As many Americans are, I am deeply concerned about the direction of our country.
One looming concern I have in the first part of 2017 is the direction of Social Security and Medicare benefits. From several reports, it appears that the Republican majorities in the House and Senate, along with President-elect Donald Trump, are preparing to dismantle many of the Medicare and Social Security benefits we have earned.
Trump’s new pick for Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), has been a strong supporter of Paul Ryan’s plan to privatize Medicare, a move that would put health insurance out of reach for millions of seniors.
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), Trump’s pick as Secretary of Health and Human Services, has proposed a budget plan that would drastically reduce Social Security benefits.
Before Congress left town, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) — Chairman of the House Social Security Subcommittee — introduced a bill that would, on average, cut Social Security benefits by 27 percent for the majority of recipients. We must have a Congress that fights against this.
Since their inception, Social Security and Medicare have provided retirement and medical security support for billions of Americans. Now it seems the Republican majority want to treat recipients as unneeded baggage in their rush to reduce taxes for the top one percent. This impending regime appears to have no conscience or limit to the greed they intend to pursue at the expense of those least able to afford it.
Their proposed moves have a direct impact on the lives of anyone who depends on Social Security income and Medicare benefits. These are programs that each of us as Americans have fully funded with the work we have done for decades, faithfully paying our Social Security and Medicare taxes out of every paycheck.
Now, as we need them the most, they are at risk of being taken away.
I urge every reader to contact Rep. Upton and senators Stabenow and Peters and ask them to support Social Security and Medicare and vote against any measures that would reduce these benefits for hardworking Americans and American retirees.
LAURA A. GOOS
St. Joseph