Press conference in SF for Paul Ryan - BE THERE!

Press Conference Congressman Paul Ryan Comes to SF to Attack Medicare and Social Security, but Goes Into Hiding. Thurs. 7:30AM May 24 2 Folsom St in SF 2 Blocks from the Embarcadero Please join with activists from the California Alliance for Retired Americans, Gray Panthers, and Single Payer Now to protect Medicare and Social Security. Congressman Paul Ryan had a scheduled 8am fundraiser at the GAP headquarter, but cancelled after the GAP gave him the boot from using their office. Ryan is the point person for the 1% attacks on our social investments. The new location of the fund raiser is now a secret. See more text below. We will have banners that read Ryan: Don't Privatize our Future California Says No to the Ryan Budget Hands off Social Security and Medicare And signs that say Medicare Yes Insurance Companies No. Please let us know if you can attend. We also need phone tree callers to build the protest. And we encourage you to forward this alert. ___ I plan to attend the press conference on Thursday morning. ___ I have forwarded this alert. ___ I can call our phone tree for turnout. I will send you a suggested script and local names to call. Thank you, Don Bechler Chair - Single Payer Now 415-695-7891 Cell 415-810-5826 On March 21, 2012, Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released his GOP budget proposal (he calls it his "Path to Prosperity") for 2012 that would make deep, lasting cuts to many domestic programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, nutrition and housing programs.This proposal passed the House and is headed to the Senate, where we must defeat it. Ryan is in San Francisco today, May 24th to raise money for his proposal and for the Republicans. Ryan Plans to Cut Medicare As We Know It Most alarming are the proposals to end Medicare as we know it by replacing Medicare's guaranteed benefits with a "voucher" that beneficiaries would use towards the cost of private insurance or traditional Medicare. The voucher would be based on the second cheapest plan in the area. The voucher is unlikely to cover premium costs, out of pocket costs and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that beneficiaries would pay more than $1200 a year in by 2030 and $5900 by 2050 under this proposal. His plan also proposes to raise the eligibility age to receive Medicare to 67. Ryan's Plan to Gut Medicaid Ryans' plan proposes to block grant Medicaid (MediCAL) shifting costs onto already cash-strapped states by forcing them to provide funding or cut Medicaid benefits as costs increase. This would be especially devastating to older Americans and their families, as Medicaid is currently the provider of long term care coverage for seniors. Ryan's Plan to Privatize and Cut Social Security Under the Ryan Roadmap, Americans aged 55 and younger would be "allowed" to invest 1/3 of their Social Security contribution into a private account - a first step toward privatizing the entire program. He wants to tie future Social Security benefits to growth in prices, rather than the defined benefit it has been. And he is opposed to the best solution to secure Social Security for the future - by lifting the current cap on taxable income (right now, any income over $110,000 per year is not taxed) which would make Social Security solvent for the rest of the century.

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters. Please consider making a donation. www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net