Nevada seniors present more than 50,000“thank you” notes to Reid for sticking up for them

January 27, 2011

Sen. Reid receives 50,000 “thank you” letters from seniors for protecting Social Security.

 Washington, DC— Today, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) presented Nevada Senator Harry Reid with more than 50,000 “Thank You” notes from seniors across Nevada and the country for his promise to protect Social Security in the face of Republican attempts to privatize and eliminate the most successful social safety net in American history. Nevadans Larry Fleisher and David Klutts presented Reid with the “thank you” notes for standing up for the program.

“Unfortunately, it’s become the official position of the Republican Party to privatize and dismantle Social Security and Medicare as we know it,” said Reid.  “As long as I am Majority Leader of the United States Senate, we will not balance the budget on the backs of America’s seniors.  Nevada seniors have earned their benefits, and rely on them to put food on the table, make the rent and pay the bills, especially during these tough economic times.”

“In recent weeks, as Republicans have actively proposed cuts to Social Security, including raising the retirement age, no Democratic leader has stood stronger and vowed to protect Social Security from cuts more than Senator Harry Reid," said Adam Green, PCCC co-founder. "Today, we’re here to thank him. And to let him know that we will be in trenches fighting with him to protect the most popular and successful government program in America.”
“My family would not be able to survive if Social Security were cut -- or if the retirement age was raised," said Fleisher, a 69-year-old veteran from Henderson who sells goods on behalf of manufacturers to Nevada hotels and companies. "We paid into Social Security, we earned it, and at this point in our lives we need it. For Republicans to propose cutting benefits for the seniors of tomorrow is just cruel. So I’m proud to be one of over 50,000 Americans to thank Harry Reid for standing strong against Social Security cuts.”