It’s election season, and like clockwork, the political exchange surrounding Social Security is heating up.
There’s no mystery as to why. More than 250,000 Montanans rely on their hard-earned Social Security benefits to get by. And this year, the future of this important program is at stake. That’s why Montana seniors need to know the truth about Social Security.
For generations, Social Security has been a sacred promise that Americans have come to expect as part of their hard-earned retirement. In fact, according to the Social Security Administration, 97 percent of seniors (ages 60 to 89) receive or plan to receive Social Security benefits. The benefits provided by Social Security are earned through a lifetime of hard work, and nothing could be more important to our family.
Social Security allows us to put food on the table. It helps pay the bills, fill up the tank, and keep a roof over our heads. More than half of our nation’s retirees have no retirement savings at all. Social Security allows millions of people to retire and age with dignity. This is what every Montanan deserves.
And it’s not just retirement. Social Security also provides important life and disability insurance protection. These important benefits ensure that your loved ones are protected if you become disabled and give workers peace of mind that they’re in good hands if something goes wrong.
The safety net that Social Security provides for older Montanans is undeniable. But the threat to Social Security is real. And that’s why the stakes in this year’s election are so high.
Far-right Republicans in Washington, D.C., have no respect for or understanding how important Social Security is to seniors in Montana. They denounce it as a pyramid scheme and propose cutting back the Social Security benefits that Montana seniors rely on. Worse still, they want to raise the retirement age to 70, cut disability benefits and encourage cuts for future recipients as well.
We need to elect leaders who understand the importance of these important benefits, not leaders like Tim Sheehy who seek to eliminate them. Black money groups like the billionaire Koch brothers are hell-bent on eliminating this economic lifeline for working families. But don’t get me wrong. Any cuts to Social Security would be a slap in the face to all Montanans who have spent their lives contributing every paycheck they ever earned to the Social Security program.
That’s why Sheehy’s recent misleading campaign ads have become so hypocritical. He claims that it is Sen. Jon Tester who will cut Social Security. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.
This fall, Montana’s seniors, retirees, and active workers looking to retire must come together to defeat threats to Social Security. That’s why the Montana Alliance of Retired Americans and the thousands of union retirees we represent support Sen. Tester.
We know he takes Social Security seriously. And I know he will stand up to defend Social Security and ensure it remains fully funded for decades to come. That way, every Montanan can retire with the dignity and security they’ve earned through a lifetime of work. .
Jay Reardon is president of the Montana chapter of the Retired Americans Alliance, a grassroots advocacy group fighting for a more secure retirement for all Montanans.
