Mikulski Vows to Defend Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid From Fiscal Cliff in Meeting with AARP Maryland

December 5, 2012

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid from the fiscal cliff in a meeting with Clarence Davis, State President of AARP Maryland, and Henry Greenberg, Director of AARP Maryland.  

"Honor thy mother and father isn't just a good commandment to live by, it's good policy to govern by," Senator Mikulski said. "Social Security did not cause our deficit. Social Security did not cause our debt. It is our most important program to keep the elderly out of poverty. I don't think Social Security should be in the debate about how to reduce our debt or our deficit And Medicare and Medicaid are our nation's most important programs to keep the elderly healthy and in their homes. We took a number of steps in the Affordable Care Act to curb federal health spending without harming access to care. I will continue to defend the Social Contract between the American people and their government so that our seniors aren't forced off their own fiscal cliff."  

As Congress continues to debate the fiscal cliff, Senator Mikulski is fighting to protect the earned benefits that seniors have spent their entire lives working for. Congressional Republicans have advocated to raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 while cutting $600 billion over 10 years from federal health programs, as well as impose a Chained CPI on Social Security. The Medicaid program provides health care to our nation's most vulnerable populations, including lower-income children, seniors, and those with disabilities. The Medicaid program provides seniors with access to long-term care services and helps them age in their homes and communities.