One million “hands off Medicare” petitions delivered to Congress

On Wednesday, Social Security Works, Just Care, and several other organizations delivered more than one million petitions to Congress demanding that it and president-elect Trump keep their hands off Medicare. At the press conference, on behalf of the Democrats in Congress, Senator Chuck Schumer promised to fight “tooth and nail” to protect Medicare, with Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi by his side.

Donald Trump pledged not to touch Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security during his presidential campaign. And, Bernie Sanders reminded everyone of that. “He said ‘I am not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid,’” […] “Mr. Trump, we are going to hold you accountable.”

President-elect Trump’s campaign website makes clear that he supports House Speaker Paul Ryan’s agenda. It used to include this language: “I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.” It now promises to “modernize Medicare,” a euphemism for cutting Medicare, turning Medicare over to private insurance companies, capping government support for the program, and shifting more costs onto older adults and people with disabilities.

If you believe the government should keep its hands off of Medicare, please sign this petition.

Watch these highlights from the petition delivery on Capitol Hill:

Here’s more from Just Care:

• Medicare remains more efficient than private insurance
• Medicare checklist: What to do?
• What’s the Medicare premium in 2017?
• Four things to know if your income is low and you have Medicare