SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 9

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOH

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 9: SOCIAL SECURITY.

EXISTING LAW, THE FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, PROVIDES FOR BENEFITS FOR ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES, FUNDED PRIMARILY BY FEDERAL PAYROLL TAXES ON WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT THE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS OF SENIORS AND FUTURE RETIREES FROM BEING CUT AS PART OF A DEAL TO PAY THE NATION’S DEBTS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 9: RELATING TO SOCIAL SECURITY

WHEREAS, AMERICAN SENIORS HAVE WORKED THEIR WHOLE LIVES TO EARN THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE KEPT SAFELY IN TRUST; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS AND FUTURE RETIREES HAVE SPENT DECADES PAYING INTO THE SYSTEM, AND MANY ARE STILL PAYING TAXES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY HAVE EARNED THE PEACE OF MIND THAT CONGRESS WILL NOT BALANCE THE BUDGET BY MAKING HARMFUL CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS; AND

WHEREAS, ARBITRARY LIMITS ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WOULD CUT SENIORS’ BENEFIT CHECKS, AND THIS IS MONEY THEY ARE COUNTING ON TO PAY FOR FOOD, GAS, MEDICATION, AND OTHER BILLS; AND

WHEREAS, ARBITRARY LIMITS COULD ALSO DENY AMERICANS ACCESS TO NURSING HOME CARE OR SERVICES THAT HELP THEM LIVE IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES; AND

WHEREAS, UNFAIR LIMITS ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS COULD UNDERMINE THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR TODAY’S SENIORS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS; AND

WHEREAS, CONGRESS NEEDS TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES IN SOLVING THE NATIONAL DEFICIT PROBLEM, BUT IT SHOULD FIRST CUT WASTEFUL SPENDING AND UNNECESSARY SUBSIDIES, AND AVOID HARMING SENIORS AND FUTURE RETIREES; AND

WHEREAS, CONGRESS NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AT THIS UNSTABLE TIME IN THE NATION’S ECONOMY, SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, AS SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES DEPEND ON THESE BENEFITS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2011 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT CONGRESS PREVENT CUTS TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS OF SENIORS AND FUTURE RETIREES AS PART OF A DEAL TO PAY THE NATION’S DEBTS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

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