Friday Alert   September 29, 2006
Alliance for Retired Americans
888 16th Street, N.W. -  Washington DC, 20006 - (202) 974-8222 - www.retiredamericans.or

Another Suspicious Privatization Attempt
"For Our Grandchildren," a pro-privatization group funded by the conservative American Institute for Full Employment, started a new Social Security campaign pledge that will be sent to each member of Congress this week.  The pledge asks for a commitment to require that "all options be on the table" in future discussions about strengthening Social Security.  While the pledge avoids direct mention of private accounts, the website of For Our Grandchildren states in its principles that workers should have a choice to divert payroll taxes into privately-invested accounts, and the group's Board of Advisors includes 10 members of President Bush's 2001 privatization commission.  The For Our Grandchildren pledge directly challenges the "Golden Promise" campaign kicked off by Americans United and Democratic leaders earlier this month at an Alliance rally.  "It's appropriate that the acronym for this pro-privatization group is FOG," said Edward Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance.  "By purposefully failing to mention their Social Security goals, those behind FOG are using a cloudy pledge to trick members of Congress into considering private accounts, even when they overwhelmingly rejected such plans last year."

U.S. Senate Up for Grabs?
In Virginia, a state that few pundits expected to be seriously competitive, Republican Sen. George Allen looks newly vulnerable after a series of controversies over charges of racial insensitivity, strategists in both parties say.  Democratic challengers are also either ahead or close in races in five states held by the Republicans: Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, according to political strategists and the latest polls.  The development in Virginia could have an enormous impact on the fight for control of the Senate, since it means a sixth GOP seat - the number needed for Democrats to attain a majority - is now in play.  "The Democrats still have some tough races to defend, but a clear scenario has now emerged that would mean a big change in Senate leadership," said George J. Kourpias, President of the Alliance.

Judge Orders Medicare Not to Collect Incorrect Payments Sent to Beneficiaries
On Wednesday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Medicare from recovering Part D premium refunds mistakenly sent out by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) until the affected beneficiaries are given the opportunity to seek a waiver of recovery.  CMS had sent out a letter in late August demanding that the 230,000 beneficiaries who received the premium refunds repay them by the end of September.  However, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the letter did not include a statement that the Medicare statute requires recovery of incorrect payments to be waived in specified circumstances. Acting on a lawsuit filed by the Action Alliance of Senior Citizens and the Gray Panthers, a federal judge ordered CMS to send out a new letter informing those affected that they have a right to request a waiver of recovery and that CMS must refund any repayments that have been made, giving everyone involved the chance to request a waiver.  The erroneous premium refunds were a result of a computer glitch involving the Part D prescription drug program.  Claiming that the Medicare waiver statute did not apply to mistaken Part D premium refunds, CMS then demanded that the money, which averaged $215 per person, be returned.

New Voting Technology Brings Complications
Alarms are once again being raised that the 2006 Congressional elections could be beset by problems at the polls.  Already, glitches have occurred this year in primary elections in Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.  As USA Today summarized, "problems range from delayed delivery of new equipment to an insufficient supply of trained technicians to fix anticipated problems."  The 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) mandated new voting technology, updated statewide voter registries, provisional ballots for those not on voter lists and identification requirements for certain new registrants, and most of its provisions take effect this year.  However, as a Congressional Research Service (CRS) study in Roll Call reported, Congress authorized $600 million to help states meet its requirements, then failed to provide the funding in fiscal 2005 or 2006.  According to the Election Assistance Commission, national elections require about 2 million poll workers nationwide - many of them retirees.  The workers needed training that HAVA mandated in order to be ready for the new equipment and rules, but they have not received it.  On Tuesday, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), proposed emergency legislation to reimburse states for the cost of printing paper ballots in case of problems with electronic voting machines.  However, the measure appears unlikely to become law.  Please call your local election office on November 7 if you experience any problems with voting machines.

Alliance Activities Across the Country
Edward Coyle will travel to Vermont for the official chartering of the Vermont state Alliance on Saturday, September 30.  Chet Briggs will be Vermont's state President.  "The next two years will be perilous times for seniors," said Mr. Briggs.  "The sustained assault on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid could continue even if the Democrats succeed in taking over the House and Senate."  In Ohio, Dave Friesner of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union was recently elected President of the Ohio state Alliance.  "I am honored to be the new president.  I hope to continue all the good work that has been started by my predecessors and help us grow into a bigger and stronger organization," said Mr. Friesner.  Sally Steagall is Ohio's new Treasurer. 

As Election Day draws closer, Alliance members are gearing up and spreading the word about candidates who support the goals of the Alliance and stand up for older Americans.  Earlier this week, President Bruce Dunton of the Maryland/DC Alliance turned up with 10 energetic volunteers to spend the day phone banking at Alliance headquarters in Washington, D.C.  Alliance members in Minnesota and Ohio participated in rallies and events, while activists in Wisconsin attended a candidate forum in Green Bay.  "All the hard work of Alliance members does not go unnoticed," said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.  "Our enthusiastic volunteers and activists are what makes this organization so strong and successful."

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