|
Friday Alert June 15, 2007
Alliance for Retired Americans
888 16th Street, N.W. - Washington DC, 20006 - (202)
974-8222 - www.retiredamericans.or
109th Congress Disappointed Seniors in
2006, Alliance Voting Record Reveals
Many of
the lawmakers who did the most damage to the health and economic
well-being of America's seniors during the second session of the
109th Congress no longer hold office, according to the results
of the Alliance for Retired Americans' 2006 Voting Record
released to the press on Monday. The Alliance has been
monitoring the senior-issue votes in the House and Senate for
six years, and the 2006 Voting Record may mark the end of a
disturbing trend of anti-senior sentiment in Congress. The
complete record is posted at www.retiredamericans.org.
Two of the six Senate seats that changed from Republican to
Democratic hands in the 2006 mid-term elections were held by
Senators who scored zero on the 2006 voting record, Senators
George Allen (VA) and Rick
Santorum (PA). "Several of the Senators who
disappointed retirees the most lost their seats in the 2006
elections. We are hoping for much better results from
their successors," said George J. Kourpias,
President of the Alliance.
Nine House seats which switched from Republican to Democratic
control in November had been held by Representatives who scored
zero. Those were the seats of Representatives Bob
Beauprez (CO), Henry Bonilla (TX),
Chris Chocola (IN), Melissa
Hart (PA), Jim Kolbe (AZ),
Anne Northup (KY), Jim Ryun
(KS), Don Sherwood (PA), and Charles
Taylor (NC).
The 2006 Voting Record reports that overall, 54% of the
Senate and 55% of the House received a failing score. The
Alliance concluded that many unhappy seniors made their feelings
known at the polls. With 54% of House Republicans and 40%
of Senate Republicans scoring zero, but no Democrats scoring
zero in either chamber, Republicans would have some catching up
to do to be considered a friend to seniors. Thirty-six
percent of both Senators and House members scored a perfect 100%
for their senior-issue votes. "The Voting Record is a
report card for seniors," stated Mr. Kourpias. "It affords
an opportunity for seniors to evaluate and judge their
lawmakers' votes on issues of importance to older Americans and,
if necessary, put a politician on notice. The Voting
Record is the ultimate reality check for who is - and
isn't - a true advocate for seniors."
"This past year, retirees saw Congress enact legislation that
contributed to record level spending deficits and deepened the
nation's budget and fiscal crisis," said Edward F.
Coyle, the Alliance's Executive Director.
"Congress also failed to alleviate the confusion caused by the
Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. But there was
one bright spot: Alliance members and all older Americans did
manage to stop Social Security privatization in its tracks."
As a result of the November 2006 elections, the U.S. House of
Representatives earlier this year passed legislation to allow
Medicare to negotiate bulk discounts from drug
manufacturers. A majority of U.S. Senators now support a
similar bill, but allies of the pharmaceutical industry have so
far been able to obstruct this effort to lower drug prices for
seniors.
The Graying of America's
Suburbs
Historically dominated by families
and children, America's suburbs are graying at a faster rate
than its major cities due to the aging of the nation's first
suburban generation, a study published recently in The New
York Times concludes. The findings suggest that most
of the senior population growth will stem from aging baby
boomers who currently live in these areas, rather than any
migration of retirees. While Florida is still the number one
destination for those relocating, the fastest overall growth of
55-to-64 year-olds has been in Western and Sun Belt metropolitan
areas such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, known for younger
median ages. In Arizona, this population is projected to
increase by 80 percent from 2000 to 2010. Other graying
areas include New Hampshire and Vermont, where mobile workers
have settled for the scenery and small-towns. As big
cities remain havens for younger job-seekers, smaller cities and
metropolitan areas have also begun marketing themselves toward
urban professionals ages 65 to 74, many of whom are still
working, healthy and wealthy. "With the number of seniors
in these areas growing so quickly, elected officials there
should want to pay more attention than ever to the needs of
retirees," said Ruben Burks,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.
Alliance People in the
News
The Alliance is pleased to introduce
Lise Byars, who will be working with the Field
Mobilization Department to expand the Ohio Alliance's Community
Advocacy Network (CAN). She will focus on bringing the
strong advocacy and activism of the Ohio Alliance and CAN to
religious communities and senior living facilities, as well as
to other senior groups in Ohio. Highlighting various
senior-issues at the local, state and national levels, she will
work to strengthen relationships, increase outreach and build a
network of educated activists that can grow and prosper for
elections to come. "My message to these facilities and
organizations is that we are fighting to build alliances to
ensure seniors and retirees have a voice," said Ms. Byars.
"We all deserve the right to live with dignity in our later
years and have access to health care, as well as affordable
medicines and housing."
National Legislative
Meeting
In less than three months - September
4-7, 2007 - the Alliance will be holding its National
Legislative Meeting in Washington, D.C. The theme this
year is "Building for America's Future." Send your registration
by July 20, 2007, to take advantage of the early bird
rate. The registration fee is $80; after July 20th the
registration fee is $95. To obtain copies of the official
registration form, either call 1-888-373-6497, email
Joni Jones at jjones@retiredamericans.org
or visit our website at www.retiredamericans.org.
The conference will be held at the Hilton Washington and
Towers. Hotel reservations must be made by calling the
Hilton and Towers directly at 1-888-324-4586. Be sure to
ask for the Alliance for Retired Americans National Legislative
Meeting attendee rate. The discounted room rates are $146
a night (plus tax) and are guaranteed until July 20,
2007.
Become part of a progressive grassroots movement!
Join the Alliance: www.retiredamericans.org/join
____________________________________________________________________
Alliance for Retired Americans 815 16th
St, NW Washington, DC 20006 www.retiredamericans.org
|
