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Alliance Member Stands Up for Seniors on Fixed Incomes
Friday, June 13, 2008
For Immediate Release
Retiree Tells Congress of Tough Budget
Choice:
Medicine vs. Food
Alliance Member Stands Up for Seniors
on Fixed Incomes
Washington,
DC – This morning at the U.S. Capitol,
Sadie Coleman, Vice President of the
Maryland/DC Alliance for Retired Americans,
shared her struggle with the high costs of fuel
and healthcare, and the sacrifices she has had
to make to offset rising prices on a fixed
income.
At a press conference with
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Byron Dorgan
(D-ND), Coleman also thanked Senate Democratic
leaders for introducing legislation to address
the economy, the energy crisis, taxes, and job
creation
“Between the high price of
drugs and the high price of fuel, seniors on
fixed incomes have to weigh whether we eat or
have medicine.” said Coleman. “We are faced
with choices no American should have to
make.”
Coleman spoke of seniors’ efforts
to stretch their budgets beyond their limits
and how high energy prices have forced her
friends and herself to take dangerous risks,
such as walking across busy roadways in the
summer heat to buy groceries, as they can no
longer afford to drive even the short distance
to the supermarket.
The struggling
economy has presented particular hardships for
low-income seniors and others who rely on
Social Security checks that have not kept up
with the cost of living.
“When you can
not afford to visit a loved one in the hospital
because you were so frivolous as to go grocery
shopping and to the doctor in the same week,
things have gotten too far out of hand,” she
said.
“We all thank Sadie for standing
up for the millions of retirees in this country
who are on tight budgets and simply have no way
left to cut costs without sacrificing
necessities,” said George Kourpias, President
of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “We need
Congress to follow the lead of these senators,
and protect working families both on the job
and in retirement.”
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Contact: Marcie Kohenak (202)
637-5178 or mkohenak@retiredamericans.org