Friday Alert
Friday, August 7, 2009(Alliance for Retired Americans)
Alliance Calls for Civility at
Town Halls When Discussing Health Insurance
Reform
Members of the Alliance are
calling for civil discourse during town hall
meetings with Members of Congress this month,
amidst stories of town halls across the country
erupting into chaos during the health care
debate. As Members of Congress return
home to their districts for the August recess,
there are widespread reports of aggressive,
bullying opponents of health insurance reform
intentionally taking over meetings and creating
an intimidating, hostile environment for
others. There are even reports that some
Members of Congress have had to cancel their
town halls because of the threat of
disruptions. Many of the disruptions this
week appear to have been organized by
conservative groups. According to
National Public Radio (NPR), a new web site
called "Operation Embarrass Your Congressman"
is partly responsible. A widely
circulated memo tells right-wing protesters how
to treat their representative: "Make him uneasy
... stand up and shout out, and sit right back
down ... rattle him." The man who wrote
this memo belongs to the conservative group
"Tea Party Patriots." Said Elmer
Blankenship, President of the Indiana
Alliance, "Indiana seniors are offended at this
subversion of the democratic process.
Republican leaders should ask these people to
calm down and let constituents talk to their
elected officials. Those who are causing
the disruptions are doing a great disservice to
older Americans. Reasonable people can
disagree, but not if the atmosphere is
poisoned."
"I encourage all Alliance members to attend the town hall forums with their elected officials this month, and to ask respectfully about the public plan option, the doughnut hole coverage gap, and other topics that will affect seniors," said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance.
New
Alliance Documents Refute Myths About Health
Insurance Reform
Congresswoman
Virginia Foxx (R-NC) recently
said that the Republican reform effort was
unlike the Democrats' proposal in that it "is
pro-life because it will not put seniors in a
position of being put to death by their
government." In fact, the government is
not supporting euthanasia. She is
referring to a provision being proposed in
health reform legislation that would provide
coverage for optional advanced care
planning. This concept is neither new nor
partisan - both Republicans and Democrats
supported the Patient Self-Determination Act in
1990, which provided advanced care planning as
an out-of-pocket expense. "The difference
is that such counseling would now be covered,
not an out of pocket expense," said
Barbara J. Easterling,
President of the Alliance. Ironically, at
an event in Mocksville, North Carolina, on
Thursday, Rep. Foxx, trying to avoid a health
care activist, fell off the stage and was
caught by Alliance organizer Jack
Marion. To learn the truth
behind many of the myths being floated by
health insurance reform opponents, go to the
Alliance web site at http://araorchid.orchidsuites.net/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/13820.
In addition, go to http://araorchid.orchidsuites.net/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/13800
for a concise one-pager on "Why Health Care
Reform is Good for America's
Seniors." The fact sheet lists
seven key examples of how seniors would benefit
from changes being discussed, including
protection of choice of doctor; making
preventative services affordable; and lowering
prescription drug costs. Both documents
are also available by going to www.retiredamericans.org and
simply clicking on "Health Care Reform."
Latest
from Senate, House on Health Care
Reform
Senate Democratic Conference
Vice Chairman Charles Schumer
(NY) said on Monday that the procedural
maneuver known as reconciliation, which would
allow Democrats to pass health care reform with
a simple majority rather than 60 votes, would
be considered if the Finance Committee
negotiators do not reach a deal by September
15. That date occurs just one week after
the Congress returns from the August
recess. Two of the Republican Finance
negotiators - Sens. Mike
Enzi (WY) and Chuck
Grassley (IA) - suggested on
Tuesday that the new deadline would be
difficult to meet given the complexity of the
issues left to be resolved. President
Obama has asked Congress to
deliver a health care reform bill to his desk
by October 15. On the House side, members
adjourned for recess last Friday having passed
bills out of the three committees of
jurisdiction. Democratic leaders in that
chamber plan to merge those measures into a
single bill in September. As a final act
before recessing until September, one crucial
panel, the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce, approved health legislation that
could ultimately lead to coverage for about 95%
of Americans and create a new public plan
option. The 31-to-28 vote occurred at
9:05 p.m. Friday, at the end of a session that
began at 10 a.m. Five Democrats joined
all 23 Republicans on the panel in voting no:
Reps. Rick Boucher (VA),
Bart Stupak (MI), Jim
Matheson (UT), John
Barrow (GA) and Charles
Melancon (LA).
CNN
Poll: Americans Split on Health Insurance
Reform By Age
A recent poll
conducted by CNN proves that it is not just
lawmakers divided on the health care reform,
but that there is a significant split among the
American public. Overall, 50% polled
support the reform and 45% oppose, with the
majority of citizens over the age of 50
opposing the reform and a majority under the
age of 50 in support. "Those rallying for
the reform must assure seniors that the reform
will work for them," said Ruben
Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the
Alliance. "Senior support is key in
passing this bill." About 50% who oppose
Obama’' plan are preparing to attend town hall
meetings during the August recess, while only
37% who support the plan are likely to
attend. However, according to NPR,
numerous polls continue to show that a majority
of Americans support overhauling the health
care system.
Alliance News, Photos from New
Hampshire, New Mexico, and Across the
Country
On Tuesday, Mr. Coyle
traveled to New Hampshire for several events,
including a forum with Rep. Paul
Hodes (D-NH) in Hanover.
Previously, on July 17, New Mexico Alliance
member Berniece Romero's
health care struggle was discussed on the U.S.
House floor by Rep. Martin
Heinrich (D-NM). Click on http://heinrich.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=97§iontree=3,16,97#1
to see the video of the remarks. Also, to
see photos from the Alliance's Medicare
birthday celebrations last week, go to http://araorchid.orchidsuites.net/ht/d/Gallery/album_id/13803/.