National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare

NCPSSM raises most of its money through a large direct mail fundraising effort. ³ There have been controversies in the past regarding its direct mail operation and fundraising appeals, with opponents arguing that NCPSSM misleads recipients. NCPSSM holds events with Democratic elected officials throughout the country. Through its political action committee, the group has given almost entirely to Democratic candidates, while opposing Republican efforts to reform Social Security and Medicare. ^{4 4}

History

NCPSSM was founded in 1982 by James Roosevelt, Sr., the eldest son of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. ⁵ Former U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) suggested that the Committee was set up by the direct mail firm Butcher-Forde as a means by which to profit using President Roosevelt’s name and the popularity of Social Security. ⁶

The group began as a direct mail grassroots organization with a payroll of $206,039 and staff of “about 10” that sent out legislative notices, in addition to postcards and petitions to Congress. ⁷ In 1987, the Committee began increasing its staff and actively lobbying Congress. ⁷ In 2020, the organization had a staff of 29 and a payroll that exceeded $3.1 million. ⁸

Activism

As of 2021, the Committee is engaged in four active legislative campaigns: Don’t Cut Pills, Cut Profits; Boost Social Security Now; Stop The War On The Working Class; and Hands Off – No Cuts. ⁹ NCPSSM campaigns aim to oppose the privatization of Social Security, oppose any cuts to Social Security, and promote increased taxation to make the Social Security program solvent again. ^{2 10} NCPSSM has denied the existence of the Social Security financial crisis. ¹¹ When AARP stated that some cuts in Social Security benefits may be acceptable to maintain the program’s solvency, the Committee put out a response heavily criticizing AARP’s stance on the issue. ^{12 13}

The National Committee holds numerous events with Democratic politicians. ¹⁴ NCPSSM has claimed that Republicans’ former one-party control of the White House and Congress “harmed seniors and people with disabilities.” ¹⁵ In 2020, NCPSSM held at least 13 townhall and outreach events held with Democratic candidates and groups such as the Women’s National Democratic Club, the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Seniors Council. ¹⁶ For the first time in its history, the NCPSSM endorsed a presidential candidate when it endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020. ¹⁷

Finances and Fundraising

According to the organization’s Form 990 from 2020, NCPSSM recorded $18,168,140 in revenue while and $18,194,465 in expenses. ¹⁸ The previous year, NCPSSM had $18,580,900 in revenue and $18,772,177 in expenses. ¹⁹

Much of NCPSSM’s revenue is derived from direct mail solicitations and yearly membership dues to the organization. ¹⁸ In 2019, the group raised $16,236,669 from membership dues and fundraising. ²⁰ The Committee also receives money from renting its mailing list to direct mail companies. Currently, it has 801,357 names and addresses available for purchase by direct mail vendors. ²¹ In 2000, NCPSSM received $1.3 million from the rental of its mailing list. ²²

MCPSSM has been heavily criticized by members of Congress for “exploiting the fears of the elderly and exaggerating the dangers facing the retirement program.” ²³ It has been under investigation by members of Congress who have accused the organization of “frightening the elderly about the safety of their Social Security benefits.” ⁷

The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security requested that NCPSSM testify in a hearing on “misleading and deceptive mailings to Social Security beneficiaries.” ⁷ Former U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) criticized the NCPSSM at the hearing, commenting, “all they are doing is scaring people, as far as I can see. This is a fundraising scam that degrades the Roosevelt name.” ⁷

Political Action Committee

In the past ten years, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare’s political action committee has distributed 98.8% of its total campaign expenditures to Democrats running for Congress. ⁴ During this time, the PAC donated $1,444,437 to Democrats and only $17,000 to Republicans. ⁴ Between 2019 and 2020, the Committee gave no money to Republicans and only funded Democratic candidates. ⁴

Leadership

Max Richtman is the president and CEO of the National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare. He joined the organization in 1989 and is also chair of the Committee’s PAC. ²⁴ Prior to joining the NCPSSM, Richtman worked as staff director to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. ²⁵

Mike Prucker is the chief operating officer of the NCPSSM. Previously Prucker worked as chief of staff to former U.S. Representative Barbara Kennelly (D-CT). ²⁶

Dan Adcock is the director of government relations for NCPSSM. Adcock previously worked for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, and former U.S. Representative Matthew Martinez (D-CA). ²⁷

Jim Crounse is the chair of the NCPSSM board. Crounse is a partner with the direct mail firm Ambrosino, Muir, Hansen, and Crounse. ²⁸ The firm works exclusively with Democratic candidates for office. ²⁹

Coalition Membership

Currently, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is a member and chair of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), including the LCAO’s Health and Income Security committees; the Strengthening Social Security Coalition (SSSC) steering committee; and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Social Security Taskforce. ³⁰