Ask Rep. Reed to Protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Invest in Jobs
Part of National Day of Action in 100+ Cities
Corning, NY – Small business owners and Southern Tier residents gathered in downtown Corning today to call on Congressman Reed and the rest of the New York Congressional delegation to end the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000 per year. Those gathered also demanded that any deal avoid cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and that revenue should be raised to invest in good jobs to help get the economy back on track.
“You can’t cut your way to a successful business – you have to make investments,” said Brendan Holmes, owner of Holmes Plate Restaurant. “The same is true for our economy. It’s time to end the tax cuts for the top 2% so that we have the revenue we need to make real investments in working class Americans and get our economy back on track.”
Allowing the Bush Tax Cuts for the top 2% to expire would not affect the tax rates for 98% of small businesses. A recent national survey of small businesses showed that a majority support letting the Bush tax cuts on taxable household income over $250,000 a year expire.
Those gathered also noted that any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, as part of a deal on the so-called “fiscal cliff” would be unacceptable. They pointed to research showing that in Steuben County, 22.8% of the population receives Social Security benefits, and 19.4% of the population received Medicare benefits in 2010. In Chemung County, 23.4% receive Social Security benefits, and 19.6% receive Medicare benefits. In Tompkins County, 14.4% receive Social Security benefits, and 12.4% receive Medicare benefits.
Those figures contrast with the very few wealthy individuals in the area. In Steuben County, only 0.8% (313) of tax filers earned over $250,000. In Chemung, only 1% (371), and in Tompkins, only 1.6% (627).
A post-election poll by Hart Research found that by a 17-point margin (56 percent to 39 percent), voters still “think the best way for Congress to deal with the Bush tax cuts” is to “end tax cuts for those making over $250,000.” Extending those tax cuts would result in a loss of $1 trillion over the next ten years, and provide millionaires a $130,000 average annual tax break.
This event was one of four happening in New York State on Saturday as part of a nationwide day of action. More information is available at http://theaction.org.
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