Clark Celebrates Social Security Anniversary with Medford Seniors

State Senator Katherine Clark celebrated the 78th anniversary of Social Security with Medford seniors at the Medford Senior Center on Wednesday as she runs for Congress. Courtesy photo.

Congressional candidate Katherine Clark celebrated the 78th anniversary of Social Security with Medford seniors on Wednesday. Katherine pledges to maintain Social Security benefits and preserve the program for future generations as she runs for Congress.

“Social Security is a promise we have made to senior citizens who worked a lifetime and paid into the system,” said Clark, a Democratic state senator from Melrose. “The modest benefit provided by the program is just as important to our seniors today as when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law in 1935.”

Katherine believes that cutting Social Security benefits, raising the retirement age, or ending the guaranteed benefits through privatization is completely unacceptable, as more than 1.2 million Massachusetts seniors depend on $1.3 billion in Social Security benefits each month. In Congress, Katherine will stand up to extremist Republicans and even members of her own party who support benefit reductions like tying the program to the consumer price index.

“Washington politicians shouldn’t try to balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable,” Clark said. “I know from watching my grandmother how vital that modest benefit was to her and as an insurance counselor with Mystic Valley Elder Services, I heard that story repeated. The Fifth Congressional District needs a representative who will stand by our seniors.”

Katherine believes Congress should be focused on helping seniors ensure a secure retirement and finding ways to strengthen the Social Security program. She supports lifting the cap on wages that are subject to Social Security payroll taxes, which could raise billions of dollars to improve the program and working toward a fairer tax code so the very wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share.

– Information and photo from the Katherine Clark for Congress campaign