This is a cross-post from the AFL-CIO Blog Now
We have five weeks to tell Congress to let the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2% expire and reject any benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
As Congress deliberates during the "lame-duck" session, benefits for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are being targeted for cuts. Some say benefit cuts are necessary because we face a debt crisis, but working families and their allies strongly reject such claims.
It is true that we face a projected budget imbalance over the long term, but the answer is to tackle the real reasons for this imbalance and not use deficits as an excuse to pursue unrelated agendas.
Here are a few specific AFL-CIO suggestions that would tackle the true causes of this problem without cutting benefits.
- Stop lowering tax rates for corporations and the wealthy, which balloon the deficit and do little to boost the economy.
- Reign in health care cost growth by making our entire health care system more cost-effective and delivering care in more cost-effective ways, not by shifting costs to individuals.
- Allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with drug companies.
- Create a robust public option that would offer lower premiums and partner with Medicare to promote cost-saving reforms.
- Eliminate all tax incentives for exporting jobs overseas.
- Let estate and gift tax cuts expire at the end of this year.
- Increase income tax rates for millionaires and billionaires.
- End special low tax rates on income from stocks and bonds.
- Establish a modest tax of less than 1% on Wall Street speculation.
- "Scrap the cap" on Social Security payroll taxes so that people who earn more than $110,100 pay the same rate as everyone else.
Ultimately the best way to stabilize the debt over the long term is to put America back to work, raise wages, reduce inequality, rebuild the middle class and make the transition to a 21st century economy.
As Jacob Hacker and Nate Loewentheil of Yale University call for in "Prosperity Economics," invest in infrastructure to grow the economy, enhance economic security for working families to make markets work better and reinvigorate our democracy.

As Jacob Hacker and Nate Loewentheil of Yale University call for in "Prosperity Economics," invest in infrastructure to grow the economy, enhance economic security for working families to make markets work better and reinvigorate our democracy.
Posted by: rolex sea dweller replica | 12/07/2012 at 12:35 AM
Hacker and Nate Loewentheil of Yale University call for in "Prosperity Economics," invest in infrastructure to grow the economy, enhance economic security for working families to make markets work better and reinvigorate our democracy.
Posted by: breitling bentley replica | 12/07/2012 at 12:36 AM
It's difficult to come across knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you're talking about! Thanks
NFL Throwback Jerseys
Custom NFL Jerseys
Posted by: RadaSyday | 02/11/2013 at 07:15 PM
I'm impressed, I have to say. Really rarely do I encounter a weblog that's both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you've hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the concern is something that not sufficient persons are speaking intelligently about. I am rather pleased that I stumbled across this in my search for some thing relating to this.
michael kors bags on sale
Posted by: Killaeren | 02/16/2013 at 02:49 AM
idtsk Hollister Jeans zrufy http://www.hollisteroutletonsale.com htdvk Hollister Outlet ondaz http://www.hollisterjeans-onsale.com hvsld Hollister Clothing ulyox http://www.hollisterclothingluck.com zpqv Hollister Clothing vdojk http://www.hollisteroutletluck.com micwd Hollister Clothing rujiz http://www.hollisterjeansxiao.com toqzz Hollister Clothing qmiza http://www.hollisterjeansnamer.com jvfy
Posted by: Sawnbroaria | 02/27/2013 at 01:55 PM
fxziy Hollister Jeans vdhpa http://www.hollisteroutletonsale.com msvkt Hollister ziujb http://www.hollisterjeans-onsale.com ybadg Hollister Outlet kmusk http://www.hollisterclothingluck.com zapo Hollister Outlet njeun http://www.hollisteroutletluck.com ihgkn Hollister Outlet spqoc http://www.hollisterjeansxiao.com fzlwd Hollister Outlet sowlg http://www.hollisterjeansnamer.com noad
Posted by: Sawnbroaria | 02/27/2013 at 01:55 PM
I favor you do not as a about what you do, still by way of so , who We're their i'm against you. coach outlet http://coachoutlet788.com/
Posted by: coach outlet | 05/09/2013 at 12:11 AM
Will not look down on, whether you will be downcast, since you also can't say for sure that is thinning in love with your own laugh. [url=http://coachoutlet66.com/]coach factory outlet[/url] coach factory outlet
Posted by: coach factory outlet | 05/09/2013 at 12:11 AM