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AARP Massachusetts Believes that Enacting the 'Chained CPI' Would Harm Both Veterans and Seniors
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(87 seconds)
-- How Will You Use This Story? --
(OPEN):
NEW NUMBERS RELEASED THIS WEEK [THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 18TH]
SPOTLIGHT WHAT A-A-R-P CALLS "A BIG PROBLEM" FOR
MASSACHUSETTS-VETERANS--IF CONGRESS ENACTS THE "CHAINED CONSUMER-PRICE
INDEX". UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, 400-THOUSAND "BAY STATE"-VETERANS
COULD LOSE MORE THAN 160-MILLION DOLLARS, OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
VIETNAM-VETERAN CHARLIE DESMOND, OF DANVERS, SAYS...
(DESMOND):
"VETERANS
UNDERSTAND SACRIFICE--AND THE NEED FOR FISCAL DISCIPLINE. BUT, OUR
COUNTRY MADE PROMISES TO ME--AND [TO] EVERY OTHER VETERAN WHO SACRIFICED
SO MUCH, FOR OUR NATION. THOSE PROMISES MUST BE KEPT."
(BRIDGE):
THE "CHAINED C-P-I" WOULD CHANGE THE WAY THAT THE COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENT IS CALCULATED, FOR BOTH VETERANS'-COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL
SECURITY. A 30-YEAR-OLD VETERAN, FOR EXAMPLE, MIGHT SEE HIS OR HER
BENEFITS REDUCED BY NEARLY 15-HUNDRED DOLLARS, ANNUALLY, AT AGE
45--DOUBLE THAT, AT AGE 65. A-A-R-P MASSACHUSETTS
STATE-DIRECTOR, MICHAEL FESTA [AS IN "FESTIVE" AND
"FRESCA"], SAYS...
(FESTA):
"MASSACHUSETTS-VETERANS,
AND THEIR FAMILIES, DESERVE OUR SUPPORT, AND [OUR] THANKS FOR THEIR
SERVICE--NOT CUTS TO THE BENEFITS [THAT] THEY'VE EARNED, AND [THAT THEY]
RELY ON. THE 'CHAINED C-P-I' WOULD HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT
[BOTH] ON THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF OUR STATE'S VETERANS--AND ON
SENIORS."
(CLOSE):
A-A-R-P AND NUMEROUS VETERANS'-GROUPS ARE URGING THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO
CONTACT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WITH THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: "REJECT
THIS 'SHORTSIGHTED' CUT--AND, INSTEAD, FIND 'RESPONSIBLE' WAYS TO
ADDRESS THE NATION'S BUDGET-CHALLENGES." FOR MORE INFORMATION,
VISIT
"A-A-R-P"-DOT-ORG-SLASH-"WHAT-YOU-LOSE".
