Stop Social Security Privatization
Senator Wyden, D-OR, offered an amendment to the Sen-ate budget resolution to create a point of order against legislation that would cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or privatize Social Security. The amendment needing 60 votes failed 51-48. A YES vote is the pro-retiree vote. S.Con.Res. 11, Roll Call No. 84, March 24, 2015.
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Stop Medicare Privatization
Senator Bennet, D-CO, offered an amendment to the Sen-ate budget resolution to create a point of order against legislation that would privatize Medicare, cut guaranteed benefits, increase out-of-pocket spending, or turn Medicare into a premium support plan. The amendment failed 46-53. A YES vote is the pro-retiree vote. S.Con.Res. 11, Roll Call No. 90, March 24, 2015.
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Reverse Sequestration Cuts
Senator Murray, D-WA, offered an amendment to the Sen-ate budget resolution to restore a below-sequester level cut of $9 billion to non-defense discretionary spending in 2017, replacing sequestration in 2016 and 2017 and increasing funding above sequester levels by a total of $148 billion for the 2 years, increasing defense and non-defense discretionary spending by equal amounts. The measure would be paid for by closing tax loopholes. The amendment failed 46-53. A YES vote is the pro-retiree vote. S.Con.Res. 11, Roll Call No. 91, March 25, 2015.
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Stop Medicaid Cuts
Senator Wyden, D-OR, offered an amendment to the Sen-ate budget resolution that would strike more than $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, preserving a critical source of comprehensive, affordable health and long-term care coverage for millions of otherwise uninsured low-income adults, parents and seniors. The amendment failed 47-53. A YES vote is the pro-retiree vote. S.Con.Res. 11, Roll Call No. 95, March 26, 2015.
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Stop Medicare Cuts
Senator Stabenow, D-MI, offered an amendment to the Senate budget resolution to reject the proposed $435 billion in cuts to Medicare. The amendment failed 46-54. A YES vote is the pro-retiree vote. S.Con.Res. 11, Roll Call No. 111, March 26, 2015.
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Social Security Expansion
Senators Warren, D-MA, and Manchin, D-WV, introduced an amendment to the Senate budget resolution to expand Social Security. It requires that the Senate budget support the sustainable expansion of benefits, make the Social Security Trust Fund permanently solvent and accomplish these changes in a paid-for, deficit neutral way. The amendment failed 42-56. A YES vote is the pro-retiree vote. S.Con.Res. 11, Roll Call No. 131, March 27, 2015.
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Anti-Retiree Budget
Senator Enzi, R-WY, introduced the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Resolution. The budget transforms Medicaid into a block-grant system with $400 billion in additional cuts over 10 years and cuts $435 billion from Medicare. The budget also preserves sequester-level spending for all non-defense discretionary spending in addition to cutting spending further by $236 billion over the next decade and impacting programs important to older and lower income Americans. The resolution passed by 52-46. A NO vote is the pro-retiree vote. S. Con. Res 11, Roll Call No. 135, March 27, 2015.
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Trade Fast Track
This bill provides the President more authority to negotiate trade agreements. It also subjects Congress to only an up-or-down vote when considering the Trans-Pacific Partner-ship (TPP) and other trade agreements, without the possibility of amendments. The bill passed 60-38. A NO vote is the pro-retiree vote. H.R. 2146, Roll Call No, 219. June 24, 2014.
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2016 Spending Agreement
This agreement lifts sequester levels for two years, increasing funding for defense and non-defense discretionary spend-ing by $80 billion, and lifts the debt-ceiling until 2017. The bill also reallocates funding to the Social Security disabil-ity program until 2022. It reduces increases in Medicare Part B premiums for 16 million Medicare beneficiaries who would have been subjected to a 52% increase in 2016. The bill passed 64-35. A YES vote is the pro-retiree vote. H.R. 1314, Roll Call No. 294, October 30, 2015.
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Health Care Repeal
The Senate passed a budget reconciliation bill that repeals parts of the Affordable Care Act, including the individual and employer mandates, subsidies for individuals to purchase insurance, and Medicaid expansion. The repeal would result in more than 10 million people losing their health insurance. The bill passed 52-47. A NO vote is the pro-retiree vote. H.R. 3762, Roll Call No. 329, December 3, 2015.
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