NYS News

February 05, 2017

NYSARA President speaks at the Renew the American Promise (RAP)/Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Meeting

On Friday February 3rd NYSARA President Barry A. Kaufmann spoke at the annual NYS RAP/HCAN meeting in Albany. With over 100 activists in attendance the timelines and details of the consideration of issues such as the affordable care act, Medicare, Medicaid, Safety net programs such as SNAP, SSI, general tax and budget issues, immigrant rights and Social Security as well as actions scheduled to protect them.

President Kaufmann spoke about Social Security. He spoke about the fact that all the other issues could be addressed through the budget reconciliation process that only requires a majority (51 votes or 50 votes and the Vice President) and cannot be filibustered. Under the Byrd amendment to the Congressional budget act Social Security cannot be considered under reconciliation and requires 60 votes. NYSARA President Kaufmann said “the strategy in terms of engagement of our elected leaders for Social Security is different than for the ACA, Medicare and Medicaid. For those issues we must lobby Republicans to break with their caucus and protect Americans. For Social Security we must engage and lobby our Democratic friends so they don’t try to “save” Social Security as the AARP has alluded to. Because of the drumbeat of rhetoric since George W. Bush’s attempt to privatize Social Security our elected officials seem to think that Social Security is at risk of imminent demise and only draconian changes can save our Social Security system.”

Upcoming cooperative activities of RAP/HCAN will be detailed on the NYSARA web site