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: .
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
Florida retiree Bill Cea, a member of the Alliance for Retired Americans’ Executive Board, recently joined Vice President Joe Biden in Coconut Creek FL to discuss plans to cut Medicare that have been advocated by U.S. House Republicans and presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
The FY 2013 budget proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) would give seniors vouchers to either buy health coverage in the costly private insurance market, or purchase it from a Medicare program that would be made more expensive by the exodus of younger, healthier retirees. The plan, which would lower taxes on corporations and high-income earners, would also cut spending on Medicaid and turn it over to cash-strapped states, jeopardizing the only way over 70 percent of seniors are able to afford long-term or nursing home care.
In contrast to Romney, who termed the plan “bold and exciting,” Biden told the gathering of 500 seniors that the proposal would, “balance the budget on the backs of seniors and middle class Americans.” “Vice President Biden made a powerful presentation to Florida seniors. He understands that Medicare and Social Security are lifelines for millions of retirees,” said Cea, a retired teacher.
Even though the 2010 Affordable Care Act improves Medicare by helping retirees better afford to see a doctor and fill a prescription, Cea is concerned that the law is often misunderstood among older Americans. “I urge all retirees to learn more about how this law helps them pay their medical bills,” he said.
The Alliance has a new fact sheet on the Republican budget proposal, as well as information on how the Affordable Care Act helps seniors.
Today Florida Alliance for Retired Americans attended events on Florida’s east and west coasts!
During the morning hours, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans on Florida’s West Coast spoke with Rep. Mack’s staff at an in-district lobby meeting. Immediately following this meeting a sign waving event was held in front of the Representatives office. Thirty strong FLARA and Community allies waved signed to the honks of passer by cars. Three local television stations interviewed the protestors and posted favorable coverage of the event. All attendees vowed to return to Rep. Mack’s office on a continuous basis until he agrees to vote for his constituency.
Also this morning, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans President Tony Fransetta and members joined over 100 Labor and Community activist at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach to protest Florida Gov. Rick Scott attendance. Scott is one of the least favorite Governors in the United States with an approval rating below thirty percent. Scott’s attendance at this particular venue was viewed by local activist as a double slap in the face because the Kravis Center is currently breaking labor law and is involved in an ongoing Labor dispute with IATSE. In addition to this Scott ran for Gov. on a “jobs” platform and to date, local residents have not seen an end to unemployment as the poverty rate continues to increase.
Later in the day, President Fransetta and Leo Solar went inside a town hall meeting hosted by Rep. West in West Palm Beach. Both Fransetta and Solar had front row seats and so were in a position to inform other attendees about Rep. West notoriously wrong votes for his constituents.
by Tony Fransetta - President of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
January 30 was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s birthday. I remember a time not too long ago when Americans were proud of their elected officials and especially their President. This was a time when we didn’t always agree with each other but we were nice about it. We didn’t call names; we recognized good work and thanked those who worked to make life better for the workers. Such was the case with President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR).
President Roosevelt entered into his first term when there were over 13 million Americans out of work and every bank was shut down. Sometimes we think that we have it bad today but those Americans living during the great depression — they knew how just bad things could get. It was fortunate for them that FDR came along when he did. FDR was able to turn our great nation’s economy around, he had a vision for American workers — he gave them jobs. FDR established the New Deal, he put Americans back to work on infrastructure projects, he established the Tennessee Valley Authority to produce energy, he levied higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans and he implemented Social Security. Until the dawn of Social Security in 1935, Americans either dropped dead at work or when they became too old and/or ill to continue working, they lived a life of abject poverty relying on the mercies of family and strangers.
Today many Americans are unemployed due to no fault of their own, Social Security is under attack, and tax loop holes for wealthy Americans are at an all-time high. President Obama has tried work towards solutions but with very little compromise on behalf of the sitting Congress. I believe it is time to plow forward like FDR, time to re-enact a New Deal for American workers and retirees. Allow the wealthiest Americans to pay a percentage of taxes that is comparable to that of the average worker. Save Social Security for current and future retirees, put Americans back to work.
While presidential candidate Mitt Romney noshed at a recent Palm Beach fundraiser co-hosted by a sugar baron and a pro sports owner, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans members gathered nearby for a more simple meal: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
The idea for the “Regular Man’s Picnic,” according to event organizer Tony Fransetta, a UAW retiree and Florida Alliance president, was to contrast Mitt Romney and his financial backers with the daily struggles of seniors in Florida and across the nation. Speaking near the Romney event, Tony Fransetta said:
“Those inside are advancing the interests of the 1%, while we are outside today to speak up for the 99% who are too often silenced in this country.”
The Alliance for Retired Americans is gearing up for its largest-ever grassroots mobilization, seeking to educate current and future retirees on the issues and where the candidates stand. Alliance president Barbara J. Easterling said today:
“Mitt Romney’s America would have seniors buying their Medicare from the big insurance companies and anxiously watching Wall Street gamble away their retirement savings through a privatized Social Security.”
Retirees across the country are joining their younger counterparts in protests against Wall Street greed and failed economic policies. Numerous events took place this weekend and will continue indefinitely.
Today marks Day 25 of "Occupy Wall Street" actions, spurred by the group Adbusters.
Phillip Meyers, active with the Alliance for Retired Americans in Georgia and the retiree chapter RUFF (Retirees Unite for the Future) reports that yesterday seniors were up bright and early to stake out the turf for the OCCUPY SAVANNAH rally yesterday and stayed despite steady rain and forceful winds. Several were interviewed here:
Tony Fransetta is President of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, with a membership of over 200,000 in the Sunshine State
By the time we reach our golden years, we are faced with issues from day to day can seem overwhelming. However, with age comes wisdom, and many seniors in Florida know that we cannot afford to slow down or disengage. Instead, we must remain involved in world events and the struggles our children and grandchildren undertake for a better future.
The demonstrations on Wall Street over the past two weeks by our country’s young people are educating the public on the excessive greed of Wall Street, the outcomes of bailouts with our tax dollars, and the endless problems Wall Street continues to cause for working America. The actions of the anti-Wall Street protesters camped out in a Lower Manhattan park are now inspiring actions across the country and attracting broad-based backing from labor unions and community organizations.
We told our children and grandchildren to go to school and get a good education. For what? America is failing these generations. Where are the jobs? Overseas. Where is the capital? In offshore accounts.
It is clear that our enemies are not only on Wall Street, but are also the Members of Congress funded by that top 2%. These politicians claim that the super-rich and largest corporations are “job creators” and shouldn't be asked to pay their fair share. We don’t buy it. The only jobs created by them are in China, Mexico, India, Cambodia, and elsewhere.
Our children and grandchildren cannot find dignified work, let alone hope to retire with dignity under the current system. We must remain determined not just to create good jobs, but to protect the programs like Medicare and Social Security that have allowed Americans to retire with dignity.
Unfortunately, as big corporations and the super-rich shatter the dreams of our youth for a decent job, they are also actively working to destroy programs that are currently in place to assure them decent years later in life. They spread lies about programs like Social Security, seeking to convert the program to a private account system. Good for Wall Street, bad for the financial security of our young people.
Like decent jobs, our youth need decent social insurance programs. Social Security is just another program that serves the 98% of our country and is under attack. For 76 years, through good times and bad, Social Security has paid out every benefit owed to every eligible American. It is completely solvent for the next 25 years.
The most effective way to strengthen Social Security for many future generations is to raise the cap on payroll taxes that go to Social Security, currently capped at $106,800. Currenly, someone earning $106,800 pays the same amount of money into Social Security as billionaires like Bill Gates, because all income above that amount is exempt from the Social Security payroll tax. As a result, 94% of Americans pay Social Security tax on all of their income, but the wealthiest 6% do not.
Fortunately, Senator Bernie Sanders, has introduced an important bill, the "Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act" which would scrap the payroll tax cap for those earning $250,000 per year or more.
However, too many of our elected officials are more concerned with their own elections than about speaking out on behalf of the people they represent in this critical and heartbreaking time. Many refuse to show the kind of courage of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Senate candidate Elizabeth Warner in Massachusetts. At least some real courage these days is coming from the youth who are piecing together who’s responsible for the mess we are in and speaking out against Wall Street greed and those who do the bidding of Wall Street.
We need to join the effort to help our children and give courage to our elected representatives to stand up for America's future.
Visiting and calling our elected representatives is absolutely necessary. But more than that, it is time to join our young people in the streets. It’s time to demand for a fairer economy and good jobs that will allow future generations to work and retire with dignity.
Later this afternoon, Rick Perry will host a $2000 to $5000 per couple fundraiser at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Florida Alliance for Retired Americans members will join their state President Tony Fransetta, labor and community members outside the Kravis Center to tell Rick Perry his unapologetic attacks on seniors and working families are unacceptable.
Tony Fransetta said, "As Rick Perry campaigns to win the Republican Primary election he seems willing to throw Seniors under the bus. Social Security is not a Ponzi scheme as Perry stated. At this time the Republican Primary resembles a Ponzi scheme. Seniors must respond before it is too late."
Post by Donald Singer, Retiree activist from New York (AFSA, ARA)
We all are members of many families. Our immediate families (our own children and grandchildren, our nieces and nephews); our professional family (fellow retirees, Associations, Political clubs, etc.); and our social family (clubs, friends, religious institutions, community centers, etc.).
Many of us consider ourselves "activists," because we belong to retiree groups and/or retiree organizations such as AFSA, CSA RETIREES, AARP and ARA. Is that enough?
Is there a connection between "family" and "activist?"
Most definitely!!! And as the State Legislatures and Governors around the country are screaming for "givebacks" from the "greedy public service unions" there has never been a more vital time for us to be active!
Issues that continually face retirees including pensions, social security, health insurance, Medicare, a fair taxing policy and affordable housing must be approached at all levels with which we have contact.
We as the "elders" must take the responsibility of sharing with all groups mentioned above. We should explain and teach about the values of pensions, Social Security and health care. We must emphasize that these "benefits" were not "entitlements," but the results of 40+ years of work, savings, and that they are not "unfair" burdens to our communities.
For example, our children and grandchildren must understand that Social Security is not a drain on our society's resources; that it is a self-funded retirement/survivor/disability policy for those who have contributed parts of our salary so that we and our children and grandchildren will accrue a dividend for their investment in their own retirement plan. For example, when discussing health care, we must continue to advocate for reforms with the U.S. National Health Insurance Act to essentialy expand Medicare for all Americans, to lower the cost of health care, to allow the government to negotiate costs of prescription drugs and to maintain the integrity of health plans which retirees enjoy.
For example, when talking about tax reform and the budget, shouldn't we look at a new tax policy, closing "loopholes,' how Wall Street "reforms" are playing-out. Why should hedge-fund managers have a lower federal tax rate than middle-class teachers, nurses, firefighters and police officers?
So many other issues are of importance... housing, victims' rights, funding public education and, employee rights to unionize - just to mention a few.
When talking with our families, we must remember the "Social Contract" upon which our middle class was formed - the "family" must support the youngest through their years of schooling and post-High School education, and, at the same time, help the older generation retire in dignity and comfort. The families to which we belong will be supporting us if we support them. The challenges will be constant, but families will make facing those challenges easier.
These conversations could take place at our family and friends' dinner table and at parties and meetings and social events we attend. We should be proud of the families to which we belong.
We must see ourselves as advocates, as activists in all family situations. When we hear that "pensions" are too much of a drain on our society, when we hear that public employees and their unions are only out for themselves, and when we're told that "vouchers" are the answer to Public Education, we must answer.
But that answer should be in the context of the "family" in which we are residing in at the moment. It doesn't have to be confrontational, but the issue should be addressed. We must remember, that regardless of what "family" we're in, we're always sensitive to the need to be an advocate for what we strived for all during our careers. Not all of us will be active in "retiree organizations," but we should active as members of the "retiree family."
