Earlier this week I released a diary about how the Daily Kos should endorse the Protecting & Preserving Social Security Act of 2013 authored by Senator Mark Begich (D. AK) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D. FL-21):
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Here's the actual bill:
And here's a quick overview of the plan:
Increases Benefits for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities. Currently, Social Security benefits are adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for workers. However, costs and spending patterns for seniors do not mirror those of the workforce. That is why Sen. Begich’s bill calls for adjusting cost-of-living increases with a Consumer Price Index specifically for the elderly which was created to more accurately measure the costs of goods and services seniors actually buy.
Lifts the Cap on High-Income Contributions. Current law sets a cap based on income at $113,700 for paying into Social Security. If an individual’s wages hit that total for the year, they no longer pay into the program. Sen. Begich’s bill lifts the cap and asks higher income earners to pay Social Security on all their earnings in order to increase the program’s revenue stream and extend the overall solvency of the program.
Extends Social Security for approximately 75 years through modest revenue increases gradually implemented over the course of seven years. - Alaska Native News, 11/14/12
The Senate version is Bill S. 308 and the House version is H.R. 649. Sorry to sound like a broken record but it's important that everyone have this information. Well after getting in touch with Joan McCarter, the Daily Kos now has a petition that you can sign to urge your Senator and Congressman to get behind S. 308 & H.R. 649:
http://campaigns.dailykos.com/...
I have been in touch with both Begich and Deutch's offices and I am waiting from statements from Senators Bernie Sanders (I. VT) and Tom Harkin (D. IA) who have looked at the bill and are working with Begich. This bill could certainly use some more co-sponsors and I recommend getting the Democrats who are up for re-election in 2014 to become co-sponsors. Here are their contact numbers:
Jeff Merkley (D. OR): 202-224-3753
Tim Johnson (D. SD): 202-224-5842
Kay Hagan (D. NC): 202-224-6342
Mark Udall (D. CO): 202-224-5941
Mark Pryor (D. AR): 202-224-2353
Dick Durbin (D. IL): 202-224-2152
Mark Warner (D. VA): 202-224-2023
Mary Landrieu (D. LA): 202-224-5824
Tom Udall (D. NM): 202-224-6621
Chris Coons (D. DE): 202-224-5042
Max Baucus (D. MT): 202-224-2651
Jack Reed (D. RI): 202-224-4642
Al Franken (D. MN): 202-224-5641
Jeanne Shaheen (D. NH): 202-224-2841
Carl Levin (D. MI): 202-224-6221
Take a moment and sign the petition and also give Begich and Deutch's offices a call and thank them for authoring and introducing great legislation that protects and strengthens the safety net. They need to hear from you so it'll encourage them to keep pushing their colleague to get on board with this legislation:
Begich: 202-224-3004
Deutch: 202-225-3001
And if you want, you can sign CREDO Action's petition to get more House Democrats to sign the Grayson-Takano letter urging Democrats to reject cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as part of a Grand Bargain:
http://act.credoaction.com/...
And if you want to get involved with the Strengthen Social Security Coalition, you can more info here:
http://strengthensocialsecurity.org/
Please Tip & Rec this diary. I'd love to see an action diary make the Rec List today. :)
