In Letter, House Progressives Press Super Committee On Jobs, Protecting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security

Rep. Raul Grijalva
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House progressives will press the joint deficit Super Committee to ditch entitlement cuts and pass measures to bolster the economy.

The co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus are rounding up Democratic signatures on a letter, obtained by TPM, pressing the 12 member panel to pair emergency jobs legislation with deficit reducing measures based on tax increases on wealthy Americans.

“We ask that you lead the Select Committee by these simple core principles,” write Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN). “The American people have spoken loud and clear on their priorities for our nation. They want Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare protected, they want billionaires and corporations to finally pay their fair share and they want to be able to get back to work to earn a fair living.”

Their effort is partially bolstered by a new CBO analysis, which found that the unemployment crisis is a massive driver of the deficit. In other words, effective job creation measures will go a good way toward closing the near and medium term hole in the budget.

You can read the entire letter, which has not yet been delivered to the Super Committee co-chairs, below the fold.

October 6, 2011

Dear Co-Chair Hensarling and Co-Chair Murray:

As Co-Chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, we urge you, and the entire Committee, to embrace job creation, raising revenue and protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security as the necessary components to truly repair the American economy.

Our country is in the midst of a jobs crisis. Americans across the country are demanding good jobs now. Without immediate action, our economy will continue to stagnate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that the economy gained no jobs in August, a trend that will likely continue without passage of emergency jobs legislation. Creating jobs is the best way to get our economy back on track and the only significant way to reduce our deficit.

At the same time, our country must raise needed revenue and end the irresponsible giveaways of the past decade. Our deficits, in large part, are so high because a handful of very wealthy individuals and corporations enjoy exorbitant profits and low taxes while millions of others continue to struggle. The income disparity between rich and poor in our country continues to grow as we see the middle class slip away. It is time to get rid of tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, end the Bush-era tax handouts, and close corporate loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas.

The Committee must also protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, the overwhelmingly popular programs that form the bedrock of America’s middle and working classes. We should not be cutting the lifelines that millions of Americans have paid for and depend on, particularly during tough economic times. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security cuts should be off the table in any debt reduction discussions. It is unconscionable to sacrifice these programs to pay for more corporate greed.

We ask that you lead the Select Committee by these simple core principles. The American people have spoken loud and clear on their priorities for our nation. They want Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare protected, they want billionaires and corporations to finally pay their fair share and they want to be able to get back to work to earn a fair living. We stand ready and willing to work with you to uphold America’s priorities.

Sincerely,

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