Progressive Americans Demand That Any Deficit Deal Not Cut Social Security Medicare and Medicaid

Washington, DC -- The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), USAction and the Campaign for America’s Future are sending messages from 51,000 Americans to the White House demanding that any deficit deal must not cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security.

"Workers didn't create the financial crisis or the deficit," AFGE National President John Gage said. "It's time for the Administration and lawmakers to reject any demands that attack our jobs, pay, pensions and the programs we all rely on. Instead, it's time to produce a fair budget deal that focuses on creating good jobs and making the very rich and big corporations pay their fair share."

Roger Hickey, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future said, “There is broad consensus around a job-first approach to reducing our debt: investing in efforts now to grow the economy, raising taxes on millionaires and billionaires, ending oil subsidies and cutting wasteful military spending. And there is little or no support for cutting Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.”

Alan Charney, USAction strategy and policy director said, “Economists now warn that deep cuts in federal, state and local government spending could kill our anemic economic growth.” He added, “The best way to reduce deficits is to get Americans working.”