Let’s Not Have Any More Paul Ryans Keeping Us from a Secure Retirement

House Speaker Paul Ryan has announced that he will retire at the end of his term. His decision to remain in the position until January 2019, means that he will be eligible for his annual Federal Employees Retirement System pension of $84,930 in two years, once he reaches age 50. 

At that time, he will join the 23 percent of all American workers who have a defined-benefit pension plan. 

Ryan’s pension ensures that he will be financially secure in retirement. But, he cares little about the millions of Americans who are not as fortunate. 

The vast majority of retirees rely heavily on their Social Security benefits, averaging $15,983 annually in 2015, to stay out of poverty. And, of course, Paul Ryan consistently fought for “entitlement reform,” which would mean an even less secure retirement for millions of Americans by deeply cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Instead of helping working families achieve retirement security, he sought to privatize and slash the earned benefit programs we rely on. 

We must not let this Congress or the next Congress further attempts to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. In fact, we should be expanding these programs. We can advance our agenda by supporting candidates who truly understand the challenges facing working people and who will fight to help us.

If we all stand together this November, we can send a strong message to politicians who protect their own retirement security, but threaten ours. 

Robert Roacch, Jr.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.