National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Field Plan – Fall 2011

Campaign Goal: Prevent Any Cuts in Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid

Social Security • Social Security has not added one dime to the deficit. • It could be made solvent for 75 years by eliminating the cap on income subject to the payroll tax.

Medicare • Medicare is the single most efficient, least expensive means of providing health care to Americans available in the American health care system. • Costs can still be cut without endangering benefits.

Medicaid • Proposals to convert Medicaid into a block grant to states would ultimately decimate funding for nursing home and home care, as well as for the poor. • The new Health Care law relies heavily on expansions in Medicare to assure that health care is available to every American.

To succeed we must make cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid Politically Radioactive

During the Spring and Summer, Republican Town Meetings were Inundated by opponents of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

To be successful, we have to make Senate Democratic Moderates more afraid of Seniors and their progressive allies, than they are of the Tea Party.

Strategic Problem • Create Such Intense Pressure to Protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid that cuts in benefits do not happen before the fast track authority expires December 23.

Different than Debt Ceiling Battle • The Sword of Damocles of default does not hang over the head of Congress.

Deficit Reduction level is locked in. • So pressure on our supporters to compromise is not high. • If no deal, then sequestration protects Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – other compromises can be worked out over next 13 months.

We Must Convince Democrats that this Course of Action Represents the High Political Ground Like Mount Everest

Two Principal Strategies: • #1. Create the Correct National Message Narrative – Frame Republican proposals as attempts to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in order to protect tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires, oil companies and corporate CEO’s who fly around in corporate jets.

#2. Make it clear that anyone who backs cuts in Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid will be in grave political jeopardy in 2012.

Not likely to convince many Republicans to actively oppose cuts. Can hope to frighten some of weakest and cause confusion and unwillingness to stand firm to support cuts. • Can convince Moderate Democrats that these issues are Democrat’s most potent weapon in taking back House, and keeping Senate and White House – that anything that weakens this contrast is “bad politics”.

Tactics: • Demand that all Members of Congress oppose any cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. • Massive escalation of angry senior presence at Republican town meetings, fund-raisers and other public events – especially “Super Committee” Districts.

Tactics: • Create a Strong Organizational Presence in Districts of all “Super Committee” members that do not entirely support our positions. • Create an Active Field Structure that can respond in all target districts. • Help Assure presence of a strong national coalition of forces to defend Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Tactics: • Grass Top Contacts – especially phone calls to target members. • Earned Media program – both in field and nationally. • Paid Media program. • Lobby Operations. • Patch Through Calls – thousands per day to target Members of Congress.

Congressional Targets – Three Types: • Members of the Super Committee. • Examples who we can use to help drive our narrative that supporting cuts in Social Security Medicare and Medicaid is toxic politically – particularly those that are politically sensitive. • Moderates who may switch their vote.

Target Priorities • Between now and November 23 our goal is to prevent Super Committee from including cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in its report. • So members of the committee and “Examples” that can drive our narrative have top priority. • We must constantly look for the best targets of opportunity to drive our narrative among possible “Examples”.

After November 23rd • If there is a bad Committee proposal, we will retarget to focus on votes we can swing to try to stop passage.

Timeline – Key Dates • September 12 – 24 – Super Committee first Meetings. • September 18-21 – Training and Planning. • September 24 – October 2 -- First Congressional Recess. • October – Committee Deliberates – Negotiations. • October 17 – 23 – House Recess

October 24 – 30 – Senate Recess • November 7- 13 – House Recess • November 21- 27 – House Recess • November 23 – Deadline for Super Committee Report • December 23 – End of Fast Track Authority

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are in More Danger Now than anytime in half a century.

But Together – We Can Win

But Together -We Can Win

But Together-We Can Win

Together-We Can Win

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare