A Small Important Change

Dear Member of Congress,

On behalf of the Progressive Congress Action Fund, I strongly urge you to
support Rep. Brad Sherman’s amendment to the President’s tax agreement with
Republican leaders, H.R. 4853. This amendment would replace the proposed
payroll tax “holiday” with refund checks to every employee that pays Social
Security. The check would be equivalent to the 2% payroll tax cut that would
take place under the President’s plan without undermining the integrity and fiscal
security of Social Security. It is important that Congress preserve a program that
provides security to millions of retired workers, veterans, widows, and children.

Under its current revenue stream, Social Security will be able to pay out full
benefits through 2037. Eliminating $120 billion over the next year in FICA
revenues will double the program’s long term projected shortfall, taking a far off
minor shortfall and turning it into a more immediate crisis. Altering Social
Security’s projected fiscal health puts the program in a politically precarious
position in which it must compete for funding in the general budget in order to
maintain its long-term stability. President Franklin Roosevelt designed the
program with a separate revenue stream in order to avoid this very situation. If
the payroll tax “holiday” is allowed to pass, the nature and political security of the nation’s most successful government program would be permanently
transformed.

There are alternative measures that can avoid damaging Social Security and
punishing American families. Replacing the payroll tax “holiday” with refund
checks for the same amount side-steps the negative effects of the tax “holiday”,
while creating the exact same economic stimulus. There is no reason that the
future health of Social Security should be uncertain when an equally effective
economic measure is available.

Please support Social Security by urging the Rules Committee to adopt Rep.
Sherman’s amendment. The American people are overwhelmingly in support of
keeping Social Security separate from the general fund, the People’s House
should reflect that sentiment.

Most Sincerely,
Darcy Burner, President
Progressive Congress Action Fund