WE MUST KILL MAGA REPUBLICANS’ “DEATH PANEL” FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

Daily Action
Written By Barbara Isaacman

QUICK READ: MAGA Republicans are pushing a fast-tracked, closed-door “debt commission”—their latest attempt to cut the highly popular Social Security and Medicare programs, by falsely claiming their costs are tied to the national debt.  What we need instead is to expand their income base and extend their solvency by requiring high income taxpayers to contribute their fair share.



CONTENTS:

BACKGROUND

Social Security and Medicare are the cornerstone of our social safety net, allowing millions of Americans to retire with dignity.

Falsely arguing their curtailment is necessary to reduce the deficit, has been a GOP mainstay for decades:

  • Social Security and Medicare are entirely self-funded and don’t increase the national debt

  • Tax welfare for the rich and corporations enacted during GOP administrations and underfunding the IRS created these burgeoning deficits 

Americans want Social Security expanded, not cut, and 80% prefer protecting it and Medicare, to cutting them to reduce the deficit.

Nevertheless, MAGA Mike’s first speech as Speaker called for the “immediate” creation of a fast-tracked “fiscal commission,” the House Budget Committee’s held hearings on legislation creating it, and bills doing so have been introduced in both Chambers. 

Given these programs’ popularity, the only reason to create such a closed-door commission, which the Biden Administration rightly labeled a “death panel,” is allow MAGA Republicans to cut Americans’ hard-earned benefits without having to take the blame.

Our MoCs must stand firm against a “debt commission,” demanding, instead, a vote on legislation that expands Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extends their solvency, thereby protecting, not punishing, current and future beneficiaries. 

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The American people do not want a “debt commission” that would cut the social safety net (S.3262). Instead, they want Social Security and Medicare expanded, as the Social Security Expansion Act (S.393) and the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (S.1174) would do. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.393, but Americans also need the protections of S.1174. Please push Senate colleagues to bring to the floor legislation that expands Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extends their solvency, thereby protecting, not punishing, current and future beneficiaries.

*SEN. WYDEN:* Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The American people do not want a “debt commission” that would cut the social safety net (S.3262). Instead, they want Social Security and Medicare expanded, as the Social Security Expansion Act (S.393) and the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (S.1174) would do. Please co-sponsor both of these and push Senate colleagues to bring to the floor legislation that expands Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extends their solvency, thereby protecting, not punishing, current and future beneficiaries.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

Your party is hoping to launch a “debt commission” aimed at cutting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. I strongly oppose this and would work to defeat any lawmaker who favors this plan, which the American people overwhelmingly reject. A better and more popular proposal would be to expand Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extend their solvency, as S.393 (the Social Security Expansion Act) and S.1174 (the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act) would do.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The American people do not want the MAGA-proposed “debt commission” that would cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Instead, they want Social Security and Medicare expanded, as the Social Security Expansion Act (HR.1046)) and the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (HR.4535) would do. Please work to defeat the “debt commission,” and co-sponsor and push for passage of legislation that expands Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extends their solvency, thereby protecting, not punishing, current and future beneficiaries.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your party is hoping to launch a “debt commission” aimed at cutting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. I strongly oppose this and would work to defeat any lawmaker who favors this plan, which the American people overwhelmingly reject. A better and more popular proposal would be to expand Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extend their solvency, as HR.1046 (the Social Security Expansion Act) and HR.4535 (the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act) would do.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The American people do not want the MAGA-proposed “debt commission” that would cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Instead, they want Social Security and Medicare expanded, as the Social Security Expansion Act (HR.1046)) and the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (HR.4535) would do. Please work to defeat the “debt commission,” and co-sponsor and push for passage of legislation that expands Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extends their solvency, thereby protecting, not punishing, current and future beneficiaries.

Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The American people do not want the MAGA-proposed “debt commission” that would cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Instead, they want Social Security and Medicare expanded, as the Social Security Expansion Act (HR.1046) and the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (HR.4535) would do. Thank you for co-sponsoring HR.1046, but Americans also need the protections of HR.4535. Please work to defeat the “debt commission” and push House colleagues to bring to the floor legislation that expands Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extends their solvency, thereby protecting, not punishing, current and future beneficiaries.

Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your party is hoping to launch a “debt commission” aimed at cutting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. I strongly oppose this and would work to defeat any lawmaker who favors this plan, which the American people overwhelmingly reject. A better and more popular proposal would be to expand Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extend their solvency, as HR.1046 (the Social Security Expansion Act) and HR.4535 (the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act) would do.

Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The American people do not want the MAGA-proposed “debt commission” that would cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Instead, they want Social Security and Medicare expanded, as the Social Security Expansion Act (HR.1046)) and the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (HR.4535) would do. Please work to defeat the “debt commission,” and co-sponsor and push for passage of legislation that expands Social Security’s and Medicare’s tax bases and extends their solvency, thereby protecting, not punishing, current and future beneficiaries.

FURTHER READING

Barbara Isaacman
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