Press Release

ORLANDO – Representatives from a coalition of workers’ rights organizations gathered at Sen. Marco Rubio’s office in Orlando today to deliver messages urging the senator to protect Social Security and Medicare from privatization schemes in the next Congress.

The group of working people and advocates, led by Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, delivered nearly 150 signed petitions and letters reminding Rubio of his commitment to working families in central Florida, many of whom would experience higher health care costs and increased out-of-pocket expenses under recent proposals by congressional leaders to privatize Medicare and Social Security.

“Every day, Working Floridians pay their fair share to ensure they can access necessary health care services and live with dignity. When they rehired Sen. Rubio to represent them in Washington last month, they did so hoping he would reject proposals like Speaker Ryan’s that would undermine these popular federal programs for the benefit of corporate interests,” said Working America State Director Val Barnhart.

According to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Social Security Administration, last year over 4 million Floridians benefited from Medicare, and over 570,000 people relied on Supplemental Security Income through Social Security. Representatives from Central Florida Jobs with Justice, Central Florida Central Labor Council, Democratic Disability Caucus of Florida and For Florida’s Future joined Working America in this effort.

At over 3 million members, Working America mobilizes working people who don’t have the benefit of a union at work to fight for good jobs and a fair economy that works for everyone. Working America has 59,000 members in Florida, and we’re committed to uniting working people in urban and suburban communities around a shared economic agenda. For more information, visit www.workingamerica.org.