Cicilline to Leader Pelosi: Protect Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid Benefits

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) joined nearly 70 of his colleagues today in a letter to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi expressing support for her strong advocacy during recent debt ceiling negotiations to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits as discussions continue into another weekend regarding our nation’s spending.

In their letter, Members support Pelosi’s stalwart defense of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as debt crisis negotiations test the future of these programs.

Members wrote, “Especially in these tough economic times, we should not be cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits that millions of our constituents paid into and depend on. Such benefit cuts should be off the table in current debt discussions…We are united as Democrats in saying that it’s time to stand up to the Republican hostage-taking…We stand united with you in insisting that benefit cuts for working families, our seniors, children, and people with disabilities must be off the table, and we stand united with you in fighting for millions of Americans who need Democrats to be firmly on their side.”

The full text of their letter is below:

Leader Pelosi,

We write in strong agreement with your unwavering defense of the Democratic programs that form the bedrock of America’s middle and working classes, and which are overwhelmingly popular.

On July 7, you made very clear that “We are not going to balance the budget on the backs of America’s seniors, women and people with disabilities” and that “we do not support cuts in benefits” for vital safety-net programs. We agree completely.

Especially in these tough economic times, we should not be cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits that millions of our constituents paid into and depend on. Such benefit cuts should be off the table in current debt discussions.

Our Republican colleagues should be embarrassed by their insistence that unless Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits are cut, the nation will default on its debts. Middle-class families have sacrificed enough, and a deal that pushes the American Dream further out of reach, in order to pay for extending tax breaks for the rich and corporations, is simply unacceptable.

We are united as Democrats in saying that it’s time to stand up to the Republican hostage-taking. We will not be forced to vote for a “final agreement” that we do not agree to -- and that the American people do not agree to.

We stand united with you in insisting that benefit cuts for working families, our seniors, children, and people with disabilities must be off the table, and we stand united with you in fighting for millions of Americans who need Democrats to be firmly on their side.

Sincerely,

Members of Congress

At the time of release, the following Members of Congress have signed onto this letter to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi: