October 10, 2024
Retiree Group Endorses Elissa Slotkin for Election to U.S. Senate
Cites Her Commitment to Protecting Earned Social Security and Medicare Benefits
East Lansing, MI – The Alliance for Retired Americans proudly announced its endorsement of Elissa Slotkin for election to the U.S. Senate from Michigan today. The Alliance is a grassroots advocacy organization with more than 4.4 million members including more than 228,000 in Michigan.
“Elissa Slotkin has proven that she will look out for older Michiganders in the U.S. Senate. She earned a perfect lifetime score of 100% in the Alliance’s annual Congressional Voting Record,” said Jim Pedersen, President of the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans. “We trust her to work to strengthen and protect our hard earned Social Security and Medicare benefits. She knows that 2.2 million people in Michigan rely on Social Security payments every month and she will work to ensure they are there for current and future generations,” Pedersen continued.
“Thank you, Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), for your endorsement,” said U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin. “I’m grateful for your support and for all your organization does to protect Americans’ hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits. If you work hard your whole life, you deserve a dignified retirement. Social Security and Medicare are a promise — one that seniors have contributed to through a lifetime of hard work.”
Rep. Slotkin also successfully led the fight to save millions of union workers’ and retirees’ pensions. Her efforts led to passage of the Butch Lewis Act as part of the American Rescue Plan in 2021. As a result, 2 to 3 million workers’ pension plans now are solvent and able to pay full benefits through at least 2051.
In contrast, Mike Rogers, who served in Congress from 2001-2015, earned a dismal 7% lifetime pro-retiree score in the Alliance’s Congressional Voting Record. He even voted for a federal budget that sought to replace Medicare’s guarantee of coverage with a voucher-based program, raise the age of eligibility from 65 to 67, and shift substantial treatment costs to Medicare beneficiaries.
Rogers also does not support the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation which lowered drug costs by requiring Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors; capped out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year; capped insulin copays at $35 per month; and made necessary vaccines free for all Medicare beneficiaries. Rep. Slotkin voted for the legislation.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher for seniors like me. We need Elissa Slotkin in the Senate fighting against any Republican plan to cut Social Security and Medicare,” added Mr. Pedersen. “That’s why Elissa Slotkin is the obvious choice for Michigan seniors.”
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Contact: Jim Pedersen, aworker4mi@gmail.com
