July 14, 2011

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday marshaled a key constituency in her push to protect entitlements: women.

“We know firsthand the impact of changes in Medicare,” said Pelosi, flanked by 14 other Democratic women. “We know it because we are women and caregivers and we know it because of the people we represent. We know it because of the special interest we have taken in this bedrock of security for women and families in our country.”

Several lawmakers pointed out that women tend to live longer than men, and are usually the primary caregivers in families – making their dependency on key social programs that much more urgent.

WASHINGTON (MNI) – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Tuesday said she is committed to a “balanced bipartisan approach” in dealing with Medicare and Social Security cuts, and that cutting benefits in these programs would have very negative effects on the nation’s elderly.

Pelosi and other Democratic congresswomen criticized Republican goals for Medicare and Social Security, saying they would hurt struggling communities like senior citizens and especially women.
“Without Social Security more than half of women over the age of 65 would fall into poverty,” Pelosi said at a news conference.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois), added that “women cannot afford cuts in their benefits,” and that “Social Security cuts should not even be on the table at this time.”
Schakowsy went on to add, “Republicans want to cut Medicare and Social Security and not touch the million and billionaires.”