Will the 29 Sanders-letter senators co-sponsor the Begich Social Security bill?

[UCmeNdc]

The most recent Social Security bill, proposed by Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, includes such enhancements as full cancellation of the payroll cap — making the Social Security tax a simple flat tax and not a regressive one — and improves the cost-of-living adjustment by indexing it to the items most bought by the elderly. All round, a very good bill.

This bill also goes on offense, putting a stake in the ground that says Social Security benefits should be enhanced, not just kept the same. I hope you can see the negotiating benefit of that.

The 29 senators who signed the Sen. Sanders letter are playing excellent defense — drawing a line that says No Cuts to the safety net and No New Tax Breaks for the rich. (With the Bush–Obama Tax Cuts set to expire in December, renewing them is without doubt a new tax break.)

Can we get the 29 senators to go on offense as well, and co-sponsor the Begich bill? You could ask them.

Here’s that list of Sanders-letter senators, the good guys in this fight. Note that Mark Begich, the author of the Begich bill, is an organizer:

Organizers:
Bernie Sanders (I-VT) — [phone]
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) — [phone]
Mark Begich (D-AK) — [phone]
Al Franken (D-MN) — [phone]

Other signers:
Harry Reid (D-NV) — [phone]
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — [phone]
Jack Reed (D-RI) — [phone]
Sherrod Brown ((D-OH) — [phone]
Ron Wyden (D-OR) — [phone]
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) — [phone]
Ben Cardin (D-MD) — [phone]
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) — [phone]
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) — [phone]
Tom Harkin (D-IA) — [phone]
Jeff Merkley (D-OR) — [phone]
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) — [phone]
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) — [phone]
Patty Murray (D-WA) — [phone]
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) — [phone]
Maria Cantwell (D-WA) — [phone]
Daniel Akaka (D-HI) — [phone]
Tim Johnson (D-SD) — [phone]
John Rockefeller (D-WV) — [phone]
Daniel Inouye (D-HI) — [phone]
Tom Udall (D-NM) — [phone]
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) — [phone]
Carl Levin (D-MI) — [phone]
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) — [phone]
Joe Manchin (D-WV) — [phone]

http://americablog.com/2012/11/will-the-29-senators-who-signed-the-sanders-letter-co-sponsor-the-begich-social-security-bill.html

[UCmeNdc]

1. More Information here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021871773

[freshwest]

6. Thanks!

[Wounded Bear]

2. They certainly should endorse it....nt

[BlueStreak]

3. This is a very good way to identify the "must win" senators

We said good-bye to a couple of Senators that were more worthless than Republicans. We need to get rid of another dozen in that camp and replace them with progressives or at least thoughtful moderates. I'd say the list of co-signers on this particular bill makes an excellent way to identify which Senators we will fight to the death to keep in the Senate and which seats we should look to be upgrading.

Senators who are not on this list, here's your chance. Get on board this bill.

[freshwest]

4. Both my senators are already on the list there. Thanks for the good news. I hope this goes through.

[roguevalley]

5. I've known the Begich boys for over thirty years. Mark was the

one marked for glory. Nick is the one I know the best. Union all the way. These guys are so smart it hurts to look at them. Their mom is a legend here. Their story sad because their dad and another congressman died in a plane crash here when they were kids. They are cool because their mom is AWESOME.

[John2]

7. I

agree, this should be an all out war. The Democrats that agree with us should dictate the terms just as much as the other side. I'm willing to go off this cliff if they don't agree to terms. They keep talking about a recession, What do they think we have been in for the last four years? This time everybody will suffer. Either the Republicans and Blue Dogs agree, or we all go off the cliff. I also think the one percent media pundits need to shutup. We can raise the age limits for their pensions. It should be a no go, talking about raising people's retirement age. Nobody voted for that, end of discussion! Go back to the sticks or where ever they came from! And to every North Carolinian, Kay Hagan is not on the list. We need to put her on notice!

[RoccoR5955]

8. Gillibrand will

Not sure if Schumer will.
From what I can tell of the Senators from my state that's how I figure it.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

9. Both NJ senators are on the list.

Excellent OP.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. What the @#$% is wrong with these Senators? Are they nuts?

Why would they sign such a letter since they absolutely know, as I and my fellow Third Wayers have written repeatedly on DU, that Democrats have no intention of ever cutting the social safety net. Ever. And, actual evidence notwithstanding, they've never, ever offered, asked, or agreed to cut it. Or slash it.

Why are they doing this, other than... perhaps these Senators are actually Republican Shills under Carl Roves direction? They're trying to make us think that the Democrats who DON'T sign the letter are cool with cutting the social safety net.

But we all know that the President would veto any move to cut the social safety net. Words and deed notwithstanding, of course.

Best,

Third-Way Manny

[grahamhgreen]

14. Wow! Your tin foil hat is showing. The question is:

Will this bill help us gain seats in the House in 2014?

[progressoid]

11. Wow, look at all the Republicans on that list.

Well, maybe a couple will come around eventually.

[UCmeNdc]

12. Good point!

[Faryn Balyncd]

13. They needto hear from us

[grahamhgreen]

15. Will this bill help us gain seats in the House in 2014? Uh, yes!

[sarcasmo]

16. Kick!

[Mnemosyne]

17. None from PA on that list, surprising...

Not.

:kick: