Berkshire labor group calls on Kerry

[Mass]

I feel sorry that good people are reduced to implore their senator. I do not think Kerry wants to reduce SS, Medicare, and Medicaid but I also think his constituents deserve an answer on what he would consider acceptable for Social Security or not. Grrr!! I cannot remember having been that conflicted in politics. It may be that this situation drives me more and more to the left, but I have rarely had less inclination of working for this election, even if I fear what would happen if the RW gained the presidency and the Senate.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_19128236

Berkshire labor group calls on Kerry

PITTSFIELD -- The Berkshire Central Labor Council has joined a growing host of voices raised around the country in opposition to the concept of federal funding cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.

"A lot of older union members have been depending on Medicare and Social Security and don’t want to see it cut," said Brian P. Morrison, president of the BCLC. "And for many others, it will most likely be their only income, since not everyone has a retirement benefit system."

The resolution was passed by the local labor council and sent to Sen. John Kerry’s office late last month. Morrison said the council felt it was important to make its voice heard now, while Kerry is still working on the so-called congressional super committee to identify further cuts to the federal budget in an attempt to alleviate the federal deficit.

The resolution implores Kerry, a Democrat, "to oppose consideration of Social Security during deficit-reduction talks because it should be handled on a separate track apart from the deficit, which it does not contribute to."

The resolution also expresses opposition to cutting Medicare and Medicaid, and support for President Barack Obama’s proposed American Jobs Act, "which would be funded primarily by raising revenue from those Americans most able to pay."

A spokesperson for Kerry in Washington said he welcomes input from constituents, and has even set up a website, kerry.senate.gov, for them to express their opinions on the deficit-cutting effort.
"Sen. Kerry is actively seeking advice and ideas from constituents across Massachusetts on ways we can reduce the deficit, create jobs, and strengthen our economy," said Whitney Smith, a Kerry spokeswoman. "And he’s taking those conversations and suggestions straight into his discussions in Washington and will continue to do so throughout the work of this committee."

The super committee, formally titled the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, was formed to cut $1.5 trillion from the federal deficit as a condition of a compromise budget bill passed by Congress and signed by the president in August. The six Democrats and six Republicans have until Nov. 23 to come up with a plan.