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Powerful Democrats Want Nationwide Rallies Against Medicare Cuts

Bernie Sanders and other Democrats are calling for rallies to try to hold Donald Trump to campaign promises against Medicare cuts.

By: Ethan Weston

Posted at 4:21 PM, Dec 28, 2016

and last updated 2016-12-28 16:21:17-05

Three of the most powerful congressional Democrats are taking a public stand against any possible Republican plans to cut certain social programs.

Democrats in Congress got a letter Wednesday from Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

The letter asks Democrats to help organize nationwide rallies on Jan. 15 to protest possible Medicare spending cuts they say will "severely undermine the health care needs of the American people."

The three hope the rallies will hold Trump to his campaign promises not to make changes to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid funding.

"Every Republican wants to do a big number on Social Security, they want to do it on Medicare, they want to do it on Medicaid, and we can't do that," Trump said at the New Hampshire Republican Leadership Summit.

But they're worried congressional Republicans will try to use a budget bill to make major cuts to the program — something they've attempted before.