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Friday Alert 5/27/05
Alliance for Retired Americans
888 16th Street, N.W. - Washington DC, 20006 - (202)
974-8222 - www.retiredamericans.org
Older Voters Dominated 2004 Elections; Will Likely
Have Huge Impact in 2006
The enormous voting power of older Americans was reflected in the U.S. Census
Bureau's report of the 2004 election. According to the report, 125 million
Americans-64% of those 18 or older-voted, up from 60% in the 2000 elections.
Older voters are well-known for their outsized role within the electorate,
and 2004 proved to be no exception. The highest voting rates were among voters
age 65-74 and 55-64 at 73%, followed by those ages 45-54 at 69%. The lowest rate
was among the youngest Americans: 47% for those ages 18-24.
Nearly seven months since the election, polls show that Americans are
increasingly unhappy with the President and Congress. Dissatisfaction with
lawmakers on Capitol Hill is higher than it has been since 1994, with 65% of
Americans saying Congress does not share their priorities, according to a Wall
Street Journal/NBC News poll. Six in 10 Americans feel the same about President
Bush, according to a CBS News poll.
On Social Security, President Bush's plan to divert payroll taxes into
private accounts and cut future benefits is not resonating with seniors despite
the President's repeated assurances that those over 55 would not be affected.
The CBS News poll found 68% of Americans 65 and older disapprove of his handling
of the issue; among the 45-64 age group, 67% disapprove. Pollsters agree that
unhappiness among seniors is of great concern to incumbents particularly because
senior turnout is disproportionately high in mid-term elections.
Senate Democrats Holding Firm Against Privatization
The Senate Finance Committee held its third hearing this week as
it works to draft legislation that would overhaul Social Security with private
investment accounts. Democrats will not negotiate on Social Security until
President Bush has disavowed private accounts created through payroll taxes
citing the trillions of dollars in new debt. Finance Chair Sen. Charles Grassley
(R-IA) has said he will create a Republican-only bill and plans to have it come
up for a vote this summer. But Grassley privately acknowledged slow progress in
building consensus among Republicans on his committee, according to
Congressional Quarterly. Publicly frustrated with Democratic opposition,
Grassley has urged Democrats to negotiate. However, the opposition shows no
signs of relenting until private accounts, which President Bush has already
conceded will not improve solvency, are taken off the table. Ranking Democrat
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) said, "We're not going to engage in bait-and-switch."
Alliance Truth Truck Tours the West
The Social Security Truth Truck will tour the West beginning Tuesday, May 31 in
Seattle, WA; Wednesday, June 1: Portland and Medford, OR; Thursday, Jun 2: Reno,
NV; Friday, June 3: Henderson, NV. The Truck Tour has enabled thousands of
seniors to voice their concerns with Members of Congress about reckless
dismantling of Social Security. Our coast-to-coast message is clear: Don't
Privatize Social Security. Find out more on our website.
Centrists May Be Eyeing Social Security Debate
A bipartisan group of 14 centrist senators may be setting their sights on a
Social Security compromise. After brokering an 11th-hour deal that averted a
showdown on the "nuclear option" to ban judicial filibusters, political
observers predict the so-called "gang of 14" may play a pivotal role in the
gridlocked Social Security debate, The Hill reported. Members of the centrist
coalition include Sens. Lindsey Graham (D-SC), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Olympia Snowe
(R-ME), Joe Leiberman (D-CT), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Lincoln
Chafee (R-RI), John McCain (R-AZ), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI),
Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike DeWine (R-OH), John Warner (R-VA) and Robert Byrd
(D-WV).
Flawed Medicare Guide Will be Revised
The Bush administration will rewrite its 2006 "Medicare and You" handbook after
complaints from various groups that the draft was unclear, misleading and
inaccurate The New York Times reported. The draft failed to mention the nearly
$3,000 gap in drug coverage and also blurred the distinctions between
traditional Medicare and private insurance coverage through Medicare. Medicare's
drug benefit, scheduled to begin January 2006, will be administered by private
insurance companies in the name of providing beneficiaries with more "choice."
Hundreds of insurance companies are competing for Medicare's beneficiaries, and
the expanding options are increasingly difficult to explain. The annual handbook
will be mailed this fall and will likely be the main source of information for
beneficiaries on the complex drug program.
Alliance's Educational Fund Releases Brief on Rx Law
Implementation
The Alliance for Retired Americans Educational Fund (ARAEF) has released an
issue brief describing what Medicare beneficiaries need to know about the
Medicare prescription drug law. Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: A Guide
Through the Maze is available on the Educational Fund website at:
http://www.retiredamericansfund.org/pubs.
Last Chance to Become At-Large Delegate to the WHCoA
The White House Conference on Aging will take place in Washington DC, December
11-14, 2005. Individuals interested in being considered as At-Large delegates
may apply through an online form available on the WHCoA website at
http://www.whcoa.gov, by contacting the WHCoA office at 301-443-9462 or by
email at
Info@whcoa.gov. Individuals may self nominate or nominate others to be
considered as At-Large Delegates. The deadline for submission of At-Large
Delegate applications is June 1, 2005.
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Come to Washington, DC September 7-9 and Lobby Congress at the Alliance
for Retired Americans Legislative Conference - Register at
www.retiredamericans.org/legconf or call Joni Jones at
1-888-373-6497
Become part of a progressive grassroots movement!.
Join the Alliance
Alliance for Retired Americans 888 16th St, NW Washington, DC 20008
Click here to sign up for Alliance for Retired Americans.
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