Republicans are already talking about holding Social Security and Medicare "hostage"

Dear Friend,

Looks like a chaotic Congress is barreling toward another big brawl over the federal budget deficit, the national debt, and the debt ceiling—on a crash course for early November, when it must raise our nation's debt limit.^1,2

And Republicans are already talking about holding Social Security and Medicare "hostage" during negotiations—hell-bent on getting cuts in exchange for a debt ceiling hike.³

Please watch and share my latest MoveOn video—Austerity 101—to learn three basic principles you need to know so you won't be fooled by deficit hawks waving scary numbers.

Last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew asked whether our nation would "muster the political will to avoid the self-inflicted wounds that come from a political stalemate."⁴ 

It's a fair question. And there's only one economically sound answer: We've got to. Congress must end the sequester, put more people to work, and increase our nation's investment in sectors like education and infrastructure.

Help make sure your friends and neighbors also get the facts they need to make their voices heard, by watching and sharing Austerity 101right now.

Thanks for all you do.

–Robert Reich

Sources:

1. "Congress faces looming deadlines amid chaos of House speaker election," CBS News, October 8, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307806&id=133733-19913724-5vKZ3Ax&t=4 

2. "Treasury's Lew Says Congress Must Raise Debt Limit by Nov. 5," The Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307807&id=133733-19913724-5vKZ3Ax&t=6 

3. "Senate Republicans decide on their debt ceiling hostages: Social Security and Medicare," Daily Kos, October 13, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307822&id=133733-19913724-5vKZ3Ax&t=7

4. "US Treasury Secretary Blames Congress for Debt Limit Delays," ABC News, October 8, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307808&id=133733-19913724-5vKZ3Ax&t=8

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