Local Labor Hits Hill to Join Fight Against Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
Thursday, November 29, 2012
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Local labor leaders joined their colleagues from across the country yesterday as
advocates for working families from 33 states fanned out across Capitol Hill to
call on their elected representatives to end Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and
use those savings – estimated at $1 trillion over 10 years – to cancel
across-the-board budget cuts to popular programs like Social Security, Medicare,
and Medicaid. Metro Council President Jos Williams joined Maryland State and DC
AFL-CIO President Fred Mason, Secretary-Treasurer Donna Edwards and Political
Director Denise Riley, along with Frank Stella, President of the Maryland and DC
Alliance for Retired Americans in meetings with Maryland representatives John
Sarbanes, Dutch Ruppersberger, Elijah Cummings, Chris Van Hollen, Donna Edwards
and Maryland Senator Ben Cardin. “The entire Maryland delegation is firm in
supporting labor’s position,” said Williams. “Edwards in particular has
been especially vociferous in her advocacy to fellow caucus members.” In a
recent “Dear Colleague” letter, Edwards said that “The American people
have made it very clear—don’t cut Social Security. Let’s stand with them
by sending a letter urging congressional leadership to avoid cuts.” In
Maryland and DC over 900,000 people depend on Social Security alone, while 1.8 million
count on Medicare and Medicaid. Click
here to see how the proposed cuts would affect people in your state.
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photos: TOP RIGHT: local actions in support of Social Security, Medicare, and
Medicaid funding earlier this month in New Mexico (top), Wisconsin (bottom
left), and Virginia (bottom right); photos courtesy AFL-CIO; BOTTOM LEFT:
Stella, Edwards, Rep. Edwards, Williams & Riley