On July 19, KeepOurPromise helped organize an emergency briefing on Capitol Hill with members of Congress, staff, and experts. On July 20, we met with 85 Congressional offices. On July 21, David Schuster reported that Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Raul Grijlava took our message to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. According to Schuster's comments on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Rep. Grijalva warned Rep. Peolosi that House progressives refuse to follow President Obama's lead on cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Not only that, but her own leadership position "would be challenged." On July 22, eighty House members joined Rep. Grijalva and the other CPC Co-Chair Congressman Keith Ellison in a letter to Rep. Pelosi which reads in part:
"We are united as Democrats in saying that it’s time to stand up to the Republican hostage-taking. We will not be forced to vote for a 'final agreement' that we do not agree to--and that the American people do not agree to. We stand united with you in insisting that benefit cuts for working families, our seniors, children, and people with disabilities must be off the table, and we stand united with you in fighting for millions of Americans who need Democrats to be firmly on their side."
Thanks to your support, KeepOurPromise is protecting Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Unfortunately, the battle is far from over. Moving forward, we hope to meet with 100 members of Congress July 25th to ask them to join the fight on our side. We will work with friendly members of Congress and pressure other members not to sacrifice our safety net in any political deal. We're working to turn back the malign designs of the "Denial Caucus"--the Tea Party supporters in Congress--who are driving to defund and destroy Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Let's be clear. Thanks to your support, we've met with members of Congress to gain their support. We cannot Keep Our Promise without your help. Will you contribute to help us?
Proposed cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security benefits would hurt tens millions of Americans. It would also devastate countless hospitals, medical practices, retirement communities, clinics, and the people they serve. All will endure hardship and pain if the cuts happen. We're fighting back with our Emergency Coalition to Save Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. We've created the website KeepOurPromise.org to empower this critically important effort. We demand that our politicians keep our promise between generations and among all Americans to preserve, protect--and even expand and improve--Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Please contribute whatever you can to help. (Contributions to Keep Our Promise are not tax deductible) We're setting up a media strategy to inform and mobilize the general public on these issues, and planning call-in days to jam the White House and Congressional switchboards with calls.
We're explaining that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are not "broke," and do not add to the debt or deficit. We should cut corruption and corporate profiteering--not benefits. To control costs and provide the best outcomes, need Expanded, Improved Medicare for All (single payer healthcare). We're working with members of Congress and staffers, the Black, Progressive and Hispanic Caucus, as well as progressive, faith, patients' rights and civil rights leaders and organizations, unions, and more. We convene weekly action meetings to plan lobby days, call-in days, Congressional hearings, town hall meetings, a media strategy and special events. Contribute now to Save Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.
We're holding a massive citizen's lobby day July 20th. We're meeting with 85 members of Congress with a simple message: No cuts to Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security. Let Medicare negotiate with big drug companies on prices. Improve and expand Medicare--don't cut it! We're holding events nation-wide with our allies to commemorate the anniversary of Medicare at the end of this month, as well as Vigils at Congressional offices. The first hearing in the series is scheduled for July 19 in the Rayburn House Office Building. It will focus on the impact of proposed cuts on people in need--and what the American People don't know about proposed cuts. Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security remain at risk. Will you help us prevail? Contribute here. (Contributions to Keep Our Promise are not tax deductible).
