Local Northeastern advocates rejoiced on Monday as the Congressional Super Committee announced its failure to reach a compromise on deficit reduction, signaling that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid (NCPSSM) have been spared from potentially devastating cuts.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare's "HANDS OFF-NO CUTS" campaign launched in September to target key Members of Congress and the Super Committee and urge them to reject cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens delivered that message during rallies, protests and marches and in e-mail, phone, and petition campaigns to Congress.

"The super committee's so-called 'failure' to sign off on yet another bad deal for average Americans could be the first indication that Washington has begun to listen to the American people who've said they don't want their benefits cut for deficit reduction," said Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. "They've finally realized that it is wrong to get our budget house in order by targeting the very people hurt most by this difficult economy."

Hundreds of events and demonstrations took place across the nation, including those targeting Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Representatives Frank Guinta (R-NH), Charles Bass (R-NH), Nan Hayworth (R-NY) and Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY). Events in the Northeast were held in cities across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and New York.

"The people of the Northeast stood up and said in a clear and resounding voice: 'Hands Off, No Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid!'," said Natasha Perez, regional field director for NCPSSM's NO CUTS-HANDS OFF campaign. "The success of this campaign proves that the voice of the American people can and will be heard in the corridors of Washington."

The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.

Christopher Chase

www.ncpssm.org