National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
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{{Infobox organization
| name = National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
| formation = {{start date|1982|11|18|df=y}}{{cite book|last1=U.S. Government Accountability Office|title=Social security advocacy organizations that mail fundraising letters : report to the chairman, Subcommittee on Social Security, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives|publisher=DIANE Publishing|isbn=9781428979031|page=33|ref=GAO}}
| founder = James Roosevelt{{cite news|last1=Rosenblatt|first1=Robert|date=1987-03-10|title=Committee Headed by James Roosevelt Under Investigation|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-10-me-5709-story.html|access-date=2015-03-23}}
| type = 501(c)(4) advocacy organization with affiliated political action committee and 501(c)(3) foundation
| purpose = Preservation of Social Security and Medicare
| location = Washington, D.C.
| region = United States
| leader_title = President/CEO
| leader_name = Max Richtman
| leader_title2 = Chair
| leader_name2 = Carroll Estes
| revenue = $22,079,955{{cite web|title=IRS Form 990 2014|website=Guidestar|publisher=Internal Revenue Service|url=http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/521/312/2014-521312579-0ac10f46-9O.pdf|access-date=2015-03-23}}
| revenue_year = 2014
| expenses_year = 2014
| mission = "The National Committee is dedicated to protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits for all communities and generations."{{cite web|title=Mission Statement|publisher=National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare|url=http://www.ncpssm.org/AboutUs|access-date=2015-03-23}}
| website = {{url|http://www.ncpssm.org}}
}}
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) is a United States liberal advocacy group whose goal is to protect Social Security and Medicare. NCPSSM works to preserve entitlement programs through direct mail campaigns, candidate endorsements, incumbent ratings, grassroots activity, issue advertising, and campaign contributions.{{cite web|title=National Cmte to Preserve Social Security & Medicare|publisher=OpenSecrets|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000142}}
NCPSSM promotes tax increases as a way to address what it describes as modest long-term issues with Social Security's solvency. The organization opposes Social Security privatization and supports prescription drug benefits in Medicare.{{cite news|last1=Farley|first1=Robert|last2=Roberton|first2=Lori|date=2014-07-11|title=More Senior Scare in Montana|work=FactCheck.org|publisher=Annenberg Public Policy Center|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2014/07/more-senior-scare-in-montana/|access-date=2015-03-23}} Through its political action committee, the organization donates money to support Democratic candidates and to oppose Republican candidates.{{cite news|title=NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE|work=Follow the Unlimited Money|publisher=Sunlight Foundation|url=http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/outside-spending-2012/committee/national-committee-to-preserve-social-security-m/C00172296/|access-date=2015-03-23}}
Overview
NCPSSM was founded in 1982 by former Congressman James Roosevelt, the eldest son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It is currently led by Max Richtman, former staff director of the Senate Special Aging Committee.{{cite news|last1=Hiltzik|first1=Michael|date=2012-05-24|title=Alan Simpson opens his yap on Social Security|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-may-24-la-mo-simpson-social-security-20120524-story.html|access-date=2015-03-23}} The organization began as a direct mail organization which urged recipients to contact public officials and become dues-paying members. The NCPSSM eventually developed a professional research and lobbying capacity.{{cite book|last1=Steckenrider|first1=Janie|last2=Parrott|first2=Tonya|date=1998|title=New Directions in Old-Age Policies|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9780791439135|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/newdirectionsino0000stec}}
The majority of the organization's budget goes to direct mail campaigns. Most of the organization's income is raised through $12 annual membership fees paid by direct mail recipients, the majority of whom are senior citizens.{{cite news|last1=Dumay|first1=Jan|date=May 2014|title=Fright Mail Targets Seniors|publisher=435 Kansas City's Magazine|url=http://www.435mag.com/May-2014/Fright-Mail-Targets-Seniors/|access-date=2015-03-23}}
Activities
NCPSSM supported passage of the Affordable Care Act.{{cite news|last1=Moeller|first1=Philip|date=2012-06-29|title=Seniors Win Big in Court's Obamacare Ruling|publisher=U.S. News & World Report|url=http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-best-life/2012/06/29/seniors-win-big-in-courts-obamacare-ruling|access-date=2015-03-23}} The organization opposed the passage of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and the Republican Party's efforts to reform Social Security in 2005.{{cite book|last1=Morone|first1=James|last2=Ehlke|first2=Dan|date=2014|title=Health Politics and Policy|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=9781305175785|page=274}}
Through its political action committee (PAC), NCPSSM supports incumbents and challengers who it believes have demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving the current Social Security and Medicare systems. Voting records, campaign questionnaires and candidate interviews are considered when determining PAC support. NCPSSM has the wealthiest political action committee of all old-age organizations.
NCPSSM is a member of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, a coalition of American non-profit organizations interested in senior issues.{{cite web|title=Membership|publisher=Leadership Council of Aging Americans|url=http://www.lcao.org/about-lcao/membership/|access-date=2015-03-23}}
The NCPSSM supports lifting the Social Security payroll tax cap. The organization does not believe that there is a Social Security crisis.{{cite news|last1=Richtman|first1=Max|date=2012-04-26|title=Opposing view: 'There's no Social Security crisis'|publisher=USA Today|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-04-26/National-Committee-to-Preserve-Social-Security-Medicare/54561846/1|access-date=2015-03-23}}
In the 2020 presidential election, the group broke with tradition and endorsed a candidate, Democrat Joe Biden, citing the current administration's attacks on Social Security.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-17|language=en|title=Warning Trump Poses 'Existential Threat' to Social Security, Group Founded by FDR's Son Endorses Biden for President|website=Common Dreams|url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/09/17/warning-trump-poses-existential-threat-social-security-group-founded-fdrs-son|access-date=2020-09-17}}
Criticism
The group's first fundraising appeal promised to send a printout of an individual's Social Security records in exchange for a $10 contribution. This solicitation tactic was met with criticism as the Social Security Administration provides such information for free. The organization halted this appeal.{{cite book|last1=Gilmour|first1=John|date=1995|title=Strategic Disagreement: Stalemate in American Politics|publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press|isbn=9780822971696|page=179}}
In 1987, Social Security Commissioner Dorcas Hardy accused NCPSSM of using scare tactics to get money from elderly people afraid of losing their benefits.{{cite news|date=1987-01-09|title=Social Security Lobbyists Accused of Scare Tactics|agency=United Press International|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-09-mn-2861-story.html|access-date=2015-03-23}} Later that same year, the group came under investigation by members of Congress who accused the organization of frightening the elderly about the safety of their Social Security benefits. A hearing was scheduled to address "misleading and deceptive mailings to Social Security beneficiaries."
References
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External links
- {{official|https://www.ncpssm.org/}}
- {{cite web|title=Foundation|publisher=NCPSSM|url=http://www.ncpssmfoundation.org/}}
- {{cite web|title=National Cmte to Preserve Social Security & Medicare Profile: Summary|website=OpenSecrets.org|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000142}}
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Category:Lobbying organizations in the United States
Category:Medicare and Medicaid (United States)
Category:Social security in the United States
Category:Medical and health organizations based in Washington, D.C.