Overflow Crowd Withstands the Heat to Say No to Cuts to Social Security and No to the Chained CPI
PASC and IHSS Recipients Join Effort
On Tuesday, July 2nd at noon, over 350 working families, seniors, and people with disabilities from as far away as Bakersfield and San Diego convened in the heat at noon on the grassy median on Broadway in the heart of South Los Angeles to say thank you to Congresswoman Maxine Waters for her work to strengthen Social Security and to say no to cuts to Social Security. With chants, songs, cell phones, and at one point even using their cell phone to call DC, participants sent a message to President Obama and their congressional representatives: “No Cuts to Social Security and No Chained CPI.”
Red, white, and blue canopies, American flags, and paper chains decorated the event site. Organizational sponsors included the PASC and many others: CA Alliance for Retired Americans, Black Community and Clergy Alliance, SEIU 721 Retirees, ULTCW, CA Nurses, and LA County Labor Federation. Speakers included people who are affected by changes to Social Security. Andrew Ayala, a recent graduate from UC Berkele, struggled as he talked about what Social Security has meant to his family and his sister who has a disability. Cynde Soto, PASC Consumer Corps participant, who has lived her entire life in a wheelchair, described how her father’s paying into Social Security means that she has been helped by the system. Without Social Security and IHSS provided through Medi-Cal, Cynde said she would have no independence. Adele Little, another Consumer Corps participant, who lives on Social Security with a little help from IHSS, also spoke about the independence she has because of Social Security and IHSS. “I get by because of these programs and even a small cut in my Social Security would wreck the delicate balance I have in my life.” Perry Smith, another IHSS Consumer Corps participant, kept cool in the front row, and, after making his cell phone call to Senator Feinstein to say “no chained CPI,” he said, “Senator Feinstein’s office appreciated my calling, I want to do this more often—cutting my Social Security could be devastating and my senator needs to know that.”
Louie Duran, CARA Board member, presented a plaque to Congresswoman Waters, as “A Heroine in the War to Save Social Security.” Following the award presentation, speeches, and phone calls to DC, participants joined hands and marched around the event site singing and chanting “1-2-3-4- Social Security’s what we’re for, 5-6-7-8-stop chained CPI – it’s not too late.”
By changing the method to compute the cost of living adjustment for Social Security to the Chained CPI approach would be a benefit cut for all current beneficiaries, and studies show that the Chained CPI method would take tens of thousands of dollars out of the pockets of retirees who need it the most. Many of the participants rely on Social Security for their independence, and flags, red, white, and blue shirts were prominent in the activities.
Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Cut
Will Chain Many Seniors and People with Disabilities
to a Poorer Life
The proposed Chained CPI changes the formula used to calculate
Cost of Living Adjustments
-
It is a benefit cut
-
It cuts benefits even more with every passing year