Alliance members scheduled over 70 district meetings with their elected officials for this week’s President’s Day Lobby Week. The appointments came as the Senate is set to vote next week - right after the Congressional recess ends - on a plan to stop the March 1 sequester (automatic budget cuts) without harming Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
On February 14, Senate Democrats released their plan to avert the sequester for the rest of the year — it contains $110 billion in deficit reduction, evenly divided between spending cuts and new revenues. During Lobby Week, Alliance members have been asking senators to vote for this package and asking House members to vote for it should it come to the House.
Included in the Lobby Week events: a rally and petition drop outside House Speaker John Boehner's (R) office in West Chester, Ohio on Wednesday.
Among those at risk if the cuts come to fruition: homebound and disabled seniors behind closed doors – “the hidden hungry” across the U.S.A., according to Larry Tomayko, interim chief executive officer of the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA). If congressional domestic-spending cuts take effect on March 1, MOWAA faces an estimated 5.1% reduction in Older Americans Act funding.
According to Americans for Tax Fairness, a recent Hart Research poll found that found that two-thirds of voters nationwide want the richest 2% (by 66% of voters) and large corporations (by 64% of voters) to pay more in taxes. The poll also found that 59% of voters say that we still need to do more to make sure the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes: .
On Wednesday, supporters of President Obama’s health care law and the Democratic leadership from the House of Representatives gathered at the Capitol building for a press conference to hold the Republicans accountable for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Alliance Regional Board Member and retired social studies teacher Bill Cea spoke on behalf of the Alliance, saying of the Affordable Care Act, “Not only is this good for your health, but it is also good public policy.”
Other Regional Board members showed their support by attending and speaking out - including Sam Burnett, Tim Foley, Larry Malone, James Parent, Nancy True, Jody Weinreich, Marty Alvarado, Kenneth Stevens, Emmett Sheppard, JoEtta Brown, Louie Duran, John O'Brien and Mack Goodman.
The press conference was organized by the Democratic House leadership: Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA), Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) and Assistant Leader James Clyburn (SC). The three Representatives had strong words for their Republican colleagues, who voted to repeal the ACA, 244-185. Five Democrats joined the full Republican caucus in voting in favor of repeal; no GOP lawmakers crossed the aisle. For a complete tally of the vote, click here .
This week's vote was the 33rd attempt by congressional Republicans to repeal this law, a law that in the past two years has been approved by both houses of Congress, signed by the President, and upheld by the Supreme Court. It is time to move on.
Yesterday's landmark decision by the Supreme Court on the Affordable Care Act was well-received by Alliance members and seniors throughout the country.
Because of the ACA, in 2011, over 3.6 million seniors on Medicare saved a total of $2.1 billion on their drug costs, an average of $604 person. And over 32 million seniors received at least one new free preventive care benefit through Medicare.
Seniors throughout the state participated in press conferences and celebrations. Photos.
Wisconsin Alliance President Leon Burzynski commented, "Seniors have and will continue to benefit from the Affordable Care Act in many ways. It is a positive step forward for all older Americans, our children, grandchildren and generations to come."
Maryland/DC Alliance President Frank Stella said, "Maryland is a better place to live today, thanks to today’s Supreme Court decision. More than 750,000 older Marylanders will continue to receive improved health care because the court has upheld important advances in Medicare such as the closing of the doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage and the continuation of critical screening tests without deductibles and co-payments."
Here are some press clips and Alliance mentions
AZ Arizona Daily Star Republicans vow to repeal 'Obamacare': Politicians and candidates on both sides weigh in on constitutional issue, costs and fairness
REGISTRATION: We have extended the deadline date for REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT for the Western Regional Conference to February 15, 2012, to avoid the $15.00 late fee.
HOTEL Bally’s Las Vegas 3645 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109 877-603-4390
Bally’s Las Vegas has extended our cutoff date to February 10, 2012 for making Hotel reservations. We would encourage you to make your reservations on or before February 10, 2012 in order to get the contracted rate for our Western Regional Meeting.
If you have any question about registering for the conference or about registering at the hotel, please contact: Joni Jones - Alliance Event Coordinator at 202-637-5377.
As September dawns, Alliance activists across the nation wrap up summer actions focused on celebrating the anniversaries of Social Security and Medicare. Over 70 actions in 30 states garnered plenty of attention from elected officials and the media. Activities ranged from parties celebrating many successful years of the programs (76 for Social Security, 46 for Medicare); to deliveries of cake, letters and petitions to local Congressional offices; to protesting and calling out candidates on their damaging stances against the programs.
This month, the California Alliance hosted a coalition event in San Francisco and Los Angeles that brought together Californians of all ages for a mass delivery of Social Security stories to Senator Dianne Feinstein. They requested Feinstein stand firm on the issue of protecting and preserving Social Security, not just for today's seniors, but for future generations. Not only were seniors and members of the disability community on hand to relay the importance of Social Security in their lives, but young adults from all parts of the state turned out to say "Social Security can be there for my generation. I'm counting on you to protect it and make it work."
In Seattle this month, hundreds of seniors and community activists joined in a 'Medicare birthday march' from Safeco Field to Pike Place Market. Thousands of onlookers were touched by the Washington Alliance's message "Hands off Medicare."
In Warren, Ohio, 100 local residents gathered at a senior center with U.S. Rep. Timothy Ryan to discuss the importance of Social Security as a stable part of the local economy, not just to individuals but for the business community. Rep. Ryan spoke in support of the long term viability of Social Security and defended the need to keep Social Security fiscally sound.
The Rhode Island Alliance presented several Members of Congress, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline, awards for working to protect both Social Security and Medicare.
In New Hampshire, Alliance members and community allies made national news as they protested the visits of presidential nominees Rick Perry and Mitt Romney in both Portsmouth and Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Summer may be wrapping up, but Alliance activity around these issues will continue through the year. Stay tuned.
San Diego --- Over 150 people participated in the Town Hall on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) on Tuesday. The standing-room only crowd heard from advocates and experts on these issues and participated in a lively exchange with speakers on the future of important retirement security programs.
Participants included seniors from area senior centers, people with disabilities, homecare workers, and local members and affiliates of CA Alliance for Retired Americans. Translation was provided in Spanish and Vietnamese. The program concluded at 12:00 with lunch, birthday cake, song, and celebration of Medicare’s 46th anniversary that is July 30th.
Guy Cargulia, CARA CAT Convenor said, “The meeting is an example of the interest and concern that people have for their retirement security. The new faces and organizations involved is inspiring! With so many Californians already struggling to get by, things would be much worse without Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal. Fortunately, people are willing to get involved to save these programs from the chopping block."
Post by Asiah Gayfield, student at Butler University Indianapolis, IN
Social Security was on the minds of Alliance Members all over the country as they tuned to President Obama’s State of the Union address on January 25, 2011. Members gathered in living rooms, community centers, and restaurants to hear what the President would say about the state of the country, the growing national deficit, and if Social Security would play a part in helping to pay down that deficit (which Social Security does not and cannot by law contribute to).
Seniors citizens were no doubt relieved, and some where even moved to cheer, when the President declared “To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations. We must do it…without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.”
The watch parties were not only a way for members to socialize as they watched the important event, but were also incubators of great discussions. One group of energized seniors in Gig Harbor, Washington spent three hours at their State of the Union gathering both watching and discussing the President’s speech, including their ideas about Social Security and health care reform. A group of senior activists in Toledo, Ohio made up their own criteria to grade the President on before his speech and stayed after to discuss what grade the President should receive. And another group in Tucson, Arizona were so inspired by the Presidents speech they decided they were going to follow up with their Member of Congress.
When asked about their opinions of the State of the Union address, party participants had great things to say. A retiree from Arizona exclaimed, “It was really positive – he’s on our side!” Another retiree from Washington summed up the whole speech by saying, “Obama hit that out of the park!” Many retirees even ventured out on a limb and tried their hand at new technologies by using the popular websites Youtube and Twitter to share their feelings about the State of the Union and the Republican responses. The Arizona Alliance, for example, tweeted on their Twitter account http://twitter.com/azretiredams while the Florida Alliance hosted a member teleconference call throughout the State of the Union Address and a press conference call afterwards. FLARA then posted video responses from members and part of the press conference call on YouTube here.
The success of the State of the Union watch parties underscores the value of holding such events because they are a mobilization tool to help organize seniors to discuss current events and respond to them as they happen, in real time.
Response from Doug Hart, Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans President
Slideshow (watch parties & events across the country featuring AZ, CA, CT, IA, IN, NH, OH, TX & WA)
Photos: above at right ~ top to bottom: Connecticut, New Hampsire and Indiana Alliance parties
Leading up the recent failed vote on the Deficit Commission report, the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) held successful demonstrations in front of Speaker Pelosi’s San Francisco office and Xavier Becerra’s Los Angeles Office.
The Deficit Commission (The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform) was created by an Executive Order signed by President Obama in February. The Executive Order directs the commission to recommend how to reduce the annual deficits to 3% of the national economy by 2015. The Commission has been meeting for eight months of negotiations among the eighteen commissioners - all of whom are Washington insiders who reflect little sense of the everyday realities for the working families who are looking for leadership and job creation from their national leaders.
CARA fully supports the President on the critical need to reduce our nation’s budget deficit, but many are troubled by the false claim that Social Security is to blame for the deficit, even though the program has not contributed to the federal deficit and maintains a $2.5 trillion surplus. In fact, according to data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), most of the projected budget deficit over the next 10 years will result from President Bush’s tax cuts for the rich, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, skyrocketing health care costs and the continuing effects of the worst recession since the Great Depression.
CARA’s rally could not have come at a better time as the Deficit Commission zeroed in on cutting Medicare and Social Security. Calling for "No Cuts to Social Security," seniors and union activists sang and rallied in the rain – to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic:
We don’t know how you make it, as you live from day to day. With income fixed and prices up, there’s always more to pay. So minding our arthritis, let us march and sing and say: Let’s all go bravely on!
Chorus: Holy Moley, it’s our MON-EY. Holy Moley, it’s our MON-EY! Holy Molely, it’s our MON-EY! We paid when we were young!
The debate has just begun. And while it is unlikely the commission will approve a report that will actually reach the floor of the House and Senate, we can be certain that the job-killing plans under the guise of "deficit reduction" will continue. Social Security’s long-term solvency can be resolved by relatively modest adjustments and without cutting benefits. The following are solutions to consider:
· Raise the payroll tax on Social Security taxes for the wealthiest Americans · Put people back to work in good-paying, decent American jobs. · Tax the bonuses of the Wall Street millionaires and billionaires who are doing so well.
It's time to put a stop to the unwarranted claims that Social Security and Medicare are to blame for the deficit -- we must fight against the Commission’s detrimental ideas, includling raising the retirement age. Learn more at www.CaliforniaAlliance.org.
The California Alliance for Retired Americans meets with Senator Feinstein's staff tomorrow to urge her to co-sponsor the Sanders Resolution which opposes raising the Social Security retirement age.
You can help them carry this message by calling her office tomorrow, Los Angeles: 310-914-7300 sometime before 3:00 PT and urge her to co-sponsor the Sanders Resolution.
Numbers for Senator Feinstein's other offices are: Fresno, 559-485-7430, San Francisco, 415-393-0707, San Diego, 619-231-9712.
Sample message:
“My name is __________________ and I am calling today to urge Senator Feinstein to co-sponsor the Sanders Resolution which opposes privatization of Social Security and any change in the retirement age. Social Security helps millions stay out of poverty, has not contributed to the deficit, and is America’s most important retirement security program. Help protect Social Security for future generations. Co-sponsor the Sanders Resolution!”
Take 2 minutes to make this call - help convey the paramount importance of not raising the retirement age!
About 100 California Alliance for Retired Americans active seniors descended upon the Laney College campus in Oakland over lunch hour yesterday for a rally and discussion of Social Security and its importance for future generations.
The seniors engaged students 1-1, encouraged them to sign petitions to secure Social Security and also spoke out at a rally in the Commons about the current threats to Social Security and how the students can get involved to preserve it.
Many students had not heard about the threats to Social Security or talk about raising the retirement age. They were surprised and interested to discuss the program with another generation.
