Friday Alert   September 10, 2007
Alliance for Retired Americans
888 16th Street, N.W. -  Washington DC, 20006 - (202) 974-8222 - www.retiredamericans.or

SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE REPORT

More Than 600 Retirees Lobby Congress on Medicare and Social Security
With a theme of "Building for America's Future," more than 600 Alliance members descended on Washington D.C. last week to map out an ambitious grassroots campaign for mobilizing seniors around threats to Medicare and Social Security.  On Thursday, after an energetic send-off from AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka, Alliance members met with their elected officials to share their top legislative concerns.  While reminding their Members of Congress and Senators not to privatize Social Security, Alliance members specifically asked that their elected officials support re-importation bills H.R. 380 and S. 242, and that they repeal the prohibition against Medicare negotiating drug prices on behalf of the nearly 44 million Medicare beneficiaries.  When Medicare Advantage was discussed, Alliance members asked that the House-Senate conference adopt the provisions of H.R. 3162 and give $54 billion back to Medicare.

Press Conference with Speaker Pelosi Brings Together Children, Grandparents
Also on Thursday, scores of children, carrying signs that read "Kids Need Health Care" and "Don't Veto My Health Care," joined more than 100 parents and grandparents, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other House leaders to make it clear they want President Bush to sign legislation expanding the States Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  Alliance President George J. Kourpias said seniors and children are linked by the common threat to their health care, and that seniors would hold Congress and the president accountable for providing health care for all.  Other members of Congress who spoke or attended the press conference included House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA), Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Betty Sutton (D-OH) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX).  AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, who spoke later that night at the Alliance banquet, also lent his support.

Conventioneers Inspired by Several Notable Speakers
2008 candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. President and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) excited the crowd with a speech on Tuesday.  In her remarks, she thanked Alliance members for standing against President Bush's ill-advised retiree policies and made clear her belief that seniors should be able to retire in comfort and with dignity.  Later in the week, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a candidate for President in 2008, and Elizabeth Edwards - representing her husband, Democratic presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) - also addressed Alliance members.  Rep. Kucinich, noting his support for universal health care, spoke movingly of having to live in a car during part of his childhood.  Mrs. Edwards commended Alliance members for their lifetime of service, and said more hard work is needed to fight the entrenched corporate elites standing in the way of progress on health care, retirement security and the freedom to form unions.  Other presidential candidates were also invited.  Earlier on Tuesday, Alliance President Kourpias, in a rousing speech, noted the history retirees made with last year's midterm elections and set out a plan to educate and train another grassroots army of retirees for the 2008 elections.  Judy Cato, Executive Vice President of the Alliance, in a theme of unity, noted that community-based retirees and labor have much in common when it comes to health care, prescription drugs, and housing.  She went on to describe a plan for expanded outreach to retirees outside the world of labor.

On Wednesday, Anna Burger, Chair of Change to Win and International Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union, stirred up the crowd with her remarks and directed activists to check out the web sites www.behindthebuyouts.org and www.bankofamericabadforamerica.org.  Later that day, Richard Fiesta, Director of Government and Political Affairs for the Alliance, briefed those in attendance on the results of a survey of at-large seniors 65 and older - not Alliance members - by pollster Celinda Lake and her firm, Lake Research Partners.  Sadly, only 12% of those polled think that their children and grandchildren will have a better life than they enjoy.  On Friday, Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CT) gave remarks touting the power of grassroots activism.  Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) spoke and received the Leadership Award, in recognition of her years of outstanding leadership in the U.S. Congress on behalf of older Americans.  J. B. Poersch, Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Brian Wolff, Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, broke down the 2008 political landscape.  Linda Chavez-Thompson, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President, reminded the audience of their own importance, stating that retirees are fighting for future generations as well as for themselves.  Thank you to all of these speakers, trainers, and the many others who helped to make the conference a success.

Breakout Sessions Focus on Education, Training
The 2007 Conference included more breakout sessions than ever, and offered an opportunity for activists to hear about what has worked well for fellow retirees in other states.  Topics included, "What's up on the Hill"; "Community Organizing Skills: Building Partnerships to Advance the Alliance"; "Reporters Don't Bite: Communicating the Alliance Message to the Public"; and "Retirees' Campaign Boot Camp - Making a Difference in 2008."

Gala Banquet Full of Surprises
In bestowing an award that was not announced in advance, the Alliance gave Marie Malagreca, who is retiring from the Alliance Board of Directors, the President's Award for her lifelong activism as a steelworker and founding member of SOAR, the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees.  Elmer Blankenship, President of the Indiana Alliance, spoke and received his own well-deserved President's Award for a lifetime of dedication and commitment to social justice.  To conclude the evening, a wonderfully talented Franklin Delano Roosevelt impersonator offered his insights into how FDR might react to some of 2007's current circumstances.

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Alliance for Retired Americans 815 16th St, NW Washington, DC 20006 www.retiredamericans.org