Before the State of the Union address, the Social Security Works WA coalition held open and productive meetings, facilitated by PSARA President Robby Stern, with Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. At both meetings, representatives of coalition organizations spoke of the critical role Social Security plays in their lives and in the lives of their members.
They also discussed the political damage done when Obama put Social Security “on the table” in deficit reduction negotiations, and the further damage that could be caused if the president referred to cutting benefits or raising the retirement age during his address.
Both senators pledged to contact the White House, urging the president either to stress the need to defend Social Security or simply not to mention the program at all. Both senators followed through with their commitments, and both let the coalition know that Obama would not call for cutting benefits and raising the retirement age.
Washington’s senators have clout. Murray is in the Senate leadership and chairs the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee. Cantwell is an influential member of the Senate Finance Committee, and a champion of legislation to improve the Social Security COLA formula.
“The two senators let Social Security Works WA know they found the face-to-face meetings informative and helpful,” Stern said. “Together with our Alliance colleagues across the nation, we can take pride in having influenced, in a positive way, the content of the president’s address.”
Will Parry
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