http://retiredamericans.org Alliance for Retired Americans Sun, 7 Sep 2008 17:18:36 CDT en-us http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/8263 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/8263 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:49:33 CDT Republican Convention Platform Raises Concerns The Republican Party held its nominating convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota this week, officially nominating Sen. John McCain of Arizona for President and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska to be Vice President. As a U.S. Senator, McCain has a 29% voting record with the Alliance on issues important to retirees, including a score of 0% in 2007. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/8034 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/8034 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:42:01 CDT Democratic Conventioneers Agree: "Yes We Can!" At a gathering that stressed unity, highly energized and impassioned delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver officially named Sen. Barack Obama their nominee for President of the United States. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7961 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7961 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:51:29 CDT Medicare Beneficiaries Face 12 Percent Hike in 2009 Drug Premiums According to a report by the Associated Press, the average Medicare Part D beneficiary will face a 12% monthly premium increase in 2009. Federal government projections show the cost of standard drug coverage rising $3, to $28 each month. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7704 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7704 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:49:43 CDT Social Security Celebrates 73rd Birthday, Alliance Fights for 73 More From Oregon to Florida, the Alliance celebrated Social Security's 73rd birthday with 25 grassroots events lauding the program that has kept millions of Americans out of poverty and by promising to continue fighting privatization efforts. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7652 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7652 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:42:26 CDT Have a Voter Rights Issue? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE The Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires all polling sites to have at least one voting system designated for use by disabled voters. However, one disabled voter in Missouri has had to spend two hours at the polls each time she voted in 2006, 2007, and again this past Tuesday, because the machines never worked. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7613 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7613 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:10:37 CDT Guiding Principles for Medicare Released as Program Celebrates its 43rd Birthday The Alliance marked the 43rd birthday of Medicare on Wednesday with celebrations around the country and the release of a comprehensive roadmap for the program's future in Washington, DC. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7431 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7431 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:44:19 CDT Alliance Members Tell John McCain Social Security is not "A Disgrace" Alliance members from coast to coast spent the last week combating Sen. John McCain's recent comment that Social Security is an "absolute disgrace" and calling on the Senator to return his own Social Security checks. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7358 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7358 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:03:13 CDT President Vetoes Medicare Bill; Congress Quickly OverridesTuesday, President Bush vetoed H.R. 6331, the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008". Congress quickly acted to override the veto; the House voted 383-41 (Roll Call No. 491) for the override, while the Senate voted 70-26 (Record Vote No. 177), with both chambers achieving more than the two-thirds required to pass Public Law No: 110-275. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7295 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7295 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:01:39 CDT Senate Vote Strengthens Medicare On July 9, the U.S. Senate voted to rescind cuts in Medicare reimbursements to physicians, scale back subsidies to private Medicare Advantage providers, and expand health care coverage for low-income seniors. Defying a White House veto threat, the Senate reversed a June 26 vote on the same issue. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7242 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7242 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:15:26 CDT Senate to Vote Again on H.R. 6331, Medicare Bill That Fell Short by One Vote After opponents of H.R. 6331, the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008," were able to prevent the measure from coming up for a vote last week, the Bush administration moved on Monday to assure doctors that coming cuts in Medicare reimbursements would not kick in for a few days. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7075 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/7075 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:43:24 CDT Medicare Bill to Help Seniors Falls One Vote Short in Senate In the Senate on Thursday night, supporters of H.R. 6331, the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008," fell one vote short of the 60 needed to close debate and bring the measure up for a vote. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6982 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6982 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:46:57 CDT Seniors' Votes May Be the Key to Victory in 2008 According to CNN political analyst Bill Schneider, "We're going to see an age division in this election bigger than we have usually seen." http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6932 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6932 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:39:44 CDT Medicare Bill that Would Have Helped Seniors Fails to Gain Enough Support On Thursday, the U.S. Senate did not reach the 60 votes needed for cloture on S. 3101, the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008." http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6877 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6877 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:47:23 CDT Competing Medicare Bills Proposed in Senate Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee have released competing Medicare proposals to prevent the 10.6 percent cut to physician payments that is scheduled to take effect July 1. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6824 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6824 Fri, 30 May 2008 10:51:13 CDT Administration Threatens to Veto Medicare Bill That Does Not Protect Insurers According to the Associated Press, the Bush administration is threatening to veto any legislation that protects doctors' Medicare payments at the expense of private insurers. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6803 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6803 Fri, 23 May 2008 13:58:29 CDT Medicare Changes May Address Doctor Payments, Nursing Home Deficiencies On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee met to discuss upcoming Medicare legislation, including tighter rules for Medicare Advantage plans. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6760 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6760 Fri, 16 May 2008 15:15:54 CDT Advertising, Better Treatments Lead to Greatest Use of Prescription Drugs Ever For the first time, it appears that more than half of all insured Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems, a new study shows. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6713 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6713 Fri, 09 May 2008 15:00:46 CDT State Regulators Seek Greater Authority to Oversee Medicare Advantage Plans The New York Times reported on Monday that state officials will soon ask Congress for more power to regulate the marketing of private Medicare insurance plans to seniors. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6673 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6673 Fri, 02 May 2008 14:28:49 CDT Release of New Voting Record Commemorates Start of Older Americans Month Marking the beginning of Older Americans Month, the new 2007 congressional voting record released on May 1 by the Alliance details the voting record of every U.S. Senator and Representative on key issues affecting current and future retirees. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6357 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6357 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:19:57 CDT Click here to download the 2007 Voting Record This past year retirees saw a new Congress come to Washington. The great wave of voter discontent in 2006 led by retirees, who vote in the greatest numbers, elected new majorities to both houses of Congress. For retirees and older Americans, the threats of Social Security privatization, the fallout from the confusing Medicare Part D prescription program, and a tax system skewed toward the wealthiest Americans all contributed to the change in... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6662 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6662 Thu, 01 May 2008 14:47:21 CDT Marking the beginning of Older Americans Month, the new 2007 congressional voting record released today by the Alliance for Retired Americans details the voting record of every U.S. Senator and Representative on key issues affecting current and future retirees. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6577 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6577 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:45:53 CDT Call to Action for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries is Coming Soon The Senate is moving quickly to craft a bill that will address a scheduled cut in Medicare payments to physicians, and the bill is also likely to include other Medicare changes. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6545 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6545 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:02:18 CDT Northeastern Regional Meeting Coincides with Pennsylvania's Primary On Thursday and Friday of last week, the Alliance held its Northeastern Regional Meeting - the second of four regional meetings - in Philadelphia, PA. Gerald McEntee, President of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and former first-daughter Chelsea Clinton represented U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton at the meeting, while Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) represented U.S.... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6462 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6462 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:01:14 CDT Tax Filing Deadline Has Added Significance for Retirees This Year Tuesday, April 15th is the regular deadline for filing taxes, and the date holds special implications for seniors in 2008. Up to 20 million Americans who rely primarily on Social Security income qualify for an economic stimulus rebate check from the federal government. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6424 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6424 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:55:16 CDT Prescription Drug Prices Becoming More Unbearable as Economy Slides People with health insurance are having more trouble paying for prescription drugs as higher out-of-pocket costs for medications and a slowing economy strain family budgets, according to surveys and health care analysts. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6384 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6384 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:42:10 CDT Western Regional Meeting is Pronounced a Success! Monday through Wednesday of this week, the Alliance held its Western Regional Meeting - the first of four regional meetings in 2008 - in Las Vegas, Nevada. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6338 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6338 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:35:26 CDT Retirement Security of Bear Stearns Employees Up in the Air Sunday’s sale of Bear Stearns, the nation’s fifth largest investment bank, to J.P. Morgan Chase for $2 per share has not only shaken financial markets, but also left the retirement of many of the company’s 14,000 employees up in the air. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6317 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6317 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:02:22 CDT Letter from Alliance President George J. Kourpias http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6299 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6299 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:02:24 CDT New Hampshire Alliance Members Greet Sen. McCain with Protests… On the eve of Senator John McCain's Tuesday visit to Exeter, New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Alliance for Retired Americans united outside the Concord Legislative Office Building to protest his plan for Social Security privatization. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6200 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6200 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:17:50 CST John McCain Restates Support for Social Security Privatization In an interview appearing in the March 3 edition of The Wall Street Journal, John McCain restated his support for the privatization of Social Security, saying, “As part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it -- along the lines that President Bush proposed.” http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1514 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1514 Wed, 27 Apr 2005 11:42:59 CDT • What You Need to Know to be a Part of the Social Security DebateEnglish • Frequently Asked Questions: Social Security and PrivatizationEnglishSpanish• Myths about Social Security PrivatizationEnglishSpanish• Private Social Security Accounts Are All WrongEnglishSpanish• Talking to Your Grandchildren about Social Security and PrivatizationEnglishSpanish• 10 Reasons Why Privatizing Social Security Is the Wrong AnswerEnglishSpanish• Take Action!EnglishSpanish http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6184 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6184 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:53:21 CST Last month, President Bush submitted his Fiscal Year 2009 budget, which proposes severe cuts to Medicare, totaling $178 billion over the next five years, $556 billion over the next 10 years, and more than $10 trillion over the next 75 years. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6181 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6181 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:39:02 CST Last month, President Bush submitted his Fiscal Year 2009 budget, which proposes severe cuts to Medicare, totaling $178 billion over the next five years, $556 billion over the next 10 years, and more than $10 trillion over the next 75 years. http://boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=294174 http://boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=294174 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:07:49 CST Alliance for Retired Americans U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has introduced the Caring for an Aging America Act, legislation aimed at addressing the crisis in providing care for a senior population that is projected to almost double over the next 25 years. The Boxer bill is endorsed by the Alliance for Retired Americans. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6136 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6136 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:53:00 CST Medicare Advantage Plans Costing Many Seniors More A report issued yesterday by the Government Accountability Office, Congress’ investigative bureau, revealed that out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are often much higher than for recipients of traditional Medicare, particularly for spending on nursing homes, home health care, and some hospital visits. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6127 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6127 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:53:21 CST Sign-on letter from the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities urging Congress to adopt a budget resolution that reverses drastic cuts and invests in services to protect people and communities from serious loss while giving them tools to rebuild and grow. This letter will be distributed to members of Congress in meetings with the Alliance. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6082 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/6082 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:24:07 CST Seniors Must File Federal Tax Returns in Order to Receive Stimulus Checks In 2008, up to 20 million Americans who rely primarily on Social Security income will qualify for an economic stimulus check from the federal government. Generally, people need more than $3,000 in 2007 income to qualify for the rebate. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5876 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5876 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:14:41 CST Two D.C. Events Spotlight Bush Budget Cuts for Seniors The Alliance joined the American Federation of Government Employees and Americans United for Change on Monday in calling on lawmakers to fully fund the Social Security Administration (SSA) and pass legislation giving Congress more control over the agency's operations. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5790 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5790 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:53:09 CST Super Tuesday Leaves Clinton, Obama, and McCain with the Most Delegates More than 14.6 million Democrats and 9 million Republicans went to the polls on Tuesday to pick their parties’ nominees for President. As of Thursday, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) held an 85-delegate lead over Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), 1045-960, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Sen. Obama won 13 states to Sen. Clinton’s 9 on Tuesday, with both winning important states. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5692 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5692 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:11:47 CST The Alliance for Retired Americans, on behalf of its more than three million members throughout the nation, urges you to vote for a stimulus plan that includes stimulus payments to 20 million Social Security recipients not currently covered in the House-passed plan of H.R. 5140. Social Security recipients will spend these stimulus payments. Retired Americans in recent years have faced skyrocketing increases in the price of health care, especially prescription drugs, home heating fuels,... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5637 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5637 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:10:31 CST State of the Union and FY ’09 Budget Offers Seniors Little Only 159 words were devoted to health care in President Bush’s State of the Union address Monday night, in which he asked Congress for new suggestions on Social Security and Medicare. With health care and prescription drug costs on the rise, the failure to offer any new ideas was seen as a missed opportunity. In addition, the President will propose significant cuts to Medicare in the budget he releases this Monday. The New York... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5650 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5650 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:15:32 CST The undersigned members of the LCAO are concerned that the plan for a stimulus package currently under consideration by Congress does not include three significant provisions. Stimulus payments are only being considered for those who have “taxable income” or “earned income”. This stipulation would exclude many older Americans who have neither “taxable income” nor “earned income”. The proposed stimulus package also does not include additional funding for Medicaid. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5449 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5449 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:07:29 CST State of the Union Address Likely to Reveal Bush’s Vision for Seniors in ’08 President Bush will give his 2008 State of the Union address Monday night at 9:00 PM EST. He is expected to discuss ongoing efforts to stimulate the economy, and will likely reveal his proposal for changing the Medicare physician fee formula. According to CongressDaily, congressional aides and lobbyists say the details of that proposal “could significantly alter Capitol Hill discussions surrounding Medicare... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5396 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5396 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:13:15 CST February 5th Shaping Up To Be Historic Day in Race for U.S. President Democrats will hold contests in 22 states and one territory on February 5, known as Super Tuesday, while Republicans have scheduled contests in 21 states for that day. According to The Washington Post, 52% of all pledged Democratic delegates will be awarded on Super Tuesday, compared with the 4% that will have been allocated in the four opening competitions of the year. The Republican delegates elected that day will make... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5306 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5306 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:13:49 CST Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain Win New Hampshire Primaries Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain won the Democratic and Republican New Hampshire presidential primaries on Tuesday night. Older voters overwhelmingly outnumbered younger voters, a proportion that benefited Sen. Clinton. In particular, women, 65 and older, gave Hillary Clinton a huge win, 57 to 27%. Among independent men, Sen. Obama’s support was nearly 3-to-1 over Clinton. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5226 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5226 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:06:20 CST Sen. Obama, Former Gov. Huckabee Win Iowa Caucuses Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) won the Iowa caucuses last night, gaining victories in the first contests for the Democratic and Republican nominations for U.S. President in 2008. "The high turnout shows how engaged and enthusiastic Americans are about this year's presidential election," said George J. Kourpias, President of the Alliance. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5645 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5645 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:10:19 CST On behalf of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), we, the undersigned organizations are writing to submit our comments to Docket No. SSA-2007-0044, which specifically contemplates proposed regulatory changes to ALJ, Appeals Council, and Decision Review Board appeals levels of the Social Security Administration. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5178 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5178 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:07:18 CST Budget and Medicare Bills Passed: Implications for Seniors Before leaving Washington, for a holiday recess, Congress increased funding for Social Security and protected physicians from receiving cuts in their Medicare payments, but did not stop the overpayments made to Medicare Advantage plans. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5126 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5126 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:09:57 CST More Than 3 Million Seniors Will Fall into Donut Hole Next Year More seniors than ever are expected to fall into the Medicare Part D “donut hole” next year, the coverage gap in which beneficiaries must pay the full cost of their prescription drugs. More than 3 million out of 24 million Part D enrollees will have to pay $4,050 in out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles and co-pays, before Medicare will offer catastrophic coverage and pay for 95% of prescription drug costs. This is... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5072 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5072 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:03:01 CST Alliance Members Protest Medicare Advantage Private Insurer Subsidies On Tuesday, the White House delivered a “stern” letter to senators writing a year-end Medicare bill, threatening a veto if lawmakers do not comply with their demands to continue subsidizing private insurance companies at current levels. According to CQ Today, one White House demand is that the legislation use only cuts to Medicare providers, such as hospitals or nursing homes, to pay for one of the bill’s most... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5005 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/5005 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:19:05 CST Latest Information on Premiums Can Help Seniors Choose Their Drug Plan A new report has just been released by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) on the rising cost of prescription drug plans under Medicare Part D. CEPR’s report includes a state-by-state breakdown on the changes in the average Medicare Prescription Drug Plan premium and deductible from 2007 to 2008. Nationally, the average premium rose by 24.5 percent, or $57.70. The full report is available at... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4889 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4889 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:03:34 CST Bush Still Giving Congress Fits With Vetoes That Deny Health Care As the week ended, Congress was still trying to deal with vetoes by President Bush on two major health care bills. According to The New York Times, congressional efforts to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) have run into a new roadblock: eight Democratic senators say they cannot support any bill if their states lose money for the coverage of parents. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4855 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4855 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:56:41 CST Sign-on letter from the National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, urging improved transparency, accountability, and staffing throughout the nursing home industry. Similar letters were sent to the Senate Special Committee on Aging and the House Committee on Ways and Means. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4808 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4808 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:48:54 CST Beneficiaries Can Change Medicare Part D Plans Beginning Next Week According to the Associated Press, approximately 2 million low-income Medicare beneficiaries who do not pay monthly premiums will have their prescription drug plans automatically switched next year, while others will have to shop for new Part D coverage to avoid double-digit monthly premium increases. Drug premiums in 2008 will range from $9.80 to $107.50 per month. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4732 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4732 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:58:38 CDT As SCHIP Funding Deadline Nears, Obstructionists Still Standing Together The Senate on Thursday held its latest vote on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and the outcome was similar to past roll calls. The Senate voted to pass H.R. 3963, 64-30, and President Bush immediately vowed another veto. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4696 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4696 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:45:45 CDT We respectfully request that during conference negotiations on the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that you accept the Senate recommended level for SSA administrative funding of $9.872 billion which represents a $275 million increase over the President’s Request. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4636 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4636 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:08:39 CDT SCHIP Passes the House Again On Thursday, the House voted 265-142 to pass H.R. 3963, a revised version of H.R. 976, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization. Like the original version, vetoed by the President on October 3rd, H.R. 3963 continues to provide health care coverage for 10 million American children, but it did not secure a veto-proof majority of votes. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4567 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4567 Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:28:06 CDT SCHIP Veto Override Attempt Falls ShortBy a vote of 273-156, an attempt to override President Bush’s veto of expanded funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) failed on Thursday. The tally left Democrats 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority of 286 needed to override the third veto of the Bush presidency. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4463 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4463 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:24:37 CDT U.S. House to Attempt Override of SCHIP Veto on ThursdayPresident Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bill last Wednesday set off a massive political fight that is expected to continue dominating Congress next week. In advance of the House of Representatives’ planned override vote on Thursday, October 18, Alliance activists have been pulling out all the stops. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4159 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/4159 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:51:43 CDT President Bush Vetoes Health Insurance for ChildrenOn Wednesday morning, President Bush vetoed a bill to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), H.R. 976, which would have added $35 billion to the program over five years and covered an additional four million children. The move sent Congressional Democrats searching for the 15 to 20 additional votes they will need to achieve a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives and override the president’s veto. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3828 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3828 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:33:20 CDT General Motors Strike EndsThe United Auto Workers (UAW), which had gone on strike at all of General Motors' (GM’s) U.S. plants on Monday, began returning to work on Wednesday. A proposed new contract allows GM to shift $51 billion in liabilities for UAW retiree health care to an independent trust. The auto giant could eventually contribute as much as $35 billion to that trust, called a voluntary employees' beneficiary association, or VEBA, according to people familiar with the bargaining... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3793 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3793 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:45:43 CDT The Alliance for Retired Americans commends the Senate Finance Committee for holding a hearing on expanding options for home and community-based services in longterm care (LTC). During the past several decades, advocates and policymakers have attempted to bring long-term care to the forefront of public awareness. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3734 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3734 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:24:54 CDT Alliance Members Tell Congress to Stop Medicare Advantage Overpayments Alliance members have already sent 3,700 e-mails to their members of Congress since being asked Tuesday to help stop overpayments to Medicare Advantage (MA) insurance companies. “Thank you to everyone who contacted their Senators and Representatives,” said Alliance president George Kourpias. You can go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/Stop_Medicare_Advantage_Overpayments to send a letter to your Senators and... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3078 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3078 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:50:38 CDT The need for long-term care workers, particularly home health care workers, is immense today�"approximately 13 million Americans require some long-term care assistance in their home. This need is expected to double during the coming decades as the baby boomers age. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3075 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3075 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:51:15 CDT GAO Audit Shows Insurers Benefiting Excessively from Medicare AdvantagePrivate insurance companies participating in Medicare have been allowed to keep tens of millions of dollars that should have gone to consumers, according to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report and Monday’s New York Times. GAO investigators said the money could have been used to reduce premiums or provide additional benefits to older Americans. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3048 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/3048 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:41:22 CDT More Than 600 Retirees Lobby Congress on Medicare and Social SecurityWith a theme of “Building for America’s Future,” more than 600 Alliance members descended on Washington D.C. last week to map out an ambitious grassroots campaign for mobilizing seniors around threats to Medicare and Social Security. On Thursday, after an energetic send-off from AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka, Alliance members met with their elected officials to share their top legislative concerns. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2861 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2861 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:19:26 CDT Census Announces New Figures Regarding the Uninsured… The number of those without health insurance is rising, according to the Census Bureau's annual snapshot of American living standards. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that nine million people have been added to the ranks of the uninsured during the past seven years. About 47 million people, or 15.8% of the population, lacked health insurance last year, up from 15.3% in 2005. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2815 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2815 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:34:40 CDT Report Card Shows Seniors Pay More Under Part D Than Under Other Drug Plans Older Americans in Medicare's Part D prescription drug program are more likely to pay at least $300 a month for medicines than those on other plans, a study published Tuesday by the journal Health Affairs has found. Experts consider the poll of more than 16,000 seniors, performed by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund, and the Tufts-New England Medical Center, the closest thing yet to a "report card"... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2769 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2769 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:39:55 CDT U.S. is only 42nd in Life Expectancy Americans are living longer than ever, but not as long as people in 41 other countries, the Associated Press reported on Sunday. For decades, the United States has been slipping in international rankings of life expectancy, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles. A baby born in the United States in 2004 will live an average of 77.9 years, giving America a rank of 42nd worldwide. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2729 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2729 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:32:25 CDT Alliance Member Speaks for Millions of Americans on Health Care On August 7, Steve Skvara, a disabled, retired steelworker from Indiana, personalized the problem with health care in America. Representing the millions of American workers who have lost their pensions and health care in retirement and now struggle to pay for medical care and other day-to-day expenses, Skvara received a standing ovation and applause from the audience and candidates at the AFL-CIO Presidential Candidates Forum in... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2705 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2705 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:14:14 CDT House Medicare Advantage Vote a Victory for Seniors On Wednesday night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3162, “The Children’s Health and Medicare Act of 2007,” by a 225-204 vote. The legislation expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a federal program for the children of the working poor, while helping older Americans. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2661 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2661 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:27:44 CDT Alliance Members Mobilize As Medicare Advantage Legislation Moves Alliance members sent more than 800 e-mails to their Members of Congress in just the first 24 hours of being asked last week to help stop overpayments to Medicare Advantage (MA) insurance companies. Alliance retirees also came through with hundreds more e-mails and phone calls as the week continued. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2627 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2627 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:05:35 CDT Monday is National Call-in Day for Stopping Medicare Advantage Overpayments Your U.S. Representative needs to hear from informed seniors! Please join other Alliance members across the country by calling your Representative on Monday and urging support for legislation that would create a level playing field for traditional Medicare and private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Use this toll-free telephone number �" 1-800-828-0498 �" to call the Capitol Switchboard. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2580 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2580 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:49:42 CDT Medicare Advantage Takes Center Stage Save the date! Monday, July 23 will be a national call-in day to Capitol Hill, as Alliance members are urged to demand an end to federal subsidies for insurance companies offering “Medicare Advantage” plans. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2565 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2565 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:04:36 CDT Saving Social Security Video http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2542 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2542 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:16:49 CDT Medicare Advantage, Re-importation Votes Coming Soon Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate could vote this month to cut overpayments to Medicare Advantage private insurance plans, in order to make improvements to the Part D drug plan and expand children’s health coverage. “With the nation’s economic resources so tight, we cannot afford to be focused on subsiding insurance companies,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2518 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2518 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:06:57 CDT Road to Privatizing Medicare Hits a Pothole On Wednesday, the Alliance came out in support of H.R. 2945, the “Medicare Advantage Truth in Advertising Act,” which was introduced by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health. In a letter to Rep. Stark, the Alliance thanked him for launching legislation that would provide seniors with up front information on the true costs of Medicare Advantage private insurance plans. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2488 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2488 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:16:00 CDT Senate Set to Vote on Employee Free Choice Act Alliance members participated in a 4,500-person rally at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, supporting passage in the U.S. Senate of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Such passage would allow workers to join a union by signing a card, thereby helping to prevent big corporations such as Wal-Mart from harassing, intimidating, and even illegally firing workers who try to unionize. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2431 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2431 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:38:22 CDT 109th Congress Disappointed Seniors in 2006, Alliance Voting Record RevealsMany of the lawmakers who did the most damage to the health and economic well-being of America’s seniors during the second session of the 109th Congress no longer hold office, according to the results of the Alliance for Retired Americans’ 2006 Voting Record released to the press on Monday. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2359 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2359 Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:45:30 CDT Campaign is Launched to Stop the Privatization of Medicare On Thursday, leading Medicare experts and advocates launched a campaign at the U.S. Capitol to stop the privatization of Medicare. The reason behind the campaign is a secret effort to privatize Medicare by the Bush Administration, just two years after President Bush unsuccessfully tried to privatize Social Security. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2348 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2348 Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:28:58 CDT In 2006, Congress enacted legislation that again contributed to record level spending deficits and deepened the nation's budget and fiscal crisis. By November, retirees made their feelings known at the polls. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2303 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2303 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:33:10 CDT Long Term Care Under Congressional Scrutiny According to The New York Times, a Congressional committee last week began looking into business practices in the long-term care insurance industry. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has asked Conseco and the Penn Treaty American Corporation, two of the nation’s largest sellers of long-term care insurance, to produce documents showing how the companies market long-term care policies and handle policyholder claims. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2251 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2251 Fri, 25 May 2007 13:14:35 CDT Rep. Stark Takes on Insurance Industry The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing on Tuesday on private Medicare Advantage fee-for-service plans, leading Congress one step closer to cracking down on private insurance companies. Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, (D-CA) chairman of the subcommittee, warned that private fee-for-service plans (PFFS) could face curbs, most likely in Medicare reform legislation planned for some time this summer. The plans frequently offer coordinated... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2183 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2183 Fri, 18 May 2007 13:51:07 CDT Chrysler Deal Brings Retiree Health Care Issue to the Front and CenterDaimlerChrysler announced on Monday that Cerberus Capital Management would pay $7.45 billion for an 80 percent stake in Chrysler, Detroit’s third-biggest automaker. Cerberus has specialized in buying distressed businesses such as the Alamo and National car rental companies, and then turning them around through heavy cost-cutting. The firm owns about 50 companies. Chrysler retirees will now rely on Cerberus to provide... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2118 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2118 Fri, 11 May 2007 14:03:34 CDT Senate’s FDA Bill Will Not Allow Consumers to Re-import Prescription Drugs By a vote of 93 to 1, the Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new power to police drug safety, regulate advertising and restrict the use and distribution of medicines found to endanger consumers. However, “drug company executives succeeded in their efforts to block a proposal to legalize imports of lower-priced medicines from Canada,” the New York Times wrote... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2056 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/2056 Fri, 04 May 2007 14:00:23 CDT U.S. Senate Clears Way for Prescription Drug Reimportation Votes The Senate broke a filibuster Thursday by a 63-28 vote on Sen. Byron Dorgan's (D-ND) amendment to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization bill that would permit the legal reimportation of prescription drugs. However, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) has now introduced an amendment to the Dorgan amendment that would require the FDA to first certify that reimported drugs are safe. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1973 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1973 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:38:07 CDT Administration Uses Trustees Reports to Scare Seniors The trust funds for Social Security and Medicare will last a year longer than previously estimated, trustees said Monday. The trustees report that Social Security is solvent through the year 2041, and Medicare is solvent through 2019. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1905 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1905 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 13:27:32 CDT Senate Blocks Effort to Lower Medicare Costs On April 18, the U.S. Senate blocked consideration of a bill, S. 3, to remove the prohibition on Medicare negotiating price discounts with the pharmaceutical companies. It would also have forced drug plan providers to reveal currently secret... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1852 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1852 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:56:12 CDT On April 12, the Senate Finance Committee voted 13-8 in favor of a bill, S. 3, removing the prohibition on Medicare negotiating price discounts with the pharmaceutical companies. It would also force drug plan providers to reveal currently secret pricing data to government watchdogs. Pressured by a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign, some Senators are planning a filibuster to block the bill when it reaches the Senate floor this week. Additionally, the White House is threatening a veto.... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1808 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1808 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:56:27 CDT Bush Makes Pro-Privatization Recess Appointment at SSAOn Wednesday, President Bush announced his intention to appoint Andrew Biggs to be Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) while Congress is in recess. Biggs, who wrote extensively while at the CATO Institute in favor of the privatization of Social Security, and even for its elimination entirely, will serve for the rest of the President's term of office in the number two position at SSA. Senate Finance Committee... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1714 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1714 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:51:50 CDT Insurance Companies Caught Denying Care to the Most Vulnerable SeniorsInterviews by The New York Times and confidential depositions indicate that some long-term-care insurers have developed procedures that make it nearly impossible for policyholders to be paid. A review of more than 400 of the thousands of grievances and lawsuits filed in recent years against the major long-term-care insurers shows elderly policyholders are confronting unnecessary delays and overwhelming bureaucracies.... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1977 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1977 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:12:38 CDT Whereas long-term care covers a range of services in a variety of settings; and Whereas 10 million Americans of all ages living in communities and nursing homes have significant limitations in activities of daily living because of illness or disability and need personal assistance or long-term care services; and Whereas Medicaid is the primary government source of payment for long-term care, accounting for half of formal LTC expenditures; Whereas although two-thirds of Medicaid LTC... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1713 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1713 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:51:10 CDT U.S. Senate Rejects Medicare CutsThe Senate on Thursday easily defeated a bid by conservative Republicans to curb the growth of the Medicare program as debate on a $2.9 trillion budget outline for 2008 entered its third day. The 74-27 vote on Medicare dismissed a bid by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) to trim $34 billion from Medicare's $2.2 trillion budget over the next five years. The plan was aimed at reducing payment increases to Medicare providers and was approximately half the size of... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/308 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/308 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:39:30 CDT CDC Report Examines Overall Health of Older Americans The cost of caring for aging Americans will add 25 percent to the nation's health care bill by 2030 unless people act now to stay healthy, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week in a Reuters article. Currently, 80 percent of Americans 65 or older have at least one chronic disease that could lead to premature death and disability, CDC researchers said. The report, “The State of Aging and Health... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1369 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1369 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:56:26 CDT CDC Report Examines Overall Health of Older Americans; Bush Administration Disagrees with Health Care Report Recommendations; 2008 Senate Races: Never Too Early for Election News; Employee Free Choice Act Update; Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren Face Variety of Challenges http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1366 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1366 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:42:44 CST Most Willing to Pay More in Exchange for Universal Health Care; CMS Official Against Releasing Medicare Data; Alternative to Nursing Homes Can Be Risky; Bad Week for Drug and Insurance Companies’ Public Relations; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1363 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1363 Fri, 02 Mar 2007 13:20:15 CST Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) Passes in the House; Study Examines Reasons Behind High U.S. Health Care Costs; Older Retirees Head North; Ohio Senior Voice Conference Ties 2006 Election Results to Legislative Advances; Alliance Poll Results: Medicare Will Not Negotiate Drug Prices Anytime Soon; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1360 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1360 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:31:56 CST Health Care Spending May Rise to One-Fifth of All U.S. Expenditures; Access to Generic Drugs May Be Expedited; National Spending on Rx Drugs Slows by 0.4%; Disagreement over Whether Most Are Saving Enough for Retirement; Grandparents Denied Military Death Benefit http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1357 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1357 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:33:30 CST President Bush: Caught Telling the Truth?; Rep. Waxman Launches Broad Probe of Drug Price Fraud; Senate Finance Panel Will Not Consider Bush’s Social Security Nominee; West Virginia Retirees Fight for Their Financial Interests; New Industry Formed to Handle Arguments with Insurance Companies http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1354 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1354 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:33:16 CST Bush Budget Takes a Bite out of Medicare, Medicaid; Paper Ballot Requirements Make Progress; Bush vs. His Own Treasury Secretaries on Social Security Changes; Is Big Brother in Your Medicine Cabinet?; Labor Loses Great Leader; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/535 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/535 Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:00:22 CST Is Your Representative or Senator a Committee Chair?; Colorado Measure to Save at Least $1.6 Million Yearly on Medicaid Drug Purchases; Health Plan Deduction Would Lower Social Security Benefits; Budget Proposals Would Cut Medicare and Medicaid http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1409 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1409 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:17:41 CST Spread the word!  Here's what to tell your friends who want to know more about Social Security privatization and why it's a dangerous idea. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/532 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/532 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:21:39 CST Many Not Impressed by President’s State of the Union Address; Alliance Activists’ Petition Delivery Coincides with State of the Union; CMS to Correct Erroneous Withholding of Medicare Part D Premiums; Senators Unveil Bipartisan Plan to Overhaul Medicare and Social Security; Alliance People in the News http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/547 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/547 Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:08:12 CST Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke Weighs in on Social Security and Medicare; President’s State of the Union Address Likely to Include Social Security; Senate May End Deals Between Drug Companies That Delay Generic Alternatives; Republicans Face Dissension in the Ranks; Some Baby Boomers Compromise Their Own Retirements in Caring for Parents; Alliance Loses Strong Supporter; Results of Website Poll on Drug Prices http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/670 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/670 Fri, 12 Jan 2007 14:50:46 CST Medicare Price Negotiation Vote Passes in House By Wide Margin; Major Social Security Changes Unlikely in the Immediate Future; Bipartisan Re-importation Legislation Introduced in the Senate and House; New Congress Showing Fiscal Restraint; Alliance People in the News; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1348 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1348 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:10:14 CST New Congress Begins to Carry Out Its Agenda; Drug Plan Changes for 2007: Shock and Awe; Happy New Year from Humana; Steelworkers Strike Ends at Goodyear; Drug Industry on the Defense http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1345 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1345 Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:17:50 CST One of Speaker Hastert’s Final Acts Benefits Insurers; President Bush to Reach Across the Aisle on Social Security?; Most Will Keep the Same Medicare Part D Plan in 2007; Faulty Assumptions that Affect Retirement Security; Seniors Living in Better Health than Ever Before; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1342 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1342 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 12:59:24 CST Senate Republican Leader Announces Plans to Oppose Negotiating Drug Prices; Employers �" Including Goodyear - Take Aim at Retiree Health Care Benefits; Electronic Voting Process Will Include More Paper Trails in ’08; Mandatory Retirement Age Policies Get a Closer Look; Field Activity; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1336 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1336 Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:14:46 CST SPECIAL EDITION - RETIREE HEALTH CARE AT STAKE http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1333 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1333 Fri, 08 Dec 2006 13:22:04 CST New Congress Makes Plans for First 100 Hours in 2007…; …But Current Congress is Leaving Behind Some Unfinished Business; Alliance to Release White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) Report; Private Medicare More Expensive than Traditional Medicare; Trouble Again This January for Medicare Part D Participants?; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1330 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1330 Fri, 01 Dec 2006 13:54:52 CST Higher Percentage of Seniors Voted for Democrats in ’06 Than in ’04; CMS Ad Deceives Readers; Drug Industry Braces for Change; Bush’s Scaled-Down Plans for Social Security �" Another Scheme Underway?; Health Insurance Premiums Rise with Executives’ Pay; Alliance Loses Strong Supporter http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1327 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1327 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:29:13 CST Bush Administration Vows to Block Negotiation of Drug Prices; Part D Shopping Season; PBGC Narrows Pension Deficit by $4.7 Billion; Democrats Choose House Leadership for 110th Congress; Alliance Activities and Leadership Travel http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1324 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1324 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:27:16 CST U.S. House and Senate Under New Management!; Alliance Members Come Through; Public Warned About Social Security Scam; Alliance Members Prove to be Good Political Analysts http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1321 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1321 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:24:57 CST As Election Day Arrives, Republicans Try Not to Talk About Scandals, Part D; Specific Voting Rights Questions Answered;  Medicare Handbook Said to Mislead; New Rules on Patient Safety; Alliance Activities and Leadership Travel http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1318 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1318 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:23:13 CST Bush’s Social Security Privatization Remarks Dismay Some in Own Party; Part D Auto-Enrollment for 632,000 Medicare Beneficiaries Ends; Specific Voting Rights Questions Answered; Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Steps up Contributions; Alliance Activities and Leadership Travel  http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1315 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1315 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:18:16 CST Part D Failures Examined in New Report by Pennsylvania Alliance; Social Security COLA Increases by 3.3%; Wal-Mart Expands Drug Program; Know Your Voting Rights; Alliance Activities and Leadership Travel; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1114 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1114 Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:39:06 CDT As New Report Shows Senior Vote Will Be Crucial in November…; …GOP Braces for Losses; Know Your Voting Rights; Settlement Forces Major Restructuring of Rx Drug-Pricing System; Alliance Activities Across the Country; Did You Know http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1312 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1312 Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:16:29 CDT Key House Race Update; Know Your Voting Rights; U.S. Customs to Stop Seizing Canadian Medicines; Medicare Part D From Entirely Different Points of View; Alliance Activities Across the Country; Alliance Thanks Ally for Lifelong Dedication http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1309 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1309 Thu, 05 Oct 2006 13:45:41 CDT A list of downloadable documents containing voter protection information http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1306 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1306 Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:45:47 CDT Another Suspicious Privatization Attempt; U.S. Senate Up for Grabs?; Judge Orders Medicare Not to Collect Incorrect Payments Sent to Beneficiaries; New Voting Technology Brings Complications; Alliance Activities Across the Country http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1303 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1303 Fri, 22 Sep 2006 14:09:09 CDT Donut Hole Week a Bevy of Alliance Activity; Wal-Mart Sets $4 Price for Many Generic Drugs; WHCoA Report Is Like the Conference: A Whitewash; Medicare Rate Hike Not Being Taken Lying Down; New Voter ID Requirements Could Throw More Wrenches into Voting Process; Travel; Labor Loses a Friend http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1297 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1297 Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:48:55 CDT Medicare Changes: Increased Fees for Everyone �" Not Just the Wealthy; Bush Promise to Privatize Social Security Not Forgotten; GOP Plans More Negative Ads Than Ever; Donut Hole Day Quickly Approaching; Alliance to Enhance Community-Based Activities; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1057 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1057 Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:44:14 CDT Retirees Gathered in Washington Vow Aggressive Campaign to Mobilize Seniors; George Kourpias, Ruben Burks Re-Elected to Lead Alliance; Activists Deliver Donuts to Capitol Hill Offices; Social Security Rally Draws Large Crowd; Conventioneers Inspired by Several Notable Speakers; Calling All Seniors Willing to Travel http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1291 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1291 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 11:22:46 CDT Trial Lawyers Get the Word Out on High Prescription Drug Costs…; …while Drug Industry Quietly Pays for Ads Thanking Congressional Benefactors; Two New Issue Briefs Available; Schering-Plough Admits Wrongdoing, Shells out $435 Million to Settle Charges; Who’s Watching the Children?; Rep. Dingell Added to Convention Line-up; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1586 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1586 Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:01:40 CDT Use the following key to determine how your Senators and Representative voted. Democrat (D) Republican (R) Independent (I) + Announced For Voted With Alliance Policy - Announced Against ... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1580 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1580 Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:49:57 CDT Use the following key to determine how your Senators and Representative voted. Democrat (D) Republican (R) Independent (I) + Announced For Voted With Alliance Policy - Announced Against ... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1421 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1421 Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:25:33 CDT Use the following key to determine how your Senators and Representative voted. Democrat (D) Republican (R) Independent (I) + Announced For Voted With Alliance Policy - Announced Against ... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1201 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1201 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:26:16 CDT Not Too Late to Join the Alliance Convention!; Medicare Makes $50 Million Mistake; Even the Wealthy are Having Trouble Affording Health Care; Take Action Against Wal-Mart; Tell Us Your Donut Hole Story; Clarification; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1285 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1285 Fri, 18 Aug 2006 11:33:31 CDT White House Pushes to Cut Medicaid, Despite Lack of Support; GlaxoSmithKline to Reimburse $70 Million in Landmark Settlement; Drug Industry’s Excessive Profits Could Fill Doughnut Hole; Alliance News; Pelosi, Reid, Begala, Shields to Headline Alliance National Convention; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1282 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1282 Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:47:44 CDT Incumbents Face Uphill Battle; Americans United Announces New Social Security Ad Campaign; More Pension Plan Shortfalls; Costly, Private Medicare Plans See Jump in Enrollment; Pelosi, Reid, Shields to Headline Alliance National Convention; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1273 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1273 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:43:34 CDT Senate Blocks Estate Tax Cut/Minimum Wage Increase, Passes Pension Bill; Officials Continue to Support Social Security Privatization Even With GAO Report; Heat Waves and Hurricanes Hit Seniors Hardest; Leadership Travel; Pelosi, Reid, Shields to Headline Alliance National Convention http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1276 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1276 Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:38:27 CDT Rep. Stark Introduces National Health Plan; Medication Errors Harm Hundreds of Thousands Annually; The United States: Big Spenders, but Only for a Few; Health Insurance…and Unexpected Membership in the Wrong Organization; Find Lower-Cost Medicine with Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs; National Convention Coming in September http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1252 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1252 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 13:51:10 CDT Americans United Shines Light on Doughnut Hole Problem; Insurers Unsure of Their Own Drug Plans; Drug Industry Benefiting on Backs of the Poor; Alliance People; National Convention Coming in September; Did You Know... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1267 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1267 Fri, 14 Jul 2006 13:29:42 CDT Social Security Under Attack; Senate Approves Drug Importation; Americans Not Retiring When They Plan To; CEOs Doing OK Despite Underlings’ Frozen Pensions; Alliance National Convention Coming in September; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1264 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1264 Fri, 07 Jul 2006 13:52:53 CDT CMS Exempts 8 Million From New Medicaid Law; The Five Stage Retirement; Tax Cuts Add to Debt Burden; Homes May Provide Retirement Relief; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1255 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1255 Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:37:16 CDT House Democrats Unveil a Fix for Part D; House Renews Older Americans Act; Health Care Costs Weigh on Retirees; Medicare to Encourage Preventive Care; Drug Companies Use Doctors’ Charities Illicitly to Curry Favor; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1258 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1258 Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:39:24 CDT White House Sets its Sights on Social Security Again; Drug Prices Rising Despite Part D Competition; Senate Denies Lowest-Wage Workers a Raise; House Votes for Partial Repeal of the Estate Tax; Minnesota Adds its Clout; World Loses Two Legends http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1213 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1213 Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:24:39 CDT Congress May Consider Changes to New Medicare Law; Alliance WHCoA Delegates Win on Conference Report; Budget Cuts Would Worsen Enforcement Crisis at EEOC �" Alliance Speaks Out; E-Mailing Congress Just got Harder;  Bert and Annabel Seidman Prize Awarded to Sheet Metal Worker; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1574 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1574 Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:48:58 CDT Once again showing the power of retiree activism, Alliance for Retired Americans members who served as delegates to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) were able to beat back an effort to water down the Conference’s final report.On June 12 the WHCoA’s policy committee voted 6-5 to include all 50 resolutions adopted at the Conference into the final report, along with strong language on how to implement the policy recommendations.  In the days leading up to the vote, Alliance... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1249 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1249 Fri, 09 Jun 2006 14:19:03 CDT Key House Republican Renews Social Security Privatization Talk; Elimination of Part D Enrollment Penalty Not a Done Deal; Attempt to Repeal Estate Tax Blocked; Protectors or Predators?; Citizens’ Health Care Working Group Releases Interim Recommendations; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1246 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1246 Fri, 02 Jun 2006 14:28:47 CDT November Forecast: Stormy Skies for Incumbents; New Video: Walter Cronkite on How to Fix Medicare Part D; Health Care Crisis Delays Steelworkers’ Retirement; State Chapter News; Alliance National Convention; 2073 Retiree?; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/565 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/565 Fri, 26 May 2006 12:02:56 CDT Jury Finds Enron Executives Guilty; Wall Street Journal Pans Part D; Wal-Mart Likes It; Hello, Texas!; Justice Department: Abbott Laboratories' Fraud Cost Government Millions; Alliance National Convention; Did You Know... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1243 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1243 Fri, 19 May 2006 13:41:22 CDT Proposed Part D Penalty Waiver: a Band-Aid on a Major Wound; Pension Bill Stalled with Bad Provision; House Budget Resolution Highlights Misplaced Priorities; Alliance Board Meeting A Success; Working in Your Golden Years May Not be an Option; Alliance National Convention; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1571 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1571 Mon, 15 May 2006 14:41:25 CDT Click here for the Alliance Issue Briefs http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1135 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1135 Fri, 12 May 2006 14:11:46 CDT With Part D Deadline on Monday, Still Work to be Done; Deficits Up, Poll Numbers Down; Employee Free Choice Act; State Chapter News; More Details on Alliance National Meeting; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1237 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1237 Fri, 05 May 2006 13:54:05 CDT Administration Attempts to Create a Social Security and Medicare Crisis; Final Push Next Week to Extend the Part D Enrollment Deadline; Report Tells of Appalling Nursing Home Neglect; Budget News; Open Enrollment for Insurance to Supplement Medicare; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1231 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1231 Fri, 28 Apr 2006 12:14:25 CDT Medicare Part D Problems Become More Evident; Part D Enrollment Numbers Are Underwhelming; Formulary Rule Change Better Late than Never; Eighteen Well-Heeled Families Fund Estate Tax Repeal Effort; Did You Know... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1138 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1138 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:28:29 CDT Nevada on Course to Allow Reimportation of Prescription Drugs from Canada; Senators Call for Vote to Extend Part D Enrollment; Drug Industry Works to Impede Marketing of Generic Drugs; State Chapter Events; Another Chance to Voice Your Opinion on Health Care; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1228 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1228 Thu, 13 Apr 2006 14:44:31 CDT Alliance 2005 Voting Record: Congress Gets a Failing Grade; Part D Costs Rise in 2007; CMS Officials Exit Through Swinging Doors to Join Insurers’ Trade Group http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1222 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1222 Fri, 07 Apr 2006 11:57:09 CDT Gov. Rendell Requests Release of WHCoA Materials; Rep. DeLay Resigns; Congress Tries to Agree on a Budget; State Chapter News; Wal-Mart Uses Its Might to Block Port Security; 2005 Alliance Voting Record to be Released; Did You Know http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1568 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1568 Fri, 07 Apr 2006 14:34:22 CDT Use the following key to determine how your Senators and Representative voted. Democrat (D) Republican (R) Independent (I) + Announced For Voted With Alliance Policy - Announced Against ... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1225 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1225 Fri, 31 Mar 2006 15:05:36 CST More Part D Problems; Even HHS Secretary Leavitt’s Parents Experience Medicare Confusion; Congressional Election Watch; State Chapter News; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1559 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1559 Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:50:49 CST The 2005 Voting Record assessed how Members of Congress voted on 10 House and 10 Senate votes that were important to the health and economic security of seniors, including Medicare, retiree benefits, tax breaks and perscription drug bennefits. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1553 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1553 Tue, 28 Mar 2006 12:12:59 CST The Alliance for Retired Americans invites you to attend our National Convention in Washington, DC, September 5-8 and 2006, and join us in fighting for retirement security. Register today! Elections Members will elect a president and secretary-treasurer and at-large members will also elect six community-based board members.  Nominees must be members in good standing of the National Alliance.  Any self-enrolled (at-large) member may attend the meeting and is eligible to vote.  Sponsoring... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1550 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1550 Tue, 28 Mar 2006 12:12:18 CST The major focus of the speakers, workshops and training sessions will be on our work growing State Alliances that educate our members about government policies affecting retirement security. Past speakers include: Senators Paul Sarbanes, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Debbie Stabenow and Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Charlie Rangel, Sandy Levin, Maxine Waters, Jan Schakowsky, Xavier Becerra, Sherrod Brown, and Bernie Sanders. A massive Lobby Day will highlight this mid-term Election year... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1562 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1562 Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:56:40 CST Click here to download the 2005 Voting Record This past year we saw Congress once again enact legislation that worsened the nation’s budget and fiscal crisis at the expense of retirees and older Americans. In the face of the largest deficits in the nation’s history, Congress deepened the crisis and favored only the wealthiest Americans with tax cuts. In addition, even before the Medicare Part D prescription drug program... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1556 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1556 Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:38:03 CST Each state's voting record is available as a PDF file. To find out how your Congressional delegation voted, choose your state from the drop down below or click on the map. ... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1496 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1496 Tue, 28 Mar 2006 13:48:13 CST Together, we can advocate for an America that protects the health and economic security of its seniors. But we need you to get involved now! Use the 2005 Alliance Voting Record and this accompanying toolkit to educate and mobilize! Send a letter to your Member of Congress Admonish your Senator for a zero score Admonish your Representative for a zero score Downloads $OVML(05VotingRecord/extras.ovml) Resources To find your local newspapers, go to: ... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1177 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1177 Fri, 24 Mar 2006 14:56:24 CST Senate Votes “No” on Social Security Privatization; Early-Retirement Packages at GM; Lawsuit Over Spending Cuts; Retirement Watch in Congress; Alliance Events Around the Country; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1216 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1216 Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:41:15 CST Part D: In the Midst of Conflicting Republican Messages; Senate Defiance of the Drug Companies; Raise the Debt Ceiling, Then Lower Revenue - Was This Enron’s Idea?; CHCWG �" An Opportunity to Improve the Nation’s Health Care System; Drug Plan Threatens Small Pharmacies; Did You Know http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1210 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1210 Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:36:46 CST Senior Housing Crisis; 2005 WHCoA Report to Governors Falls Short; When $8.2 Trillion Isn’t Enough; AARP: The Profit Maker; Big Changes Coming to the House?; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1207 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1207 Fri, 03 Mar 2006 14:11:37 CST Bush Losing GOP Support; GOP Hopes Simplification Will Ease the Chaos; More Problems With Drug ‘Benefit’; If It Looks Like Privatization, Walks Like Privatization, Then It’s Privatization; Lemonade Out of A Lemon by November; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1204 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1204 Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:39:04 CST Medicare Part D’s Price at the Polls; Even Fellow Republicans Don’t Like Bush’s Ideas; Lagging Drug Plan Enrollment; Administration Cooks the Books on the Budget; Did You Know… http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1195 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1195 Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:57:26 CST Kourpias Calls for Reauthorization of Older Americans Act; Part D Voter Revolt; HHS Reaches Out for Help…From Teens!; Canadian Pharmacies Feel Customs Heat; Junior High Civics Class Re-Visited http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1198 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1198 Fri, 10 Feb 2006 14:21:17 CST Bush Budget Privatizes Social Security; Seniors Pay a Heavy Price in Bush Budget; Medicare Medicaid; Social Security; Older Americans Act (OAA);  Social Services Block Grant (SSBG); Senior Volunteer Programs; Community Services Block Grant (CSBG); Senior Volunteer Programs; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, Service Coordinator Program; Legal Services Corporation (LSC) http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1183 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1183 Fri, 03 Feb 2006 12:13:18 CST GOP Slashes $11 Billion from Medicare and Medicaid; State of the Union: What the President Didn’t Say about Medicare; State of the Union: Read Between the Lines on Social Security; Part D Not Reaching Those Who Need It Most; Democrats Introduce Legislation to Fix Ailing Medicare Law; Rocky Launch of Part D Threatens Future Enrollment http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1168 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1168 Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:41:12 CST States Will Be Reimbursed for Bailing Out Drug Plan; Insurance Lobby Collects $22 Billion in GOP Budget; Tell Your Rep to Stop Passage of $40 Billion in Budget Cuts; Medicare's Bargaining Power Could Save Billions in Drug Costs; President Bush to Highlight Health Care in State of the Union; Alliance Members Speak Up! http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1547 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1547 Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:20:31 CST Bewilderment and frustration have characterized Medicare Part D and the official start of coverage, January 1, 2006, was no exception. Persistent problems continue to plague the floundering drug benefit. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/772 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/772 Fri, 20 Jan 2006 13:07:08 CST Growing Chorus Decries Botched Rollout of Part D; Part D: Corrupt Policy, Corrupt Politics; Part D May Cut Off More Poor Patients from Medicine; Tell Your Rep to Stop Passage of $40 Billion in Budget Cuts; Aloha State Becomes Latest Alliance Charter http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1186 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1186 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 12:23:11 CST Part D Chaos Leaves Poorest and Sickest Seniors without Medications; Social Security Privatization Model a Failure; Nevadans Fight and Win in Battle to Keep Drug Imports; Fair Share Health Care Wins Decisive Victory in Maryland http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1541 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1541 Mon, 09 Jan 2006 10:28:54 CST Republicans slashed $40 billion in programs aimed at the elderly, students, children and the poor. The bill will make it harder for seniors to qualify for Medicaid's long-term care assistance, cutting $11 billion from Medicare and Medicaid while shielding pharmaceutical and insurance companies from any cuts. The final vote was 216-214.See how your Representative votedHow Budget Cuts Affect SeniorsSenior citizens and their families, including many in the middle class, would be hit hard by... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1180 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1180 Fri, 06 Jan 2006 15:06:17 CST New Year Ushers in Part D with Mixed Results; Medicare Private Contractors Sponsor Lavish Conferences; AARP Backs off Reimportation in Favor of Part D; Take Action: Stop $40 Billion in Immoral Budget Cuts; First Boomers Turn 60; AFL-CIO Launches State Campaign to Improve Health Care for Workers http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1174 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1174 Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:28:17 CST Part D Private Plans Don't Get Same Discounts as VA; Medicaid's Neediest May Pay the Heaviest Price in Transition to Part D; Nursing Homes Burdened by Part D Complexities; GOP Plays Scrooge Passing Draconian Budget Cuts http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1171 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1171 Fri, 16 Dec 2005 13:56:33 CST Alliance Delegates' Anti-Privatization Demands at Aging Conference Win Approval; Alliance Delegates Star on Capitol Hill; Seniors' Discontent Grows with Consequences for Midterm Elections; House Passes Pension Bill http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1544 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1544 Fri, 16 Dec 2005 13:43:58 CST Immediately following the close of the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, several Alliance delegates went to Capitol Hill and shared their Medicare Part D experiences with lawmakers and the press at a roundtable discussion.  Concerned about the widespread confusion and problems plaguing the Part D enrollment, Judy Cato, Verna Porter, Bill Holayter and Frank Ollivierre told Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Pete Stark (D-CA), Tom Allen (D-ME), Marion Berry (D-AR), Stephanie Herseth... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1523 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1523 Fri, 16 Dec 2005 13:42:25 CST If President Bush is feeling a little bit like Rodney I get no respect Dangerfield, he has the 50+ Alliance member-delegates to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging to thank. The Alliance delegates arrived in Washington, DC last weekend primed for confrontation and rebellion - and that's just what the conference and the president got. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1520 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1520 Fri, 09 Dec 2005 13:48:02 CST A contingent of activist delegates to the White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA), held December 11-14 in Washington, DC, are angry and frustrated no opportunity exists for open debate about issues they believe should be discussed but are not included on the conference's agenda. At issue for the Alliance's 50 delegates is the 2005 WHCoA's refusal to allow any non-agenda resolutions to be publicly discussed and debated, even if 10% of the delegates favor such action. In addition, Alliance... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1165 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1165 Fri, 09 Dec 2005 13:34:44 CST 2005 White House Conference on Aging a 'White Wash'; Support Builds for Part D Enrollment Extension; Companies Adopt 'Wait and See' Approach on Retiree Health Benefits; Grassroots Movement to Fix Health Care Crisis One City at a Time; Restore the Basic Right to Workers' Rights on December 10 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1535 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1535 Thu, 08 Dec 2005 12:45:20 CST The Alliance recommends the following implementation strategies for key resolutions at the White House Conference on Aging. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1096 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1096 Fri, 02 Dec 2005 10:58:03 CST December 11-14: White House Conference on Aging; Confusion and Bewilderment Over Part D; Problems in Discount Card Program Ominous for Part D; Part D Tips for Retirees with Employer or Union Provided Health Care; Senators Fail in Last Ditch Effort on Social Security Privatization; Alliance Grassroots Working in the States; Stand with Working Families: December 10 Week of Action Begins http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1538 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1538 Fri, 02 Dec 2005 11:17:28 CST If you are one of the 11.5 million Medicare beneficiaries who have drug coverage through a former employer or union, your current coverage could work with Medicare Part D in several different ways. The 2003 law offered employers several options in order to encourage companies to continue their retiree benefits, which are generally more generous than Part D. The best source of information for your drug coverage is your former employer, union or your health care plan so contact them directly.... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1162 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1162 Tue, 22 Nov 2005 14:40:54 CST There was no Friday Alert on November 18. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1153 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1153 Thu, 10 Nov 2005 14:01:41 CST Honoring America's Veterans; Elections Deliver Blow to Republicans - Set Tone for 2006 Midterms; Seniors Still Wary of Part D Drug Benefit; Midterm Elections Will Determine Future of Social Security; Restore Workers' Freedoms on December 10 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1159 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1159 Fri, 04 Nov 2005 12:35:54 CST Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment Begins November 15; White House Threatens to Veto Cuts to Medicare Insurance Subsidy; Eligible Medicaid Recipients Randomly Enrolled Into Medicare Drug Plans; Drug Prices Soar Past Inflation Again; Alliance Says No to Tax Cuts for Millionaires; December 10: Mobilizing for Worker Rights http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1532 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1532 Fri, 04 Nov 2005 12:14:24 CST For information and qualified, non-biased help with Part D private plans and enrollment, the following federal and state agencies will provide one-on-one counseling. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1120 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1120 Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:17:55 CDT Bush Calls for Deeper Budget Cuts, More Tax Cuts and Private Accounts; Alliance Joins the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP); Poll Suggests Bleak Outlook for Incumbents; Medicare Aid Program Extended; Pension Premiums May Rise; Drugs Sales to Soar with Medicare Rx Benefit; December 10: Workers' Rights Are Human Rights http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1156 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1156 Fri, 21 Oct 2005 14:25:48 CDT House GOP Pushes for Massive Budget Cuts; GM and UAW Reach Agreement on Retiree Health Care Benefits; States Resist Payments for Medicare Rx Drug Benefit; Congress Fails to Renew Medicare Aid Program; Get Mobilized for December 10: International Human Rights Day; In Memoriam: Joyce Starks; Be a Part of the Recovery Effort for Working Families in the Gulf Coast http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1132 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1132 Fri, 07 Oct 2005 13:03:04 CDT 'No Appetite' for Dismantling Social Security; Medicare Handbook Blooper Fuels Confusion; Pension Bill Stalled in Senate; Medicare Drug Plan May Hurt WI Seniors; Some Want Seniors to Pay for Katrina http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1150 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1150 Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:27:08 CDT Pension Protection Bill Moves Forward in Senate; New Medicare Drug Plans Make Marketing Debut; Negotiated Drug Prices = Winners; Medicare Prices = Losers; Santorum Criticizes GOP Social Security Efforts; Proposes Hollow Guarantee; Vanishing Pensions and Savings: Educational Fund's Latest Issue Brief http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1147 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1147 Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:50:57 CDT Special Legislative Conference Alert; Clinton Tells Delegates to Keep Fighting Social Security Privatization; White House: Disaster Relief Needs Tax Cuts and Social Security Privatization http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1144 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1144 Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:45:28 CDT Scrambling for Funds Lawmakers Suggest Delaying Medicare Drug Benefit; Basic Medicare Premiums to Increase 13%; Seniors Prove Social Security Privatization Is the Wrong Way; Senate to Test Vote on Reimportation; Medicare Recipients Needed for Case Against Drug Industry Greed; Make a Difference for Working Families in the Gulf Coast http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1141 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1141 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 13:21:49 CDT GOP Conflicted Over Social Security Privatization; Insurers and Wall Street Eye Profits from Drug Benefit; PBGC Says Delta and Northwest Must Pay Pensions; Employees Shouldering the Burden of Rising Health Care Costs; Fight Drug Company Greed!; White House Conference on Aging Posts Delegate Information Online; How You Can Help Rebuild the Gulf Coast http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1123 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1123 Fri, 02 Sep 2005 11:49:38 CDT Promoting Medicare Bush Calls for Privatizing Social Security; Medicare Drug Plans Gear Up for October Promotional Push; Social Security and Medicare Decrease Elderly Poverty Rate; Not Too Late for Alliance's Legislative Conference, September 7-9; Addressing Housing Needs of Older Americans; Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief; How You Can Help Katrina's Victims http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1129 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1129 Fri, 26 Aug 2005 12:12:58 CDT Stand Up to Respect and Protect Retirement Security!; Seniors Still Skeptical of Medicare Drug Plan; Medicare Law Means Healthcare Industry Lobbying Booms; As Prices Rise, Pressure Mounts to Legalize Drug Imports; Americans' Savings Are Dismal to Nothing http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1126 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1126 Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:24:39 CDT Despite Polls GOP Optimistic About Push for Private Accounts; Drug Costs for Elderly Rise at Twice Rate of Inflation; Racial Health Disparities Persist in Medicare; Private Companies Spend Millions Marketing Medicare; Americans Bear Larger Burdens with Medical Debt http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1117 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1117 Fri, 12 Aug 2005 13:42:15 CDT Social Security Celebrates 70 Years; September Will Be Critical to Protecting Retirement Security; Medicare Premium Bait and Switch?; Big Pharma to Police Its Own Drug Advertising http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1493 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1493 Thu, 11 Aug 2005 13:22:14 CDT Privatizers are determined to destroy Social Security’s guaranteed benefits and replace them with risky private accounts. Their latest proposal is the worst privatization plan yet: raid Social Security’s surplus to establish private accounts. They claim it will “stop the raid on Social Security” but that’s flat out wrong. It’s still private accounts, plain and simple. Find out what they won’t tell you. http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1529 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1529 Fri, 05 Aug 2005 14:53:56 CDT Urge Your Elected Officials to Oppose Social Security Privatization! Privatization is bad for Social Security, our economy and our future. Social Security faces a challenge, not a crisis, and it needs to be strengthened, not dismantled. Send our Social Security petition to urge your elected officials to oppose, reject, and vote against any legislation that would partially or fully privatize Social Security.  Download our Social Security Petition » http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1111 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1111 Fri, 05 Aug 2005 13:47:29 CDT Bush Insists on Pursuing Private Accounts; Clinton and Goodwin Confirmed for Alliance Legislative Conference; Supreme Court Nominee Defended PhRMA; Rising Drug Prices Continue to Outpace Inflation; Health Insurers Eager for Medicare Dollars Market Drug Benefit; Alliance Welcomes Two More States to Growing Grassroots; Retiring Into Work: Alliance Educational Fund Releases Latest Issue Brief; WHCoA Resolutions from the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1526 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1526 Wed, 03 Aug 2005 16:42:14 CDT The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), a coalition of over 50 national aging organizations, sponsored a White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) Solutions Forum on May 17, 2005. The Alliance for Retired Americans serves as one of five rotating chairs of LCAO. At the forum, LCAO representatives presented resolutions to the conference policy committee. The resolutions (listed below) pertain to health and long-term care services, pensions and savings, the Social Security and... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1108 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1108 Fri, 29 Jul 2005 14:00:12 CDT Alliance President Addresses AFL-CIO Convention; Medicare Celebrates 40 Years As GOP Ramps Up PR Push for Rx Benefit; August 1st National Social Security Call-In Day; House Democrats Propose Retirement Security Package; Rove Tells Allies House Will Move First on Social Security; Bush Privatization Campaign Running Short on Cash? http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1102 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1102 Fri, 22 Jul 2005 13:21:23 CDT Surplus Plan Doesn't Pass Muster With White House; Medicare Drug Plan Faces a Rocky Road; Legalizing Drug Reimportation Overcomes First Hurdle in Senate; Direct-To-Consumer Drug Advertising Draws Ire and Action http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1105 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1105 Fri, 15 Jul 2005 13:39:19 CDT Congress Delays Action on Private Accounts; Older Americans Decisive Influence on Social Security Debate; Alliance Educates and Mobilizes Seniors Around Social Security; Bush Administration's Medicare Education Inaccurate; White House …Finally… Gets it Right on Veterans Health Care http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1517 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1517 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 11:10:36 CDT · 39 Stops· 19 States· More than 70 Members of Congress· 12,500 milesSenior opposition to private accounts has a lot to do with the trepidation in Congress to act on Social Security. Older voters wield significant influence in elections, especially mid-term elections, because they are much more likely to vote. The Alliance has played a central role in educating and mobilizing seniors around Social Security and the dangers of privatization. The nationwide grassroots network has mobilized... http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1093 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1093 Fri, 08 Jul 2005 12:01:02 CDT Drug Industry Spends More than Any Other to Influence Government; Seniors Anti-Privatization Message Louder and Stronger; Social Security in Congress; Social Security Administration Has No Plans to Commemorate 70th Anniversary; Medicaid Cuts Focused on Long-Term Care http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1099 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1099 Fri, 01 Jul 2005 10:20:39 CDT House Republicans Sacrifice Solvency for Private Accounts; Social Security Truth Truck Rolls Through Midwest During July 4 Recess; GOP Scrambles to Fill Billion Dollar Hole in Veterans Health Care; Canada Cracks Down on Rx Drug Exports; Older Americans Anxious about Health Care Costs http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1054 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1054 Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:23:02 CDT Social Security: Desperate Lawmakers; More Big Companies Ditching Pensions; Health Care Costs Outpace Wages; Nevada Defies Federal Ban on Drug Reimportation; Connecticut Joins Alliance's Grassroots Network; Retiree Health Insurance Program http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1415 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1415 Wed, 22 Jun 2005 16:02:26 CDT Drug Reimportation BasicsReimporting lower priced medications has become an urgent political issue. Federal lawmakers, state and local governments and millions of Americans are forcing legislative action to legalize imports as a way of providing relief from skyrocketing prescription drugs prices in the United States.Learn more about drug reimportation and how it affects seniors.  Read More » http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1412 http://retiredamericans.org/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/1412 Wed, 22 Jun 2005 15:59:17 CDT How Did Your Elected Officials Vote on the 2003 Medicare Law?In late 2003, the legislative battle to pass the Medicare bill was contentious until the end. A House-Senate conference committee dominated by Republicans produced the bill, which was quickly brought up for debate in the House. In the early morning hours of November 22, the bill narrowly passed by a vote of 220-215 after an unprecedented three-ho