Please, Mr. President, don't do this

Below is an email from former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich. Robert created a petition that's been taking off ever since news leaked that President Obama plans to propose $112 billion in Social Security cuts over the next decade, via a scheme known as "chained CPI." 

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"Mr. President, the chained CPI is a cut to Social Security benefits that would hurt seniors—it's an idea not befitting a Democratic president." Sign the Petition!

Dear MoveOn member,

Social Security is not driving the deficit, therefore it should not be part of reforms aimed at cutting the deficit.  

The chained CPI, deceptively portrayed as a reasonable cost of living adjustment, is a cut to Social Security benefits that would hurt seniors.

That's why I created a petition to President Barack Obama, which says:

Mr. President, the chained CPI is a cut to Social Security benefits that would hurt seniors—it's an idea not befitting a Democratic president. If you want to reform Social Security, make the wealthy pay their fair share by lifting the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

There are several sensible reforms to Social Security that should be considered to help make it sustainable, including lifting the ceiling on income subject to Social Security from $113,700 to $200,000 or more, as well as instituting a 1% raise in the payroll tax rate, a rate that hasn't changed in over 20 years.

Both of these reforms would go a long way toward protecting the long-term health of Social Security, but neither should not be conflated with efforts to reduce the federal budget deficit.

Sign the petition: Tell President Obama to stand by his Democratic principles and fight to protect Social Security benefits.

Thanks!

–Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor

This petition was created on SignOn.org, the progressive, nonprofit petition site. SignOn.org is sponsored by MoveOn Civic Action, which is not responsible for the contents of this or other petitions posted on the site. Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 7, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.