Message from Retiree Executive Committee Chair Judy Richards Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid? As union activists, retirees and middle-class Americans, we can never afford to support any plan to gut the retirement security we have all fought for. Yet, the budget proposal that the House of Representatives majority recently released is a full-scale assault on the middle class and low-income Americans. It’s a far right, conservative wish list that includes the creation of a commission designed to force future cuts to Social Security benefits, an end to Medicare as we know it by partially privatizing the program and devastating cuts to Medicaid and food stamps. We can’t stand for this. Budget negotiations just started in the House and the Senate, and they will only last a few weeks. We need to continue fighting back to stop these cuts to our social safety net. If you have been reading previous Retiree News articles, you will recall that these issues are ongoing for retirees and the American public. These cuts are not going away. If the new budget proposal introduced by House Republicans sounds familiar, that’s because it’s nearly identical to Rep. Paul Ryan’s infamous and deceptively named “Path to Prosperity” budget. On Social Security, the budget would create a “bipartisan commission” tasked with making specific benefit cut proposals to Congress and the president. The proposed commission sounds similar to the Bowles-Simpson commission, which ultimately recommended Social Security benefit cuts that hundreds of thousands of activists fought to stop via progressive phone carrier CREDO, which manages numerous online progressive campaigns, and other resources. The House majority’s proposed budget would partially privatize Medicare, giving future recipients vouchers to purchase private insurance, rather than government provided health care. When the U.S. Senate voted on a similar plan in 2013, just three senators supported it: Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Mike Lee (R-UT). The proposed House majority budget would also turn Medicaid into a block grant program, and push through nearly $1.8 trillion in benefit cuts over the next decade, leaving tens of millions of Americans uninsured or underinsured. While the budget doesn’t specify an exact figure for cuts to the food stamp program, it requires nearly $1 trillion in unspecified cuts, some of which would reportedly target food stamps. The House Republican budget proposal is a direct assault on the most important and successful elements of our social safety net, and it is up to us to stop it. Now is the time to make it crystal clear to all members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, that cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits are unacceptable. So my plea to each of you, my union brothers and sisters, is simply this: start making phone calls to your representatives and tell them to not support this proposal. It is with our voice that we can help change Washington’s way of thinking. Happy spring to all! Judy CSEA President Danny Donohue: Our work is never done The state budget is always an imperfect spending plan. This year’s agreement is no exception, but it has many areas that are a step in the right direction over what we’ve seen in recent years. There are investments for infrastructure improvements in localities, state parks, road maintenance and equipment, Internet access and technology capacity, to name just a few areas that will bring about practical improvements in our communities while stimulating jobs and economic activity. These improvements will also ensure that our communities will remain great places for New Yorkers to enjoy their retirement years. New Yorkers of all ages rely on the investments in this year’s budget. There is recognition about the need to increase staff in neglected developmental disabilities and mental health facilities and better deploy the public work force in future roles in those areas. There are also valuable improvements in funding for child care that has a direct benefit for thousands of CSEA-represented providers and working people who depend on them. There are also some controversial aspects to the budget, including the education funding and a big tax break for people who buy private jets and luxury yachts. There’s also a lot of unfinished business — some of it good, some of it not-so-good in CSEA’s judgment — before the legislative session ends in June. CSEA’s priorities in any given year are a state budget and legislative action that values and supports essential services for the people who need them in communities across New York. All this requires having people with the know-how to do the job every day and providing them with the help and resources they need to get it done. Ensuring they are paid decent wages with benefits is the best way to make strong communities work and create a better New York for all. Remember, strong communities don’t just work; they are better places for retirees to live, obtain services and spend their money. It is always a challenge and our work is never done. See page 3 for more about this year’s state budget. 2 CSEA RETIREE NEWS
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