REMINDER: Udall Social Security Town Hall Schedule

From Rep. Tom Udall's Office:
NEW MEXICO – U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., is holding a series of town hall meetings next week on Social Security.  The federal lawmaker said he wants to hear from New Mexicans about what they value most in Social Security.

“Social Security has been one of the most successful federal programs in this nation’s history. It has protected millions of elderly from living in poverty, and has been the backbone of every American’s retirement plan. It is a guarantee that we can all count on in our old age,” Udall said. “I hope New Mexico residents will attend these meetings to let me know their views on what changes, if any, should be made to Social Security.”

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005
Rio Rancho
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Meadowlark Senior Center, 4330 Meadowlark Blvd.

Albuquerque
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
T-VI’s Montoya Campus Auditorium (Juan Tabo and Montgomery)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman also attending

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2005
Española
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Rio Arriba Senior Center, 410 Hunter Street

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2005
Taos
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Taos Senior Center, 601 Lovato Place

Last week Udall voted against the House-passed budget that raids the Social Security Trust Fund of more than $1.1 trillion over the next five years.

In New Mexico, the percentage of Hispanic seniors living in poverty today is twice that of non-Hispanic seniors at 22%.  More than half of Hispanic women age 65 and older depend on Social Security for 100% of their income.  Social security payments have reduced the poverty rate of seniors from 45.6% to 12.1%, pulling an estimated 80,000 seniors above the poverty line.  There are about 29,000 seniors living in poverty in New Mexico.  Without Social Security, an estimated 109,000 seniors would live in poverty.

Approximately 295,000 – one of six New Mexican residents – receive Social Security benefits, either as a retiree, a disabled worker, a widow, or child. Almost 1/3 of those beneficiaries are under the age of 65.  More than 30,000 are widows, and 28,000 are children.

“President Bush’s plan to establish private accounts requires borrowing nearly $5 trillion, largely from foreign countries, and increasing our debt for the next 50 years, threatening rising interest rates today, and raising taxes on our children and grandchildren tomorrow,” Udall said.