Max Baucus: “The Alliance for Retired Americans, on behalf of its nearly four million members throughout the nation, writes in…”

“The Alliance for Retired Americans, on behalf of its nearly four million members throughout the nation, writes in opposition to the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2009, S. 2853. We oppose attempts to attach it to debt ceiling or any other legislation. We cannot support the bill's fast-track means of implementing vast changes to programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid outside the regular legislative process. Under the legislation, the jurisdiction for major long-term changes to programs including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid would be turned over to an 18-member task force, made up of 16 members of Congress and 2 administration officials. Regardless of the expertise of task force members, their representations would be crafted behind closed doors and subject to a fast-track up-or-down vote by Congress.”