First meeting of the Washington State Chapter of Social Security Works

[eridani]

Let's have one in every state. (Posted also in the WA State forum.) Following is the pledge, which we have already gotten agreement on for some of our state congressional delegation.

Social Security Works--Washington Pledge

Social Security is the only dependable source of income for retired Americans and supports millions of families through its disability and survivors programs. Every working person pays into it and earns benefits. For 75 years, Social Security has been America's most trusted institution. It is frugally administered and soundly finance~ to continue providing a foundation of economic security for future generations.

In the interests of my constituents - the men, women and children who are Social Security's current and future beneficiaries,
pledge to:

~ defend the integrity of Social Security against efforts to reduce its benefits or weaken its protections;

~ support responsible efforts to strengthen Social Security benefits;
~ oppose any and all efforts to reduce the federal deficit by failing to fully honor obligations to the Social Security Trust Fund, built by the payroll contributions of working Americans.

Signed__________________
Date____________________

Meeting of 7/14/2010. The following principles were agreed to, but there will be some minor editorial changes.

Social Security Works/Washington Campaign Principles

We stand together in support of Social Security, a promise made to Americans of all generations. Social Security represents the best of American values—rewarding work, honoring our parents and caring for our neighbors. Social Security belongs to the workers and their families who have worked hard, paid taxes in, and earned its benefits. It is a legacy we are committed to passing on to future generations.

In this, Social Security's 75th Anniversary year, we are united in support of the following principles:
1. Social Security's financing is sound, now and into the future. For 75 years, working Americans have paid into the system. Their contributions have both supported benefit payments and built a $2.6 trillion Trust Fund. Social Security did not cause the federal deficit and benefits should not be cut to reduce the deficit
2. Social Security has stood the test of time. It should not be privatized in whole or in part.

3. Social Security is an insurance policy and as such should not be means-tested. Workers pay for this insurance, and they and their dependents are entitled to it regardless of their income or savings.

4. In order to modernize and strengthen benefits and assure long-term stability for future generations, Congress should act to eliminate the earnings cap on contributions.

5. Social Security provides vital protection to Americans of all income levels against the loss of wages as the result of disability, death, or old age. Those benefits should not be reduced in any way, including changes to the cost of living adjustment or to the benefit formula.

6. Social Security's retirement age, already scheduled to increase from 66 to 67, should not be raised further. Raising the retirement age constitutes a benefit cut. The present age limits already impose a hardship on Americans who work in physically demanding jobs or those unable to find or keep employment.

7. Social Security's benefits should be strengthened and modernized to reflect the dignity of all work regardless of income, to better cover health and care costs, and to improve fairness. This can be accomplished by: changing the benefit formula to replace a higher percentage of low earnings; providing a care-giving credit for at least 5 years; guaranteeing elderly survivors 75% of the couple's benefit; and allowing benefits for state-recognized same-sex couples.

Robby Stern will send out the results of the latest CEPR study. The deficit commission will probably try to adjust the formula used to calculate initial benefits downward, raise retirement age and/or change the way COLA is calculate. Our strategy should be to prevent this from coming to a House floor vote.

Letterhead approved. There is still plenty of space for listing endorsing organizations. A website is being set up at www.ssworkswa.org. The email address will be info {at} ssworkswa.org, but it is not active yet. Endorsements should be forwarded to aaron {at} eoionline.org until it is. The snail mail address is c/o PSARA, 2800 First Ave, Room 262, Seattle, WA 98121.

The wording of the pledge for legislators and candidates is attached. The coalition has met with McDermott, with Inslee staffers, with Cantwell’s aide Nate Camino and with one Smith staffer. They may come to the planned Social Security Birthday Party on August 16th. Murray is committed to attending the function and may sign the pledge there. The del Bene campaign is also interested. Plans for the event follow.


Celebrating the 75th Birthday of Social Security
Protecting Millions of Seniors, Children & the Disabled
Sponsored by the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans & Phinney Neighborhood Association's Greenwood Senior Center August 16th, 1:30 p.m. 525 N. 85th St., Seattle, WA

Proposed program:

Cecily Kaplan welcomes people - introduces Robby - 3 min.
Robby welcomes - introduces OWL video - 3 min.
Introduce face of Social Sec. - senior, survivor, disabled each tells personal story for 3 minutes
Introduce Sen. Murray -15 minutes (sign pledge?)
Possible intro of McDermott, Inslee, Cantwell if they want to sign Pledge - ? min.
Someone (possibly Will or someone else to talk about threat - 5 min.
Birthday cake
Call to action(what?)

Turn out - Greenwood & PSARA at least 50 each, others? Further turn out ideas?
Publicity - we need to produce flyer and post card size version, union bug, need info on parking before producing; websites
Media - Kathy Cummings - press advisory, press release--phone calls day of. Other media, Real Change (Robby)
Senior media (Maureen);
Logistics - parking, possible van from Greenwood Market or else neighborhood parking with 30 spots at center; Greenwood has podium & microphone & screen; Robby getting cakes; anyone want to donate 36 bottles of sparking Apple cider; anyone have a flag that can stand on stage?
Materials for distribution (Maureen)


Next meeting at 1:30PM at AFL-CIO, 314 1st Ave W.

[eridani]

1. Kick for Thursday n/t