Alliance Legislative Conference
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Jun 29, 2009 Posted by Adam Swope
This year, the Alliance for Retired Americans moved our annual legislative conference from September to June, to better participate in the defining issue of our age. The timing could not have been better! Several hundred delegates descended on Washington DC from all over America just as Congress is crafting its monumental health care reform legislation.
Pennsylvania sent a large delegation of almost 50 delegates, representing AFSCME, AFT, CWA, APSCURF, USW, UFCW UMWA, IBT and our community-based members. Delegates heard speeches from important policy-makers such as Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Delegates were also offered valuable workshops on organizing and improving activism back home.
During the lobby day portion of the conference, delegates met with 8 members of Congress and both Senators’ offices to demand that:
- Health Care reform must cover everyone, and should include a public option to compete with private insurers
- Health Care benefits that have been fought and sacrificed for should not be taxed to pay for reform
- Health Care reform should include changes to Medicare that close the donut hole in prescription coverage, expand preventative care, end over-payments to privately-run Medicare Advantage plans and offering a buy-in for early retirees from age 55-64
- Health Care reform should include a national Long Term Care insurance program
Call your member of Congress and Senators’ offices today to offer your support for these positions. Alliance members can make a difference if we make our voices heard.
Overall, feedback from delegates about their experience at the Conference was very positive. Many delegates expressed how much they learned about important issues, and how much they appreciated the opportunity to lobby their elected representatives. Here are some quotes from delegates:
"I really enjoyed the conference. It was a good mix of information, training and fun." -- Ginny Brown, AFSCME, Philadelphia
"The central goal for the Convention of the Alliance for Retired Americans, held from June 15 through June 18 in Washington D.C., was the passage in Congress of the health care initiative. In breakout session discussions, leaders pointed out that there are some forty-five million Americans without health care." -- Joe Raffaele, AFT, Pittsburgh
"This was my first conference, and I returned home with a feeling of being closer to my government! The experience was inspiring." -- Janell Lavender, AFSCME, Philadelphia
"There must have been 35-40 people from the Alliance in our meeting with Senator Specter's Health Care staff. Ray Myers made the presentation of the ARA talking points and did a very nice job. The meeting lasted for about 45+ minutes. His aide certainly felt some pressure from the group." -- Mike Doyle, Community Member, Doylestown
"In 2008, retirees across America worked hard for CHANGE. The Alliance for Retired Americans made 'Getting the CHANGE We Fought For' the theme of its 2009 Legislative Conference. Retirees understand that CHANGE is not merely words from men, but deeds from leaders. Now that we have the ear of Washington, we must push, prod, goad and constantly remind Washington: Health Care is what we want!" -- Ed Pace, AFT, Pittsburgh