Hands off Medicare and Social Security!

The Task Force is expressing concerns over President Obama’s $3.77 trillion budget for 2014. The blueprint is aimed at slashing the deficit by $1.8 trillion over the next decade. It includes investments in infrastructure, education and research, as well as deficit reduction through spending cuts and tax increases. For the first time, the president included changes to Medicare and Social Security.

We object to any cuts to Social Security and Medicare because these programs provide a critical safety net to tens of millions of vulnerable Americans, including seniors, people with disabilities, and those with lower incomes.

LGBT older adults are particularly vulnerable and dependent on their benefits/cost-of-living adjustments due in part to ongoing discrimination of their relationships. For example, the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” unfairly excludes same-sex couples who are legally married from over 1,100 federal protections and responsibilities that the government provides to other married couples — like Social Security, active duty military spousal and veterans’ benefits, and fair treatment in taxation, health insurance and retirement savings.

This hurts our wallets and our families.

The proposed budget, unveiled yesterday, could have a severe impact on cost-of-living benefits for Social Security, veteran’s benefits and other life-saving programs, making life harder for countless Americans.

America can — and must — do better.

We urge our political leaders to leave Social Security, Medicare and other vital programs intact. Lives depend on it.

We ask you to call your senators now at 1.877.604.8551 and tell them to reject proposals to cut vital programs such as Medicare and Social Security! Tell them to support the Murray budget passed by the Senate.  All of our futures depend on their actions.