Reaction to President Obama’s Proposal to make Cuts in Social Security brought swift reaction from the Alliance For Retired Americans, whose Executive Director Edward Coyle said Seniors are “very upset that the President is willing to Compromise on this issue of Social Security, one that certainly ‘does not belong’ in Budget Discussions since Social Security - by Law - cannot contribute to the Federal Deficit.”

Coyle issued the following statement today (Friday, April 5th):

Today’s Press Reports that President Obama will include cuts to Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) and Medicare in his Budget Proposal next Wednesday are very disturbing.

The use of the chained CPI to Calculate COLA is simply not fair.

It is not an insignificant tweak.

It constitutes a Significant Benefit Cut.

Worse, it Cuts Benefits more with every passing year.

It will do real damage to seniors and people with disabilities – in the present and future.

Not only does the current COLA Formula not keep up with inflation for Seniors, it does not accurately account for the Large Health-Care Cost Increases faced by Seniors and People with Disabilities.

The Chained CPI would further underestimate COLA for Seniors.

We need a higher COLA, one that accurately reflects Beneficiaries’ Costs, not a lower one.

Our Members are very upset the President is willing to compromise on this issue of Social Security, one that certainly does not belong in Budget Discussions since Social Security - by Law - cannot contribute to the Federal Deficit.

Our four-million Members are watching closely and remaining hopeful that Washington finds a way to do the right thing – that certainly doesn’t mean wrongly balancing the Budget on the backs of our Seniors.