"Congress should be talking about the adequacy of Social Security's benefits -- not cutting them."

[midnight]

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2012/05/11-6


"The truth is, as our nation ages and retirement income continues to decline for millions of Americans, Congress should be talking about the adequacy of Social Security's benefits -- not cutting them. Congress should examine the inequities that have created a poverty rate for senior women and widows that is 50 percent higher than other retirees 65 and older. We can break this Social Security glass ceiling -- in fact, we must do so to preserve the economic security of generations of American women and their families." Max Richtman, NCPSSM President/CEO

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Foundation, the National Organization for Women Foundation and the Institute for Women's Policy Research briefed congressional staff today on their research examining the challenges facing elderly women and their families in the U.S. Their report, "Breaking the Social Security Glass Ceiling: A Proposal to Modernize Women's Benefits," also proposes initiatives to ensure Social Security benefits are adequate for all Americans, particularly for women and women of color.

"Our proposals are designed to modernize the Social Security system and recognize particularly the changes that have occurred in women's lives and in family life, so that women will be rewarded more fairly for the full value of the work they do, both in the labor market and in raising the next generation. We can strengthen the Social Security system to address the gender gap in retirement that reveals many more older women in poverty than older men, while still addressing the financial needs of the program." Dr. Heidi Hartmann, Institute for Women's Policy Research President

"If implemented, the recommendations we make in 'Breaking the Social Security Glass Ceiling' will go a long way toward creating a retirement and disability insurance program that recognizes the new reality of working women and men, and values women's role in society as both breadwinners and primary caregivers. Crediting women's years out of the paid labor force is a long overdue feature that NOW strongly supports and urges lawmakers to support as well." Terry O'Neill, NOW Foundation President

[truedelphi]

1. Glad to see this off to the Greatest. n/t

[freshwest]

2. The AFL-CIO has also made compelling statements:

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Trustees-Report-Shows-Social-Security-Vibrant-Strong

And:

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/The-99-Percent-Solution-to-the-Retirement-Security-Crisis

[Lugnut]

3. It's about damned time!

My monthly SS benefit is roughly half of that of my husband. I took a few years off when we had our children but otherwise I always worked outside our home. My benefits would be much better than $901 a month if I was rewarded with credits for the time I did not work.

[midnight]

4. I have been talking about this point for a long time, and people really thought this was so

unrealistic. But I said we need to list this work on the GDP, and then make it "realistic".

[midnight]

4. I have been talking about this point for a long time, and people really thought this was so

unrealistic. But I said we need to list this work on the GDP, and that should make it "realistic".

[Dragonfli]

6. That goes against party policy, stop using ani-Democratic screeds

To finally solve our fiscal dilemma, both sides will have to give up some of what they hold dear. The President has made clear time and again that his side is willing to give up sacred cows and make hard choices –

http://www.thirdway.org/press_releases/164

We have to reduce growth (that is money put in to SS), not help them, we may get some taxation for this if we play it like our president wants. They should even retire at a later age.

I will alert if you keep bashing Democrats like this!