EAU CLAIRE — In one of many similar demonstrations happening in Wisconsin, members of the community gathered at the Social Security office in Eau Claire to bring attention to the needed support of Social Security.
Alex Brower, the executive director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, said the reason they were meeting that day was to “call for Social Security to be protected, expanded, and modernized.”
“We want social security to be here for future generations,” said Brower.
The Wisconsin ARA is an organization that supports union supported candidates, helps unions, and works to help seniors and retirees, which includes supporting Social Security and Medicare.
Brower said the demonstration was set up with a partnership between the Wisconsin ARA and the American Federation of Government Employees Council 220.
Jessica LaPointe, the American Federation of Government Employees council 220 president said Council 220 represents “33 affiliate locals nationwide,” which each represent Social Security’s employees in field offices, their national call center, and “workload support units that take internet applications.”
The event was one of 13 stops throughout Wisconsin’s congressional districts, said Ross Winklbauer, the President of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans.
Winklbauer referenced a statement by Senator Ron Johnson which said Social Security and Medicare should be something voted on by politicians each year. Winklbauer did not like the idea of politicians voting on the rate and whether constituents should even get benefits that were paid for through their salaries.
According to the United States Social Security Administration website, employees pay 6.2% of their wages up to a $168,600 limit to fund Social Security.
“The richest Americans, 19 seconds into the new year, are done paying their social security for the entire year,” said Winklbauer.
He said he has spent more than 50 years funding Social Security.
When he started working 401(k)s were also not set up, so he was lucky to get a pension, said Winklbauer.
“There’s a lot of people out there that aren’t as lucky,” said Winklbauer. “They depend on Social Security and the little bit they get. So we’ve got to make it so they’ve got a livable income.”
LaPointe said another thing facing Social Security is how underfunded it is.
“We have been severely underfunded in our operating costs for over a decade,” said LaPointe.
This has led to understaffing in Social Security and has left many Americans waiting for service.
“We’re demanding that congress restore Social Security’s funding back to 1.2% of benefit outlays,” said LaPointe. “It will allow us to maintain our staffing levels to meet public demand.”
LaPointe said they also were there to discuss the benefits people will receive.
“Only 77% of benefits are expected to be paid out in less than 10 years,” said LaPointe.
She said there is legislation currently being discussed by congress that would raise the $168,600 limit. The Social Security 2100 Act was authored by Representative John Larson.
Other introduced legislation to raise the limit includes the Social Security Expansion Act created by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernard Sanders.
Among the people attending the event were two candidates for Wisconsin’s third congressional district, Rebecca Cooke and Katrina Shankland.
Cooke said she supports “protecting and expanding Medicare and Social Security” and is proud to be at the event.
“These are social safety nets that are important and vital to, in particular, so many seniors across the third congressional district,” said Cooke.
Cooke said seeing many people across different generations at the event highlights that Social Security is an important program.
Shankland said she was at the event “standing in solidarity” with the Wisconsin ARA and seniors who are parts of unions to protect Social Security.
“What I’m here to do as a candidate for Congress and as a state legislator is show up, listen, learn, and be a strong advocate for seniors,” said Shankland. “I believe everyone deserves to retire with dignity and I am very committed to protecting the promise of Social Security and Medicare.”
LaPointe said after Wisconsin, they plan to do similar events in California and Minnesota. In the summer they plan to go across the nation to get “local participation.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0