President Barack Obama
\nThe White House
\nWashington, DC 20500<\/p>\n
Dear Mr. President:
\nWe write you as the national officers and the presidents of the state chapters of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a national organization of four million members dedicated to securing a better quality of life for all Americans in retirement. We believe that you have the opportunity to renew the nation\u2019s commitment to the Social Security program during the State of the Union Address next week.<\/p>\n
Mr. President, Social Security, which just celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2010, is the nation\u2019s premier social insurance program. It has provided economic security for millions of Americans of all ages across the last 75 years. From the nation\u2019s youngest, who have lost a parent, to the oldest, who live in retirement, Social Security has been a constant, positive force in our nation\u2019s life. Now, Social Security benefits go to nearly one in four American households.<\/p>\n
Without the guaranteed benefits of the program, nearly half of older and disabled Americans would live in poverty. No other program, funded entirely by worker and employer contributions and without government funds, has had such a long lasting positive impact on American life. We are concerned, Mr. President, that many in Washington will try to take advantage of the nation\u2019s current debt situation and cause permanent damage to the Social Security program. <\/p>\n
As the Co-Chairs of the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform recently pointed out, the Social Security program has not contributed at all to the nation\u2019s debt. While we disagree with many of the Co-Chairs\u2019 Social Security recommendations, such as raising the retirement age and cutting benefits for current and future retirees, the fact remains that the current debt situation should not be a political cover for attacking the Social Security program. We strongly urge you to resist such efforts.<\/p>\n
We urge you to speak forcefully in favor of a strengthened Social Security program. We recognize that long term efforts will be necessary to keep the program financially sound as well as being able to provide benefits that are adequate to maintain a dignified quality of life. However, the debate over the current debt situation is not the forum for debating the future of Social Security. We applaud your leadership on vital issues such as health care reform which has benefited our members. We believe you are now in a position to demonstrate that same leadership on behalf of the Social Security program.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Barbara J. Easterling, President<\/p>\n
Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer<\/p>\n
Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director<\/p>\n
Douglas Hart, President
\nArizona Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Nan Brasmer, President
\nCalifornia Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Vivian Stovall, President
\nColorado Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Cal Bunnell, President
\nConnecticut Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Tony Fransetta, President
\nFlorida Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Kenny Bradford, President
\nGeorgia Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Al Hamai, President
\nHawaii Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Barbara Franklin, President
\nIllinois Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Elmer Blankenship, President
\nIndiana Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Don Rowen, President
\nIowa Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Mike Vivirito, President
\nMaryland\/DC Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Dan Mikel, President
\nMinnesota Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
David R. Meinell, President
\nMissouri Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Mike Owens, President
\nMissouri Alliance for Ret Americans Ed Fund<\/p>\n
Bob Biel, President
\nNebraska Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Scott Watts, President
\nNevada Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Charlie Balban, President
\nNew Hampshire Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Barbara Pardo, President
\nNew Mexico Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Jim Wood, President
\nNew York Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
John Newman, President
\nNorth Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Dave Friesner, President
\nOhio Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Jerry Morris, President
\nOregon Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Jean Friday, President
\nPennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
John Pernorio, President
\nRhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Julie Harbin, President
\nSouth Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Shane Fox, President
\nTexas Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
John Bloch, President
\nVermont Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Mike Warren, President
\nWashington Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Sterling Ball, President
\nWest Virginia Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n
Leon Burzynski, President
\nWisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Barack Obama The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: We write you as the national officers and the presidents of the state chapters of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a national organization of four million members dedicated … Continue reading