: Marilyn Watkins , Policy Director
Economic Opportunity Institute
Seattle , WA

Facilitated by: Jo Jacobson, Field Representatitve
Washington Alliance for Retired Americans

Please RSVP to Jo Jacobson, [email protected]
Phone: [phone]

We are looking forward to seeing you there.

[eridani]

10. OK folks--down to the wire

Melissa Byrne, Deputy Field Dir. for Social Security Works in D.C., joined us on the phone at our Thurs. Coalition meeting. The fight is on (now that the election is over) and we are on a very tight timeline. The following sequence of activity in D.C. in Nov. is very important. On 11/9. a Commission established by Pete Peterson and the Pugh Foundation will issue a report that will not doubt call for cuts to SS. Around 11/15, national progressive organizations will release a report on ways to protect & improve Social Security. On 11/17, a Commission established by Alice Rivlin (a member of the Commission and a high official from the Clinton administration) will issue their report, no doubt calling for cuts. Then the Commission will make their recommendations on Dec. 1. There will be efforts to get Congress to act during the lame duck session.

The large national coalition that has come together to fight the attack on Social Security have designated Nov. 18th and Nov. 30th as national call-in days. We need to generate as many calls from WA to our Congressional delegation as we possibly can.

At the Coalition meeting last Thur. we had a large list of state & local organizations which we divided up and people will be contacting those organizations with the following message: 1. Please pass the attached “Resolution for organizations” ASAP (most preferably in the month of Nov.) and once passed communicate that action to the WA Representatives & Senators. 2. Distribute the “SS Works flyer”, which is attached, to individual members urging them and perhaps facilitating for them contact with their Rep. & the 2 Senators. (PM me with your email for a pdf copy of the flyer) It would be great if organizations could try to urge the member phone calls on Nov. 18th & Nov. 30th but getting as many individuals as possible to make the phone calls is what is critical. We have many copies of the flyer which we can provide you if you do not want to print and copy.

We are developing some You Tube videos which will be available on the Social Security Works WA (WWW.ssworkswa.org) website for you to link to. We are also developing model letters for Letters to the Editor which I will send you and also will be on the website.

The next meeting of SS Works WA Coalition is Wed., Nov.17th, 1:30 p.m. at the Seattle WSLC. I will email you the phone # so you can join by phone if necessary.


Resolution Requesting that Our Congressional Representatives & Senators Vote Against the Entire Deficit Commission Recommendation Package if it Includes Any Cuts to Social Security or Medicare

WHEREAS, Social Security and Medicare are currently being threatened with significant cuts by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which is stacked with appointees who have indicated that they support significant cuts to these programs; and

WHEREAS this commission is expected to put out a set of recommendations in early December, 2010 which will be subject to an up or down vote by a lame duck Congress; and

WHEREAS the following proposals affecting Social Security and Medicare which are reportedly under discussion are unacceptable:
1. Any attempt to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part
2. Any recommendation to raise eligibility ages for Social Security or Medicare
3. Any recommendation involving means-testing Social Security or Medicare
4. Any recommendation of benefit cuts for current and future Social Security or Medicare beneficiaries; and

WHEREAS, the loss of family wage jobs, the increase in long-term unemployment and the loss of significant retirement savings has had a severe impact on Washingtonians across all age brackets making Social Security and Medicare more critical than ever; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that request our Congressional Representatives and Senators to take any and all steps available to prevent a floor vote on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform recommendations if any unacceptable proposal is included in the package; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that request our Congressional Representatives and Senators to vote against any package of recommendations from the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform if any unacceptable proposal (as defined in this Resolution) is included in the package.