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
Early November was an ominous time for many social programs, including Social Security and Medicare. The Super Committee was closing in on its November 23rd deadline and scrambling to make their $1.2 trillion mark. This meant that Social Security and Medicare were on the congressional chopping block, and seniors were not going to take it laying down. Their frustration and outright rage at lawmakers nickel and diming the elderly finally spilled over on November 7th as seniors took to the streets with the Occupy Movement in Chicago. A number of senior groups joined the protestors in Federal Plaza, including the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans.
The seniors were fearless in order to gain support for their cause, they joined the protestors as they marched a block from the park into the intersection of Jackson and Clark. They achieved their goal by bringing traffic to a standstill as protestors stood and sat in the middle of the intersection. Police quickly ushered protestors off the street and issued over 40 citations, however the seniors and protestors would not be discouraged. Many said they would do whatever it took to ensure their benefits weren’t cut. They scoffed at the idea jail, saying that would be a small price to pay to ensure there were no cuts to Medicare and Social Security. "People are already living on starvation amounts of money. It's not time to cut," said protester Tom Wilson.
Seniors are finding support among other politicians as well. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said:
Social Security has served America for over 70 years. Let's stand behind Social Security and make it strong.
Representative Danny Davis, that represents the 7th district of Illinois echoed Durbin’s thoughts saying: “Get your hands off Social Security. Get your hands off Medicaid. Don't mess with Medicare." It is clear that the seniors’ message is heard and supported. This is evident by the failure of the Super Committee to reach any kind of deal on November 23rd.It is now a matter of holding politicians’ feet to the fire, making sure they stand by their words and their constituents. "We are citizens too. We vote too," said Ruth Davis, one of the protesters in Chicago.
The overall outcry from protestors garnered the attention from lawmakers. Many agree, now is not the time to cut. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) came to speak at the protest, admonishing Washington for trying to balance the budget on the back of seniors. This month, joining the Alliance Retired Americans and the Strength Social Security campaign, Schakowsky unveiled a report titled The High Cost to Illinois of Raising the Medicare Age. The report details how increasing the retirement age to 67 negatively impact on the state, costing individuals; businesses and the State of Illinois a whopping $524 million more in the first year alone. The answer to the states’ and country’s debt problems are not rooted in social programs.
Congress should remember that as the 2012 elections are around the corner, and senior issues promise to be a key campaign issue.
Alliance members and leaders across the nation have not let up in their efforts to strengthen Social Security and combat proposed cuts from the federal deficit reduction panel. [Arizona Alliance pictured in 2 photos at right.]
Yesterday, the panel released their plan to reduce the federal deficit in a 66 page report entitled "The Moment of Truth." A vote on the proposal by the 16 commissioners was postponed until Friday.
Alliance Executive Director Ed Coyle came out against the plan yesterday saying that it turns a blind eye to tax cuts for millionaires and disproportionately impacts the working class and retirees. Coyle asked, "Since Commission members of all ideologies today acknowledged that Social Security does not add to the deficit, why are these callous, draconian cuts the centerpiece of the Commission’s recommendations?"
Last Tuesday, Alliance members in California and Illinois got the word out in their respective states about the need to ward off cuts to Social Security. The California Alliance (CARA) held press events in L.A. and San Francisco, presenting over 75,000 signatures to Congressman Becerra and Speaker Pelosi urging them to share our NO CUTS message with the Fiscal Commission and with Congress.
The Illinois Alliance held a press conference with Champaign County Health Care Consumers the same day to tout their support for Rep. Jan Schakowsky's (a member of Obama's Fiscal Commission) plan to reduce the federal deficit. Barbara Franklin, President, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans said
Congresswoman Schakowsky’s deficit reduction plan demonstrates that the deficit can be addressed without harming lower and middle-income Americans. The plan balances the federal deficit in a thoughtful and responsible manner, while safeguarding the hard-earned Social Security benefits of retirees.
Unlike the commission’s co-chairs, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, Jan Schakowsky has set forth a plan that does not slash Social Security, give tax breaks to the rich, or cause further harm middle class workers and retirees.
The following day, Wednesday, Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) teamed up with the Pennsylvania Alliance to take a stand on the Fiscal Commission's likely recommendations for Social Security cuts in advance of the December 1st release. Seniors and workers discussed the impact of proposed cuts. USW Secretary Treasurer Stan Johnson said at the event, “We cannot allow retirees, our nation’s most vulnerable group, to be made the scapegoats and sacrificed to satisfy the greed of those who are the most well off.” [Photos at right: Jean Friday, President, PA Alliance for Retired Americans; Credit Jim Coleman - SOAR]
This Monday, the Arizona Alliance continued its activities with a press conference and an open letter to Senator John McCain. The Arizona Alliance urged McCain to safeguard Social Security and oppose any proposals that will cut benefits. Download open letter here. Photos here.
On Tuesday, the nation's defenders of Social Security teamed up for a National Call-In Day on Social Security. Capitol Hill's phone lines were slammed Tuesday thanks to concerned citizens nationwide. In fact, the Capitol Switchboard and the phones went down for a while due to the phone traffic. "Hands Off Our Social Security!" was the message sent loud and clear. (The 800 call-in number is still live 1-866-529-7630.)
Next Monday, the Missouri Alliance Educational Fund and Illinois Alliance gather area seniors and guests for Social Security luncheons. The working lunches will seek to separate fact from fiction about Social Security as changes to Social Security is debated in Washington.
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.
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."
The Alliance's National 2010 Convention will kick-off our efforts to build the grassroots organizing power of retirees for the 2010 elections. Voters across the country will decide who will represent them in Congress and state capitols, and the retiree voice must amount to a mighty roar on Election Day.
Please join us for workshops and training sessions to strengthen our organizing and advocacy skills. We will hear from leading experts in public policy, health care, aging, and the media.
For more information, please use the following links:
Today, The Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans tell Congressman Johnson to fill doctors' prescription and overwhelming support for health insurance reform by providing a strong public option.
Barbara Franklin, Illinois Alliance President and 15th Congressional District resident said, “Seventy-three percent of the doctors in this country support a public option like Medicare as part of health care reform." She also said, "We are here today to call on Congressman Johnson to fill our doctors’ prescription for effective health care reform by giving the American people a strong public option.”
The Illinois Alliance points to survey results in The New England Journal of Medicine, in September, regarding doctors feelings on health care reform and the public option. They were asked if they supported private plans only, a combination of private plans and a public option like Medicare, or a public option only. The “combination of public option and private plans” was chosen by 62.9% and the “public option only by 9.8% of those surveyed. (Download summary below)
Seniors and allies from the 15th Congressional District are urging Congressman Johnson to heed the cries of his constituents that overwhelmingly support health insurance reform with a strong public option.
Barbara Franklin continued, “Health care reform, as outlined by President Obama, would strengthen and improve Medicare. It would end overpayments and curtail fraud by private providers, begin closing the Part D drug plan’s coverage gap (“doughnut hole”) and eliminate co-payments for preventive services. Most importantly by lowering health care costs it would put Medicare in better financial shape,” said Franklin. “And President Obama’s health care reform would add a new long-term care insurance program. Retirees and seniors have a real stake in health care reform -- for us and for our children and grandchildren.”
