Over 50 House Democrats have now signed on to a letter, first obtained by TPM earlier this month, warning President Obama they’ll oppose any effort on his part, or on the part of his fiscal commission, to cut Social Security benefits or privatize the program.
The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. It was originally cosigned by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Dan Maffei (D-NY), Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and CPC co-chair Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). The advocacy groups P Street Project and MoveOn helped organize the effort to add signatures.
They will continue to round up signatures through tomorrow, before the letter goes to the White House.
“This is not an issue we should even need to debate as Democrats,” says Grijalva. “The people of this country have had an agreement with the federal government for many years now – you give to your country during your career, and your country gives back during your retirement.”
[…] “It’s absurd that we’re even considering cutting the best social safety net program America ever created,” says P Street director Shaunna Thomas. “We are going to keep building momentum for this letter and making clear that any proposal from this commission of millionaires that cuts Social Security is dead on arrival.”
I’d like to take the opportunity to point out that Chellie Pingree and Mary Jo Kilroy are Real Dems, and they’re in a fight for their political survival. So naturally, the DCCC has decided to cut them loose and let them sink or swim.
I really believe in these two. I know a lot of you have stopped donating money to the party, but these two really, truly deserve our help. If you can, please contribute to Chellie and Mary Jo. How can you not support a woman the National Review insists is a Socialist?
I don’t say this lightly, but I trust these two women to stand up for us. Your contribution will support representatives who will support us right back.
I’d really like to know why Pelosi slipped in that little time bomb, the one requiring the House to take a vote on the Cat Food Commission’s recommendations if the Senate passes them. Given the number of Blue Dogs and Repubs, passage has to be assured.
And in the Senate? There are enough Conservadems to vote with the Repubs to pass the recommendations. And Reid does not take kindly to Democrats who wish to filibuster.
All after the elections, of course. Obama helped with that timing.
Have any of Pelosi’s constituents asked her why she pulled that little legislative trick? Rahm forced her to do it? Obama?