Last week,Ai??the press reportedAi??that President Obama will include the ai???chained CPIai??? in his budget proposal, which would cut Social Security and veterans benefits. Since this proposal was revealed,Ai??nationalAi??progressiveAi??groups have campaigned against it and will deliver over 1 million petition signatures to the White House tomorrow asking the President to back off of chained CPI.

As the grassroots has mobilized against the proposal, more congressional Democrats are declaring their opposition.

This morning, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released a statement condemning Chained CPI and vowing to vote against it:

“No matter what you call it, a chained CPI is a cut to Social Security benefits.Ai?? For someone who retirees today, that cut would mean they would be getting $650 less a year when they are 75 and over $1,100 less a year when they reach age 85.Ai?? Seniors shouldn’t be facing cuts to the benefits they have earned while millionaires and billionaires are getting a tax break.Ai?? Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are vital to the economic security of Maine people and I will vote against cuts to benefits in these programs.”

Pingree is joined by many other Members in her opposition:

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats, tweeted that he’d do “everything in his power” to block chained CPI:

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR):

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA):

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY):

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA):

Progressive Caucus Co-ChairsAi??Reps. RaA?l M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), in a statement emailed to us:

ai???Republicans have been trying to dismantle Social Security ever since President Roosevelt proposed it during the Great Depression. We should not try toAi??bargain for their good will withAi??policies that hurt ourAi??seniors,Ai??especiallyAi??sinceAi??theyai??i??ve been unwilling toAi??reduceAi??tax loopholes for millionaires and wealthy corporationsAi??by so much as a dime.

ai???One hundred seven Members of the House of Representatives, a majority of the Democratic Caucus, have already stated our vigorous opposition to cuttingAi??Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.Ai??Americans all over the country depend on every single dollar they get from Social Security to put food on the table and pay for housing.Ai??Using chained CPIAi??willAi??shift more costs onto already struggling American families,Ai??seniors, veterans ai??i?? includingAi??our 3.2 million disabled veterans who also depend on the Social Security calculation for their Veterans Affairs benefitsAi??ai??i?? individuals with disabilities,Ai??andAi??children on survivorsai??i?? benefits.

ai???This week, aAi??newAi??study from the New America Foundation finds that proposals to cut Social Security benefitsAi??couldAi??be disastrous for our economyAi??becauseAi??the recession has led more seniors toAi??relyAi??to Social Security for income.Ai??Cutting benefits now, when people are already struggling to make ends meet, will mean unnecessary hardship for millions of people. It is unpopular, unwise and unworkable.ai???

Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN):

It should also be noted that 32 Members of Congress have already signed the Grayson-Takano letter promising to vote against any bill that cuts Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits. Here’s a list:

  1. Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)
  2. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
  3. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
  4. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
  5. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
  6. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
  7. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
  8. Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)
  9. Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN)
  10. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY)
  11. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
  12. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
  13. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
  14. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
  15. Rep. Graciela Napolitano (D-CA)
  16. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
  17. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL)
  18. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
  19. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
  20. Rep. Gene Green (D-TX)
  21. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA)
  22. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
  23. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
  24. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
  25. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
  26. Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO)
  27. Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA)
  28. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
  29. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster:Ai??made concurrent statement in place of letter
  30. Rep. Ami Bera Ai??(D-CA):Ai??made concurrent statement in place of letter
  31. Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa)Ai??
  32. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

The PCCC is preparing to push back against this cut to Social Security benefits, but we need your help.Ai??Sign our emergency petition against benefit cuts. And call your Member of Congress and ask them to sign onto the Grayson-Takano letter.Ai??If you’re from Maine, give her a Rep. Pingree a call and thank her.