Alliance for Retired Americans Blog

Legislators, Alliance Members Rebuke Votes to Repeal Health Care Reform

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.  

 

Coalition Unites to Defend Social Security

On Thursday, more than 60 groups, including the Alliance, announced the creation of the coalition “Strengthen Social Security…Don’t Cut It.” The new coalition pushes back against the Fiscal Commission assertions (backed by the Wall Street spin machine) that claim Social Security is a major component of the budget deficit and is teetering on the brink of disaster.

In a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the group outlined plans to build support in Congress to fight benefits cuts and press candidates this election to push back against any move to raise the retirement age or privatize the program. “We are united by our concerns over the new Fiscal Commission, which operates in virtual secrecy and with a fundamentally flawed understanding of how Social Security is financed and operates.  There is no government financial commitment at all.  Every dime comes from workers and employers,” Ed Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance, said at the event. 

The new group’s web site http://www.strengthensocialsecurity.org features great new videos and information.

AFSCME President Gerald McEntee said: "We have a message for the Commission: Don't turn Social Security intothe scapegoat for the deficit. Social Security is not the problem. Don't raise the retirement age. Don't tamper with the COLA. If you break the promise that was made to America's working families, we'll hold you accountable."

Photos

Opposition to Raising the Retirement Age

This weekend at Netroots Nation, Nancy Pelosi vocalized her opposition to raising the retirement age and otherwise messing with Social Security.

"To change Social Security in order to balance the budget, they aren't the same thing in my view ... When you talk about reducing the deficit and Social Security, you're talking about apples and oranges."

And she's right.

Social Security has been paying for itself since day one. We all pay into it when we work so it's there for us (and our families) when we need it. We earned it.

Deficit hawks who would like to blame the deficit on Social Security are outright lying.

Social Security does not borrow any money and by law cannot add a penny to the deficit. It is a separate program unto itself and that's why Pelosi correctly said talking about the government's budget deficit and changes to Social Security is discussing apples and oranges.

With a $2.6 trillion dollar surplus, Social Security is far from bankrupt. The federal government has borrowed money from Social Security to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Wall Street bank bailouts, and the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. 

The budget deficit has nothing to do with the solvency of Social Security. It's time to make the government solvent so it can honor it's bonds to Social Security.

Congress Delivers President Obama a 'Doc Fix' Bill

 After realizing that combining the 'Doc Fix' provision with a jobs creation package was not politically feasible, House Democrats promptly passed a six-month solution to the ongoing cuts in Medicare reimbursement rates to physicians. 

 

The temporary fix passed the House late Thursday night by a vote of 415-1 The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services had already started to process Medicare claims at the 21%-lower rate, causing severe financial damage to medical practices nationally.  All prior claims will be resubmitted and paid at the new reimbursement rates.  Additionally, the bill allows for a 2.2% raise for physician reimbursement rates, a critical measure that will prevent Medicare beneficiaries from losing their doctors. 

 

Despite this small-scale victory, there were no celebrations on Capitol Hill, as the same problem is on the verge of occurring yet again.  In December, Medicare physicians are scheduled to face a 23% cut in reimbursement rates, increasing up to 30% by January.  Policy experts, Medicare beneficiaries, and doctors alike are grateful for the fix, but believe that a permanent solution must be implemented. 

 

"The Alliance is pleased that Congress has put politics aside in order to protect the quality of care that seniors receive," said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance.  "We hope that during the next six-months, Congress will be able pass a permanent solution to this recurring problem, and we still hope for a jobs and economic relief package.” 

 

Congressional leadership has not yet indicated when or if they plan to take up a permanent fix to the Medicare payment issue, but they are likely to do so soon given the intense level of criticism that they recently experienced.  For more information on this matter please see the following article: http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/PHY-253019/House-Okays-Doc-Fix-Bill-Sent-to-White-House-for-Signature. 

 

Senior Issues take Center Stage in Nevada Senate Race

Nevada Alliance members rushed to Republican/tea party Senate candidate Sharron Angle's office last Friday to protest her position on privatizing Social Security.  “She’s extreme. She's dangerous,” said NARA President Scott Watts.  Nevada Alliance activists then convened a protest at GOP Headquarters earlier this week.

Watts called emergency meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday and Sparks, Nevada on Thursday about Angle’s positions, and scores turned out to exchange warnings about her ideas for privatizing Social Security.  Emotions ran high.  Other sources of concern for retirees include Angle’s stated desire to privatize Medicare and the Veterans Administration. 

Despite numerous attempts by television stations to reach Angle for comment and clarification, no one from her campaign returned their calls and e-mails over the past few days.  During the primary campaign, Angle said that she wanted to phase out Social Security and Medicare programs, for something private.  “I've never seen any compassion from this person as far as senior citizens are concerned.  Never,” Watts added. 

Watch the Nevada Alliance in action here:

Yesterday (Thursday, June 17th) in Sparks, NV - emergency meetings covered on Channel 4 ("Seniors Upset with Angle") and Channel 2 ("Could Social Security Be in Jeopardy?")
 
Wednesday's (June 16th) emergency meetings in Las Vegas Channel 3 ("Nevada Alliance Red Alert Meeting") and Channel 8 ("Retired Americans Group Gathers to Oppose Candidate Angle")

Monday protest at GOP HQ in Reno Channel 2 ("Alliance Seniors Protest Angle's Office")
 
Last Friday's protest at Angle office on Channel 3 ("NV Seniors Outraged By Sharron Angle's Plan to Eliminate Social Security")

Talking Points Memo

AFL-CIO blog

Some tv highlights also availabe at http://www.facebook.com/retiredamericans - (click "Like" on the page to receive periodic updates in your Facebook feed).

Alliance Joins Three Senators in Announcing Doughnut Hole Rebate Checks

Alliance President Barbara J. Easterling and Stella Johnson, an Alliance member and retired Washington, D.C. school teacher, joined Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (MT), Sen. Jeff Bingaman (NM), and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), at a Capitol Hill press conference on Thursday to discuss how America’s seniors will benefit from health care reform.  The event purposely coincided with the day the first wave of rebate checks to help close the Medicare Part D doughnut hole today were being mailed. Almost 3.8 million American seniors are affected by the doughnut hole every year. 

Also on Thursday, Colorado State Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak met with Colorado Alliance members in Denver to promote the mailing of the $250 rebate checks. Colorado Alliance President Vivian Stovall spoke about Alliance initiatives and United Steel Workers (USW) activist Deb Kolp shared her father's doughnut hole story.

Colorado Dems promote Medicare rebates - Denver Post

Seniors first to benefit from new health law with $250 rebate checks - SC Prog Blog

Health Reform and the Economy by the Numbers - Center for American Progress

Retirees Pleased with Tele-Town Hall and Health Law Clarification

This week's teletown hall event with President Obama, organized to clarify the new health reform law for seniors, was well-received by many seniors and Alliance members nation-wide.
 
The Alliance's Judy Cato attended the event in Wheaton, Maryland; and the Alliance hosted over 25 watch-and-call-in parties in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvani and South Carolina.

Photos. [Top left: Obama at tele-town hall in Wheaton MD courtesy National Council on Aging (NCOA) Bottom left: DesMoines, Iowa event.]

Barbara Franklin, President of the Illinois Alliance, was the first phone call accepted. She asked President Obama about whether or not changes in Medicare Advantage overpayments would result in a reduction in care for seniors.  Obama replied that this was one of the more common myths about health reform (in addition to death panel concepts), and explained what the new health law does to sustain Medicare.

Video.

Elmer Blankenship said in response to Obama's tele-town hall,

As a retired Auto Worker and a member of The Indiana Alliance for Retired Americans, I was one of the seniors here in Indianapolis that watched President Obama’s June 8 town hall forum on CSPAN to learn more about how the new health reform law will benefit seniors and retirees.

The new law will help retirees better afford to see a doctor and fill their prescriptions.  Seniors who fall into the “doughnut hole” coverage gap in Medicare Part D will, starting this week, receive a $250 rebate check from the government. That may not sound like much, but for many Seniors, it can be the difference to getting needed medicine.

Seniors are starting to benefit with free annual check-ups in Medicare, ending co-payment for preventative screenings, allowing children up to age 26 to be covered on their parents policy and in many other ways. I thank President Obama for his efforts to end the myths and scare tactics around health reform and giving America’s seniors the facts.

Ken Sagar and Midge Slater reported from Iowa that the consensus from seniors gathered at the tele-town hall sites was that "President Obama should do more town hall meetings to inform Americans of the content of the new health care program and to dispel the falsehoods being spread by tea party and other malcontents.  Many people indicated that they learned quite a bit from the discussion."

America’s Budget Matters (So Does Yours)

The Alliance joins Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) for a a day-long blogging event America’s Budget Matters (So Does Yours).

Right now, President Obama and Congress are discussing how to balance America’s budget. When making these decisions, our nation’s leaders need to hear about what matters when it comes to the budgets of all Americans – young and old. Blogging is an easy way to make your voice heard.

• ~Write a blog
• ~Comment on a blog
• ~Send your message on Budget Matters to your social networks (via Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc.)

WOW has some new resources available on their website for you and your networks. Please see below:
 
1. Learn How to Blog with WOW – Power Point  
 
2. How to Write a Great Blog  

3. National and State Blog Examples   
 
***If you don't feel comfortable with some of the mentioned social media tools, send an email with thoughts you would like to post to lmarkwar@retiredamericans.org.

Don't forget, submitting traditional letters to your local newspaper editor on the issues and commenting on recent articles online is also a great way to be involved in the discussion.

Retirees Celebrate Critz Victory

 
Alliance members in Pennsylvania and nationally are confident that Mark Critz's win will help protect Social Security benefits for seniors.

Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, Ed Coyle, said the following in response to Critz's victory yesterday in Pennsylvania:

The Alliance for Retired Americans congratulates Mark Critz on a hard-fought victory last night in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District.

Seniors have elected a real friend to Congress.  As the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform comes up with its recommendations, the Alliance looks forward to working with Mr. Critz on protecting Social Security.

Mr. Critz signed a pledge to oppose privatizing Social Security, and that was a major issue in this race.  It is notable that his opponent, Tim Burns, had been the recipient of several endorsements from political leaders who support a privatized Social Security run by Wall Street investment firms. 

Tell Congress Not to Cut Doctors' Medicare Reimbursements

The U.S. House and Senate are scheduled to vote soon on H.R. 4213 -- the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes, and Preventing Outsourcing Act -- that extends unemployment benefits, COBRA subsidies, and enhanced Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP) matching funds for states, while fixing physician payments under Medicare for 5 years.  

Failure to pass this legislation will result in doctors facing a 21% cut in their Medicare reimbursements.  The doctor reimbursement fix will ensure that Medicare beneficiaries will continue to have access to family physicians and specialists.

What you can do: 

(1) Please e-mail a letter to your Representative and two Senators by clicking here
(2) Call Capitol Hill by Thursday, May 20 and tell your U.S Representative and Senators to vote in favor of H.R. 4213 – the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act.

The toll-free call-in number for the House is 877-442-6801.  For the Senate, dial 202-224-3121.  The Senate number is not toll-free.

Talking Points

• Please vote in favor of H.R. 4213.
• I am paying attention to make sure the doctor fix and the Medicaid provision contained in H.R. 4213 pass.