Fact Sheet: Why Do Republicans Oppose Helping America’s Seniors?

Next month, the House will vote on fiscally responsible legislation to provide 54 million seniors with a one-time payment of $250 in light of last week’s announcement that there will be no automatic Social Security Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) for America’s seniors in 2011. This legislation has at least 200 co-sponsors and Democratic Members who have agreed to sign on.

Seniors Support this Legislation

AARP, Nancy Leamond, Executive Director: “We hear from our members and older Americans across the country who are worried. For those on fixed incomes, the COLA can mean the difference between getting by and going without basic needs…We believe that Congress and the administration should provide fiscally responsible relief for millions of Americans who count on an increase in their check to help pay their mounting bills. Providing relief when there’s no COLA isn’t about getting more — it’s about keeping up.”[USA Today, 10/19/10 (http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2010-10-18-editorial18ST1N.htm)]

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Barbara B. Kennelly, President and CEO: “Today’s confirmation that there will be no Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the second year in a row makes passage of COLA relief legislation vital for millions of American seniors. We applaud House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has promised a vote on legislation after the November election and we’re hopeful Majority Leader Harry Reid will also schedule a vote in the Senate. This is an economic strategy that works. The $250 stimulus payment passed in 2009 not only provided relief to seniors but was also proven to be effective stimulus (http://www.ncpssmfoundation.org/epicolabriefing.pdf> for our troubled economy.” [10/15/10

National Committee members and supporters recently signed more than 239,000 petitions to Congress urging the passage of legislation, such as The Seniors Protection Act introduced by Chairman Earl Pomeroy in the House and similar COLA legislation introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders in the Senate.

But Congressional Republicans Do Not--Fabricating its Impact on the Deficit

"GOP leaders oppose the idea. Don Stewart, spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said, 'He has a real deficit concern about this,' noting that the $14 billion price tag is greater than the entire Kentucky state budget... And Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), the ranking Republican on Ways and Means, said: 'It will be difficult for many seniors to deal with the lack of a COLA for a second year in a row, but that will pale in comparison to the actual hardships future Social Security recipients will experience if Congress continues to ignore the program's underlying financial problems.'"

Republican Record on Seniors

* Last year, House Republicans unanimously voted against legislation to provide seniors and other beneficiaries a $250 economic recovery payment to boost the economy and help them weather an anticipated upcoming COLA cutback. Earlier this year, all Senate Republicans except one voted against a payment for America's seniors. [March 3, 2010 ]

* Republicans, backed by their allies on Wall Street, are threatening to privatize and cut Social Security, just as they tried to do under President Bush.

* Republicans also favor turning over Medicare to the insurance companies, forcing seniors to hunt for their own coverage with vouchers that would decrease in value over time.

* Siding with the health insurance companies, Republicans opposed health reform, which will save seniors thousands of dollars on their prescription drug costs by phasing out the Medicare prescription drug “donut hole” coverage gap (that Republicans created) and strengthen Medicare, including extending its solvency by 12 more years.

* Republicans promise to repeal Wall Street Reform–once again letting their Big Bank supporters risk seniors’ home values and retirement savings for their own gain.