October 15, 2020
Retiree Organization Endorses Mark Kelly for U.S. Senate
Cites Commitment to Protecting Earned Social Security and Medicare Benefits
Phoenix, AZ – Members of the Alliance for Retired Americans announced their endorsement of Mark Kelly for election to the U.S. Senate from Arizona today. The Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans is a grassroots advocacy organization with more than 48,000 members across the state.
“Mark Kelly understands the challenges facing older Americans and retirees in Arizona. We can be confident that he will fight for our retirement security in Washington,” said Saundra Cole, president of the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans. “He will battle every day to protect our hard earned Medicare and Social Security benefits. We are proud to endorse him.”
Kelly accepted the endorsement virtually via Zoom, forgoing an in-person event due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed more than 215,000 American lives, 80 percent of whom are over the age of 65. In Arizona, 5,767 people have died from the virus and 74% of the deceased were over 65.
Kelly will fight to keep the Affordable Care Act (ACA) from being repealed. Repealing the ACA removes consumer protections for 28% of Arizona residents with pre-existing health conditions and will make health insurance coverage far more expensive.
“I’m honored to have earned the support of the Alliance for Retired Americans,” said Kelly. “Right now, we’re seeing just how important it is that our leaders are focused on Arizonans, not politics. I will work to lower the price of prescription drugs and will always defend Medicare and Social Security. We have to make sure the federal government keeps its promise to Arizona seniors.”
In sharp contrast, Kelly’s opponent, incumbent Senator Martha McSally, has earned a lifetime score of just 15% in the Alliance’s Congressional Voting Record when she served in the U.S. House before being appointed to her U.S. Senate seat, where she earned a low score of 44%. McSally has also worked to cut protections for people with pre-existing conditions and repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“Mark Kelly also supports allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, a critical issue for older Americans who bear the brunt of escalating drug prices,” Cole continued. “Now more than ever, it is vital that we have senators and representatives in Washington who care about Arizona seniors and vote accordingly. In 2020 voting for the right person is literally a matter of life or death.”
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Contact: Dora Vasquez, retirees@azaflcio.org
