Hundreds of working people joined together with religious leaders and community members on Monday, December 10, in Appleton, Janesville, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids to urge Congress to end tax cuts for the rich and protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in the ongoing fiscal cliff budget showdown.
At candlelight vigils, carnation vigils, and marches across the state Wisconsinites urged elected representatives to hold the line in the lame duck session and fully preserve vital programs like Social Security and Medicare that millions of Americans depend on.
“In one of the most prosperous countries in the world, everyone should be able to retire with health and dignity,” said Sue Conard, a retired nurse from La Crosse. “Working families across the country have made it clear that we need to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits. Millions of working people, jobless people and retirees shouldn’t have to sacrifice their health care and retirement security so that the richest 2% can continue getting more tax breaks. It’s time for our elected leaders to focus on creating an economy that invests in jobs, healthcare and education for all.”
At a carnation vigil in Milwaukee, Rev. Willie Brisco, President of MICAH, made clear this is a bi-partisan issue:
“all parties need to come together to solve our countries problems and do what is good for the people. We have people deciding if they can eat or if they can go to the doctor. No more cuts, make the rich pay their fair share and let’s come together as one nation, one people.”
Ed Jude, a Vietnam veteran from Milwaukee, explained, “my daughter suffers from sickle cell anemia and is in the hospital every few months for a blood transfer. Should she be without BadgerCare? No. What would happen to her children? I did not serve my country so that people with the least go without so that the people with the most can line their pockets. I am calling on Sen. Kohl to do the right thing, pledge not to support any deal with cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid."
Since the election, working people in Wisconsin have been mobilizing around the lame duck session to raise our voices as one and encourage our elected leaders to put partisan politics aside and the American people first. The House GOP plan is the same agenda that voters rejected last November. It is time for Congress to listen to the will of the voters and raise taxes on the top 2% as well as protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Actions took place today outside the Wisconsin offices of Sen. Ron Johnson, Sen. Herb Kohl, Rep. Ron Kind, Rep. Reid Ribble and Rep. Paul Ryan.