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Friday Alert
Friday, May 1, 2009(Alliance for Retired Americans)
Retirees' Stake in Health Care
Reform to be the Theme for Older Americans
Month
Retirees have a stake in
health care reform, and May – Older Americans
Month – is when seniors will be driving that
point home! This year, Older Americans
Month is a time to recognize the achievements
of seniors and to highlight retirees' needs in
health care reform. While lobbying and
mobilizing, Alliance members will focus on the
quality, delivery, and financing of national
health care. Particular attention will be
paid to allowing those 55-64 years of age to
buy into Medicare, improving the Medicare Part
D prescription drug benefit, long term care,
and a public health care plan.
"Throughout May, the Alliance is asking its
members to focus on priorities for seniors in
the health care conversation, engaging not only
elected officials, but also Community Advocacy
Network members, the larger senior community
and coalition partners," said Barbara
J. Easterling, President of the
Alliance. "We will be providing talking
points, sample letters to the editor, fact
sheets, and more."
Sen. Arlen Specter Switches Parties,
Joins Democratic Caucus
After 27
years in the Senate and 43 years of politics as
a Republican, Pennsylvania Senator
Arlen Specter switched parties
on Tuesday. The move puts Democrats one
seat away from a filibuster-proof 60-vote
majority, pending a court ruling on the results
of Minnesota's Senate race. Specter
acknowledged making the switch in an attempt to
keep his Senate seat; after voting for
Obama's $787 billion stimulus
plan in February he faced pressure from
Pennsylvania conservatives and a tough primary
challenge from former representative
Pat Toomey. President
Obama said he did not expect the Senator to be
a "rubber stamp" – Specter made the switch by
also announcing his continued opposition to the
Employee Free Choice Act.
Obama Favors Increasing Cap to
Protect Social Security
In Arnold,
Missouri on Wednesday, President Obama said
that raising the payroll tax cap is the "best
way" to secure the retirement program's
future. While stating his preference for
raising income levels over reducing benefits,
Obama also rejected increasing the retirement
age, noting it as a burden for older
workers. Calling Social Security a
"solvable problem" and refuting the idea that
the system will go bankrupt, the President
suggested he might hold another White House
summit to deal with the issue. "After
eight years of focus on a privatized Social
Security tied to the roulette wheel of the
stock market, it is refreshing to hear ideas
that are truly aimed at protecting Social
Security," said Ruben Burks,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.
Coalition Releases Health Care
Reform Recommendations for
Seniors
The Leadership Council of
Aging Organizations (LCAO) yesterday released
detailed agenda recommendations for national
health care reform. LCAO is a coalition
of 60 national not-for-profit organizations
concerned with the well-being of America’s 87
million people over age 50.
Edward Coyle, Executive
Director of the Alliance, is currently the
Chair of LCAO. Highlights of the
recommendations include creating a national
public-plan option as an alternative to private
health insurers and using the government's bulk
purchasing power to negotiate volume discounts
from drug manufacturers. The full
recommendations are available at www.lcao.org. "Congress
has an opportunity to improve the quality,
affordability, and accessibility of health care
for the fastest growing segment of our
country. Our health care crisis is a big
reason why so many Americans worry they will
not be to retire securely – if they can even
retire at all," said Coyle.
U.S. House and Senate Approve Budget
on Obama's 100th Day in Office
On
Wednesday, House Democrats voted 233 to 193 to
give final approval to a $3.5 trillion budget
that addresses the Democrats' top domestic
priorities. Seventeen Democrats joined
176 Republicans in opposition; the Senate
result the same day was 53 to 43, with 4
Democrats, including newly minted Democrat
Arlen Specter, joining 39 Republicans against
the plan. The votes came on Obama's 100th
day in office. The passage of fast-track
reconciliation rules as part of the budget will
allow Senate Democrats to push through health
care reforms with just a simple majority
instead of the 60 votes needed for most
controversial legislation. The deal gives
Democrats significant room for maneuvering as
they move ahead with a health care plan, which
is still in the early stages of drafting.
It also allows 11 years to pay for any health
care initiative.
Chrysler and GM Retirees Hang On
Tight
Chrysler filed for bankruptcy
protection on Thursday and will form an
alliance with the Italian carmaker Fiat
Group. The Obama administration said it
had long hoped to stave off bankruptcy, but
some hedge fund creditors would not budge on
proposals to reduce Chrysler's $6.9 billion in
secured debt. The United Automobile Workers
union (UAW) had said on Wednesday that its
members ratified a cost-cutting deal with
Chrysler by a 4-to-1 margin. The union
has yet to complete a deal with General Motors
(GM). The UAW members at both Chrysler
and GM stand to lose some of their pay and
benefits. Under proposed deals devised by
the Treasury Department, U.A.W. pensions and
health care benefits for Chrysler retirees
would largely be protected, but retiree dental
and vision benefits would be
eliminated.
Kathleen
Sebelius Confirmed as Secretary of Health and
Human Services
The Senate confirmed
Kansas Governor Kathleen
Sebelius as Secretary of Health and
Human services by a vote of 65 to 31 on
Tuesday, officially filling the last Cabinet
vacancy. Sebelius, a former state
insurance commissioner and former president of
the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners, is an expert on insurance
regulation and will lead the administration's
health care reform initiative.
Alliance's 2008 Voting Record to be
Released Next Week
This coming
Monday, the Alliance will release its new
voting record, showing the tabulation of 10 key
Senate votes and 10 key House votes in
2008. Go to www.retiredamericans.org at
mid-day on Monday to see how your elected
officials voted on important senior issues, and
look for a summary of the results in next
week's Friday Alert.