| Can you call Rep. McCarthy right now and urge her to sign on to the letter from the Progressive Caucus that says no to any debt deal that includes cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid? She should call Rep. Grijalva's office to sign on. Representative Carolyn McCarthy |
From the Huffington Post: "When word leaked out this past week that Obama was proposing cuts to entitlements, Democrats in Congress and outside advocates kicked their opposition into high gear...[which] may have broken the back of the bargain."1
But despite the quick progress won by MoveOn members and our allies, cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are still on the table. So we have to do more, today.
Our best shot is to get more House Democrats to join Leader Nancy Pelosi, who's been strongly saying that benefit cuts to such vital programs are unacceptable.2 If enough do, a deal like that can't pass.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus, led by Representatives Raúl Grijalva and Keith Ellison, is circulating an emergency "Dear Colleague" letter to stop any deal that cuts these benefits. Dozens have already signed, but they need our help to get dozens more today.
Can you pick up the phone right now and call Representative Carolyn McCarthy's office? Tell her: "The Progressive Caucus is circulating a letter saying they won't accept a debt deal that includes cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits. I urge you to contact Rep. Grijalva immediately to sign on."
Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516
If enough House Democrats sign this letter, they'll have the power to block a deal that places all the burden of reducing our deficit on seniors and middle and working class Americans. As New York Times political analyst Nate Silver put it:
Even if Mr. Boehner gets his 121 [Republican] votes, he'd still need help from 96 Democrats for the bill to pass...[and only] 166 Democrats to pick from...About 80 of them, in fact, are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus...3
That means we just need to convince about 45 more Democrats to sign on to their letter. Then the deal being cooked up to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits becomes politically impossible.
But we have to act urgently. Key Democratic and Republican leaders are negotiating with the president right now on a deal that could cut benefits. If an agreement is reached, pressure will mount quickly on House Democrats to agree. So we have to kill this deal before it even happens.
Please pick up the phone right away and call Representative Carolyn McCarthy. Ask her to sign on to the Progressive Caucus letter to save Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits by calling Rep. Grijalva's office today.
Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516
Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Adam Q., Elena, Eli, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "John Boehner Rejects Obama's Grand Bargain On Debt Ceiling," Huffington Post, July 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=211094&id=28778-10220574-AaBYsSx&t=4
2. "Pelosi: Medicare, Social Security Benefit Cuts Are Line In The Sand On Debt Limit Bill," Talking Points Memo, July 7, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=210945&id=28778-10220574-AaBYsSx&t=5
3. "Liberal Democrats Have Leverage on Debt Deal," The New York Times, July 7, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=210946&id=28778-10220574-AaBYsSx&t=6
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