Jim’s Statement on super committee cuts to medicare and medicaid

Burlington, VT - Statement from Jim Dean, Chair of DFA on Democrats recommendations to cut Medicare and Medicaid: I am appalled and outraged by the recommendations from Democrats on the so-called Super Committee to cut Medicare and Medicaid in order to reduce the deficit. Our national deficit was caused by the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent of Americans and two unnecessary wars that were not paid for. The deficit was then exacerbated by the irresponsible actions of Wall Street. Those who caused this mess should be responsible for cleaning it up. These cuts are exactly the opposite of what Democrats should stand for. This plan protects the status quo for the 1% while the 99% are expected to sacrifice vital health care they need to survive. Democracy for America will oppose any Democrat who votes for a plan that cuts Medicare or Medicaid." Today Democracy for America sent an email to its one million members nationwide asking them to sign a petition to publicly oppose any Democrat who votes for cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. The email follow-up action also asks DFA members to call all the Senators and Representatives on the super committee and share their opposition to this proposal. Full email text: Democrats on the so-called Super Committee are caving to Republican demands and pushing a plan that would make drastic cuts to Medicare. This is bad policy and bad politics. Cuts like these are the worst possible way to reduce the deficit. They protect the status quo for the richest 1 percent while the 99 percent are expected to sacrifice vital healthcare that they need to survive in tough economic times like these -- and they'll hamstring Democrats running for reelection in 2012. We've been down this road before. Republicans and some Democrats have been pushing plans to destroy Medicare and Social Security for months. We've beat them then and we can beat them now with an overwhelming show of grassroots opposition to any plan that cuts Medicare. Join me and tell Washington that this deal is Dead On Arrival. Pledge to oppose any elected official -- Republican or Democrat - who votes for a plan that cuts Medicare and Medicaid benefits for the 99 percent. The facts are simple: The average income of Medicare beneficiaries is about $22,000 a year. Our nation's seniors can't afford to have their benefits cut and hard-working Americans can't afford to have their eligibility for Medicare raised to 67. As more and more people lose employer-provided health insurance, the last thing the nation's seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income children who depend on Medicaid need is for the federal government to slash these vital programs. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid did not cause the run-up in federal deficits. We have President Bush's huge tax cuts for the top 1 percent, the unpaid costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and the Great Recession caused by reckless, un-American, and potentially criminal behavior on Wall Street to thank for the mess we're in. Washington needs to make sure those who caused this mess pay to clean it up -- not seniors, not Americans with disabilities, and certainly not low-income children who depend on Medicaid to survive. Send a message to Washington now -- Stand against cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security or stand alone for reelection. This is a fight we will win, if we stand up and fight. Because when we work together, we're unstoppable. Thank you for everything you do. -Jim Jim Dean, Chair Democracy for America ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up. http://www.DemocracyForAmerica.com Paid for by Democracy for America, http://www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.