Local progressive leaders, including a candidate for Congress, are putting pressure on Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) to support the SAVE Benefits Act, that would provide a one year bump in Social Security benefits.
Supporters hauled four legal boxes of petitions up to Katko’s Syracuse office Tuesday. They include over 100,000 signatures from across the country and more than 300 from the 24th Congressional District, which includes all of Cayuga, Onondaga and Wayne counties and the western part of Oswego county. The SAVE Benefits Act would provide a one-time $581 increase in Social Security benefits this year, paid for by closing a tax loophole that allows corporations to deduct bonuses from their top CEOs.
Doug Matousek, chair of the central New York Chapter for the Alliance for Retired Americans, says this is important because there won’t be a cost of living raise this year, and in the long run more and more Americans are relying on Social Security to get by in their later years.
"The three legged stool for people who hope to retire on pensions, savings and Social Security, the savings are gone,” said Matousek. “People don’t have money to save. People don’t have pensions. What they’re going to be left with is Social Security.”
Eric Kingson, a Social Security advocate and professor at Syracuse University and is running for the democratic nomination in the 24th District, says Katko isn’t one of the 140 members of the House who’s signed onto the legislation.
"We’re asking him to jump to the side of seniors,” said Kingson. “And if he does, I will be the first to applaud him. I’m running for Congress, I intend to win the seat. But more importantly I’d like to see people protected. I’d like to see the economic security of families protected. And if he’s on the right side, I may even vote for him.”
In a statement, Katko's press spokeswoman said:
“Congressman Katko has, and will continue to support a COLA increase. As food, energy, and medical costs continue to rise, he believes that Social Security needs to keep up with the cost of living – and believes that there should have been an increase for seniors and veterans this year. He supports the policy of adjusting COLA and would be open to reviewing options that are based on reasonable measures and which address the underlying economic and regulatory factors that drive increases in cost of living expenses.”
