Alliance for Retired Americans Blog

2011 State of the Union Watch Parties

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

Happy Birthday Social Security!

Social Security celebrates its 75th birthday today and Alliance activists and Americans nationwide continue celebratory parties and events.

The week of August 1st, Alliance members held several events in Arizona, Iowa, Ohio and South Carolina in advance of the birthday.

Last week, over 50 Alliance events took place in communities across the states, and festivities continue next week.

Social Security is a true American success story, one that has kept generations of seniors out of poverty, and allowed millions to retire with dignity and peace of mind. Because this landmark anniversary is tainted by the deficit commission's calls to cut Social Security benefits and raise the retirement age, Alliance activists are busier than ever staging events to celebrate and educate across the country. Check out very personal accounts from Alliance members about how Social Security has impacted their lives here.

Festivities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa recently helped spread the word that Social Security puts $7.2 billion into the Iowa economy by releases on Social Security matters coinciding with birthday celebrations. The Social Security Works for Iowa report adds, "Without Social Security, half (50.8) percent of Iowa women aged 65 or older would have incomes below the poverty line." U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) joined the celebration in Cedar Rapids and added his personal story about Social Security survivor benefits. The Congressman told attendees that without Social Security survivor benefits, he would not have made it through college. Other state reports here.

Yesterday, seniors in Omaha, Nebraska gathered to join the month-long, national commemoration of Social Security and the people it serves. ‘With more than 50 million people receiving Social Security benefits today, the program helps virtually every American family,” Donna M. McGrath, Secretary of the Nebraska Alliance said. “Beyond the candles and the cake, we have a more serious message – Social Security must be remain strong for current and future retirees.”

Members nationwide speak out on the issue. Here is Don Thacker from South Carolina:

Jo Price from Florida also shares her thoughts on Social Security:

Check out some news clips including interviews with Alliance members here:

Wisconsin

• 'Social Security celebrates 75 years' - Wisconsin Radio Network
  Billy Feitlinger is Executive Director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans. “We feel very strongly, if it is not the greatest program that the federal government has done, it’s clearly one of the most successful programs. And we feel very strongly right now that it’s under attack.
• Seniors celebrate the 75th anniversary of social security - WEAU Channel 13 Eau Claire
  Social security provides benefits to more than one million Wisconsinites. Besides sharing a cake, speakers discussed the importance of social security and the adjustments needed to have it for future generations.

North Carolina

• Etheridge visits Louisburg Senior Center to celebrate Social Securit's 75th anniversary - The Franklin Times
  With a 75-year-old as the guest of honor, the Louisburg Senior Center was the appropriate place for a birthday party.

Connecticut

• 75 years of Social Security celebrated (video) - The New Haven Register
  NEW HAVEN — A 75th birthday party was held Wednesday for the nation’s Social Security Act, and guests, including U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, wished for many, many more.

California

• Senior Group Plans SF Social Security Rally - KPIX CBS Channel 5 San Francisco
  ... several organizations in San Francisco are warning against suggestions by some in Washington, D.C. to cut Social Security benefits or raise the retirement age in order to fix the federal government's deficit woes.

Alliance leaders speak out:

• 'A federal plan that works' - Toledo Blade letter from Sam Burnett
  Social Security has been the lifeblood of people age 65 and older. Without monthly Social Security payments, nearly half of Americans over 65 would live in poverty.
  Help us celebrate this successful government program, which is run by fine people who care about senior citizens.

• Alliance President Barbara Easterling's column on Huffington Post commemorates Social Security's 75th birthday.

Happy birthday Social Security... and many more!

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."

You're Invited to Ask the President Health Care Questions on Tuesday!

At a special event on Tuesday, June 8, Alliance members are invited to ask the President health care questions by telephone!

A few members of the Alliance will be attending the event - which will include information on benefits for seniors under the new health care law - live, in Wheaton, Maryland. Other members are invited to ask the President questions by phone.

This one-time, national "tele-town hall" can also be seen and heard on television by watching C-SPAN, or on-line via web streaming at www.healthreform.gov.

If you live in one of the following communities and would like to join a local watch party, please contact us at:

ARAORGANIZING@retiredamericans.org

Iowa - Dubuque, Des Moines, Waterloo
Missouri - St. Louis
New Hampshire - Nashua, Manchester
New Mexico - Albuquerque
North Carolina - Raleigh
Ohio - Ashtabula
South Carolina - Columbia

In addition, several of our allied unions are sponsoring events. Currently, we are aware of an
AFT-sponsored event in Latham, NY and an event in Las Vegas sponsored by IUPAT. A number of other unions will be sponsoring events, and a more complete list will be available later today.

The live event is scheduled to begin at 11:15 AM on Tuesday and will last one hour.

The President will also be joined by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. Topics to be covered will include the $250 checks for seniors caught in the Medicare prescription drug "doughnut hole" coverage gap, and efforts to combat scams associated with those checks.

The Hill: Obama holding healthcare town hall next week

New York Times, The Caucus blog: Obama Will Tout Medicare Rebates

Putting in the time to make health reform a success for seniors

Watch this video/slideshow highlighting Alliance members from DC, CT, FL, IA, MD, MO, NC, NH, NM, & TX who worked hard to pass a health reform bill that would close the donut hole; cover preventive services; cover early retirees and more. Thanks to them for reaching out and fighting to get the job done.

 

Alliance mentions

• Iowa Alliance urges health reform that does not tax middle class benefits. They support the House version of taxation versus Senate version. Read post.
• Nevada Alliance urges Senator Reid to push a final health reform bill that adopts the House's more affordable premiums for lower middle income families. Read post.
• Nevada Alliance President responds to Sen. Ensign's position on the health bill. Nevada Alliance President Scotty Watts said, “This bill will hold insurance companies accountable." (...) “We have 16,000 members and I deal with seniors on these issues every day. This (bill) is not just something I want, but something they need.” (In the article, the number is misprinted at 1,600) Article here.

Happy Holidays

Member Gary Brown's health care story

Gary Brown is an Alliance for Retired Americans member in Iowa. He worked for a packaging manufacturer in California for many years before moving back to Iowa where he now resides with family.

Brown, like many seniors, manages a number of health issues. He became disabled 9 years ago. He has been hypo-tensive for many years and diabetic for 35 years. He is insulin-dependent and experienced kidney 9 years ago. This October (2009), he had his second below-the-knee amputation. From his room at the rehabilitation hospital, he reached out to his elected representatives to convey his strong support for health insurance reform this year that includes a public option.

Medicare is Browns primary source of income and primary medical coverage. He also has secondary health coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Brown also uses Medicare's prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D). He is grateful for the coverage and care that he receives, but says he and other seniors and disabled people cannot always afford their prescription drugs. That goes for life both in and out of the "donut hole," although life in the donut hole is considerably more challenging.

Brown said:

I am on about 12 medications on a monthly basis in addition to diabetic supplies, and that can be very expensive. Some of those medications exceed $100/month. So for someone who is dependent on Medicare for their entire income, it can be quite difficult.

In fact, for many seniors and disabled people, they have to make a choice between paying the bills, paying their rent and eating which is very unfortunate. I happen to be fortunate to have family members who participate in my care and in the amount of money that I have to pay my bills, and quite frankly to eat.

Last year, Brown fell into the Medicare Part D prescription drug "donut hole" in the beginning of Sept and paid for all of his prescription drugs for rest of year. He is currently in the donut hole again.

Like most Americans, Gary Brown is concerned about the out-of-control, indeed skyrocketing, costs of health care and health insurance. Brown said,"I'm on one Medication that costs $800 per month. In pill form, that very same medication is $3800 per month

." He continued, "Why are there no controls on what the insurance companies and the medical providers and the hospitals can charge? We walk in there and we need help. Many people live below the poverty line and simply cant afford it."

For Brown, health insurance reform with a public option is absolutely necessary. He said, "We need an affordable national public option."

Gary Brown supports a national public option:

On the donut hole:

More on Gary Brown:

Pass Bennet Amendment to Keep Medicare Savings in Medicare

Here's the statement from Alliance Executive Director Ed Coyle from a press conference with Sen. Bennet (Colorado), Sen. Dodd (Connecticut) and Sen. Harkin (Iowa):

On behalf of the over 4 million members of the Alliance for Retired Americans, I want to deliver a crystal clear message to Washington: it is time to stop scaring seniors and instead help Americans of all ages better afford to see a doctor or get a prescription filled.

The Alliance for Retired Americans calls on the Senate to reject the McCain motion – which would weaken Medicare and further pad the profits of the big insurance companies – and pass the Bennet Amendment that protects seniors and strengthens Medicare for years to come.  Senator Bennet’s amendment guarantees no benefit cuts and keeps Medicare savings in Medicare.  Senator Bennet deserves our thanks for standing up for seniors in Colorado and across the nation.

The McCain motion reduces the help Medicare provides for seniors, while it increases the profits the big insurance companies make on the backs of seniors and all taxpayers.  Seniors would pay more, but get less.  Insurance companies would do less, but make more. 

America’s seniors need help a lot more than the big insurance companies do.  We must end the $3.60 per month every senior pays in higher premiums to subsidize the big insurance companies who run Medicare Advantage.  The Senate must put this money back where it belongs: the Medicare Trust Fund.

The Alliance calls upon the Senate to end dilatory stalling techniques like the McCain motion, pass the Bennet amendment, and swiftly complete its work on a bill that lowers prescription drug prices, provides free access to life-saving preventive screenings, improves long-term care, and helps early retirees before they are eligible for Medicare.

Grassroots activists with the Alliance for Retired Americans will continue to educate and mobilize seniors in support of a strong health care reform bill.  Millions of Americans need help right away.  It is time for Congress to finish the job.

Photos from event.

Senate Moves Forward on Health Insurance Reform

Saturday the US Senate voted to move forward on debating health insurance reform and seniors nationwide are optimistic about the possibility of a strong health insurance reform making it through the legislative process by end of year or early 2010.

The last several months have been filled with grassroots actions mobilized by savvy seniors in every part of the country.

Last week, Texas labor leader E. Dale Wortham wrote the following which reflects the dire circumstances and hope for the nation as a reform bill progresses:

Finally, health care reform that works. The health reform bill that just passed the House of Representatives is good for Houston and good for America.

America's got health problems, and Texas has more problems than just about anywhere.

Fact: 28 percent of Texans do not have health coverage. That's the highest rate in the country. We're talking about more than 6 million of our neighbors, a big bunch of them here in Houston

Fact: The number of uninsured Texans is climbing. It went up 10 percent last year and is still climbing.

As the holidays approach, Alliance retirees reach out to their elected officials to thank them for supporting health insurance reform so that their families can see a doctor and get their prescriptions filled.