Take Action, Stand Up, Fight Back

Billy’s Banter

Stand Up fight Back

Returning from the SOAR Conference energized and ready to go to work, we are hit with a vote in the US Congress that will reduce health benefits to seniors and a budget that makes it very clear where their priorities are. For an Administration to put millions at risk of losing or having their health care benefits reduced; limiting funds to programs like Meals on Wheels; to reduce SSDI benefits; to reduce funding into Medicare (which will cause financial issues in the future and open the door to change or eliminate Medicare) and to reduce funding to Medicaid, should be enough to get every SOAR member energized. The fastest growing groups of Medicaid recipients are seniors who enter nursing homes and have no means to pay other than Medicaid. 

All of this is proposed to provide, in part, money for a tax break for the wealthy. This administration believes it is a fair trade off to reduce our benefits so taxes like the estate tax can be repealed.  Presently, if you die the first almost $11 million dollars are tax free to a married couple who would inherit the estate. Then you would start paying tax on the amount over $11 million. The present administration feels this is not fair and has proposed total repeal of the tax and we should have our benefits reduced so there is money to make up for the loss of revenue. 

If that isn’t enough to get you energized and willing to get active and do something, then I can’t think of anything that will. 

We must take action and get involved. Demonstrate, protest, attend town hall meetings, call or write your representative. All SOAR Chapters should promote some action to let our representatives know we will not sit back and allow our seniors be taken advantage of in order to provide more for the wealthy. Stand Up Fight Back is not only the cry of the active members of the USW, it is the call to action for all SOAR members.

Bill Pienta, SOAR President