Retirees Breathe a Sigh of Relief

For Immediate Release
January 29, 2014
Contact: David Blank – 202/637-5275 or dblank@retiredamericans.org 


Retirees Breathe a Sigh of Relief Following State of the Union Address

President Addresses Income Inequality, Has No Plans to Cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid


The following statement was issued today by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans:

“Members of the Alliance for Retired Americans watched the President’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night with an eye on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Income Inequality.

“We are relieved that the President did not mention support for the chained CPI cut to earned Social Security benefits or any cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Retirees let out a collective sigh of relief when the address was over. Now, we must work to increase Social Security benefits.

“The President has stood strong in stopping attempts by Republicans to raise Medicare’s eligibility age. He has also stopped attempts, included in the Paul Ryan House Republican budget, to “block grant” Medicaid. Retirees are reassured that President Obama has held those positions.

“However, seniors wanted to see additional plans to close tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans and corporations. Companies like GE will continue to avoid paying their share of taxes without changes on multiple fronts.

“Finally, we applaud the President’s efforts to attack income inequality. An initiative to raise the minimum wage, and a renewed effort to extend the unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed, are two major steps in the right direction.”