We built our Social Security system, Wall Street billionaires have been fighting to tear it down.

		Friend, For the past 80 years, since we built our Social Security system, Wall Street billionaires have been fighting to tear it down. One of their most effective tactics has been closing offices and limiting services from the Social Security Administration, making every interaction as inconvenient as possible. But this isn’t limited to Social Security—The US Postal Service has been suffering from years of cuts, and has been forced to repeatedly consider service reductions. We must fight back. The US Postal Service—like our Social Security system—is a universal service that we all rely on. Instead of looking for ways to reduce that, we should be asking what more the Postal Service can do. One way we can protect and expand the U.S. Postal Service is by allowing them to offer more services such as postal banking.Click here to call on Postmaster General Brennan to take concrete steps toward implementing postal banking. Postal Banking is an affordable, non-profit, consumer-driven financial service for all U.S. residents including seniors living on fixed incomes, people with disabilities, veterans, and people living in rural areas. Right now, nearly 28 percent of U.S. households are underserved by traditional banks and are forced to turn to payday lenders, check cashers, and other financial predators, spending on average 10 percent of their income on fees and services. This totals $103 billion a year in lost income for American families. Our 30,000 postal branches across the country serve as a critical societal link for our underserved populations and act as a meeting place in many rural communities. In order to prevent the closing of rural post offices, protect 6-day delivery, and protect mail processing facilities across the country, it is critical that the USPS expands its current offerings.Stand with Social Security Works and our partners in calling on Postmaster General Brennan to take the necessary steps toward implementing postal banking. When we do, we’ll be expanding services for seniors and people with disabilities and strengthening the USPS for generations to come. Thank you, Michael Phelan Social Security Works
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Tell Congress that it answers to the American people, not Wall Street CEOs.

		Friend, It’s official. There will be no cost of living adjustment to Social Security benefits in 2016. And while the majority of Americans are seeing no COLA or wage increase to offset rising out-of-pocket expenses, Wall Street executives and CEOs of America’s largest firms are raking in record incomes. In fact, recent reports show that top CEOs are making 300 times more than the typical worker. Yet, these very same CEOs and Wall Street execs are the ones lobbying Congress to cut our modest Social Security benefits. Tell Congress that it answers to the American people, not Wall Street CEOs. It’s time to expand, not cut Social Security! Recently, Republican presidential candidate, governor of Ohio and former Lehman Brothers’ executive John Kasich laughed about potential cuts to Social Security, telling the audience to “get over it.” It’s that type of out-of-touch attitude that permeates Wall Street and some factions within Washington. These are millionaires and billionaires who have no idea what it’s like to live on the average annual Social Security benefit of just $14,375. They have no idea what it’s like to spend 37% of your monthly Social Security check on out-of-pocket health care costs. They have no idea what it’s like to rely almost entirely on Social Security as your primary source of income as do two-thirds of retirees. We won’t accept the Wall Street model of cuts and privatization. We know that all it will take is for the wealthy to start paying the same rate as the rest of us and we can increase benefits for the majority of Social Security recipients and extend the lifespan of the Social Security trust fund. Please, stand with Social Security Works today and tell Congress to expand, not cut Social Security. At a time when Wall Street and Big Business are reaping record profits, it’s time that the American people receive a raise too. Thank you, Michael Phelan Social Security Works

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Social Security should not be held hostage

		Friend, For 80 years, Social Security has paid out every benefit owed to every eligible American in full and on time. But if Congress does not do their job, the Social Security Disability Insurance trust fund – which protects 11 million Americans, including more than 1 million veterans and 3 million children – will see its reserves depleted in late 2016, resulting in a 20% cut in disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an economic lifeline that protects workers and their families from dire financial hardship. The average benefit earned by a worker with a disability is just $1,100 a month and without SSDI, about half of beneficiaries would live in poverty. Social Security works, the only problem it faces is from members of Congress who can't stop themselves from dismantling the system for their Wall Street friends. Please, join Social Security Works in supporting the Social Security Earned Benefits Payment Act, which balances the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund and the Disability Insurance trust fund and ensures full payments on time through 2034. Congress should be expanding benefits for millions of Americans, never cutting them. Social Security is meant to be a universal system based on the principle that we are stronger together. 11 times in the past Congress has reallocated funds between the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance fund and the Disability Insurance fund to ensure both funds can meet their scheduled payments. But this is not your average Congress. Instead of being responsible stewards of Social Security, this Congress has manufactured a crisis by changing its rules and pitting retirees against people with disabilities. The new House rule mandates that the two trust funds can only be balanced if Congress approves a cut to retirement benefits or raises taxes. In response, Senator Ron Wyden (OR) and Representative Sander Levin (MI) have introduced the Social Security Earned Benefits Payment Act, which would responsibly reallocate funds between the trust funds, allowing all parts of Social Security to pay full scheduled benefits through 2034. Please, tell Congress to balance the trust funds responsibly without cutting retirement or disability benefits. Instead, Congress should be expanding benefits for millions of Americans, never cutting them! Social Security should not be held hostage, and certainly not by those who want to cut its modest earned benefits, narrow its coverage, or restrict its eligibility. The only path forward for Social Security is to expand benefits for everyone. One necessary step along the way is to rebalance the trust funds. Stand with Social Security Works and stand up to Republican hostage takers! Thank you, Michael Phelan Social Security Works

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Republicans are offering Americans a false choice between cuts and privatization.

		FRIEND, Way back in January, as their very first act after taking full control of Congress, they showed their hand: House Republicans passed a rule explicitly to force a crisis for Social Security as a means to force benefit cuts that are both unwanted and unneeded.  Now they are starting to make their move: Mainstream media outlets are echoing the Wall Street talking points, falsely saying that Social Security is going broke and pitting the young, old, and people with disabilities against each other. The New York Times ran an op-ed claiming, “Rising national debt levels may threaten the ability of millennials to collect on promised Social Security and Medicare benefits.” They continue to use this outrageous talking point – thought-up by Third Way, Fix The Debt and other Wall Street front groups – even though Social Security has never contributed one penny to the deficit, has a $2.8 trillion surplus, can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 19 years and approximately 80% of benefits owed after that if no action is taken. And this is just the beginning: A think tank called the Center for a Responsible Federal Budget is using this week to offer their own so-called compromise solutions, nearly all of which will cut the earned benefits of millions of Americans in exchange for allowing our Social Security system to continue to function as promised. We’ve beaten back these attacks before, but we need your help again. Please donate to Social Security Works today to fight the united Republican attack on Social Security. If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately: Express Donate: $5 Express Donate: $25 Express Donate: $50 Express Donate: $100 Or, donate another amount. Republicans claim they are the ones willing to make tough decisions. But forcing some of our country’s most vulnerable off of Social Security while millionaires and billionaires only pay into the program on a fraction of their income isn’t a tough decision, it’s outrageous. Republicans are offering Americans a false choice between cuts and privatization. You and I know that all it really takes to extend the life of the Social Security trust fund is to ask the wealthy to start paying their fair share of taxes. And when they do, we can afford to expand benefits for millions of Americans. Stand with Social Security Works in our fight to expand, not cut Social Security! Please donate today. Thank you for your generous support as we fight these Republican attacks and continue to grow the movement for Social Security expansion. Michael Phelan Social Security Works
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TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY

		Donate $4 for the 4th! Friend, There are two kinds of people who want to cut Social Security—liars, and people who believe the lies. They’ve heard the conservative talking points. “Social Security is going broke.” “Social Security won’t be there for me when I retire.” “The only way to save Social Security is to cut benefits.” Unfortunately, these Wall Street funded lies have gotten plenty of traction in recent years. So much so that a recent survey shows that 43 percent of young people believe that Social Security won’t be there for them when they retire—no matter how much that same survey shows that these same young people want it to. It’s time to set the record straight. This 4th of July weekend, when you’re speaking with your Chris Christie-loving cousin at the family BBQ, you have the facts on your side: Social Security has a $2.8 trillion surplus and can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible person for nearly two decades. After that, even if we do nothing, it will pay out approximately 80% of benefits owed for the next 75 years. Social Security has not contributed one penny to the deficit because it is independently funded by the FICA payroll tax. Proposed “tweaks” to Social Security would hurt seniors, disabled veterans and people with disabilities. All we need is to ask millionaires and billionaires to start paying into Social Security at the same rate as the rest of us and we not only extend the life of the Social Security trust fund, but we can expand benefits to the majority of Americans. With the facts on our side, we have begun to see a dramatic shift in the national conversation around Social Security. It wasn’t that long ago that we were still fighting a “chained CPI” benefit cut being proposed by President Obama, all Republicans and some Democrats in Congress. Today, 44 out of 46 Senate Democrats and 116 out of 188 House Democrats have gone on record supporting expansion. And 79% of likely voters – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – support expansion! The shift that we are seeing is a direct result of your hard work. Together we have rallied and educated the American people around protecting and expanding our earned benefits. But, while we have made significant strides, we are not at the finish line yet. On this 4th of July, please support Social Security Works with a donation of $4 to make 2015 the year of Social Security Expansion! If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Express Donate: $4 Express Donate: $15 Express Donate: $25 Or, donate another amount. This year we can end the constant Wall Street drum beat of benefit cuts and replace them with the American people’s call for expanding benefits. Please, donate to Social Security Works today to grow our national campaign to expand, not cut Social Security! Thanks for all that you do. Michael Phelan Social Security Works

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The American people want Social Security EXPANDED—not cut

		Friend, By now, you’ve heard from me that expanding our Social Security system is overwhelmingly popular. The American people—from all age groups and all parties—know that there is a retirement security crisis in this country, and that increasing Social Security benefits is the best way to address it. But apparently our message hasn’t reached everyone in Washington. This week, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) went on TV to attack Bernie Sanders, saying that he was “extreme” for wanting to expand Social Security and Medicare. But poll after poll shows strong support for expanding Social Security and a strong negative reaction to anyone who would cut it. One of the most recent polls, from NBC News/Wall Street Journal, shows strong support for expanding Social Security (61%) and – not surprisingly – weak support for cuts (30%). If you put Bernie’s plan to increase Social Security benefits up against Chris Christie’s plan of eliminating the universality of Social Security, Bernie’s plan wins hands-down. But, we still have our work cut out for us. We must educate the American people on what everyone running for office thinks about Social Security expansion. And we need to make sure that every Democrat knows what side the American people are on. Support Social Security Works today to make sure everyone in Washington knows: The American people want Social Security EXPANDED—not cut. If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately: Express Donate: $5 Express Donate: $15 Express Donate: $30 Or, donate another amount. Momentum is on our side! In 2015, nearly the entire Senate Democratic caucus has joined us in supporting Social Security expansion. And nearly 150,000 Social Security Works members have signed the pledge to vote against cuts in 2016 and have urged all candidates to support expansion. We need voters and candidates alike to understand that: Social Security has a $2.8 trillion surplus, can pay out 100% of benefits owed to every eligible American for the next 18 years and approximately 80% of benefits after that. And all we need to do is ask the wealthy to pay their fair share and we can increase benefits for the majority of Americans and extend the lifespan of the Social Security trust fund. This is the plan the American people support and this is THE ISSUE that can define the 2016 election. Please, donate to Social Security Works today to educate voters and let every candidate know where the American people stand: Expand, don’t cut Social Security! Thank you for all that you do for the future of Social Security. Michael Phelan Social Security Works
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We need your calls today to be sure that Congress stands strong with the American people

		Friend, This morning, the U.S. House is holding another vote on Fast Track authority for the TPP. Last week, we lifted our voices together and stopped the Fast Track--but we knew they would try to ram it through again. This is another all-hands-on-deck moment for good paying jobs, our economy, and retirement security. The same Wall Street billionaires that have been trying to cut our Social Security system have been working overtime to twist as many arms as they can since our victory last Friday. We need your calls today to be sure that Congress stands strong with the American people. Call the House of Representatives switchboard now at (202) 224-3121, ask for your Representative and tell her or him to vote “NO” on Fast Track. Because our elected officials have heard from us, we’ve been able to slow them down from passing Fast Track and bad trade deals. And if we can unite our voices together today, we can stop a bad deal from going through. But that can only happen if you call your lawmakers now and tell them to vote “no” on Fast Track. Call the House of Representatives switchboard now at (202) 224-3121, ask for your Representative and tell her or him to vote “NO” on Fast Track, then click here to share what they said. This is do-or-die. Pharmaceutical companies and Wall Street are pushing as hard as they can against us. But if your Representative knows that you're watching them, we can win. Call the House of Representatives switchboard now at (202) 224-3121, ask for your Representative and tell her or him to vote “NO” on Fast Track, then click here to share what they said. Thank you, Michael Phelan Social Security Works P.S. We only win when we fight together. If you want to give a donation to help us keep fighting you can do so here.

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Let the Debate Begin!

Let the Debate Begin!

		Friend, As the field of Republican presidential candidates grows, their calls for deep cuts to our treasured Social Security system are only growing louder. Last week, Jeb Bush became the latest Republican presidential hopeful to call for raising the retirement age. He joins a cast of candidates who want to means test, privatize, and make across the board cuts to our earned benefits. This despite the fact that 79% of likely voters--Democrats, Repbulicans and Independents--support expanding our earned benefits! We are up against candidates who throw around the word “bankrupt” as if Social Security didn’t have a surplus of $2.8 trillion, built up over decades by contributions from working Americans. In a recent interview with Rachel Maddow, Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) suggested a revolutionary idea for the presidential primary: Let Democratic candidates debate these Republicans. Let Senator Sanders show the American people the stark contrasts between Republican proposals of deep cuts for retirees, veterans, children and disabled workers versus the ideas of Social Security champions who want to expand, not cut Social Security. Click here to watch Bernie Sanders’ interview with Rachel Maddow and donate to Social Security Works today!

The field of presidential candidates who want to slash our Social Security benefits continues to grow. This despite the fact that 79% of likely voters – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – support expanding our hard earned Social Security benefits.

Please support Social Security Works today and ensure that the American people understand the stark differences between the candidates; those who want to cut and private Social Security versus those who want to expand and strengthen the program for generations to come.

Support Social Security Works today!

If you prefer to donate by check, please click here:http://www.socialsecurityworks.org/donate-by-check/

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Perfect explanation of why we need to expand Social Security benefits

My Friend, Nationally acclaimed economist and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich is producing a series of short, smart videos on how to make the American economy work for ordinary Americans, not just the wealthy few. His most recent video, just out today, provides a perfect explanation of why we need to expand Social Security benefits. Check out Robert Reich’s short video where he explains why expanding Social Security benefits is the right thing for seniors and the right thing for the American economy.

Reich explains how expanding benefits will help address the retirement security crisis and he dismantles the right-wing argument that we have to cut Social Security in order to save it.

Right now, Social Security has a $2.8 trillion surplus, can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 18 years and approximately 80% of benefits owed after that. All we need to do is ask the wealthy to start paying their fair share and we not only extend the lifespan of the Social Security trust fund, we can increase benefits for the majority of Americans.
Watch Robert Reich’s video on expanding Social Security today!

Thanks,
Michael Phelan
Social Security Works 

The TRUTH will set you FREE.