UPDATE: Here's the teleconference CALL-IN INFORMATION for those joining via phone (instead of or in addition to Twitter):
NUMBER: (800) 230-1096 PASSWORD: White House Twitter Q&A
Do you want to know more about the Affordable Care Act and dispel the myths about it? Want to ask administration officials about strengthening Social Security and Medicare for you, your kids and grandkids? Have other questions for the White House? Now’s your chance to ask and participate!
The White House Office of Public Engagement is hosting a Twitter Q&A and conference call with the Alliance for Retired Americans this Monday, February 6th from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to answer your questions about aging, retirement and politics.The call is a follow-up to President Obama’s recent State of the Union address. Answering your questions during the Q&A:
Jon Carson (@JonCarson44), the director of the Office of Public Engagement
Kathy Greenlee (@hhsgov), Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
How to participate:
Send your question to us before the Q&A by tweeting it to @activeretirees; posting it to our Facebook page; or by emailing it to us here.
Follow along with the Q&A through the hashtag #SOTU or #seniorshealth, and keep sending us your questions.
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
Post by Sam Burnett of Toledo, Ohio (Alliance for Retired Americans Regional Board member)
Once again the seniors and retired folks are under attack. My major concern is for the way we respect the seniors and Social Security. Social Security has been a fantastic program for folk that are now seniors and put part of their earned income into the social security trust fund. They were entitled and expected what they put in and the interest from that would be there for them at retirement and it worked well for 75 years.
The Social Security program has not caused one cent of deficit in the U.S. Government program. So why hurt us? Now we have a 2% suspension of the FICA tax. This will hurt the trust fund and hurt the future seniors and older Americans because if you put in less you get less out of the system. The way to make up the difference and pay it is wrong and not in the proper way the system was designed.
I would ask that the seniors all watch the state of the union speech to see if and how Social Security will be further attacked. The best way to hold the senior citizens in the proper esteem is to know what our President Obama will say about this very important topic.
Before the speech, let’s contact our National Elected Official to share our concerns.
Let’s share our concern with the White House today.
Do it today before the speech and tell them keep hands off our successful program.
[Photos from 2011 State of the Union watch party hosted by Sam Burnett]
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."
On Monday, the Nevada Alliance participated in two events with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius around Nevada intended to explain what is in the Affordable Care Act, including new benefits that hit last week. In addition to spreading the news about the Affordable Care Act, Sebelius was in Nevada to support Harry Reid’s re-election to the U.S. Senate and Shelley Berkley & Dina Titus in their run for the U.S. House.
In Reno, Nevada Alliance President Scotty Watts (pictured at right) and NARA Treasurer JoEtta Brown joined the morning panel discussion.
AFT retiree and NARA Vice President Rich Miller attended the 100-person meeting in Henderson. Miller reported that there were several Nevadans present who spoke out about how provisions in the new health law would benefit their families.
Miller added on the Nevada Alliance’s work in the state around the Affordable Care Act, “We’re doing the best we can to get the information out. There’s no doubt that every opportunity we have to go to the press, to hold educational panels, and to lobby, we do that.”
On Wednesday, June 30, the president's Fiscal Commission met to discuss the nation's mid- and long-term fiscal challenges. However, the conversation was almost entirely dominated by the topic of federal health care spending.
The meeting included an "open-mike," in which witnesses were given a chance to speak. Alliance Executive Director Ed Coyle (at right) addressed the Commission: "Retirees are deeply disturbed by talk coming out of this Commission about cutting Social Security benefits and raising the retirement age." He also decried AmericaSpeaks for recommending that the retirement age be raised to 69, which would reduce benefits and be devastating for American workers. Coyle suggested raising the payroll tax cap for the wealthiest Americans in order to further strengthen Social Security's financial structure.
CNN Money's feature article, which summarized the recommendations given during the "open-mike" session, included a declaration by Mr. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans: "Social Security did not cause these deficits -- it has a $2.5 trillion surplus and a dedicated source of revenue."
Additionally, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) director Doug Elmendorf testified, presenting the CBO's latest report on the long-term federal budget. Most members of the Commission were concerned that the CBO's projections pertaining to the new health care law's effects understate its potential to reduce costs.
The fiscal commission is set to meet three more times before it drafts its recommendation for Congress and the President. The next meeting is set for July 28.
To view Mr. Coyle's testimony in front of the Fiscal Commission on Youtube, click here.
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."
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:
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.
This week, Nevada Alliance President Scott Watts joined Senator Harry Reid on a statewide conference call on financial reform.
On the call, Watts said:
"We are very concerned, very concerned, about 'business as usual' on Wall Street and how it affects Nevada's retirees and seniors.
"We are on fixed incomes. Stronger protections are especially needed for retirees and older workers. We have been at risk and we need protections that look out for our pensions, 401Ks, savings and provide a real retirement security without the traps and schemes. This is part of the change we voted for.
"Retirees and older workers don't have the time to make up for losses caused by schemes or speculations because we are either not working, working part-time or only have a few years left in the workforce."
Yesterday, Alliance President Barbara Easterling joined Senators Harry Reid, Chris Dodd and Sharod Brown at the U.S. Capitol for a press conference on a Financial Reform Bill.
Easterling said that the Financial Reform Bill is crucial to seniors. She said it would strengthen their retirement security which has been devastated in recent years.
Barbara Easterling expressed strong support for S. 3217 and stressed "It's time for certain Senators to act in the best interests of people, not profits."
A message from Judith Parker of the Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans:
Those of us privileged to attend the event in St. Charles, suburban St. Louis, were witness to the President's explicitly clear outline of the importance and urgency of health care reform. He was energetic, dynamic and at times humorous. He pointed out that this is not about politics but rather about the citizens of our country and then called for an 'up or down' vote soon!
The crowds outside the event were respectful and evenly split between supporters and those against reform. Inside, the event was amazingly filled with those who seldom or never had an opportunity to personally see and hear the President. There was great energy but also tears in some eyes - President Obama's eloquence and enthusiasm for the task at home was a strong call to arms for the change and the change leader in our country. It was a perfect day in the small, hot, crowded gymnasium at St. Charles High School!
The President announced an executive order that will beef up efforts to identify and weed out fraud and waste in Medicare and Medicaid. He underscored the need to reform health care now in the light of growing premium costs for employers and workers, growing numbers of uninsured, and insurance market rules that allow those who are sick or have a pre-existing condition to be denied insurance coverage. Obama stressed that he wants every American to have the choice of the same kind of insurance as he and members of Congress have.
On an aside, the local press missed the opportunity to present the arguments so clearly laid out by the President and focused more heavily on the Town Hall Meeting called that morning by Congressman Todd Akin (R) and the rallies at the fund-raiser for Senator McCaskill. The National Press just plain got much of it wrong.
