Friday Alert
Friday, January 29, 2010(Alliance for Retired Americans)
President Obama Delivers State of
the Union Address
During his State
of the Union address on Wednesday, President
Obama vocalized the critical
need for a reduction in the federal
deficit. Alliance Executive Director
Edward Coyle agreed with the
sentiment but cautioned, "We cannot balance the
budget on the backs of America's seniors.
Vital programs such as Social Security and
Medicare did not cause these large
deficits." He added, "The passage of a
strong health care reform bill will not only
improve our nation's physical health, but its
fiscal health as well, and therefore must
remain a priority." The day after the
speech, the President traveled to speak at a
Town Hall event in Florida at the University of
Tampa. Alliance members Bob
Meeks and Tony Scelzo
were among those in attendance, along with
Florida Alliance Field Organizer Jenny
Kenny.
Conrad-Gregg Task Force
Defeated
On Tuesday, the Senate
voted down the Conrad-Gregg debt task force, 53
to 46. The proposal did not collect the
60 votes required for it to pass, primarily
failing due to concerns about cutting funds for
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but
also due to the severe limitations that it
would have put on Congressional debate.
Here is a link to the vote: http://bit.ly/d0nB5F.
Before the 53-46 vote, the Senate added by 97-0
an amendment by Sen. Max
Baucus (D-MT) to exempt Social
Security from the deliberations of the task
force. It is expected that President
Obama will now create a bipartisan fiscal
commission by executive order. "I'd like
to thank our members and activists for sending
more than 6,000 letters to their Senators
urging them to vote against this wrongheaded
plan. It was a great help and surely
contributed to a victory in this round," said
Barbara J. Easterling,
President of the Alliance.
Middle Class Task Force
Recommendations Emerge
The White
House Middle Class Task Force, led by Vice
President Joe Biden, has
released a preview of its recommendations for
strengthening the middle class. The
recommendations include a few core items for
seniors, such as expanded funding for
caregiving, respite care, promoting 401(k)
transparency, and the availability of
annuities. The respite care and expanded
funding for the Department of Health and Human
Services would help seniors maintain their
independence and live in the community for as
long as possible, as well as assist their
family caregivers with essential elder care
training. The Task Force will advocate
automatic workplace IRAs with an opt-out
option; a saver's credit that would match
workers' retirement savings; an update of
401(k) regulations in order to ensure
transparency; and increased availability of
optional annuities as well as other forms of
guaranteed lifetime income. The Alliance
is also urging the White House to include a
$250 stimulus payment to Social Security
recipients since there is no Cost of Living
Adjustment in 2010. The President's
budget will be released on Monday.
"Americans have seen their retirement savings
plummet. It is important that the
government renew their commitment to all
citizens," said Ruben Burks,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. Next
month, the committee will deliver its year-end
report to the President, and it is expected
that Congress will be pressed to create
legislation supporting the Task Force's
suggestions.
The Next Step for Health
Care
President Obama spoke briefly
on the imperiled health care reform bill during
Wednesday's State of the Union address, asking
legislators of both parties to bring forward
any plans or policies they feel would
strengthen Medicare for seniors and cover all
uninsured Americans. Democratic leaders
have put forward two possible plans - they
may start from scratch and keep only the most
popular provisions, or they may have the House
pass the Senate measure, and then use a budget
reconciliation process in the Senate.
Reconciliation would help Democrats avoid a GOP
filibuster, since the process requires only a
simple majority. Democratic leadership is
expected to decide on a course by next
week. On Tuesday, members of the
Leadership Council of Aging Organizations
(LCAO), including the Alliance, sent a letter
strongly urging House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to
continue working on health care reform.
The letter stressed that reform could allow
Medicare to negotiate drug prices, help older
Americans remain independent in their homes,
reduce out-of-pocket costs, and protect against
elder abuse.
Retirees with the Write Stuff: Write
Letter, Win Pen
"Retirees with the
Write Stuff" is an Alliance project recognizing
retirees whose letters to the editor are
published. Most recently, Vivian
Silbiger, Janice Ayres, Billy Feitlinger, Donna
McGrath, Owen Humphress, John Pernorio,
Beatrice Stratton, and Barbara
Franklin contributed to their state
and local papers. If you have had a
letter published recently, please email us at
letters@retiredamericans.org
so that we can recognize you and send you a
"Write Stuff" pen.
Join the Alliance in Las Vegas to
Build Retiree Power
As a reminder,
on April 5-8, 2010 in Las Vegas, the Alliance
for Retired Americans will be holding its
annual convention. The conference,
Building Retiree
Power, will offer educational and
training opportunities to improve both
grassroots activism techniques and leadership
skills. Topics such as health care
reform, Social Security, community organizing,
fund-raising, and the use of popular on-line
communication tools including Facebook will be
addressed through informative speakers and
workshops. For up-to-date information, or
to sign-up for the convention, visit http://bit.ly/1jIzz2 or call
1-888-373-6497.
Andy Barnes, Co-Founder of
California Alliance for Retired Americans,
Dies
Andy Barnes, a retired
machinist and much-loved retiree activist, has
passed away after a struggle with cancer.
Mr. Barnes retired in 1999 after serving as a
Grand Lodge Representative for twenty
years. He served as Treasurer and a
regional chair for the National Council for
Senior Citizens, and helped to found the
California Alliance for Retired Americans in
2003. "He was an integral part of the
retirees department, and will be missed very
much," said Maria Cordone,
Retiree Director of the machinists union.