In a Capitol Hill ceremony sponsored by the 60 Plus Association, Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) has formally signed a pledge to protect Social Security.

"With the misinformation surrounding this issue, Rep. Wamp is to be commended for assuring senior citizens that he will always protect Social Security," said 60 Plus Association President Jim Martin. "Congressman Wamp can be depended on to protect Medicare and he also has voted for the first prescription drug benefit in history for seniors," Martin noted.

Wamp received those accolades at a Capitol Hill event honoring Members of Congress who are "senior-friendly" in their votes and legislative proposals.

"Seniors have no finer friend than Rep. Wamp," Martin asserted. He said Wamp was
instrumental in repealing the earnings limit imposed on seniors aged 65-69. He also worked hard to abolish the estate, or "death" tax, a 55% confiscatory levy on your assets before they pass on to your beneficiaries. To those who claim abolishing the death tax is a "windfall for the wealthy," I reply that's hogwash. The rich set up trusts and foundations to avoid paying the tax. Instead, this tax hurts small businesses and farmers and its abolishment allows expansion of existing businesses and start-up of new ones, providing jobs for working men and women.

"Clearly Rep. Wamp is a proven fighter for seniors," Martin declared, noting that Wamp has received the Association's Guardian Award, as well as having won the Benjamin Franklin Award given to those who favor repealing the death tax.

"It was Franklin who famously said there are two certainties in life, taxes and death. But because you can still be taxed after you die," Martin added, "there are now three certainties, taxes, death, and taxes after death. 60 Plus bestowed a Ben Franklin Award on Wamp for working to get rid of that third certainty, taxes after death. Why should Uncle Sam, not even a blood relative, be the first claimant in line instead of your loved ones," Martin observed.

60 Plus is a 10-year-old nonpartisan group with a less government, less taxes approach to seniors' issues. 60 Plus is supported by donations from its estimated 435,000 citizen lobbyists to print and mail millions of letters, petitions, and voting indexes. 60 Plus publishes a newsletter, SENIOR VOICE, and a SCORECARD, bestowing a GUARDIAN OF SENIORS' RIGHTS award on lawmakers in both parties who vote "pro-senior." 60 Plus also presents a BENJAMIN FRANKLIN award to those who support death tax repeal as well as a LEGISLATOR OF THE MONTH award to the most pro-active friends of seniors in Congress. 60 Plus has been called "an increasingly influential lobbying group for the elderly."