CATONSVILLE, MD — U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today held a town hall meeting for residents of Charlestown Retirement Community to inform them about the recently enacted budget agreement and what it means for them and the programs they depend upon such as Medicare and Social Security.   Senator Cardin, who is a member of the Senate Budget and Finance committees, also provided seniors with details about the budget agreement and what to expect in the future as the Joint Congressional Committee continues its work to deal with our deficit. 

Senator Cardin discussed efforts to preserve and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.  “We had a budget surplus in 2000 and Social Security and Medicare did not create the current budget crisis.  We can only solve our budget problems with a balanced approach that looks at all options.  I am hopeful that the Joint Committee will put politics aside for the good of our nation.”  

Senator Cardin outlined the budget compromise passed by Congress.  It provides for nearly $1 trillion in deficit reduction during the next 10 years.  But, importantly, it protects domestic priorities by allowing more than $40 billion in discretionary domestic spending next year than was contained in the budget that passed the House.

The agreement also calls for at least an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction to be proposed by a Joint Congressional Committee and enacted by the end of the year.  Automatic, across-the-board cuts are triggered if these additional reductions are not made.  The budget deal balances these future cuts equally between defense and domestic programs, and – importantly – it protects Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries.

Senator Cardin told the residents that for the good of all Americans “we now must turn our attention to job creation. Good paying jobs are the only way we are going to pull our nation out of this economic slowdown and that means investing in our future, particularly in education and training programs that will prepare Americans for jobs of the future.”

Charlestown is a senior living community with more than 2,000 residents located on a 110-acre campus in Catonsville.

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