Don't Let Them Push Social Security Off The Fiscal Cliff

They call it the "fiscal cliff," but it's Social Security that's going to be pushed over it, unless we speak out now.

The forces of austerity in Washington are using the prospect of automatic spending cuts and tax increases at the end of the year to pressure Congress into a "grand bargain," slashing Social Security benefits in the name of deficit reduction.

News reports, including from The Huffington Post [1], report leaders of both parties are planning to put Social Security on the chopping block.

That is why we are asking you to send this message now to your representatives in Washington: Take the pledge. Don't bargain away Social Security. [2]

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has already said he wants to cut Social Security benefits. Vice President Joe Biden has said Social Security will not be changed at all [3], but President Barack Obama has not made his position clear.

But there's some good news: 29 Democratic senators, led by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), have signed a letter [4] opposing any cuts to Social Security as part of a deficit reduction package. Leaders in the House are circulating a similar pledge.

What about the other senators? What about your member of Congress?

If we want to be sure Social Security will be kept off the table in any "grand bargain" negotiations after the election, we must get more senators – and lots of House members – to take an identical pledge to defend Social Security, now.

There is no mathematical reason to include Social Security in any "grand bargain," because Social Security does not add one penny to the nation's debt.

The 29 senators' pledge says they will "oppose Social Security cuts for future or current beneficiaries in any deficit reduction package."

If a majority of the House and Senate take that same pledge, Social Security will be safe – and defenders of Social Security will win.

Take a moment now to tell your representatives in Washington: Take the pledge. Don't bargain away Social Security. [2]

Conservatives keep trying to dismantle Social Security, and progressives rally the public to save it. We've done it before. Let's do it again.