<div dir="ltr"><div><br></div>it's zippy fast. you enter your phone number, it connects you to Durbin's office. Durbin's office will ask you for your zip code, but I gave my address and asked for a written response indicating Durbin's position on chained CPI.<br>
<div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">
<br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Senator Bernie Sanders</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:info@progressivesunited.org" target="_blank">info@progressivesunited.org</a>></span><br>
Date: Fri, May 17, 2013 at 9:11 AM<br>Subject: We must save Social Security<br>To: <a href="mailto:naiman.uiuc@gmail.com" target="_blank">naiman.uiuc@gmail.com</a><br><br><br><u></u>
<div bgcolor="#ffffff" style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><p></p> <center> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;width:100%"> <tbody><tr>
<td><center> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td><table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody><tr> <td align="left" style="padding-bottom:10px"><a name="13eb2def3cbb899f_13eb2d6072654f72_link" style="font-size:9px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(97,97,97);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,sans-serif;line-height:14px" href="http://links.e.progressivesunited.org/ctt?kn=4&ms=NTQ3NzAxOQS2&r=MTY4OTYzMDcyNDQS1&b=0&j=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank">I need your help.</a></td>
<td align="right" style="padding-bottom:10px"><a href="http://links.e.progressivesunited.org/s2s?m=5477019&r=MTY4OTYzMDcyNDQS1&rj=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&j=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&rt=0&n=FA" name="13eb2def3cbb899f_13eb2d6072654f72_Facebook_img" target="_blank"><img src="http://content.mkt922.com/ui/images/social_network/sn_facebook.gif" alt="" style="border:medium none;padding:0px 0px 3px;vertical-align:middle"></a> <a href="http://links.e.progressivesunited.org/s2s?m=5477019&r=MTY4OTYzMDcyNDQS1&rj=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&j=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&rt=0&n=FA" name="13eb2def3cbb899f_13eb2d6072654f72_Facebook" style="font-size:9px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(97,97,97);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,sans-serif;line-height:14px" target="_blank">Share this Email on Facebook</a></td>
</tr> </tbody></table> <table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<tbody><tr> <td colspan="5"><img width="600" height="130" border="0" style="display:block" src="http://contentz.mkt3255.com/ra/2013/13408/05/5477019/hd-c4-3.jpg" alt=""></td>
</tr> <tr> <td width="10" bgcolor="#00387a"></td> <td width="15">
</td> <td width="550"><div style="line-height:16px;text-align:left;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,sans-serif"><p>Robert,</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="right">
<tbody><tr> <td align="right" style="padding:0pt 0pt 10px 10px">
<a name="13eb2def3cbb899f_13eb2d6072654f72_link" href="http://links.e.progressivesunited.org/ctt?kn=4&ms=NTQ3NzAxOQS2&r=MTY4OTYzMDcyNDQS1&b=0&j=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank"><img width="209" height="209" border="0" src="http://contentz.mkt3255.com/ra/2013/13408/05/5477019/Callout_Sanders.png" alt="Tell Your Senator: Oppose Chained CPI. Call Today!" title="Tell Your Senator: Oppose Chained CPI. Call Today!"></a></td>
</tr> </tbody></table> <p>I need your help.</p>
<p>Republicans, some Democrats, and President Obama are pushing a backdoor way to make substantial cuts in Social Security and benefits for disabled veterans -- a concept called chained consumer price index, or "chained CPI."</p>
<p>Incredibly, they are arguing that the cost-of-living adjustments that seniors receive for Social Security are too generous. That's nonsense. I, and many economists, believe they are not generous enough.</p>
<p>Recently, 17 colleagues and I joined Senator Tom Harkin to introduce a resolution stating our strong opposition to the use of chained CPI.</p> <p>
<strong>That means there are 81 other senators who have not signed that resolution to prevent cuts to Social Security. These senators need to hear from you -- today.</strong></p> <p>
<a name="13eb2def3cbb899f_13eb2d6072654f72_link" style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-weight:bold" href="http://links.e.progressivesunited.org/ctt?kn=4&ms=NTQ3NzAxOQS2&r=MTY4OTYzMDcyNDQS1&b=0&j=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank">A quick call to your senator will send a powerful message. Join me today by asking your senator to sign the Harkin resolution opposing chained CPI.</a></p>
<p>If a chained CPI goes into effect, seniors who are 65 now will receive $650 less a year at age 75 and $1,000 less a year at age 85. Veterans who started receiving VA disability benefits at age 30 would have their benefits reduced by over $3,000 a year at age 65. We must not allow that to happen.</p>
<p>Today, the wealthiest people in America are doing phenomenally well, corporate profits are soaring and the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider and wider. At a time when the middle class is disappearing, we must not balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, the children, the sick, and the poor. We must not cut Social Security and other programs of enormous importance to the American people!</p>
<p>Today, the effective corporate tax rate is at its lowest level since 1972, and 1 out of 4 profitable corporations pays nothing in federal income taxes. We are losing about $100 billion a year in revenue as major corporations stash their profits in the Cayman Islands and other tax havens. We need a budget that ends these outrageous loopholes and demands that corporate America accepts its responsibility to help with deficit reduction.</p>
<p><a name="13eb2def3cbb899f_13eb2d6072654f72_link" style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-weight:bold" href="http://links.e.progressivesunited.org/ctt?kn=4&ms=NTQ3NzAxOQS2&r=MTY4OTYzMDcyNDQS1&b=0&j=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank">Please, call today and urge your senator to reject any budget that includes chained CPI, or cuts Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.</a></p>
<p>Thank you for fighting to protect the middle class.</p> <p>And thank you for uniting as a progressive.</p> <p>
Sincerely,</p> <p><img width="150" height="34" border="0" src="http://contentz.mkt3255.com/ra/2013/13408/05/5477019/Bernie_Sanders_signature.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>
Senator Bernie Sanders<br> </p></div></td> <td width="15"></td> <td width="10" bgcolor="#00387a">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="5"><img width="600" height="15" border="0" src="http://contentz.mkt3255.com/ra/2013/13408/05/5477019/ft2.png" alt="" style="display:block"></td>
</tr> <tr> <td height="20" colspan="5"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>
<div style="font-size:10px;color:rgb(97,97,97);line-height:16px;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,sans-serif;text-align:left">We've contacted you because you signed up at <span>ProgressivesUnited.com</span> or provided us with your email address which is listed as <span><a href="mailto:naiman.uiuc@gmail.com" target="_blank">naiman.uiuc@gmail.com</a></span>. <a name="13eb2def3cbb899f_13eb2d6072654f72_optout" href="http://links.e.progressivesunited.org/ctt?kn=2&ms=NTQ3NzAxOQS2&r=MTY4OTYzMDcyNDQS1&b=0&j=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&mt=1&rt=0" style="color:rgb(0,0,255)" target="_blank">Click here to unsubscribe</a>.<br>
<br> <a name="13eb2def3cbb899f_13eb2d6072654f72_privacy" href="http://links.e.progressivesunited.org/ctt?kn=5&ms=NTQ3NzAxOQS2&r=MTY4OTYzMDcyNDQS1&b=0&j=MzE5ODExOTMwS0&mt=1&rt=0" style="color:rgb(0,0,255)" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a><br>
<br> All content © 2013 Progressives United Political Action Committee<br> <span>PO Box 620062<br>
Middleton, WI 53562</span></div> <br> <center> <table align="center" style="width:500px;margin:10px;padding:10px;border:1px solid rgb(1,34,77)">
<tbody><tr> <td align="center"><div style="font-size:10px;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(97,97,97)">
Authorized and paid for by Progressives United Political Action Committee, Christopher Louderback, Middleton, WI, Treasurer</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table>
</center></td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr>
</tbody></table> </center></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><img width="1" height="1" src="http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion/981308456/?label=PcAKCMD16QIQqKj20wM&guid=ON&script=0" alt="" style="border-style:none"></p>
</center></div></div></div></div><div><br></div>-- <br>Robert Naiman<br>Policy Director<br>Just Foreign Policy<br><a href="http://www.justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">www.justforeignpolicy.org</a><br><a href="mailto:naiman@justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">naiman@justforeignpolicy.org</a>
</div>