Local Labor Hits Hill to Join Fight Against Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

(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.
- 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