Charlie Averill

Friday Alert January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T18:39:00.000-06:00

President Obama, Mitch Daniels Offer Different Views on Current State of the Union
President Obama delivered his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, and the Alliance issued a press release contrasting his ideas with the Republican response offered by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. “While retirees’ working days may be over, we worry about our children and grandchildren, as well as the future of the industries we helped build here at home. We strongly support the President’s goal of tax fairness; call us ‘old school,’ but we still believe that sacrifices should be made fairly," said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance.

“In contrast, the Republicans showed their true colors by choosing as their spokesperson a governor who believes he can revive his state’s economy by lowering wages and benefits for working families,” Coyle continued. “Mitch Daniels’ vague rhetoric on Social Security and Medicare glossed over the cold reality that his party – from its presidential candidates to its House Speaker – wants seniors to be at the mercy of the big insurance companies; would let Wall Street profit from a privatized Social Security; and would allow states to slash Medicaid, even though it is the only way 70 percent of Americans can afford long-term and nursing home care." To read Coyle's full statement, go to http://bit.ly/xbKBPz.

House Speaker, Republican Presidential Candidates Still Aim to Privatize Medicare
During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) confirmed that Republicans won’t be backing away from plans to privatize the Medicare program this year — despite voters’ rejection of the plan. Read more on the web site www.thinkprogress.org at http://bit.ly/w5GYsn. Also this week, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) reiterated his plan to privatize Medicare through vouchers. All the Republican candidates for President have now supported the plan. To see an AFSCME Independent Expenditure ad noting presidential candidate Mitt Romney's ties to Medicare fraud, go to http://youtu.be/hkGrgxw7sSo. “The ad depicts real Medicare fraud,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “But we should also remember that promising seniors vouchers instead of guaranteed benefits is also a form of fraud.”

Florida Alliance Shines Light on Voter Suppression, Romney’s Medicare Policies
On Thursday, Florida Alliance (FLARA) members and their allies called attention to Governor Romney’s appalling attitudes toward Medicare and senior services at a press conference in Fort Myers. Dozens of local seniors voiced their outrage at Romney’s plans for dismantling Medicare and other important programs on which seniors rely.

Today, FLARA members are speaking out in Tampa at a rally against voter suppression. Recent changes in Florida’s election rules will have a dramatic impact on Florida’s seniors; a new law passed in the Florida legislature cuts early voting from 14 to 7 days before the election and hurts seniors who vote early because they are unable to stand in a line or go to the polls on Election Day.

CLASS Act Letter, New Fact Sheets Available on Alliance Web Site
The Alliance defended the health care reform law's endangered CLASS Act on Tuesday, after the House set up a vote to repeal the long-term health care program next week. The Alliance wrote to House lawmakers urging them to keep the voluntary payroll-deduction program alive. To read the Alliance letter, go to http://bit.ly/xXtcdo. Also new on the Alliance web site: What’s at Stake for Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid in 2012 at http://bit.ly/zq16Q7 and MYTH BUSTERS: New Health Law & Other Myths at http://bit.ly/x1U472.

State Round-up: Iowa, Nevada, and Indiana
The Iowa Alliance, through their work at caucus meetings statewide, succeeded in getting the preservation of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid into the state Democratic Party platform. The Nevada Alliance has also been successful in submitting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and jobs resolutions for consideration for inclusion in the Nevada Democratic Party platform.

Despite polls showing strong public opposition to a “Right to Work” for less (RTW) bill being rammed through the Indiana legislature without debate, Republican House lawmakers passed RTW on Thursday. The bill would lower the wages of working Hoosiers and affect the pensions and health benefits of Indiana retirees and their dependents. The Indiana Alliance held a press conference on Monday to raise awareness. “The Iowa, Nevada, Indiana, and Florida chapters have all done a great job recently!” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “I am very proud of their hard work and success.”

With a Moving Send-off, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Resigns from Congress
A year after being severely wounded during a shooting rampage in her Arizona home district, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) resigned from Congress on Wednesday. She departed amidst a chorus of cheers, hugs, and tributes. “Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been a great friend to seniors,” said Mr. Coyle. “Many Alliance members in Arizona know the congresswoman personally. We wish her a full recovery and hope to see her back in Congress at a later date!” On September 28, 2010, Rep. Giffords introduced a resolution opposing any increase in the Social Security retirement age, noting that any increase in the age equates to an unfair decrease in benefits.

Coyle Briefs House Democratic Caucus
Mr. Coyle traveled to Cambridge, Maryland on Thursday to make a presentation briefing the House Democratic Caucus on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid issues.

Regional Meetings Begin on February 29 in Las Vegas
Be sure to register for the Alliance’s 2012 Regional Meetings beginning February 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada; March 5 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; April 29 in Orlando, Florida; and May 14 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Workshops will include Issues for the 2012 Elections; Messaging: We Will Not Be Out-Foxed; and Best Practices in On-line Organizing. For more information, or to register on-line, please visit http://bit.ly/yiqB8n. Questions? Call Event Coordinator Joni Jones at 202/637-5377 or e-mail jjones@retiredamericans.org.

Source: Alliance for Retired Americans

Are Republicans Evil?

2012-01-25T10:53:00.000-06:00

Are Republicans in the Indiana General Assembly evil for wanting to pass a so called Right to Work bill and are Republicans in general evil as well? I don’t think so.

I know Republicans who are good people. So why would they sit idly by while the General Assembly tries to pass this legislation other than that they are just plain ignorant of what the bill would do to them, their loved ones or their neighbors.

If it were possible to sit down and discuss the ramifications of the unintended consequences such as lower wages and benefits on the job, the weakening of the ability of workers to have democracy in the work place, the weakening of the entities that support a minimum wage, the lack of any organization to lobby to strengthen the unemployment laws and child labor laws and workers compensation laws and the invitation to workers to just plain freeload by reaping the benefits of collective bargaining and at the same time not help to fund the very organization that helps them and the hate and discontent in the work place that will result, the General Assembly wouldn’t be trying so hard to pass it and your Republican neighbors would be against it.

Unfortunately, the general public isn’t aware of the harm that will result if Right to Work becomes law because the name of the law is so misleading and the remainder of those who are supporting the law and the die hard Republicans who think the Republican Party is the correct party to belong to because of the household they grew up in with parents who were members of it and gave them that impression.

So are these people actually evil? The answer in most cases, I declare, is no. They are simply ignorant of the facts and are poor misguided souls.

USW Supports President's Decision to Delay Pipeline

2012-01-23T16:27:00.000-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          CONTACTS:
January 20, 2012                                                                     Gary Hubbard (202) 778-4384
                                                                                                ghubbard@usw.org
                                                                                                Wayne Ranick (412) 562-2444
                                                                                                wranick@usw.org

USW Supports President’s Decision to Delay Keystone XL Pipeline

Bowing to Partisan Politics Not the Right Way to Proceed, says Union

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard expressed support for the Administration’s decision to challenge partisan politics and not bow to Republican pressure to prematurely approve TransCanada’s permit to develop a proposed 1,700-mile pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline would transport crude oil and bitumen from Alberta, Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast.

“The Administration made the right decision to ensure that a project of this scale is done in a way that is good for both jobs and the environment,” said Gerard. “The White House is facing forces in Congress that have decided to use this project as a litmus test for their commitment to jobs, at the same time as they have blocked the door to every one of the Administration’s job proposals, but the fact is more time is needed to ensure that this project will have the economic and environmental benefits claimed by the developer.”

Proponents of the pipeline estimate that the project will create 13,000 construction jobs, 7,000 manufacturing jobs and allow the U.S. to supply our oil needs with Canada, a long-standing ally instead of unstable nations.

“While the jobs projections are promising, more needs to be done to ensure that North American companies and workers will benefit,” said Gerard. “We’ve seen too many instances where key elements of our nation’s infrastructure were outsourced to foreign producers – such as the $7 billion San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge project that is being built using questionable steel from a state-owned Chinese company.

“That project is a slap in the face to American manufacturing workers at a time when unemployment is still high and U.S. factories are still closing. We have to make sure that if there is going to be a TransCanada pipeline, manufacturing workers will benefit by using as much North American material as possible in its construction.”

The USW says that the State Department’s decision to deny the current permit does not prevent the potential development and deployment of a TransCanada pipeline as the door remains open for the project to be proposed again. In fact TransCanada the lead company on the pipeline project already has said it intends to re-apply for the needed permits.

“When dealing with our nation’s infrastructure, we have to make sure that we tap all of our capacity and ingenuity to build and repair it,” said Gerard. “That means making sure that as many of the component parts - from the pipe to the valves and cement - are made using North American materials.”

Much to the dismay of our idled members at U.S. Steel’s Granite City Steel facility, in 2009 TransCanada sourced most of the pipe from India for the initial stages. At that time, over 2,000 Steelworkers were laid off for lack of orders. To add insult to injury, the Indian pipe destined for the ConocoPhillips/TransCanada pipeline sat right outside the idled steel plant.

“Ensuring a domestic supply chain is our only chance to grow both the American workforce and our critical manufacturing sector,” said Gerard. “When TransCanada presents its new proposal for a pipeline, the USW looks forward to working with the Administration and others to ensure that the eventual project is done in the safest and most economically beneficial way for our members and their communities,” said Gerard.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org/.

Liar Liar pants on fire

2012-01-20T16:11:00.000-06:00

"Right to Work" Means "No Right to a Team"

2012-01-15T17:06:00.000-06:00

Brothers & Sisters,
DeMaurice F. Smith, the Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association, wrote the following opinion piece for Indiana newspapers - and we wanted to share it with you.

The Real Meaning of “Right to Work” Is No Right to a Team

By: DeMaurice F. Smith
Executive Director
National Football League Players Association

Indianapolis is the home of the upcoming Super Bowl; an event that is supposed to celebrate the best of America’s game, but also the best of the host city and state. The people and workers of Indiana have come together and worked hard to prepare for this upcoming Super Bowl for a long time, but they are also bracing for the potential damage caused by a legislative game being played off the field.

The so-called Indiana “Right to Work” Bill is bad for working men and women for one simple reason: it jeopardizes the ability of workers to organize as a team to protect, preserve and promote themselves as employees in a workplace, where management can always outspend workers and target individuals. During the NFL lockout and the months leading up to it, the Players of this great game learned lessons that most older American workers learned decades ago: namely, that all of the protections that employees currently have in the workplace resulted from the ability of employees to stand together as a team, protect their rights, and demand change for the better. It is a lesson that many of us have not only forgotten but worse yet, simply never learned. The protections that millions of workers possess today, including fair pensions, workplace safety innovations, management supported health care plans, and compliance with occupational health standards, were achieved by thousands of workers standing together as ONE over decades to fight for those vital standards. An indisputable lesson of our American history is that none of those workplace protections came as a “gift” from corporations; rather, all of them resulted from the ability of workers to stand united and demand change when it would have been easy to fire or silence the voice of a single worker. The history is also clear that even when employees fought as a team, some of them paid a dear price for organizing and demanding fairness. This bill would make future efforts even harder than they are today.

As employees of football teams, we were reminded of our own history as a collective group of players during our lockout. Players are extremely fortunate to be well compensated, but the history is that it took a strike by one of our players in the 1960s to create a pension for former players, and improvements in salary, free agency, work-rules and grievance procedures, tuition reimbursement were all collectively bargained benefits by a union that was supported and constituted by Players standing together as a team in the negotiation room. More recently, as a strong union, we achieved improvements in the players’ pension, obtained a Legacy Fund that reached back to increase pensions for former players, and negotiated rules for safer practices and games. From 2009 to the present, through their union, players collectively have taken aggressive steps to change the way concussions and head trauma are dealt with at practice, during games, as well as during a player’s post-career life. We know that one single player, just like any one single employee acting alone, could never achieve what we as a Team were able to achieve.

Today, the assault on that team of employees comes disguised in proposed legislation deviously named as “right to work,” and the reason why every employee should have concern is that it simply is not what it claims to be. This “right to work” is not a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing a state citizen a job. This “right to work” does not mandate a state to improve local schools so that educated young people are ensured of employment. Rather, this “right to work” legislation is simply designed to negatively impact the ability of employees to form teams that can go “toe-to-toe” with management in the hope of having a fair negotiation over issues that matter to working people.

In this time of extremely challenging economic conditions, where there are efforts to divide all of us, we have an obligation to move beyond the rhetoric and know the issues. The legislation may have a catchy title, but that is all it provides to men and women who work for a living. If you support this bill, do so by recognizing and calling it what it is: “the elimination of the ability to negotiate strongly and fairly with your employer” legislation. Somehow, that description of the bill does not sound good for millions of people who work for a living. Get the facts at http://www.indianarighttowork.com

We oppose this bill and stand in strong support of what needs to be every employees’ right to be member of a team to protect and preserve their rights for themselves and their families.

Learn About the Right to Work law

2012-01-14T08:33:00.000-06:00

Calendar - Current Events

Town Hall meetings are being held all over Indiana the next couple of days. Click on the one nearest you for the times and additional information.

2012 Legislative Session
Date:	Wed, Jan 4, 2012 to Thu, Mar 15, 2012
Location:	Indiana Statehouse

Town Hall on RTW in Logansport
Date:	Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Location:	American Legion Riders Post 60

Meet Your Legislator Meeting in Elkhart
Date:	Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Location:	Elkhart Chamber of Commerce

Angola Citizens Forum on RTW
Date:	Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Location:	"In a Flash Photography"

Town Hall on RTW in West Lafayette
Date:	Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Location:	Morton Community Center

Town Hall on RTW in Anderson
Date:	Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Location:	UAW 663

Town Hall on RTW in Indianapolis
Date:	Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Location:	Clarion Hotel

Meet your Local Legislators Meeting in Terre Haute
Date:	Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Location:	Terre Haute Labor Temple

Warsaw Town Hall Meeting on "Right to Work"
Date:	Sun, Jan 15, 2012
Location:	Ramada Plaza

New Haven Citizens Forum on RTW
Date:	Sun, Jan 15, 2012
Location:	"Rack and Helen's" Banquet Room

Town Hall on RTW in Kokomo
Date:	Mon, Jan 16, 2012
Location:	Kokomo City Hall

Indiana Alliance Takes on "Right to Work"

2012-01-13T17:39:00.000-06:00

Indiana Alliance Joins with Partners to take on “Right to Work”
On Tuesday, representatives from the Indiana Alliance, the group “Hoosiers First,” and United Senior Action held a press conference to voice their joint concerns about the “right to work” legislation pending before the Indiana General Assembly. Having reviewed the possible impacts of right to work, or RTW, on retired union members and their dependents, the three organizations concluded that RTW spells trouble for not only the citizens of Indiana, but also the state’s economy.

“Right to Work means Real Trouble and Worries for everyone in Indiana, because it potentially puts in jeopardy pensions, health care, and other benefits of union retirees and their legal dependents that have been established through collective bargaining,” said Elmer Blankenship, President of the Indiana Alliance.

The state Senate RTW bill has been passed in committee (6 to 4) and goes next to the full Senate for a vote. A state House panel sent the measure to the full House on an 8-5 vote. Last Friday, at a joint House and Senate Hearing, Mr. Blankenship and Denny Lanane, President of United Senior Action, testified against the proposed RTW Law, which is supported by several Republican legislators. They testified that passage of RTW would weaken unions, which would be bad for active workers and union retirees as well as many others whose wages and benefits follow negotiated benefits. RTW is also associated with a significant reduction in private-sector pension coverage. The Economic Policy Institute proves the point at http://bit.ly/xjYijP, showing that private pension coverage in Indiana is currently greater than in 21 of 22 RTW states.

Source: Friday Alert, January 13, 2012 edition

Right to Work for Less Town Hall Meeting LaPorte, IN

2012-01-11T16:11:00.002-06:00

RTW Town Hall Meeting, La Porte Indiana Today

2012-01-10T06:36:00.000-06:00

RIGHT TO WORK TOWN HALL MEETING
AT CARPENTERS HALL

1104 6TH Street, La Porte

Today, January 10th at 5:00 PM CST

Come and find out what is at stake for workers and retirees.
This is so important as it will affect you, your children and your grand children for years to come.

Labor encourages as many local elected officials as possible to attend

Sponsored by the Central Labor Council of South Bend
Tony Flora, President
And
Mike O’Brien, United Steelworkers Sub District 4 Director

Mitch Daniels Will Not Disclose

2012-01-09T07:51:00.000-06:00

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Monday, January 9, 2012
Media Contact: Jeff Harris, Indiana State AFL-CIO, 317.632.9147

GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO DISCLOSE DONORS, SHOW PROOF OF CLAIMS IN TV ADS
Pressure mounts on Daniels as more Hoosiers demand answers

INDIANAPOLIS – For seven days, Governor Mitch Daniels has refused to publicly disclose who is funding the barrage of television ads being aired around the state promoting his partisan right to work for less agenda, and has been unable to verify any of the claims in those commercials.

"It’s outrageous that Governor Daniels who likes to brag about being ‘transparent’ refuses to tell taxpaying Hoosiers who is secretly funding his attacks on their collective bargaining rights, nor is he willing to provide evidence to back up the claims he is making in these spots,” said Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott. "It is hypocritical and is a stain on his legacy.”

Jim Bopp, a Republican Party activist, filed the paperwork for a group called the "Indiana Opportunity Fund," but both he and Daniels have refused to disclose who is funding the group, saying it qualifies as a "social welfare" organization under IRS rules. Thus far the group has spent more than $600,000 on its media campaign.

“Every Hoosier should be asking themselves ‘what is Governor Daniels hiding?’” Guyott continued. “His refusal to release his secret funders, his rush to ram through this divisive legislation without holding public hearings across the state, and his alarming failure to publicly name a single business that would not locate to Indiana shows that he’s more interested in advancing a national right-wing agenda than representing Hoosiers.”

A growing number of independent groups as well as newspaper editorial boards have begun calling on Daniels to release his secret donors. The Lafayette Journal & Courier, recently editorialized, “We understand you're hesitant to push the group calling itself the Indiana Opportunity Fund to reveal who is putting up the money for the right-to-work message. We can guess who might have an interest in the aggressive, pro-business stance you outline in the spot -- who would want a law that keeps workers from being compelled to pay union dues. But we don't know, and you're not saying.”

“This is a major public policy debate and its outcome will have wide-ranging impacts on millions of Hoosiers, and this is no way to do it,” added Guyott. “Once again, we call on Governor Daniels to do the right thing and release his secret donors to the public and to provide proof to back up the claims made in these ads. Hoosiers taxpayers deserve no less than full disclosure.”

The Indiana State AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is a federation of 800 local unions across the state belonging to 50 International Unions. In total, the Indiana State AFL-CIO represents more than 300,000 working Hoosiers.

For more information on please visit www.inaflcio.org or call 1-800-433-8423.

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert January 6, 2012

2012-01-07T16:15:00.000-06:00

January 6, 2012 edition

Former Senator Santorum Loses Republican Caucuses in Iowa by Eight Votes
According to the Rasmussen Reports company, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), coming off his photo finish with Mitt Romney in the Republican Iowa caucus, is now in second place nationally among Republican voters in the race for the party’s 2012 presidential nomination. Using the uncertified statewide vote totals tabulated as of Friday, Santorum finished second in Iowa on Tuesday night, losing to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney by only eight votes. “Alarmingly, Sen. Santorum has a lifetime score of just 2% on the Alliance’s Congressional Voting Record,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “His finish was exciting for political observers, but also terrifying for seniors.”

Politico reported that Santorum had spoken on the campaign trail last Sunday about the possibility of raising the retirement age, pointing out that allowing people to retire as early as 65 means giving a government entitlement to people who are “generally healthy and able to work.” Santorum went much further than that, however, in his 1994 Senate campaign. A source shared a recording of an October ’94 speech that Santorum gave at LaSalle University, in which he endorsed raising the retirement age to 70 – or higher. “It is ridiculous that we have a retirement age in this country of age 65 today. I’d go even farther if I could – at least age 70,” Santorum said in the recording.

Santorum also believes that public employee unions should just be eliminated altogether. “I do not believe that -- that state, federal or local workers, unions, should be involved in unions. And I would actually support a bill that says that we should not have public employee unions for the purposes of wages and benefits to be negotiated,” Santorum said during a Republican debate in September (http://bit.ly/rdx7cz).

For information on Governor Romney’s support for privatizing Medicare, go to http://bit.ly/xQr07z. In a development for Governor Romney this week, Bloomberg News – quoting the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center - wrote that his tax proposal would add $600 billion to the U.S. budget deficit in 2015.

Medicare a Major Issue in 2012 as More Baby Boomers Begin to Receive Benefits
During a campaign stop in Iowa on Sunday, Santorum said, “You have Medicare driving the entire health care system in this country and it’s crushing it.” According to thinkprogress.org (http://bit.ly/xjzuz5), Santorum is a strong supporter of Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s original Medicare privatization scheme to completely eliminate traditional Medicare as an option for seniors, and he has promised to accelerate its implementation. Medicare, however, has a better track record of controlling health care costs than private insurers and has introduced market innovations and payment reforms that private plans later adopted. Medicare’s smaller administrative spending and its ability to use its size and clout to bargain for cheaper services explain this advantage.

“Medicare privatization is shaping up to be the number one campaign issue of 2012,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. According to USA Today, 76 million baby boomers will sign up for Medicare over the next couple of decades.

New Voter Identification Laws Take Effect in Several States This Year
According to The Wall Street Journal, millions more Americans will be required to show photo identification when they head to the polls in four states in 2012, headlining the flurry of new laws across the nation that took effect with the turn of the year. Kansas, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Texas will require voters to prove their identities at the ballot box, bringing the total number of states that require some form of voter identification to 30, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan group that provides research and data to state governments. Some of the adverse, often-unintended consequences of voter identification laws for seniors are described at http://wdhne.ws/tcoSzE.

Government Dollars are going to Private Insurance Companies by the Billions
According to CNN, although 2011 was a volatile year for the stock market, one sector has been consistently earning a windfall for investors: health insurers that provide private Medicare plans to seniors. Among the top-performing Fortune 500 stocks of 2011, three - WellCare Health Plans, Humana, and Centene - had a high proportion of Medicare Advantage enrollees. WellCare's share price has nearly doubled, while Humana and Centene are up about 50%. UnitedHealth Group and Aetna, each with significant shares of Medicare Advantage patients, also posted gains of more than 35% in 2011. Health care stocks broadly outperformed the market overall in 2011. The iShares Dow Jones US Health Care Providers Index Fund (IHF), an exchange fund that includes most of the major insurers, was up more than 8%.

The Washington Post stated yesterday that despite the sluggish economy, the nation’s major health insurers have prospered largely by expanding their role in government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, according to a study released Thursday. A report by Bloomberg Government, a research division of Bloomberg LP, suggests that insurers will further increase their reliance on federal dollars with full implementation of the health-care law in 2014 - when Medicaid will expand to cover an eventual 16 million additional low-income Americans and the federal government will begin subsidizing private-insurance policies for an estimated 19 million more. The share of large insurers’ revenues contributed by their Medicare and Medicaid business has jumped from 36 to 42 percent over the past three years.

The Affordable Care Act, the health care reform signed into law by President Obama in 2010, will reduce federal payments to Medicare Advantage plans by $136 billion. Nonetheless, the Bloomberg Government study’s author, Peter Gosselin, theorizes that insurers still expect the plans to prove profitable, because the current national focus on debt reduction will give them political cover to manage beneficiaries’ care tightly. The bill for Medicare Advantage, where private insurers serve as health care administrators for seniors, currently costs taxpayers 10% more than traditional Medicare, where the government serves as the middleman, according to the Congressional Budget Office. “Once again, we see that Medicare Advantage is a great deal for private insurers, but a terrible deal for taxpayers,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

Download a printable version of this document http://bit.ly/vZLAfz.

National Football League Players Association on Right to Work

2012-01-06T10:41:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON—As NFL players, we know our success on the field comes from working together as a team. We’re not just a team of football players—we’re also the fans at games and at home, the employees who work the concession stands and the kids who wear the jerseys of our favorite football heroes. NFL players know what it means to fight for workers’ rights, better pensions and health and safety in the workplace.

To win, we have to work together and look out for one another. Today, even as the city of Indianapolis is exemplifying that teamwork in preparing to host the Super Bowl, politicians are looking to destroy it trying to ram through so-called “right-to-work” legislation.

“Right-to-work” is a political ploy designed to destroy basic workers’ rights. It’s not about jobs or rights, and it’s the wrong priority for Indiana.

The facts are clear—according to a January 2012 Economic Policy Institute briefing report (“Working Hard to Make Indiana Look Bad”), “right-to-work” will lower wages for a worker in Indiana by $1,500 a year because it weakens the ability of working families to work together, and it will make it less likely that working people will get health care and pensions.

So-called “right-to-work” bills divide working families at a time when communities need to stand united. We need unity—not division. We urge legislators in Indiana to oppose “right-to-work” efforts, and focus instead on job creation.

As Indianapolis proudly prepares to host the Super Bowl it should be a time to shine in the national spotlight and highlight the hard-working families that make Indiana run instead of launching political attacks on their basic rights. It is important to keep in mind the plight of the average Indiana worker and not let them get lost in the ceremony and spectacle of such a special event. This Super Bowl should be about celebrating the best of what Indianapolis has to offer, not about legislation that hurts the people of Indiana.

Source: AFL-CIO

Call Your Senator

2012-01-04T17:03:00.002-06:00

Come to Indianapolis to help stop Right to Work for Less

2012-01-02T10:08:00.002-06:00

Mitch Daniels Shuts out Hoosiers

2011-12-30T16:36:00.000-06:00

Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana is limiting access to the State Capital to about 1,000 people at a time.

This will limit the ability of Hoosiers to speak to their legislators and is only a ploy to limit descent on the Republicans efforts to institute a Freeloaders bill in January.

Some Republican Senators have had enough guts to speak out against the Freeloaders bill, otherwise known as the Right to Work for less bill. They have put their thoughts in Hoosier newspapers and I give them credit for that.

Other Republican Representatives and Senators in the Indiana General Assembly, although permitted by their bosses to vote against the legislation because of the districts they represent, are so politically dependent on their leadership that they just can't get up enough courage to speak out for fear of losing the political perks they're now enjoying.

Politicians who know in their hearts that a piece of legislation is just plain wrong and refuse to speak out against it are bums.

Chamber Thoughts on Benefits Without Dues Payment

2011-12-27T10:42:00.000-06:00

Click Here to see what the Chamber of Commerce thinks about allowing members to receive benefits without payment of annual dues.

Merry Christmas to you all

2011-12-25T20:23:00.001-06:00

Whatever your philosophy, religion or lack thereof, I hope during this Christmas season and into the new year that we all can at least pray (hope) for world peace and work towards that end.

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert December 22, 2011

2011-12-23T10:26:00.001-06:00

Capitol Hill Tax Stalemate Hurts Medicare
The congressional deadlock over extending payroll tax cuts – sparked by a revolt of House Tea Party Republicans – will hurt seniors on Medicare unless a resolution is reached quickly. Seniors with incomes below $15,000 per year are at risk of losing access to critical medical services through the Qualified Individual (QI) program. The program, which is set to expire on December 31, pays for Medicare Part B premiums that cover physician and other outpatient services, as well as the low income subsidy for Part D prescription drug coverage. The QI benefit represents an average savings of $5,199 per year for these low-income seniors. Without an extension of the program by Congress, states would have the right to terminate benefits on January 1.

Also caught in the crossfire are reimbursements to nearly 650,000 doctors who care for Medicare patients. According to the Associated Press, Medicare sent an alert to doctors to say that they will hold up paying claims for the first 10 business days of the new year, but without congressional action it would then be forced to implement a 27.4 percent cut in reimbursement rates, which may prompt physicians to refuse to see Medicare patients.

Romney Stumbles on Medicaid, Iowa Alliance Members Protest GOP Plans for Seniors
Discussing Medicaid at a recent campaign event in Iowa, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he was not familiar with the program before he entered government at age 55, adding parenthetically, “by the way, I’m concerned about the poor.” Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Alliance Executive Director Edward F. Coyle said, “Today’s comments show how badly out of touch Mitt Romney is with seniors. For a majority of seniors, Medicaid is the only way to afford nursing home and long-term care. It may not mean much to someone like Mitt Romney, but for seniors, it is literally a matter of life and death.”

Iowa Alliance members joined with local labor activists outside the final candidate debate before the January 3 caucuses, protesting the forum participants’ stances on Social Security. These include raising the retirement age, cutting benefits, and giving Wall Street firms a prominent role in a privatized Social Security system. The protest was covered by local media. For the latest on where the GOP candidates stand on Social Security, click here for new fact sheets prepared by the Strengthen Social Security campaign, a coalition in which the Alliance plays a leading role.

Commenting on what the elections mean for retirees, Alliance President Barbara J. Easterling wrote in this week’s Huffington Post that, “the current field of GOP presidential candidates offers little solace to seniors who are worried that their Medicare and Social Security, or that of their kids and grandkids, will be sacrificed to pay for even more tax breaks for those least in need.” Please share the column, “When the Going Gets Tough, Seniors Must Get Voting” available at http://huff.to/sW4gDp.

Walmart’s Health Insurance Changes Bad for Older Workers
Responding to published reports that Walmart will be significantly increasing the burden of health care costs it places on associates, Ms. Easterling recently wrote to the company’s CEO, Mike Duke. “I am particularly concerned about older workers who have yet to reach the Medicare eligibility age. People in this age group are often beginning to see medical problems develop or worsen. I worry that these increased health care costs will keep many from seeing a doctor, and make these health problems more serious and costlier. Just think how our nation’s health care costs would go down if those in this age group were to have more affordable, preventive medical care during this critical period of their lives,” she said in her letter (read at http://bit.ly/tiGqk9). The Alliance encouraged Walmart to meet with OUR Walmart http://forrespect.org/, an employee organization, to hear their concerns and respond to their proposed solutions for improving working conditions at the nation’s largest private sector employer.

84 year-old Loses Right to Vote, Sues to Block New Voter ID Law
Under a new law pushed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, 84 year-old Ruthelle Frank of Brokaw, WI (pop. 107) has lost the right to vote. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Frank does not have a driver’s license, and lacks a birth certificate needed to get a state identification card. She does however have Social Security and Medicare cards, as well as a baptism certificate. Even if she were to pay $20 to get a birth certificate, her maiden name was misspelled by the attending physician at her home birth. To rectify this, she would need to petition the courts and pay a $200 fee. Frank, an elected member of her Village Board since 1996, recently became a plaintiff in a lawsuit to block the new law, which is similar to proposals in other states. “Our generation, and those who came before us, fought and died for the right to vote. We cannot let politicians take this away,” said Ruben J. Burks, Alliance Secretary-Treasurer. For the latest developments on voting rights, visit http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/projects/voting_rights.

Happy Holidays from the Alliance
In our final edition of Friday Alert until January 6, we would like to extend our warmest wishes for the holiday season and thank you for your outstanding activism in 2011.

In 2011 we once again faced strong threats to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. But thanks to the powerful voice of activists across the country, seniors were spared from terribly unjust and painful cuts to these programs by the deficit reduction “Super Committee” on Capitol Hill. Please see our website for photos and videos of all you did this year.

As we head into the 2012 elections and a new session of Congress, we will need to be as educated and active as we can to protect and strengthen all that we have helped to achieve. Thank you for all you do to help your fellow retirees. We look forward to working with you in 2012.

Barbara J. Easterling Ruben J. Burks Edward F. Coyle
President Secretary Treasurer Executive Director

Good News - Boehner Surrenders

2011-12-22T16:48:00.000-06:00

President Obama, after pressuring Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, was successful in getting House Speaker John Boehner to extent the payroll tax and unemployment compensation for two months.

As I understand it, Boehner will try to get it passed in the House by unanimous consent.

If that fails, he will call the House back into session for a full vote.

This is a real victory for American workers and those who are without jobs.

When the Going Gets Tough, Seniors Must Get Voting

2011-12-20T17:00:00.000-06:00

by Barbara J. Easterling

With Social Security and Medicare facing harsh threats from various politicians, retirees must keep a close eye on the 2012 elections.

The recently-deadlocked super committee was the latest in a line of blue-ribbon panels -- preceded by Domenici-Rivlin and Simpson-Bowles -- that have debated, and in two instances recommended, drastic cuts in Social Security and Medicare, landmark programs that have helped generations of seniors stay healthy and out of poverty.

These threats to retirement security will continue unless two pillars of our fiscal debates change: 1) the false but widely-held belief that Social Security increases our deficit, and 2) our fundamentally-flawed tax and spending policies that drain federal coffers to benefit corporations and those in the top one percent of incomes.

The current field of GOP presidential candidates offers little solace to seniors who are worried that their Medicare and Social Security, or that of their kids and grandchildren, will be sacrificed to pay for even more tax breaks for those least in need.

For example, Mitt Romney has called for a higher Social Security retirement age, which would hurt blue collar workers far more than venture capitalists. He wants to move toward a privatized "voucher" system for Medicare that would have seniors buying coverage from insurance companies. This would be a taxpayer-subsidized gift for corporations that already enjoy exorbitant profits. Moreover, under Romney's Medicare, seniors would face great risk and anxiety, as its funding levels would face annual votes in Congress.

Newt Gingrich would privatize Social Security, allowing Wall Street to profit handsomely by managing individual accounts tied to the roller coaster of the stock market. After what we have seen in the past decade, do we really want Bear Stearns, AIG or Bernie Madoff getting their hands on our Social Security? Gingrich -- who once said he hoped Medicare would "wither on the vine" -- also supports a voucher program through private health insurance providers. The last time these companies got a piece of Medicare, courtesy of George W. Bush in 2003, it resulted in what the New York Times called, "a financial windfall larger than even the most optimistic Wall Street analysts had predicted."

America is getting older. The 2010 Census showed that the over 65 population grew by 15.1 percent, versus 9.7 percent for all ages.

The 2012 elections will be the first in American history in which the majority of the voting age population is over 45. These demographic changes not only make Social Security and Medicare more important than ever, but they also give older workers and retirees more political clout.

But this increased political voice makes retirees a tempting target for election-year lies and scare tactics. We have already seen benign-sounding groups, such as RetireSafe and 60 Plus Association, that echo industry talking points in high-dollar advertising campaigns that mislead seniors.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act has been a particular target, despite the fact that it has helped over 2.65 million retirees save an average of $569 per year on their prescription drugs. These shameful efforts to scare seniors carry on the legacy started by Sarah Palin's baseless warnings about "death panels."

So what should seniors do between now and November? The most important thing will be to start separating fact from fiction in election year rhetoric. Retirees must reach out to their neighbors to help them better understand the issues and where the candidates stand. It's also important that they educate their children and grandchildren. It's truly time to bring people of all ages together to help save the American dream of a safe and secure retirement when our working days are done.

Social Security and Medicare are two great American success stories. Before, too many people worked until the day they died or lived out their final years in pain and poverty. Our nation has come a long way, and in the 2012 elections we cannot turn back.

Barbara J. Easterling is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans. She was previously the secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America. For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org or call 1-800-333-7212.

Right to Work Means Death

2011-12-18T06:55:00.000-06:00

This is what Republicans and Mitch Daniels are trying to do in Indiana.

Elaine Averill - Pierogi Princess

2011-12-17T09:27:00.002-06:00

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert December 16, 2011

2011-12-16T16:17:00.000-06:00

Wyden-Ryan Medicare Plan Would Raise Premiums for Seniors

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), a leader in the fight to privatize Medicare, unveiled a new approach on Thursday in order to save money on the federal health program. According to Politico, the proposal has some key differences from the Ryan blueprint that Republicans had rallied around earlier this year — and which Democrats have criticized as the beginning of the end of Medicare. Working with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), Ryan is developing a framework that would allow seniors to choose between staying in traditional Medicare or opting into new, private plan alternatives. Wyden is the first Democrat on Capitol Hill to so strongly embrace a modification of Ryan’s approach. Seniors would receive a set amount of money from the government to buy private insurance - vouchers - as they would under the Medicare proposal Ryan included in the budget blueprint that passed the House last year. The new proposal still installs a cap on total Medicare spending; under the Ryan-Wyden approach, seniors would have to pay the difference between the sticker price for care and the premium support or subsidy, although low-income people would get more help.

Ryan and Wyden said they would not draft legislation, since Ryan does not expect action on major issues such as Medicare until a new Congress is seated in 2013. However, they said that by forcing private insurers to bid to provide Medicare coverage and encouraging beneficiaries to choose the plan with the lowest costs, the measure could drive down costs. To see the full Politico article on the proposal, go to http://bit.ly/vebSnm. “We’ve been to this rodeo before. Once again, guaranteed benefits would be replaced with vouchers,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “It’s like handing every senior one single dollar and saying, ‘spend it however you like’ – then bragging about how much money the government is saving.”

Payroll Tax Cut and Doc Fix Update
The focus on the payroll tax cut is shifting to the Senate, now that the House has ignored a White House veto threat and approved a payroll tax cut bill that opens the door for an oil pipeline and spending cuts that Democrats oppose. The House approved the Republican bill Tuesday by 234-193. For a tally of the vote, go to http://1.usa.gov/ssvp1A. If the House and Senate don’t agree on a plan to approve the payroll tax cut extension by Dec. 31, workers would pay a 6.2 percent Social Security tax on the first $110,100 of wages, up from 4.2 percent this year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the legislation passed by the House cannot pass in his Democratic-run chamber. Reid and Republican leaders are about $90 billion apart on a deal to extend the payroll tax holiday, the centerpiece of President Obama’s jobs agenda, according to a senior Senate aide. In case they are unable to reach a bigger deal, Reid and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are also working on a two-month backstop to save average middle-class families from a $1,000 tax increase and keep unemployment benefits from running out. According to The Hill, the fail-safe measure would also protect doctors from scheduled cuts in Medicare reimbursements.

Early Retiree Health Care Program’s Funding to End This Month
The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) is a program run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) which provides reimbursement to eligible sponsors of employment-based plans for a portion of the costs of providing health coverage to early retirees (and eligible spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents of such retirees). However, CMS has decided that, based on the remaining available funds, ERRP reimbursement requests that include claims incurred after Dec. 31, 2011 will be denied in their entirety. The CMS decision is based on the actual availability of remaining appropriated ERRP funds and the rate at which reimbursements have been disbursed, as opposed to the projected amounts of ERRP reimbursements that applicants listed in their ERRP applications. $5 billion had been available under the program, and that fund has been exhausted.

Fair Pay for Home Care Workers May Be Coming Soon
The 18th initiative in President Obama's “We Can't Wait” campaign against Congress has the Department of Labor proposing a rule that will allow nearly 2 million home care workers to qualify for federal wage and overtime protections. “Home care workers are essential in providing at-home care for our nation’s elderly and disabled citizens; their job has evolved to include health care services, such as managing medications and monitoring vital signs,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. Yet, the average home care worker earns $17,000 to $20,000 a year - more than the $7.25-per-hour minimum wage, but low enough to put many beneath the poverty line and enable them to qualify for public assistance. This new rule would ensure that home health care workers receive the same minimum wage and overtime protections as virtually all other working people. The nation's over-65 population is projected to grow from 40 million to 72 million by 2030; the government estimates that 27 million Americans will need home care by 2050. By allowing fair pay and overtime, the home care industry will be able to attract new workers while reducing turnover among existing employees.

Voter Suppression Continues to Rear its Ugly Head in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania
A federal lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Milwaukee alleging that Wisconsin's new voter ID law is unconstitutional and will deprive people of the right to vote. The suit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, claims top state officials, including Gov. Scott Walker, have created a poll tax and other obstacles that present a “severe and undue burden on the fundamental right to vote.” In October, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Network had filed suit.

For video footage of Pennsylvania Alliance President Jean Friday speaking out against voter suppression efforts in her state, go to http://bit.ly/tx5wJv.

New Hampshire Alliance Chapter Works to Protect Funding for Seniors
Santa's seniors are making a special holiday delivery to Rep. Charlie Bass (R) in New Hampshire today. The New Hampshire Alliance is bringing Rep. Bass post cards, petitions and personal stories that ask him to protect Social Security and Medicare. Volunteers are sitting down with him in order to hold him accountable for being on the wrong side of important senior issues.

Editor’s Note: The next Friday Alert will be published on Thursday, December 22. Happy Holidays!

Download a printable version

Posted 12:56PM on December 16 2011 by David Blank

Bosma Dead Wrong

2011-12-14T09:51:00.000-06:00

It’s time for our state lawmakers to focus on creating good jobs but instead, Speaker Bosma of the Indiana House indicated in the South Bend Tribune's December 10 issue that his number one priority is to pass a so-called “right to work” law that is just another corporate hand out that hurts the middle class.

The last thing we need is for our state politicians to reward their CEO friends by passing laws that will undermine workers’ rights. So called Right to Work is not good for our families and it’s not good for our state.

States with so-called “right to work” laws have higher workplace fatality rates, have fewer people with health insurance and workers make less averaging $5,500 less a year. We can’t afford a law like this in Indiana.

The only way this kind of law will increase employment is that it will require even more workers to work two jobs to support their families.

Urge your Indiana Senator and Representative to do all he/she can to oppose right to work legislation.

46th Wedding Anniversary

2011-12-11T16:49:00.000-06:00

It was 46 years ago today that I married Elaine Adams. We got hitched at the City Methodist Church in Gary, Indiana on December 11th, 1965 with a dinner afterwards at the Hotel Gary.

When I think of how long I’ve known Elaine I really do have to think about it. Let’s see…I met her in 7th grade. We were in the same home-room together. Home-rooms were the first period of the class day and were made up of students according to alphabetical last names.

I remember so well how pretty I thought she was. Although I had my eye on her, she wouldn’t give me the time of day. As a matter of fact, she teased me. She sat a few seats in front of me and I do remember our eyes meeting once and she just batted them at me.

I couldn’t let anyone know I was interested in her because I was on the football team, and we weren’t really supposed to be very interested in girls. Most of the gals dated Freshman boys anyway.

It wasn’t until we were Juniors that we began dating. It was in August at the beginning of football season. After practice one day, she and a friend of mine who lived across the street from me and his girlfriend stopped in front of the house and honked their horn. I went out to see who it was and we ended up going to Lo-Jacks drive-in for a rum coke which were very popular in those days. The very next evening, they stopped by again honking their horn. We did the rum coke thing again and then parked in his drive way. I remember Elaine planted a kiss on me so hard it hurt my lip.

Well, a few more similar evenings put me madly in love. I recall soon after telling her that I was going to marry her some day.

We dated off and on our senior year, and after graduation in 1961, I went into the Navy and Elaine became a hair dresser. I was stationed in Pearl Harbor and came home two times for a month at a time.

I got out of the Navy in August 1965 and we set the wedding date for December 11.

So, I think we’ve known each other since about 1956 which would make it about 55 years.

We haven't changed a bit, right?

Today of course is very special for us both.

Jimmy's Peanut Brittle

2011-12-10T15:18:00.000-06:00

The following recipe and method for making the world famous “Jimmy’s Peanut Brittle” is being divulged with permission. Jim Chandler has become famous in Northern Indiana for his much loved brittle.

Recipe:

2 cups of sugar
1 cup of light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 Tablespoons of butter
2 cups of raw peanuts
2 teaspoons of baking soda

Method:

First of all, dampen a couple of towels and spread them on a flat surface.
Place a cookie sheet on top of the towels and smear butter over the cookie sheet to keep the stuff from sticking.
Prepare a glass of water to put the thermometer in later.
Measure out the baking soda and have it ready for later.
In a 3 quart sauce pan, dump in the sugar, corn syrup and water.
Put the pan on the stove top and turn the burner on high.
Put a candy thermometer on the side of the pan and make sure it doesn’t touch the bottom of the pan. (use a heat pad whenever you touch the thermometer.)
Stir the stuff with a wooden paddle until the sugar dissolves.
Keep stirring it once in awhile until it starts to boil.
Slide in the butter (don’t let it plop in cause you don’t want it to splash.
Stir frequently and bring the temperature to 250 degrees.
Dump in the peanuts and stir it up good.
Stir it once in awhile and allow the temperature to come up to 310 degrees.
Take out the thermometer and put it in the glass of water.
Shut off the burner and put the pan on a cool surface.
Add the baking soda.
Stir it up well until the mixture begins to change color.
Pour the stuff onto the buttered cookie sheet
After a minute or so, slip a metal spatula under the brittle all the way around.
Invert the spatula and slide it under the brittle and then move it towards the outside of the cookie sheet stretching it so as to make the stuff as thin as possible. That's sort of learned technique but you'll get the hang of it. You can also use your fingers to stretch it but be careful not to burn yourself.
Take a pair of scissors and cut the stuff into four sections.
Flip the four sections over.
Put the cookie sheet outside to cool off.
Bring it in and break it into your preferred size.
Start eating it or put it into plastic bags…………………...Makes 2 1/2 pounds
Next time you make it, try using pecans.

No Charge

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert Dec. 9, 2011

2011-12-09T16:42:00.000-06:00

Payroll Tax Cut, “Doc Fix” Likely to be Rolled into One Catch-All Package
Elected officials are discussing several competing plans to cut the payroll tax that is used to fund the Social Security Trust Fund. The employee share of the tax is scheduled to go back to 6.2% on January 1, from a current rate of 4.2%, if no legislation is passed, and President Obama wants to lower the tax to 3.1% next year. A Democratic-written bill in the Senate would lower the rate to that 3.1% level. It is financed chiefly by a 1.9% surtax on income over $1 million, a proposal that is almost universally opposed by Republicans, and GOP senators are expected to defeat the measure.

A House bill would drop next year’s payroll tax to 4.2% - this year’s level. It would be financed by extending the current pay freeze on federal workers through 2015 and many other, smaller savings, including charging higher Medicare premiums to higher-earning seniors.

Bipartisan concerns that extending the payroll-tax cut would weaken Social Security are complicating the effort to allow the tax break for workers. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I - Vt.), a leading liberal voice, last week voted against a Democratic bill to extend the tax cut. That put him on the same side as Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the No. 2 Senate Republican, and Jerry Moran (R - Kan.), a member of the tea-party caucus. “If you do it for two years, you know what it's probably going to be harder to break that habit in the third year,” Sen. Sanders said, adding, “in which case you've got a permanent process by which you've cut the payroll tax and diverted huge sums of money.”

Republican and Democratic aides predicted in Roll Call that the payroll tax cut will be extended by Congress in an end-of-the-year catch-all package that is likely to include extensions of unemployment benefits and increased Medicare payments to doctors. If no action is taken on the Medicare reimbursement rate for doctors, it would fall by a whopping 27% on January 1.

Mitt Romney Elaborates on Medicare
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney clarified his plan to partially privatize the Medicare program during an interview with the Washington Examiner’s editorial board Wednesday morning, suggesting that he would allow Congress to vote on the amount of “premium support” credits (or vouchers) seniors receive to buy health care coverage every year. Like House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts, seeks to gradually privatize the Medicare program for future enrollees by shifting seniors into private coverage and issuing everyone a “voucher” with which to purchase insurance. The plan also preserves the traditional Medicare option — known as fee-for-service — and seniors would be given a choice between using their vouchers towards the existing Medicare program or private insurance.

According to www.thinkprogress.org , “the government’s vouchers won’t keep up with premium increases, and as a result, seniors who cannot afford to pay anything above the government contribution may be stuck in cheaper and perhaps lower quality health plans that contract with lower quality providers or cover fewer expensive tests and procedures.” During the interview, Romney reiterated that the voucher would not grow with health care spending and hinted that Congress would be responsible for approving voucher increases annually.

“Governor Romney is proposing to let the impulses of Congress, which the vast majority of the country sees as a dysfunctional body, create great uncertainty for America’s seniors,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance.

“In addition, Romney wants to partially privatize Medicare and turn it into a voucher system that shifts costs to retirees,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “He has even proposed changing Medicare from a guaranteed program and turning it into one that Congress would have to vote annually to fund. That means the value of the vouchers that seniors would depend on to buy private insurance could vary each year based on the mood of Congress, leading to more gridlock.”

Health Care Law Has Saved the Average Senior $569 on Prescriptions in 10 Months
More than 2.65 million Medicare beneficiaries have saved more than $1.5 billion on their prescriptions this year, a $569-per-person average, while premiums have remained stable, the federal government announced on Tuesday. That's because of the provision of the health care law that put a 50% discount on name-brand prescription drugs in the “doughnut hole,” the coverage gap that exists before catastrophic coverage begins. Before the health care law took effect, Medicare patients had to pay full price for their prescriptions once they reached that gap. Drug companies now must provide the 50% discount in order to participate in the prescription plan. The prescription data are through the end of October. As of the end of November, more than 24 million people, or about half of those with traditional Medicare, have gone in for a free annual physical or other screening exam since the rules changed, allowing those benefits to be offered at no cost to patients.

Something on Your Mind? Write Letter, Win Pen!
Have an opinion about the 2012 elections? Is there something you want other seniors in your community to know about? Take a moment to write a letter to the editor, and if it is published, the Alliance will send you a free, union-made “Retirees with the Write Stuff” pen. “Letters to the editor are free and are often widely read by one’s neighbors,” said Alliance Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks. “Given the wealthy, corporate interests of Wall Street that we face, it’s nice to have an option that doesn’t cost money.”

In the last few months, Mel Aaronson, Lou Albano, Sam Burnett, Leon Burzynski, Tony Fransetta, Dave Friesner, David Jones, Lewis Neuman, Jr., John Pernorio, Donald Singer, Margot Smith, Dennis Tracey, Norm Wernet and Charlie Williams have contributed to their local papers. If you had a letter published recently, please email aracommunications@retiredamericans.org.

Hoosiers Reject Right to Work Legislation

2011-12-07T10:48:00.000-06:00

Today we've got some big news to share with you. There is a newly released poll that shows all Hoosiers – including Republicans – are overwhelmingly rejecting the partisan "right to work" legislation and believe their elected officials should focus on jobs and the economy instead of divisive attacks on working family's collective bargaining rights.

The poll, which was commissioned by the AFL-CIO, found that support among Hoosier voters for this controversial, union busting bill is weak, with just 38 percent favoring its passage while 47 percent stand in opposition. The survey also found that 67 percent of Hoosiers disagree with Statehouse Republicans' decision to make "right to work" their top priority and wish they would move on to other issues.

Among self-identified Republicans only 59 percent support the bill, well below the level of support one would expect for their top legislative priority, and considerably weaker than the 72 percent opposition among Democrats.

This poll clearly shows that Hoosiers' patience for these divisive and partisan attacks has run out. The numbers – among Democrats, Republicans and Independents – all show that Hoosiers are ready to move away from "right to work" and onto more important issues like fixing the economy.

As we've been saying all along, we have the facts and the people on our side – and this new poll is just further proof of it.

In Solidarity,
Nancy Guyott
President, Indiana AFL-CIO

Part D Open Enrollment Ends Tomorrow

2011-12-06T15:59:00.000-06:00

Open Enrollment Ends December 7

Remember: Medicare Open Enrollment ends earlier this year. You have until December
7 to make sure your health and drug coverage still meets your needs. That's tomorrow.

If you're happy with your current coverage, you don't need to do anything. But
make sure you understand any upcoming changes to your plan's costs or benefits.
If you want to change plans, or if you need help choosing the right plan, visit
www.medicare.gov and get personalized information about plans in your area.

You Have Been Forewarned

2011-12-04T18:27:00.000-06:00

Be aware that Cooper tires are being made in Findley, Ohio by unqualified workers. These tires are potentially susceptible to premature failure and should be avoided.

Friday Alert December 2, 2011

2011-12-02T16:21:00.000-06:00

With Super Committee Deadline Passed, December Brings More Decisions
The November 23rd deadline for the Super Committee to vote on a legislative proposal that achieves $1.2 - $1.5 trillion in savings has come and gone without producing any type of report. “We dodged a bullet, but we’re not out of the woods. Attempts to cut Social Security and Medicare could come back awfully soon, as Congress and the Administration continue to look for ways to meet deficit reduction goals,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. Alliance members made more than 2,500 patch-through calls to five Super Committee members who represented them legislatively. Over 240 Alliance members then dialed in for a conference call on Wednesday, November 30th, a national conversation with leaders and advocates about a collective strategy, next steps, and what the month of December should look like.

Employees and employers pay into the Social Security system through a payroll tax, and last year, Congress passed legislation to reduce payroll taxes for workers by 2%, to 4.2%. House Republicans are now drafting legislation to renew an expiring unemployment benefits program, and intend to add it to a planned extension of that Social Security payroll tax cut, due to run out on Dec. 31. Senate Democrats held a vote late Thursday on their plan, which would have halved the payroll tax from 6.2% to 3.1% and would be paid for with a surcharge of 3.25% on earnings above $1 million. That vote failed, as did a Republican Senate alternative. Republican and Democratic leaders have begun discussions on legislation to avert a 27% cut in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients. The measure has bipartisan support. Lawmakers are eager to adjourn for the year at mid-month.

Beware RetireSafe, a Front Group for the Pharmaceutical Industry
This fall, a little-known group called RetireSafe honored more than 20 vulnerable Republican Members of Congress for supporting seniors. According to Roll Call, the operation is led by “former Bush and Reagan administration officials, small-government activists and pharmaceutical industry lobbyists and consultants.” It is funded at least in part by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the drug industry’s chief lobbying group, and has served to validate the industry’s agenda. RetireSafe’s awards provided these Republicans with valuable political cover for supporting controversial bills, such as the budget proposed by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that would have dramatically revamped Medicare. Federal records show that the bulk of RetireSafe’s expenditures, about $2.2 million, go to direct mail such as a flier that voters in Michigan received this fall praising freshman Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Mich.) for protecting Medicare Part D. Other Republican freshmen who have won awards from RetireSafe include Reps. Jon Runyan (N.J.), Allen West (Fla.) and Paul Gosar (Ariz.). RetireSafe currently is opposing Democratic efforts to require drug manufacturers to pay a rebate to the government for drugs sold to low-income seniors through Medicare Part D. The move is strongly opposed by the pharmaceutical industry. “This is the latest example of a front group forming to try to fool seniors. Well, I’m here to say we won’t be fooled!” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance.

Gingrich and Romney Differ in Ways to Cut Programs for Seniors
Rising in the polls for the Republican nomination for President, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has laid out a plan that would give Americans the option of having a private Social Security account – a proposal similar to the partial privatization that President George W. Bush proposed in 2005. Under Gingrich’s proposal, part of the employee-funded portion could be invested in a personal savings account. According to The Boston Globe, Gingrich attacked those who like Social Security in its current form, saying, “If you are dumb enough that you prefer to get less money with less control while relying on politicians, that’s your prerogative. You’re an American. You’re allowed to be dumb.”

The Globe also reports that presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s plan to rein in federal Medicare spending would give the nation’s seniors a choice: choose government insurance or use a federal voucher to buy medical insurance from private companies. Seniors would be exposed to potential costs that they do not pay now. The Globe calls Romney’s plan “vague on politically sensitive points.” It does not spell out what share of premiums seniors would be required to pay from their pockets. While Romney proposes increasing the eligibility age for future Medicare enrollees from the current 65, he does not say what the new age should be. “Whether it’s leaving out details or trying a plan that has already been rejected, some of the presidential hopefuls are showing that they are poor candidates for seniors,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

Census Data Shows 65 – 69 Age Group is Growing the Fastest
On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of the Census released data from the 2010 census on the American population over 65. The census found that there are 40.3 million Americans over 65, an increase of nearly 8 million from the 2000 census. Seniors now compose 13% of the population. America’s older population grew at a 15.1% rate while the population as a whole grew at a lower rate of 9.7%. The greatest growth occurred in the number of people 65-69, reflecting the aging of the Baby Boom generation. The five states with the greatest percentage of people over 65 are: Florida (17.3%); West Virginia (16.0%); Maine (15.9%); Pennsylvania (15.4%); and Iowa (14.9%). Sumter County, Florida, which includes The Villages retirement complex, has the highest county population of seniors at 43.4%. The city of Scottsdale, AZ has the highest city percentage of seniors at 20.0%. For more information on seniors and the 2010 census, go to http://bit.ly/rNHMxM.

Frank Stella Elected President of the Maryland-DC Alliance
On November 19, Frank Stella was elected President of the Maryland-DC Alliance at the group’s convention in Silver Spring, MD. Speakers included Member of the Super Committee and U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), and Mr. Coyle. On December 1, Coyle traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for a meeting of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) Executive Board.

Alliance’s Midwest Convention to Take Place in Milwaukee
Join us for the Alliance's Midwest Regional meeting, March 5-7, 2012 at the Milwaukee Hilton in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! To RSVP, or for more information, please call Event Coordinator Joni Jones at 202-637-5377 or e-mail jjones@retiredamericans.org.

Cooper Tire Turns Rogue

2011-11-30T21:06:00.000-06:00

More information, contact: Tony Montana, USW – 412-562-2592

Pittsburgh – The United Steelworkers (USW) today condemned Cooper Tire and Rubber Company’s decision to lock-out workers at the company’s profitable Findlay, Ohio production facility, despite the union’s good faith offer to keep working while negotiations toward a new labor contract proceeded.
USW District 1 Director Dave McCall said that he expects the union to pursue unlawful bargaining charges against Cooper with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and added that the union is still committed to negotiating a fair contract in Findlay.

“These negotiations have been hindered considerably by Cooper’s behavior at the bargaining table and the company’s determination to instigate a labor dispute,” said USW District 1 sub-director Patrick Gallagher. “Cooper’s intent to test our solidarity became clear the moment the company refused our offer to continue working until we reached a new contract.”

“Our members are proud of their longstanding relationships with Cooper’s loyal customers,” said Rod Nelson, USW Local 207L president “We urge Cooper management to return to negotiations at once so that these relationships are not strained.”

USW Local 207L represents more than 1,000 hourly workers in Findlay, while USW Local 752L represents Cooper employees in Texarkana, Texas.

The USW represents about 850,000 working men and women in the United States and Canada in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glass making to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber and other manufacturing environments to the public sector, service and health care industries.

Indiana Doesn't Need Right-to-Work Legislation

2011-11-28T15:02:00.000-06:00

By Rich James

Last Modified: Nov 25, 2011 10:00AM

When the General Assembly convenes on Jan. 4, the eyes of the nation may well be on Indiana.

Not because the state remains the best in the nation when it comes to high school basketball, but because there will be an unwarrated attack upon organized labor.

The Republicans, who do the bidding of corporations and other businesses, will seek the passage of a right-to-work bill.

The bill would force organized labor to represent workers who refuse to pay union dues.

The bill also would be a significant step by Republicans to destroy the unions that built America.

The Republicans say right-to-work will clear the way for additional businesses to relocate to Indiana.

Those are the very same businesses that have no desire to deal with unions. They want to drive down workers’ wages and increase corporate profits and power.

Statistics show the average worker in a right-to-work state makes about $5,333 a year less than workers in other states.

Twenty-one percent more people in right-to-work states don’t have health insurance.

And the list goes on.

Do Republicans care? Of course not, although they will try to tell you otherwise. And they wonder why they can’t get the union vote.

Republicans contend corporations have shipped jobs overseas because of the cost of dealing with unions. Don’t buy it. It’s about greed.

Republicans also will tell you that Democrats oppose right to work because of the money that unions contribute to their party.

While there is truth to that, there is a bigger issue involved here.

It is about quality of life for the middle class — a group that has been declining in numbers because of attacks like the one planned by Republican legislators.

The CEO of a company may take up residence on the top floor, but it’s the union folks who laid the bricks, hammered the nails and ran the electricity and plumbing that made it all possible.

Unions aren’t perfect, but they provide quality craftsmanship and are an integral part of a community.

Gov. Mitch Daniels keeps boasting that Indiana is one of the most attractive states in the country for new business.

If that in fact is the case, and I have no reason to doubt it, why the push for right-to-work?

I guess the easy answer is that they can. Republicans control the House and Senate and the governor’s office.

Some say the Republicans want to eliminate the voice of the working man from the political process. Hard to argue against that.

When Republicans introduced legislation to do the same thing early this year, some Democrats walked out for five weeks, preventing a quorum. The bill died.

Might the Democrats skip out again? It’s possible, but I don’t think so. Walking out again might well work against the Democrats.

Staying in the Statehouse while Hoosiers from across Indiana rally in Indianapolis for several weeks could be a political plus for Democrats come November 2012.

And you can bet the vast majority of Hoosier teachers, who saw Republicans take away the majority of their bargaining rights earlier this year, will be at the fore when the unions take to the streets.

Might right to work lure a few more businesses to Indiana? Probably. Might they be worth it? Probably not.

So, why are Republicans going out of their way to rip the state apart when they don’t have to?

Money. Greed. And most of all — arrogance.

Rich James’ column appears on Fridays in the Post-Tribune, A Chicago Sun-Times Publication

Steelworker Retirees Prepare

2011-11-26T20:54:00.000-06:00

Gary Gaines, SOAR Coordinator in USW District 7 is shown in this photo presenting the charter for a new SOAR Chapter made up of retirees USW Local 7-669.
The rogue Honeywell company locked out their workers from June 28, 2010 to August 2, 2011 but found out that Steelworkers have staying power and will last one day longer.
By joining SOAR and establishing their own chapter, these retirees will be in a much better position to help their union in the future........a great group of retirees.

Largest newspaper of the year

2011-11-24T16:19:00.001-06:00

Going out to the mail box this morning to retrieve the newspaper brought back memories of my days as a paper boy arount 1954 or so, delivering the Chicago Tribune to the business district in Hobart, Indiana.
All the paperboys dreaded delivering the paper on Thanksgiving as it had more pages in it than any other paper of the year. It made the job much harder than usual. The newspapers barely fit into the canvas bag we used and sometimes we even had to go back for another load.
It also made it really difficult to steer my bicycle with that huge bag on the handlebars.
It was a good time of the year for tips though. The day I made my collections, one of the saloons in town always sat me at the bar and gave me free shots of Ginger Ale. And then Abbots restaurant always provided me with a free breakfast of anything I wanted.
We have a rural delivery now and I imagine that those carriers have an equally difficult time handling those big newspapers as well.
Tip your newspaper carrier well, they deserve every penny.

Indiana Workers Protest Republicans "Right to Work" for Less

2011-11-23T19:10:00.000-06:00

Indiana Workers Will Not Back Down

2011-11-21T08:48:00.000-06:00

Open Enrollment Ends December 7

2011-11-20T10:48:00.000-06:00

Remember: Medicare Open Enrollment ends earlier this year. You have until December 7 to make sure your health and drug coverage still meets your needs.

If you're happy with your current coverage, you don't need to do anything. But make sure you understand any upcoming changes to your plan's costs or benefits.

If you want to change plans, or if you need help choosing the right plan, visit www.medicare.gov and get personalized information about plans in your area.

Friday Alert Alliance for Retired Americans

2011-11-19T17:43:00.000-06:00

Excepts from the November 18, 2011 edition

Super Committee Negotiations Go Down to the Wire 
Just five days before the deadline for a deficit reduction deal, the Super Committee dealing with the nation’s budget deficit in Congress still did not seem close to reaching an agreement on tax reforms and spending cuts. According to CNN, 72 conservative House Republicans made public their opposition to any Super Committee agreement that includes tax increases. Such a large voting bloc in the Republican majority means Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) would need support from Democrats to get a deal that contains tax increases to pass the House. Democrats said they would not accept Republican demands to raise the Medicare eligibility age to 67, lower cost-of-living increases for Social Security beneficiaries, and permanently reduce all income tax rates. The special joint congressional committee has until November 23 to come up with a plan. A majority of the panel's 12 members, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, need to agree on savings of at least $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. If they reach a deal, then Congress will have until December 23 to vote on it without amending it. A failure to pass any agreement would result in $1.2 trillion in automatic across-the-board spending cuts starting in 2013, evenly divided between defense and non-defense spending.  

Brown-Mikulski-Merkley Bill Would Help Seniors by Changing Social Security COLA
On Wednesday, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced S. 1876, the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act. It is a bill to change the Social Security COLA to what is called the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) formula. "Retirees spend more of their financial resources on health care and housing than the general population. Because health care inflation rates, in particular, have been much higher than general inflation during the past twenty years, the current formula used to calculate the Social Security annual COLA does not accurately reflect the everyday costs that seniors face. This legislation would be a financial help to seniors by addressing the existing disparity in calculating the COLA formula," said David Friesner, President of the Ohio Alliance and a constituent of Sen. Brown. The bill comes at a crucial time, given news stories about the Super Committee’s possible plans to adjust the COLA downward, and is a counterweight to those frightening reports.

Alliance Activists Take to the Streets, Community
As the Super Committee nears its deadline, Alliance activists this week made their voices heard all across the country. At events ranging from protests and rallies in California, Arizona and Texas to Social Security and Medicare forums in Iowa, Florida, and New York, to a state convention in West Virginia, Alliance members educated their local community on issues facing current and future retirees. Watch the Arizona Alliance on the TV news in Phoenix at http://bit.ly/syghWL. "From city sidewalks to senior centers in small towns, Alliance members are out there every single week, fighting for social and economic justice," said Ruben Burks, the Alliance’s Secretary-Treasurer.

Regional Meetings Begin in February 
Be sure to hold the following dates for the Alliance’s 2012 Regional Meetings:
•    Western Regional: February 29 – March 2, 2012 - Las Vegas, Nevada - Bally’s Hotel 
•    Midwest Regional: March 5-8, 2012 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Hilton Hotel Milwaukee 
•    Southern Regional: April 29 – May 1, 2012 - Orlando, Florida – Buena Vista Palace Hotel
•    Northeastern Regional: May 14-16, 2012 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Sheraton City Center Hotel

Hands Off Social Security

2011-11-18T05:46:00.000-06:00

Veterans Serve in other than the Military

2011-11-12T07:37:00.000-06:00

I was reminded this morning that many able bodied folks who did not serve in the armed forces during past wars were serving in other much needed capacities.
My Father made steel during those wars as did Elaine's Father. As well, Elaine's Aunt was one of the original Rosie the Riveters by becoming a crane operator in one of the steel mills. Other spouses cared for their families while their spouses were either off to war or working in occupations necessary to support the war effort.
So let's also remember and thank those other "veterans" of service to our country during this Veterans Day week end.

Veterans Day for all who served

2011-11-11T17:40:00.000-06:00

Those who served our country in the past or today deserve our thanks. It doesn't matter which service they served in either. Those who weren't able to serve in the military or who chose another direction have no idea the sacrifice these folks have made. Their sacrifice is just simply unbelievable.
Thanks to all of our veterans.

Join SOAR

2011-11-08T18:52:00.002-06:00

We Stand Up and Fight Back

2011-11-07T15:57:00.002-06:00

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert Nov 4, 2011

2011-11-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

Washington Post Misleads Seniors on Social Security
The Washington Post published a Halloween-Eve front page "Prediction of Doom" feature piece riddled with misleading statements and inaccuracies about Social Security and its financial footing [http://wapo.st/tuG2Jy]. The 12-member panel is less than a month away from its deadline for finding at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, but it’s said to be looking for closer to $4 trillion. "The timing was particularly bad, because we’re in the homestretch of the Super Committee negotiations," said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. In a letter to the editor, Mr. Coyle wrote, "Your October 30 feature 'The debt fallout: How Social Security went 'cash negative' earlier than expected' not only contained misleading information about Social Security, but falsely connects the program to the federal budget deficit...(There) is enough money to fully pay benefits through 2036, and if we were to require millionaires to pay the same proportion of Social Security taxes as middle class workers, the Trust Fund would be sound well toward the end of this century." The group Media Matters posted a thorough debunking of the Washington Post story at http://bit.ly/uPVLDu.

Super Committee Taking Hard Look at Social Security, Medicare Cuts
Politico reports that the Super Committee, charged with drastically reducing the nation’s budget deficit, is taking a serious look at Social Security and Medicare. On Tuesday, former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, as well as founding Director of the Congressional Budget Office Alice Rivlin and former Senate Budget Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) testified at a public hearing before the Committee about their two sweeping bipartisan budget plans. The Simpson-Bowles and Rivlin-Domenici frameworks contain major Social Security and Medicare cuts in addition to tax code overhauls.

Mr. Bowles, the co-chairman of President Obama's fiscal commission, offered a range of possible Medicare cuts, from policies like provider cuts to highly charged proposals such as a public insurance option. "I don’t know why in the world you wouldn’t have Medicare negotiate" prescription drug prices, Bowles said, while also calling for aggressive tort reform. In addition, he said he would support raising the Medicare eligibility age, which the fiscal commission did not recommend. Bowles proposes saving $200 billion by using a less generous formula – the Chained CPI (Consumer Price Index) - to calculate cost-of-living adjustments in Social Security. To see how such a plan would hurt seniors, go to http://bit.ly/skmv0w.
Dr. Rivlin and former Sen. Domenici presented the Committee with a new model for Medicare "premium support." Their proposal would give seniors a choice to either take their Medicare benefits in the form of a voucher for private insurance or remain in the existing program. However, Congressional Democrats strongly resisted earlier proposals to convert Medicare entirely into a premium-support system. Democratic Super Committee members also raised questions about Rivlin and Domenici’s new plan.

"All four witnesses have a track record of being willing to cut senior programs severely," said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

The Alliance’s Halloween: Spotlighting Politicians’ Tricks & Treats
Since Arizona Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) is a member of the Super Committee, Arizona Alliance members dressed up for Halloween to protest possible cuts in Social Security and Medicare. To see the photos, go to http://bit.ly/vq1Id1.

Mr. Coyle joined Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and two Nevada seniors on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday to highlight the anti-senior voting record of U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) on Social Security and Medicare. Coyle said, "Sen. Heller says that he is a friend of seniors, but his voting record says otherwise. Dean Heller voted against a one-time $250 payment to help seniors. $250 may be just dinner and drinks for Dean Heller's Wall Street donors, but to seniors in Nevada and across the country, it would have made a real difference.

Both the Iowa and South Carolina Alliance chapters will have held educational forums for seniors on national and state issues by the end of this week. The Iowa Alliance joined the group "Know Your Care" on Wednesday in Des Moines for a public forum on strengthening Social Security and Medicare. South Carolina Alliance members will be gathering in Myrtle Beach tomorrow for a forum that will encompass Social Security, Medicare, debt reduction, the Super Committee recommendations, Medicaid, financial security for seniors in a volatile market, identity theft, and senior scams. Richard Fiesta, Director of the Department of Government and Political Affairs for the Alliance, spoke at the Vermont Alliance convention last Saturday.

Retirees Support “Occupy Cleveland”
A video shows Ohio Alliance members, led by Wynne Antonio and John Gallo, visiting with "Occupy Cleveland" protesters, sharing their lessons from lifelong activism and offering their support and encouragement. To view it, go to http://bit.ly/tAYZ3F. Alliance President Barbara J. Easterling - an Ohio native - said of the video, "What a great show of inter-generational activism this event was. Retirees know firsthand how Wall Street greed and gambling has devastated retirement savings for millions of Americans. We can never let Wall Street get their hands on a privatized Social Security system."

Obama to Speed up Production of Life-Saving Drugs
On Monday, President Obama signed an Executive Order that will help prevent shortages that lead to prescription drug price gouging and direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate illegal price gouging. Drug shortages drive vendors to charge outrageous prices for drugs - one report found that price-gouging vendors mark up prices on drugs in short supply by 650 percent on average. The Executive Order directs the FDA to expand reporting about situations that might lead to drug shortages, and also to work with the Department of Justice to investigate illegal price gouging.

Editor’s Note: Due to Veterans Day, the next Friday Alert will be published on Thursday, November 10, 2011.
Download a printable version of this document at http://bit.ly/sVg481.

Senators Lugar and Coates, Get on the Stick

2011-10-31T20:51:00.000-05:00

As President Obama said, "We Can't Wait."

It's time for you two to do what's right for the country and quit stalling.

Pitiful.

A Stronger Voice

2011-10-30T07:04:00.000-05:00

Stand Up Fight Back

2011-10-29T19:57:00.002-05:00

Good News for Seniors

2011-10-28T18:39:00.000-05:00

According to news from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today, beneficiaries over 65 who have been paying $96.40 a month in Medicare Part B premiums, will see their premiums rise next year to $99.90. This is significantly less than the increase predicted by CMS for 2012. New Medicare enrollees who have been paying $115.40 a month will actually see their premiums go down. The Part B deductible decreases as well, by $22, and premiums for Medicare's Part D prescription benefit will remain unchanged for 2012.

Today’s Medicare announcement follows news last week that seniors will receive a 3.6% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in their 2012 Social Security checks. That means the average retiree will receive a nearly $40 per month increase in their Social Security checks even including the Part B premium increase.

Source: The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

Third World America

2011-10-27T22:07:00.000-05:00

Four Reasons to Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-26T08:19:00.000-05:00

The 99% Seek a Just Economy, Not Just an Economy

2011-10-25T07:50:00.002-05:00

Republicans jammed together a mess of old, failed and vague schemes and called it a jobs bill. Sen. John McCain conceded the reason for the rehash: “Part of it is in response to the president saying we don’t have a proposal.”

They still don’t. This despite the fact that they promised voters during their campaign to take control of the U.S. House one year ago that they’d create jobs. That they’d focus on jobs. That nothing was more important to them than jobs.

Now, what they’ve offered instead of actual jobs is a polyglot of GOP talking points. It’s certainly no vision to move the country forward. It’s a plot to set the country back – to repeal the health care law that will soon help provide coverage for the nearly 50 million Americans without insurance, to rescind the Wall Street reform law designed to prevent another financial sector-caused meltdown, and to thwart regulations, like those that stopped distribution of listeria-infected cantaloupe that killed 25.

GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio called the Republican polyglot a “pro-growth proposal to create the environment for jobs.” It is, in fact, a pro-business proposal to permit corporations to destroy the environment for humans.

It is another GOP ploy to appease, accommodate and absolve corporations. It is another GOP ruse to firmly establish in America an economy designed for, dedicated to and directed by corporations rather than a just economy controlled by and beneficial to the 99 percent.

Republicans offered up their “Jobs Through Growth Act” mishmash after the GOP minority in the Senate wielded the filibuster again to block a vote on President Obama’s $447 billion American Jobs Act, a measure that even Republican economists determined would create 1.9 million jobs and reduce the nation’s aching 9.1 percent unemployment by as much as 1 percent.

The Republican measure, by contrast, could hurt the economy, according to Gus Faucher, director of macroeconomics at Moody’s Analytics, an independent firm whose chief economist advised the McCain presidential campaign. Here is what Faucher said:

“Should we look at regulations and make sure they make sense from a cost benefit standpoint? Certainly. Should we reduce the budget deficit over the long run? Certainly. But in the short term, demand is weak, businesses aren’t hiring, and consumers aren’t spending. That’s the cause of the current weakness, and Republican Senate proposals aren’t going to address that in the short term. In fact, they could be harmful in the short run if the focus is on cutting spending.”

Of all the Republican proposals, the most insidious, the most dangerous, the absolutely most outrageous is their demand to roll back Wall Street reform, to repeal the Dodd-Frank Act that was passed in an attempt to prevent recurrence of the 2008 financial collapse that destroyed the U.S. economy and caused the highest levels of foreclosures, unemployment and misery among the 99 percent since the Great Depression.

Go back, the Republicans are saying. Go back to 2007 when Wall Street financiers sold worthless mortgage-backed securities to unsuspecting investors, contending with a straight face that these were assets. Go back to 2008 when these firms made hundreds of millions betting those securities would fail. Go back to 2009 when the banksters, bailed out by taxpayers, awarded billions in bonuses to the executives who’d gotten the firms and the U.S. economy into so much trouble. Go back to early 2010, the Republicans are saying, before Obama signed the Dodd-Frank reform act, and allow Wall Street to do it all over again. Reprise unfettered, irresponsible Wall Street, the Republicans demand.

For Republicans, it’s all about enforcing freedom for the few – allowing corporations and millionaires to do whatever they want. No matter what that means to the freedoms of the 99 percent. The GOP demand for repeal of health care reform is another example of that. Already, this law has expanded health coverage for a million young adults because it allows them to remain on their parents’ plan until age 26. It has also helped 1.2 million senior citizens afford their prescription drugs by beginning to close the “donut hole” during which they must pay.

Still, Republicans want to get rid of that law. They want to regress to those free-for-all days when health insurance corporations could make unlimited profits from illness, deny coverage to those with chronic illnesses and terminate coverage when policy holders got sick. They want those young adults dropped. They want senior citizens to pay more for their prescriptions again. For Republicans, it’s all about enforcing freedom for the few – allowing health insurance corporations to do whatever they want. No matter what that means to the freedoms of the 99 percent.

The Republican rebuke of any attempt to control the 1 percent is highlighted in their “jobs bill” by its call for a regulation moratorium. No new rules! The country is in the midst of the deadliest outbreak of foodborne illness in 25 years. Twenty-five people are dead. A total of 125 people in 26 states have been sickened by listeria-poisoned cantaloupe from Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo. One sickened woman suffered a miscarriage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says more illnesses and deaths may occur over the next several weeks.

If the Republicans got their way, the FDA would be unable to write new regulations to prevent another such incident. It’s fine with the GOP that Jensen had hired its own inspector, a firm that certified the Jensen packing plant fine and dandy just before listeria-tainted cantaloupes killed 25 and just before the FDA found numerous, obvious violations.

That’s because the Republican precept is: an economy just for the 1 percent.

***

Leo W. Gerard also is a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Committee and chairs the labor federation’s Public Policy Committee. President Barack Obama recently appointed him to the President’s Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations. He serves as co-chairman of the BlueGreen Alliance and on the boards of the Apollo Alliance, Campaign for America’s Future and the Economic Policy Institute. He is a member of the IMF and ICEM global labor federations and was instrumental in creating Workers Uniting, the first global union. Follow @USWBlogger

Posted October 24, 2011 at 10:04 am, in From the USW International President

A really good documentary - The One Percent

2011-10-24T22:11:00.000-05:00

Meet Connie Entrekin, SOAR President

2011-10-23T06:05:00.000-05:00

Socialism

2011-10-22T08:55:00.000-05:00

We're Movin In

2011-10-20T16:15:00.002-05:00

S.S. COLA Clouded by looming Threat on Capitol Hill

2011-10-20T09:38:00.000-05:00

“Super Committee” Considering Drastic Cut to Future Benefits

The following statement was issued today by Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans:

“Seniors are pleased by today’s announcement of a 3.6 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security beneficiaries. After two years of no increase, this will help retirees be better able to pay their bills and stay healthy.

“But today’s news is tempered by reports that the congressional “Super Committee” is considering changes to Social Security that will severely hinder retirees’ ability to keep pace with the rising cost of living. The panel may recommend a new statistical formula for future COLAs, one that would grossly understate the growing financial pressures on retirees.

“What the proponents of the change clinically call a ‘Chained-CPI,’ is what millions of seniors would call ‘food, shelter, clothing.’ A recent study showed that, if this change took effect, a worker retiring this year at age 65 would lose $6,000 in benefits by age 80.

“Social Security did not create our budget deficit – it is fully-funded by worker and employer payroll taxes. It is inexcusable for politicians who never met a tax break they didn’t like to try to balance the budget on the backs of current and future retirees.

“Today’s COLA is good news for retirees, but I worry that it could be the last one many seniors ever see. Workers and retirees must mobilize to protect the Social Security benefits millions of seniors count on to make ends meet.”

###
The Alliance for Retired Americans is a national organization that advocates for the rights and well being of over 4 million retirees and their families.

No Comment Necessary

2011-10-18T18:49:00.000-05:00

Social Security COLA Increase - Finally

2011-10-14T19:46:00.001-05:00

Social Security COLA Increase Finally Coming, but Offset by Medicare Premiums

After two years without an inflation adjustment, the Social Security Administration is expected to announce a 2012 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of more than 3 percent on October 19th. The annual Social Security COLA is determined by a formula that averages inflation for the third quarter, as reflected by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). No COLA was awarded in 2010 or 2011 due to a spike in the third quarter of 2008, which resulted in a 5.8 percent COLA for 2009. By law, subsequent Social Security payments couldn’t rise until the CPI-W exceeded the 2008 level. Many seniors will see a substantial part of the COLA consumed by a higher premium for Medicare Part B (doctor visits and outpatient services), which usually is deducted from Social Security payments. For those who receive the average benefit of $1,177 per month, a 3.5 percent COLA would lift their gross 2012 payment to $1,218. Assuming that the official Part B premium is, as projected, $106.60, seniors could pay $10.20 more monthly for Part B, reducing their net benefit to $1,207 – an increase of 2.63 percent. However, if you are among the one-third of seniors who receive a monthly benefit between $500 and $1,000, that could translate to a COLA of 2.04 percent after Part B premiums. Part B’s impact on Social Security is a reminder that seniors are affected by different types of inflation than the general population, mainly due to medical costs. To learn more, go to http://reut.rs/pr4i0E.

Source: Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert

Wanna Be a Pirate?

2011-10-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

Unbelievable

2011-10-13T18:06:00.000-05:00

I was out for the afternoon and just arrived home. We turned on the television and what do we see the U.S. House of Representative doing? Trying to pass legislation to prohibit women to belong to an insurance plan through the Medical Insurance exchanges that provide for abortion coverage, even though that person would have to pay for the coverage themselves.
I just find it hard to understand, with all of the people unemployed in our country that Republicans would want to spend their time trying to pass such legislation knowing that it wouldn't pass the Senate and would be vetoed by the President.
It just doesn't make any sense to me.
It used to be that only the rich could get a safe abortion by traveling out of the country. Those who couldn't afford to do that got their abortions in the alley ways or in parking lots.
What in the world are these Republicans doing?
It shows me that they do not care one whit for those children that are already born.
Nuts.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2011-10-11T18:47:00.002-05:00

Our Highways and Bridges are Falling Apart

2011-10-10T19:20:00.002-05:00

Our One Demand

2011-10-08T11:11:00.002-05:00

Republicans Want the Country to Fail

2011-10-05T13:13:00.002-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

OSHA - Our Government in Action

2011-10-05T11:52:00.001-05:00

The Blue Green Alliance is a national, strategic partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. It was launched in 2006 by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club.

The Blue Green Alliance unites more than eight and a half million people in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy.

The Alliance believes that in the pursuit of earning a living, workers shouldn’t have to forfeit their health or their lives.

In 1970, I was working for the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, commonly known as NIPSCO. I worked at the Bailly Generating station which is a coal fired generating station on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The boiler was under a positive pressure using forced draft fans to push the hot gases and smoke through the boiler and out the smoke stack. Any leak, regardless of size in the boiler skin or the duct work would spew out noxious and poisonous flue gas throughout the plant. It was particularly bad in the winter time when they made us close all the windows. There was a constant haze in the plant, making the air we had to breathe a grey - almost bluish color.

The workers suffered from runny noses, headaches, burning eyes, breathing problems, colds, sore throats, flue like symptoms, vomiting and getting sick to their stomachs. It was so bad that when mechanics had to work in the upper elevations, they had to wear an oxygen mask attached to a hose that let to a box where another person pumped fresh air to them. It was terrible.

Often times when visitors were taken on tours of the plant they would go up via an elevator to the upper elevations and when the elevator door opened, the gas would fill the elevator and the visitors would become sick and have to be escorted out of the plant.

Although the workers complained, the management didn’t seem to really care. Of course, they stayed in their air conditioned offices.

We had Scott air packs which were to be used in emergencies which are designed to allow a worker to be in a gaseous atmosphere in an emergency but I couldn’t understand why we shouldn’t use them for even routine work, so although management didn’t like it (because they would have to make sure they were filled when empty), I used them anyway.

It wasn’t long before I noticed a big yellow poster on the bulletin board explaining the new Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. It guaranteed that if we complained to OSHA, the company couldn’t discipline us.

Being a relatively new employee having just five years with the company, the OSHA law served to give me the nerve to complain more loudly and I filed my first grievance.

It wasn’t long before I found myself in the plant managers office with union representation. That was unheard of to have the plant manager hear a grievance. As I remember it was a loud and long meeting.

I bid out of the generating station a short time later, but I’m told that about three years later, the company installed induced draft fans that place a negative pressure on the boiler which causes any flue gas leaks in the boiler skin or duct work to suck air into the boiler rather that spew poisonous gas into the work environment.

The reason I’m thinking of this experience today is that so many in the Tea Party and the Republican Party complain about too much regulation and too much government. Well, I can tell you that OSHA is one governmental agency that I hope these wild eyed politicians don’t do away with.

Charlie Averill

Autumn Leaves

2011-10-04T19:15:00.000-05:00

Favorite time of the year. Took this photo in the upper P. of Michigan.

USW Supports the 'Occupy Wall Street' Protest Movement

2011-10-02T16:03:00.000-05:00

Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America's largest industrial union with 1.2 million active and retired members, today issued the following statement in support of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement:

"The United Steelworkers (USW) union stands in solidarity with and strongly supports Occupy Wall Street. The brave men and women, many of them young people without jobs, who have been demonstrating around-the-clock for nearly two weeks in New York City are speaking out for the many in our world. We are fed up with the corporate greed, corruption and arrogance that have inflicted pain on far too many for far too long.

Our union has been standing up and fighting these captains of finance who promote Wall Street over Main Street. We know firsthand the devastation caused by a global economy where workers, their families, the environment and our futures are sacrificed so that a privileged few can make more money on everyone's labor but their own.

Source: www.usw.org

Friday Alert

2011-10-01T15:42:00.000-05:00

Sickest Medicare Patients May Be Greatly Affected by the Super Committee

The “Super Committee” in Congress is tasked with finding $1.2 trillion worth of savings by November 23. If its members fail to do so, automatic spending cuts will kick in, taking that amount evenly from domestic and military spending. With only two out of the six meetings the committee has held thus far having been public, observers’ apprehension is growing. The few things that have trickled out include tax reform, as well as Medicare and Medicaid cuts. When it comes to spending cuts, both Democrats and Republicans seem to find common ground on the topic of “dual-eligibles,” the sickest and most costly patients. The term refers to people who are eligible for medical coverage under both Medicare and Medicaid; these patients make up about 16% of Medicare beneficiaries, yet make up about 27% of the program’s total spending. Right now, a possible solution being considered is forcing these patients into managed care, which currently about 100,000 of the 9 million dual patients are enrolled in. Whatever the Super Committee decides to do, the repercussions will be felt throughout the senior community and beyond. “With many states already cutting back on Medicaid, managed care plans for dual-eligibles could endanger the quality of care on which some of America's most vulnerable citizens depend,” warned Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance.

New on our Web Site: the Alliance’s 10-Year Anniversary Report
Visit http://bit.ly/pjVbXy for the Alliance’s 10-Year Anniversary report, which includes highlights of achievements since the Alliance’s launch in 2001. That web site also contains the latest video footage and material from our 2011 Legislative Conference. For pictures of the Iowa Alliance Quad Cities affiliate members - with their redistricted new U.S. Representative, David Loebsack (D) - go to http://bit.ly/qkDdhq.

Study Shows Medicare Advantage Increases Medicare Spending
In 2004, the Medicare program began to adjust its payments to private plans for enrollees’ health status. As a result, a plan would receive a higher “risk-adjusted” payment for a recipient with diabetes or heart disease than for an otherwise identical person without these conditions. For the National Bureau of Economic Research report, How Does Risk Selection Respond to Risk Adjustment? Evidence for the Medicare Advantage Program [ http://bit.ly/ovW0n1 ], researchers studied individual-level data for 55,000 people in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey from 1994 to 2006. The authors were able to show that the private Medicare Advantage (MA) program has increased total Medicare spending, and transferred Medicare resources from the relatively sick to the relatively healthy. For example, before risk-adjustment began in 2004, switching from fee-for-service Medicare to Medicare Advantage increased average individual Medicare spending by $1,800. The authors calculated that using risk adjustment formulas on the population that enrolled before 2004 would have reduced MA overpayments by more than $800 a person. But when the reimbursement formula changed, so did the pattern of enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans. After 2004, switching from fee-for-service to Medicare Advantage increased Medicare spending by approximately $3,000 per person. The pattern suggests that Medicare Advantage plans invest more resources in their relatively healthy enrollees, perhaps to differentially retain them.

Attempts to Rig the 2012 Elections Suspected
According to an editorial by Harold Meyerson in The Washington Post, [ http://wapo.st/neaKFL ], ever since the Republicans gained power in the 2010 elections, they have made it increasingly difficult for minority, poor and young voters to participate in elections. Tactics include voter identification requirements, which can amount to a poll tax if the ID is not free. “There is no evidence that widespread voter impersonation is taking place in Pennsylvania,” said Pennsylvania Alliance President Jean Friday, and Alliance members have been e-mailing Pennsylvania state senators about voter ID requirements there. Another proposal in Pennsylvania has emerged that will change the practice of giving all the electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote. This has been the practice in all past presidential campaigns, as well as in 47 other states. State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi is pushing a plan that will give the candidate the number of electoral votes equal to the number of districts he wins. This re-working of the Electoral College, along with Pennsylvania redrawing its district lines, will give the GOP a majority of 12 districts. That means President Obama could still win the popular vote in Pennsylvania by carrying the urban areas, such as Philadelphia, but lose the majority of the Electoral College votes. A number of other swing states are thinking of adopting this system as well. To combat these and similar efforts, the Lawyers’ Committee has created the interactive “Map of Shame” at www.mapofshame.com or www.lawyerscommittee.org. In addition to highlighting the states with voter suppression legislation, the Lawyers’ Committee has created a tool to provide details about the changes.

Illinois Alliance Holds its State Convention
The Illinois Alliance convention was held last Friday at a UAW center in Ottawa, IL. Barbara Franklin was re-elected state President. Other officers elected: Homer K. Spaulding, re-elected as Executive Vice President; Katie Jordan, re-elected as Treasurer; and Jane Russell, Secretary. Speakers included Ms. Easterling and Kris Sadur of Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s office. Terri Gendel, Director of Benefits and Advocacy at AgeOptions, spoke about their Senior Medicare Patrol, a national program to stop Medicare Fraud. To learn more, go to http://bit.ly/gkTfyn.

Source: Alliance for Retired Americans

Medicare Part D Has New Schedule

2011-09-30T23:05:00.000-05:00

When Can You Join a Medicare Drug Plan

Between October 15 – December 7, anyone can join, switch, or drop a Medicare drug plan. The change will take effect on January 1 as long as the plan gets your request by December 7.

Source: medicare web site

Right to Work

2011-09-28T19:36:00.000-05:00

Right to Work
by Larry Keller

Chicago - In this wonderful Country of ours where freedom of speech is a tradition, the spokesman for the National Right to Work Committee abused the privilege with his confusion about unions, in his letter to the "Voice of the People" last week.

The truth about the Right to Work Committee's philosophy is the so-called right to work in a union shop getting:

    •    union wages and benefits
    •    union protection and security
    •    union representation, and
    •    union collective bargaining...

all without paying union dues.

Isn't that the same as:
    •    Getting the benefits of a community without paying taxes?
    •    Subscribing to the Tribune without paying the carrier?
    •    Being a member of a (religious) congregation without contributing?

If a worker does not want to pay union dues he has the free, American right to find a job where the workers have not elected to have a union. In this Great Country a citizen does not say the President is not my President because I did not vote for him. In this Great Country a worker should not be able to say I refuse to pay union dues because I did not vote for the union -- but I want the same wages, hours, benefits and job protection that the union negotiates for its dues-paying members.

Union members are citizens, voluntarily joined together by majority vote, for the benefit of them all. That, too, is an American tradition.

Lawrence Keller

The above letter was first published in the "Voice of the People" section of the Chicago Tribune on June 1, 1984. Larry was the SOAR Representative for the old United Steelworkers of America District 31.

Finally, An American Jobs Plan Worth Fighting For

2011-09-23T16:43:00.000-05:00

Sisters and Brothers,

The proposed American Jobs Act has the potential to create 4.3 million new jobs over the next couple of years – many of them in the manufacturing and other fields that employ our members.

We’ve created an online toolkit at www.usw.org/jobs where you can find fact sheets, talking points, video and other resources to help you find the facts about this proposal.

Obviously, no plan is perfect, and we do not and will not support new free trade agreements with Columbia, South Korea and Panama. We also will examine closely any proposed changes to Medicare and Medicaid before taking a stand on those issues.

But we can’t ignore all the good that in this plan.

The Economic Policy Institute is estimating the president’s plan could create 4.3 million new jobs. And the Alliance for American Manufacturing in a study with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst says that for every $1 billion in infrastructure spending, 18,000 new jobs would be created, including jobs in metals, concrete, cement, glass, rubber, plastics, wood and steel.

Among other things, President Obama’s plan, which adds no new government spending, calls for modernizing schools and investing $50 billion in rebuilding roads, bridges, transit, port, rail, communications and energy systems. That supports a potential 900,000 jobs in many of our core manufacturing industries.

And since we know every manufacturing job pays on average 10-50 percent more than service sector jobs and supports five more jobs in a community, the ripple effect could be huge.

The jobs plan is also a good reason to push other parts of our agenda, including the creation and implementation of a coordinated manufacturing policy that would:

Establish a national infrastructure bank to leverage capital for large-scale transportation and energy projects. 
Reshape the tax code in a revenue neutral way to provide incentives for job creation and investment. Research and Development tax credits should help firms that not only innovate in America but also make their products here. 
Lower tax rates for manufacturing activity in America and eliminate tax shelters for hedge funds or financial transactions that have no real value. 
Consistent with our international obligations, apply "Buy America" domestic content provisions to all federal spending to ensure that American workers and businesses get the first shot at procurement contracts.  
Shift some education investment to rebuilding our vocational and technical skills program, which would address looming shortages in the manufacturing sector. 
Refocus the trade agenda by giving American businesses new tools to counter China's currency manipulation, industrial subsidies, intellectual property theft and barriers to market access. 
Condition new federal loan guarantees for energy projects on the utilization of domestic supply chains for construction.

Focusing on manufacturing not only helps solve the need for jobs, but also will lower our trade deficit, which will make it easier for America to pay its bills.   We simply cannot continue to allow Congress to do nothing to address our jobs crisis!

We’ll do our best to help keep you informed, including by keeping the newly created online “USW American Jobs Act Tool Kit” updated regularly. You can find it at www.usw.org/jobs.

In Solidarity,

Leo W. Gerard
USW International President

The American Jobs Act

2011-09-21T11:59:00.000-05:00

WHAT THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT MEANS FOR INDIANA
President Obama has announced a comprehensive plan to create jobs: the American Jobs Act. The purpose of the plan is simple: put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. And it would do so without adding a dime to the deficit.
Here are the five main components of the plan, and details on how some of the programs the President has proposed would affect Indiana:

1. TAX CUTS TO HELP AMERICA’S SMALL BUSINESSES HIRE AND GROW
The President’s plan will cut the payroll tax in half to 3.1% for employers on the first $5 million in wages, providing broad tax relief to all businesses but targeting it to the 98 percent of firms with wages below this level. In Indiana, 110,000 firms will receive a payroll tax cut under the American Jobs Act.

2. PUTTING WORKERS BACK ON THE JOB WHILE REBUILDING AND MODERNIZING AMERICA
The President’s plan includes $50 billion in immediate investments for highways, transit, rail and aviation, helping to modernize an infrastructure that now receives a grade of “D” from the American Society of Civil Engineers and putting hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job. Of the investments for highway and transit modernization projects, the President’s plan will make immediate investments of at least $703,000,000 in Indiana that could support a minimum of approximately 9,100 local jobs.
The President is proposing to invest $35 billion to prevent layoffs of up to 280,000 teachers, while supporting the hiring of tens of thousands more and keeping cops and firefighters on the job. These funds would help states and localities avoid and reverse layoffs now, and will provide $629,300,000 in funds to Indiana to support up to 9,100 educator and first responder jobs.
The President is proposing a $25 billion investment in school infrastructure that will modernize at least 35,000 public schools—investments that will create jobs, while improving classrooms and upgrading our schools to meet 21st century needs. Indiana will receive $443,400,000 in funding to support as many as 5,800 jobs.
The President is proposing to invest $15 billion in a national effort to put construction workers on the job rehabilitating and refurbishing hundreds of thousands of vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses. Indiana could receive about $360,800,000 to revitalize and refurbish local communities, in addition to funds that would be available through a competitive application.
The President’s plan proposes $5 billion of investments for facilities modernization needs at community colleges. Investment in modernizing community colleges fills a key resource gap, and ensures these local, bedrock education institutions have the facilities and equipment to address current workforce demands in today’s highly technical and growing fields. Indiana could receive $79,800,000 in funding in the next fiscal year for its community colleges.

3. PATHWAYS BACK TO WORK FOR AMERICANS LOOKING FOR JOBS
Drawing on the best ideas of both parties and the most innovative states, the President is proposing the most sweeping reforms to the unemployment insurance (UI) system in 40 years to help those without jobs transition to the workplace. This could help put the 155,000 long-term unemployed workers in Indiana back to work.
Alongside these reforms, the President is reiterating his call to extend unemployment insurance, preventing 47,700 people looking for work in Indiana from losing their benefits in just the first 6 weeks. And, across the country, the number saved from losing benefits would triple by the end of the year.
The President is proposing a new Pathways Back to Work Fund to provide hundreds of thousands of low-income youth and adults with opportunities to work and to achieve needed training in growth industries. Pathways Back to Work could place 2,500 adults and 5,600 youths in jobs in Indiana.

4. TAX RELIEF FOR EVERY AMERICAN WORKER AND FAMILY
The President’s plan will expand the payroll tax cut passed last December by cutting workers’ payroll taxes in half next year. A typical household in Indiana, with a median income of around $44,000, will receive a tax cut of around $1,360.

5. FULLY PAID FOR AS PART OF THE PRESIDENT’S LONG-TERM DEFICIT REDUCTION PLAN
To ensure that the American Jobs Act is fully paid for, the President will call on the Joint Committee to come up with the additional deficit reduction necessary to pay for the Act and still meet its deficit target. The President will, in the coming days, release a detailed plan that will show how we can do that while achieving the additional deficit reduction necessary to meet the President’s broader goal of stabilizing our debt as a share of the economy.

For more about the plan and how it would affect communities across the country, visit AmericanJobsAct.com.

How President Obama's Proposed "American Jobs Act" will help manufacturing

2011-09-20T11:03:00.000-05:00

In addition to the proposed $50 billion investment in infrastructure, the plan could result in thousands of manufacturing jobs – upwards of 1 million, according to some estimates. And since we know every manufacturing job pays on average 10-50 percent more than service sector jobs and supports five more jobs in a community, the ripple effect could be huge.

The jobs plan is also a good reason to push other parts of our agenda, including the creation and implementation of a coordinated manufacturing policy that would:

• Establish a national infrastructure bank to leverage capital for large-scale transportation and energy projects.

• Reshape the tax code in a revenue neutral way to provide incentives for job creation and investment. Research and Development tax credits should help firms that not only innovate in

America

but also make their products here.

• Lower tax rates for manufacturing activity in

America

and eliminate tax shelters for hedge funds or financial transactions that have no real value.

• Consistent with our international obligations, apply "Buy America" domestic content provisions to all federal spending to ensure that American workers and businesses get the first shot at procurement contracts.

• Shift some education investment to rebuilding our vocational and technical skills program, which would address looming shortages in the manufacturing sector.

• Refocus the trade agenda by giving American businesses new tools to counter

China

's currency manipulation, industrial subsidies, intellectual property theft and barriers to market access.

• Condition new federal loan guarantees for energy projects on the utilization of domestic supply chains for construction.

Focusing on manufacturing not only helps solve the need for jobs, but also will lower our trade deficit, which will make it easier for

America

to pay its bills.

We simply cannot continue to allow Congress to do nothing to address our jobs crisis!

Retiree Leader Praises Obama

2011-09-19T16:08:00.000-05:00

Retiree Leader Praises Obama Economic Proposal
Would Strengthen Nation, Honor Commitment to Social Security

The following statement was issued today by Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans:

“Retirees laud President Obama for proposing bold ways to revitalize the American economy that are supported by sound fiscal choices and priorities. The President’s stand on increased revenues will address the nation’s debt in a fair and reasonable manner.

“We are particularly pleased that President Obama today reaffirmed his strong commitment to Social Security. Unlike congressional Republicans and presidential candidates, President Obama recognizes the importance of Social Security and will not try to lower federal spending on the backs of current and future retirees. Seniors applaud the President for maintaining the current eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security.

“It is particularly important that, as we make key investments in our future, we continue to honor our nation’s 76-year commitment to Social Security. Social Security is a truly great American success story, keeping generations out of poverty. We are no longer a nation where you work until you die.

“We will work closely with Administration and congressional officials to ensure that seniors do not face unfair cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, which help millions of elderly and low-income Americans stay healthy.

“President Obama wants to rebuild America the right way: making smart investments, asking more from those who have sacrificed far too little, and continuing the promise of Social Security for workers and retirees.”

There's No Question: We Need Jobs

2011-09-18T11:22:00.000-05:00

Americans want action on jobs! A CNN/Opinion Research poll released this week found that 65 percent of Americans would rather President Obama and Congress focus on job creation than deficit reduction. Meanwhile, the Census Bureau just released a new report covering key indicators of how our nation faired in 2010. The data is mostly grim – and in all likelihood has not improved for 2011. All indicators reinforce the fact that good jobs are desperately needed now!

The number of Americans in poverty in 2010 jumped to a record-breaking 46.2 million, including 16.4 million kids. That number is equivalent to the population of a whopping 24 states plus the District of Colombia.*

Median household income declined by $1,154 from 2009 to 2010.

Employment-based health coverage dropped from 56.1 percent in 2009 to 55.3 percent in 2010. Key parts of the Affordable Care Act that will help address some of these issues do not begin until 2014.

Safety-net programs helped prevent further devastation.

An additional 3.2 million Americans were kept from poverty by unemployment insurance benefits.

If Social Security payments were excluded from income, the number of Americans over 65 living in poverty would be 14 million higher.

Public health programs like the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid helped fill some of the gap for those losing insurance from employers.

For a bit of good news. . .

More young adults had health insurance coverage in 2010 thanks to the Affordable Care Act that allows young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 25. Among 18-to-24 year olds, the rate rose from 70.7 percent having insurance in 2009 to 72.8 percent in 2010.

Watch for more information on strategies for job creation coming soon, including information on the President’s American Jobs Act. Thank you to all who have taken action to save jobs by opposing the free trade agreements. Please keep up the pressure!

* Equal to the combined population of AK, AR, CT, DE, DC, HI, ID, IA, KS, ME, MI, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OK, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WV and WY based off the Census Bureau’s Annual Population Estimate, 2009. The poverty line is currently set at $22,113 for a family of four.

Friday Alert Sept 16 Issue - Alliance for Retired Americans

2011-09-16T19:28:00.000-05:00

White House Appears Unlikely to Put Social Security Cuts Back on the Table
White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage has said that President Obama’s deficit proposal will not include any changes to Social Security, reiterating the President’s belief that Social Security did not cause the immediate deficit problem. Aides say that the President’s plan to fix the debt will be modeled after a series of proposals he made in April: $4 trillion in budget savings over 12 years, through a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, without touching Social Security benefits. However, the President’s proposals are not binding; Obama must submit the new plan to the special bipartisan congressional “Super Committee” that has been tasked with finding at least $1.2 trillion in budget savings by the end of the year. The committee may not only be getting proposals from the President. At a news conference on Thursday, a group of about 30 Democratic and Republican senators urged the special panel to find far more savings than the $1.5 trillion target it has set for itself. This group of senators is also considering making its own proposal. “We cannot let down our guard,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “Unfortunately, Social Security is not beyond the reach of many who still want to cut it.”

Social Security Program a Big Topic at Monday’s GOP Debate
At the GOP debate on Monday night, Social Security was a hot issue. The candidates repeatedly stated that Social Security is broken, and they agreed that Social Security would face cuts in the coming years. They also talked about reorganizing the system, and that would undoubtedly have a major effect on the way the program is run as a whole. Two of the most opinionated candidates were Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Perry argued for private savings accounts as an alternative to Social Security, a practice that was put into place in his home state. Romney repeatedly questioned Perry’s ultraconservative view of the constitutionality of Social Security. Perry believes that control of Social Security should be given to the states, which would mean astronomical changes. Perry went on to say that he completely disagrees with the creation of Social Security and Medicare in the first place. “If what you're trying to say is that back in the '30s and the '40s that the federal government made all the right decision, I disagree with you,” he declared. Perry accused Romney of calling private sector-Social Security “criminal,” which Romney refuted as a misquote. “Overall, the theme of the night seemed to indicate that Social Security would not be safe in the hands of any of the GOP candidates. The Republicans’ main goal is to cut spending, and they are not afraid to do that on the backs of seniors,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. To see a comparison of Rick Perry and Mitt Romney on Social Security, go to http://bit.ly/qqlgi5.

Galveston: Why the Federal Government Needs to Continue to Run Social Security
In the late 1970s Galveston’s county employees made the decision to opt out of Social Security and open personal saving accounts. They did this out of fear that Social Security would not be around when it came time for them to retire. This move has been the prime example for those who oppose Social Security as it is currently structured, especially the Republicans in the 2012 presidential race. According to independent studies, individuals who are on the lower end of the income spectrum did not do well with the personal accounts. The studies have shown that the lower one’s income and the longer one lived after retirement, the less advantage there was to private accounts. This was partly because payments did not increase with inflation as they would have with Social Security. Even backers of the personal accounts, who claim that the government agencies used skewed numbers, acknowledge that the Galveston program may not be as beneficial to lower earners, because the program does not distribute the money according to a formula that helps the lower earners, as Social Security does. “Having the states run Social Security would only produce more results like those in Galveston, which at a minimum hurt the middle class and those who earn less,” said Ms. Easterling.

Social Security Payroll Tax on Incomes over $250,000 Proposed
Currently, active workers and their employers each owe a payroll tax on a worker’s wages up to $106,800 for Social Security. Congressional liberals have proposed raising the payroll tax to include income above $250,000 a year for individuals. This legislation is designed to keep Social Security solvent for the next 75 years, by putting an additional $6.5 trillion into the Social Security trust fund over that period. The sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), believes that it is time to stop discussing raising the retirement age, cutting benefits, and privatization. Sponsors in the Senate include Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). During President’s Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, he proposed the same type of payroll tax increase. “The concern lies in getting this bill past the Republicans, because they have made it their stance to oppose any increase in taxes,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. Recently Obama, in an effort to stimulate the economy, has proposed paring the planned 6.2 percent payroll tax on employees next year to 3.1 percent, and cutting the payroll tax to employers as well. He wants to replace the revenue that would be lost to Social Security with money from the government’s overall budget.

New on the Alliance Web Site
More photos from last week’s Alliance Legislative Conference are available on our Flickr page at www.flickr.com/retiredamericans. You can also use the “Search” area to search for photos of you, your state or your union in the Alliance photostream. For the latest photos and more from the Alliance Legislative Conference, go to http://bit.ly/pjVbXy. Finally, for the latest fact sheets on Social Security from the Alliance’s Department of Government and Political Affairs, go to http://www.retiredamericans.org/issues/social-security.

Father Cletus Kiley gives a powerful invocation to 500 retirees at Alliance Leg Conference

2011-09-14T17:20:00.000-05:00

Our next Leader?

2011-09-13T09:45:00.000-05:00

There is a Spring in our Step

2011-09-12T23:03:00.001-05:00

What follows is a Prayer by Rev. Clete Kiley offered at the Alliance for Retired Americans Legislative Conference last week in Washington, D.C..

"Next Sunday will mark 10 years since the terrible of events that occurred in New York, in Washington at the Pentagon and at Shanksville, Pa. We remember union members and first responders who were there for the recovery and for the rebuilding. We remember union members lost that terrible day along with other friends - almost 3,00 that day. WE remember also our Service members who have lost their lives since that day in the ongoing war on terror. Let us pause for a moment of silence to remember. To remember is to hold them in life again.

Let us pray.

“ O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds; And now that I am old and gray, O God, forsake me not till I proclaim your strength to every generation that is to come .”
Ps. 71: 17-19

Lord, the words of the Psalmist capture well our spirit here today. We may be old and we may be gray, or, if not gray, we probably have a good hair stylist. But we have not forgotten where we come from. We recognize the hand of your providence in our lives. Since we were young you have done great things. Some of us here are from that group they called “The Greatest Generation”; some of us are the leading edge of that group they call “The Baby Boomers”- what wonderful things we have seen in our lives!

In our youth some of us tasted the bitter harvest of the great depression. Even later some of us watched our own mothers and fathers go to work in poor paying jobs, risking their lives each day in unsafe work places. But we also grew up imbued with our parents’ and grandparents’ faith in You and their belief in this country. At our kitchen tables we learned first-hand the meaning of courage and sacrifice. We learned the value of solidarity and standing together. With Your vision as a guide they taught us to take up our role making this country strong, with plentiful work, and decent wages and safe working conditions- a true economic democracy. From our youth and now in our senior years we remain committed to this task. Our work isn’t finished yet-not till we proclaim these values to every generation that is to come.

We can see that those coming behind us are going to need Your strength, Lord. There are dark forces at work today here in this country. Forces that do not remember You nor where they came from. They think democracy is about getting luxuries for an elite few rather than insuring the necessities for the many. They think it is somehow patriotic to move American jobs overseas. They think unbridled, unregulated business is the way to the new Promised Land. But, we know it is the path to hell for too many.

These folks have forsaken the American Dream, forsaken their promise to us seniors, and forsaken the faith and the sense of community You and our parents imbued in us.
It is bad enough they have forsaken us and want to mess around with our pensions.
It is bad enough they have forsaken us and want to cut Social Security and Medicare.
It is bad enough they have forsaken us and want to suppress our voting rights with these voter I.D. schemes.

But now we see them dashing the hope of those coming after us. And that is the last straw! They want to strip them of their right to collectively bargain. They want to break our unions. They want to suppress the voice of working people in the national discourse. They want to fix the economic damage caused by billionaires by blaming and then crushing the middle class. They don’t want the flourishing economic democracy we built, but rather a land of privilege for a few served by whoever they can get at the cheapest rate. They don’t care in their board rooms that their products are made by forced labor, or indentured servants, or by children as long as the profits are high. These forces have forsaken us; they have forsaken our country; they have forsaken our dream, and they have forsaken You, Lord.
But You will not forsake us, Lord. Nor will we forsake You. We Retired Americans through our Alliance have a job to do. We need to keep the Dream of the American Democracy alive. We built this democracy. We fought to defend it. It is our’s. And it is not for sale. We will keep it alive for the generations to come. We will teach them that labor unions are not the cause of economic woes, but rather the guarantors of safety in the workplace, a living wage, and the week-end. We will pass on to the generations to come that same hope and confidence, that same faith and sense of sacrifice and community that we received from the generations before us.

Lord, we may be old and we may be gray, but there is a spring in our step, and a passion in our hearts. Together here we commit to You that we will proclaim these values to every generation yet to come. Just give us the strength. Amen."

Social Security is not an "entitlement"

2011-09-04T12:32:00.000-05:00

The word "entitlement" suggests that Social Security is some sort of undeserved benefit. It's not. It's an earned benefit and hasn't got one thing to do with the stinking deficit.
The Social Security trust fund is worth 2.6 trillion dollars and in ten years it will be worth over 3.7 trillions dollars. It has the full faith and credit of the United States and the Treasury Notes are solid as a rock. It is able to pay full Social Security benefits for the next 25 years and that could be extended indefinitely by simply make those earning over 250 grand per year pay all year like the rest of workers.
To bring down the deficit, stop starting wars, tax the tax cheating corporations, create good paying jobs, make millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share and stop allowing China to manipulate their currency.
This so called "super committee" will be meeting behind closed doors very soon and we should be able to view their negotiations and know how each one of those birds is voting.
We shouldn't tolerate decreasing the deficit on the backs of retirees and seniors. If we do, we all be very, very sorry we allowed it to happen.
Seniors haven't had an increase in their Cost of Living in two years. And now the right wingers are talking about making the formula even worse, In other words, they think zero is way to much of an increase for seniors.
Down with the tea party, they know not what they do.

Strengthen Social Security, Don't Cut It

2011-09-03T10:52:00.000-05:00

Senator Sanders On Social Security

2011-09-03T06:13:00.002-05:00

Alliance for Retired Americans

2011-09-02T22:10:00.000-05:00

Friday Alert, September 2, 2011 edition

As Super Committee Gets Set to Tackle the Nation’s Debt…
According to Politico, Republican members of the deficit-slashing Super Committee are meeting on Capitol Hill to hash out their own strategy ahead of the panel’s first official meetings after Labor Day, preparing for an intense fall push to cut $1.5 trillion from the deficit. The committee also named its staff director on Tuesday, choosing Mark Prater, a 20-year veteran of the Senate Finance Committee. Prater is currently the chief tax counsel for Senate Republicans on the panel. The choice of Prater needed to be approved by the two super committee co-chairs, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). The full 12-member Super Committee is required to meet by Sept. 16. A new Kaiser Family Foundation brief examines the potential impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 that created the committee; the process it creates for reducing the federal deficit over the next decade; and how it could affect the Medicare program, health plans and providers, and the program’s beneficiaries. The brief is available at http://bit.ly/pWaVYh.

…Sen. Bernie Sanders Moves to Protect Social Security from Budget Slashers
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said last week that he will introduce legislation that would expand the reach of the payroll tax, as part of an effort to give further support to Social Security. According to The Hill, Sanders is proposing to make individual income higher than $250,000 per year subject to the payroll tax — an idea he says he is lifting from President Obama’s 2008 campaign for the White House. As it stands, the payroll tax, which funds Social Security, applies to the first $106,800 of annual income; the Sanders bill would not impose the payroll tax on income between that level and $250,000. In a recent news release, the senator said he was also worried that the new Super Committee tasked with finding additional ways to reduce the deficit will try to find savings through cuts to Social Security. One method that has already been discussed would involve switching to the so-called “chained CPI,” an alternate form of inflation that would lead to a slower increase in Social Security benefits. “Social Security did not cause federal budget deficits, and should not be part of the Super Committee’s solution to the debt problem,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. According to Sanders’ office, the chief actuary for Social Security says the senator’s proposal to make the payroll tax applicable at higher income levels would create enough new revenue to keep the program solvent for the next 75 years.

Successful Senior Summer!
The Alliance is wrapping up more than 70 actions in more than two dozen states around the country this summer as Labor Day approaches. The events have ranged from celebrating the anniversaries and successes of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to holding presidential candidates accountable as they campaign. Last Friday, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) took his Congressional Series for Seniors to North Providence, Rhode Island, where Alliance State President John Pernorio presented him with a Social Security & Medicare Hero’s Award. On August 24, Missouri Alliance members and their friends gathered outside Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-MO) St. Louis office to demand he not balance the U.S. budget on the backs of children, retirees and the middle class.

This past Wednesday, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) was a guest speaker at the Florida Alliance's Quarterly Executive Board Meeting in Tampa. In Scottsdale, Arizona on Wednesday, Alliance members rallied outside Rep. David Schweikert's (R) mobile office to show their support for Medicare and Social Security. The next day, Arizona Alliance members attended a listening session with Rep. Schweikert in Fountain Hills, Arizona and joined like-minded organizations for a rally outside Senator and Super Committee member Jon Kyl's (R-AZ) Tucson office.

Social Security Administration Report Makes the Program’s Importance Clear
Social Security is the most significant source of income for Americans age 65 and older, and its importance has continued to grow over time, according to a recent Social Security Administration (SSA) report. Social Security made up 38% of the total income of people age 65 and older in 2009—up from 30% in 1962—and is the largest of any type of retirement income. According to U.S. News and World Report, “only a fortunate minority” of Americans have significant sources of retirement income other than Social Security. Social Security made up half or more of the retirement income of 66% of Americans age 65 and older in 2009, up from 64% in 2008. And more than a third of retirees (35%) receive 90% or more of their income as a monthly payment from SSA. While Social Security makes up a large share of the typical retiree's income, the amount they are paid is actually fairly small. The average monthly payout to retired workers was $1,176 in 2010. For more statistics and a link to the report itself, go to http://bit.ly/qzOouz.

Texas Alliance President Shane Fox, 1939 - 2011
Shane Fox, president of the Texas Alliance, died on August 25 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Shane was an integral part of the growth of the Alliance. He served on the national board, first as a community-based representative and then for two years as an appointee of President Easterling. He was also a tireless advocate for the development of the Texas Alliance and served on both the communications committee and a futures committee that completed its work this past June. “I have been privileged to know and work with Shane for the past 8 years. He was a dedicated activist who earned the respect and love of everyone he touched,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. “In keeping with his endless enthusiasm for the advocacy work he loved, he has asked that contributions in his memory be sent to the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans.”

Alliance’s Legislative Conference Comes as Super Committee Begins its Work
Be sure to join us at the Alliance’s 10th anniversary Legislative Conference, Celebrating Our Past, Fighting for Your Future, on September 6-9, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) has been added as a speaker. Other confirmed speakers include: Grammy winning singer and social activist Judy Collins; U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); U.S. Rep. and Super Committee member Xavier Becerra (D-CA). To see more speakers, to register, or if you have any questions, please call Event Coordinator Joni Jones at 202-637-5377 or e-mail jjones@retiredamericans.org. On the web, visit http://bit.ly/pjVbXy or http://bit.ly/hQro1V. “Alliance members will be coming into town at a crucial time for protecting Social Security and Medicare – just as the Super Committee work kicks off,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

Rick Perry -- S.S. is not a Ponzi Scheme

2011-08-31T07:56:00.000-05:00

Click on the graphic to enlarge it

Words of Wisdom

2011-08-30T21:58:00.000-05:00

Life flies past us so swiftly that few of us pause to consider those who have lost the tempo of today. Their laughter and their tears we do not even understand for there is no magic that will draw together in perfect understanding the aged and the young. There is a canyon between us, and the painful gap is only bridged by the ancient words of a very wise man ---

“Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother”

Source: from the feature film of 1937, “Make Way For Tomorrow”.

The State of Social Security

2011-08-29T08:35:00.001-05:00

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) recently made three videos containing questions and answers about the state of Social Security. What follows are the notes I took while viewing these videos:

The amount in the Social Security trust fund is 2.6 trillion dollars. It will grow to 3.7 trillion dollars over the next ten years. It is rock solid and has the full faith and credit of the United States government. The bonds are valid and will continue to pay full benefits.

Those on Social Security did not receive a cost of living adjustment in 2010 and none in 2011. The formula did not allow it because it’s not based on inflation that impacts seniors but rather it is based on inflation that impacts wage earners. Those on Social Security need a different formula. One that will keep up with the costs of living, not one that ignores it. The new formula being considered by the right wingers does just the opposite. It actually says that the zero cola that seniors got in the last two years was too generous. The new formula is called the chained CPI and would mean a cut in benefits because the COLA is compounded.

The wage cap or the amount of earned income that a worker pays into Social Security goes up a little each year. Today it is $106, 800, so the person who earns $106,800 this year pays the same as someone who earns $106,800,000. Is that fair? President Obama has proposed having those who earn over 250 thousand dollars pay more. The amount workers used to pay covered 90% of earned income but now, for millionaires and billionaires it’s only about 80%.

All income is subject to Medicare tax. The wage base could be phased in like Medicare to lift the cap.

Social Security has always run a surplus. It should not even be part of any discussion to lower the national debt. It should be taken off the table. It doesn’t need to be done right now but sometime in the next ten or fifteen years. It needs to be done in a thoughtful, responsible way.
Social Security is not an entitlement. It is entirely self funded and an earned benefit. Medicare is partially subsidized by the employer and medicaid is welfare. Some members of congress are saying they want to change the program for younger people and that it won’t affect older people. That is a lie. If younger people don’t pay, it would affect the trust fund. To say privatizing Medicare won’t affect older people is a lie as well. When people reach the Medicare age the voucher won’t be enough to cover medical expenses.
People have to be in the United States legally to receive Social Security. Illegal immigrants cannot receive benefits. SSI is not Social Security. It’s just administered by Social Security. It’s paid out of the general treasury and is for a disabled child, but it doesn’t come out of the payroll tax.
The cola is compounded and over time a reduction in the COLA will have a negative impact on Social Security benefits.
The Chained CPI will probably be brought up in the “super committee”. The chained CPI is a target. If the cost of something goes up, you might change to something cheaper. The idea is that if the price of something goes up, such as gasoline, people may substitute and go to public transportation or bicycles or even walking. Absurd. It ignores health care costs and the kinds of services that seniors use.

Old saying

2011-08-28T18:31:00.000-05:00

Birds of a feather flock together, so do rats and pigs.

The tea party is a very sad lot

2011-08-28T07:10:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, a tea party guy tried to tell me that SSI (supplemental Security Income) came out of Social Security taxes. He was wrong.

The SSI (supplemental Security income) program makes payments to people with low income who are age 65 or older or are blind or have a disability.

The Social Security Administration manages the SSI program. Even though Social Security manages the program, SSI is not paid for by Social Security taxes. SSI is paid for by U.S. Treasury general funds, not the Social Security trust funds.

Some tea party mechanics were under the impression that the Postal System was paid for by the government.

They were wrong, the postal system is paid for by those who use it through the purchase of postage stamps.

Stimulus Bill

2011-08-26T09:24:00.000-05:00

“If the right wing is successful in defeating Obama, the first thing they will do is pass a stimulus bill."

Ike Gittlen

Gary, Indiana

2011-08-25T23:42:00.002-05:00

Union Members-Check it out

2011-08-23T19:25:00.000-05:00

Rethinking Retirement: Focus on Income You Can Count On

After 27 years as a public high school teacher, Harry Sawyer was looking forward to a more relaxed life in retirement. But his monthly pension of $1,100 a month after taxes and health insurance was less than he and his wife, Liz, needed to cover their regular monthly bills.

Fortunately they had both invested in individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The big question: how to transform their IRA into income that could be counted on, month after month, whether the market was up or down.

As baby boomers keep marching into their 50s, 60s and 70s, this dilemma will become more and more common. For many retirees, the answer will be an income annuity.

An income annuity allows you to convert a sum of money from your savings (the premium) into a lifelong series of steady, guaranteed income each month, depending upon the option you choose.1 It’s a reliable and affordable way to help make sure you will have the income you need to cover living expenses in retirement.

That’s why Union Plus is offering union members an Annuity Program with more features and lower costs than similar programs offered through AARP and other sources. Free of agent fees or sales commissions, annuities offered through this program may provide higher monthly income than you may be able to generate on your own. In exchange for these higher payments, an income annuity permanently converts your principal to a guaranteed income stream.

Make a plan for reliable income
During your working years, the emphasis is on growing your retirement savings. Once you retire, your strategy needs to shift to from growing to maintaining. (See http://retirement.unionplus.org for recommended steps to take.) But the income has to be sustainable, so you don’t outlive your money.

That’s where income annuities really shine. You can ensure your savings last for the rest of your life, your and a loved one’s life, or a specified number of years. Your income will vary depending on which annuity option you choose.

Four reasons to consider an income annuity:
1. Consistency. The payment is guaranteed, and you can count on being paid every month.
2. Stability. Your income won’t depend on the stock market and its ups and downs.
3. Simplicity. You don't have to study financial reports, monitor a portfolio, or buy and sell investments. Look for your monthly deposit into your checking/savings account each month.
4. Control. An American General income annuity purchased through the Union Plus Annuity Program isn’t at risk in the market, since it is a fixed annuity product purchased by you2. It’s like having a retirement paycheck.

How much income can I receive from an income annuity?
Four factors determine your annuity income:

The amount of your premium. The more money you put into an income annuity, the more monthly income you’ll receive.
Current annuity rates. The higher the rate, the higher your monthly payment will be. This rate is determined when you buy your annuity, based on factors such as the current rates of corporate bonds and long-term Treasuries. Your payment will also include some returned principal, not just interest.
The amount of agent fees and commissions you pay. The Union Plus Annuity Program eliminates this expense for union members, maximizing your monthly income.
The income option you choose. You can choose guaranteed payments that continue for the rest of your life, your and a loved one’s life or for a specified number of years. You may also choose how often you receive annuity payments -- on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis.

Would an income annuity be right for you?
First, estimate the amount of reliable monthly income you need by adding up all your fixed, nondiscretionary monthly expenses, such as mortgage or rent, groceries, insurance, and so on. Then subtract your expected monthly Social Security benefit and pension benefit. Whatever remains is spending that needs to be covered by another source of dependable income.

If you can easily pay your expenses out of savings, you may want to postpone buying an annuity. Just be sure not to wait until your savings are too depleted to generate the steady income you need. In any case, it’s highly likely that you shouldn’t plan to tie up more than 50 percent of your savings in an annuity. You’ll want to reserve the rest for discretionary spending, unexpected needs and growth.

What will you need to maintain your standard of living?
To find out how much income an annuity purchased through the Union Plus Annuity Program might provide, try the online calculator at UnionPlus.org/Annuities or call 1-877-244-1539 and speak with an experienced, non-commissioned annuity specialist. They’ll answer your questions and help determine if an income annuity is the best way for you to create sustainable income in retirement.

1 Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the life insurance company.

2American General Life Companies, www.americangeneral.com, (“American General”) is the marketing name for a group of affiliated domestic life insurers.

American General Life Companies insurers offer a full line of life insurance, annuities, accident & health products and worksite benefits to serve the financial and estate planning needs of its customers throughout the United States.

This contract is not insured by the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board or any similar agency. The contract is not a deposit or other obligation of, nor is it guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or depository institution.

Source: UnonPlus

Lynn Williams at United Steelworkers Convention

2011-08-21T22:19:00.000-05:00

Verizon sucks

2011-08-19T09:35:00.000-05:00

That's the news of the day. Plain and simple.

I'll Miss Ray Bockman

2011-08-07T19:35:00.000-05:00

Here’s a photo of Joyce Bockman on the left and Ray Bockman taking registrations for our SOAR Chapter Retirees Reunion. That was a job that Ray would ask for every year.
In 1979 there was a vacancy in the position of Grievance Committeeman in the NIPSCO Wabash Valley Division. At the time, Ray was the Grievance Committeeman in the Construction Department. Ray nominated me and because there were no other nominations, I got the job.
When I retired, we started a SOAR chapter for NIPSCO retirees and Ray and Joyce have always been faithful to our chapter.
I’ve never known Ray to be late for any event but always came early. He wouldn’t stand for anyone else being late either. He was quite a guy. He made a point of being at every NIPSCO stock holders meeting.
Ray was one of the most loyal and faithful union members I've ever known. I have a lot of great memories about Ray and I’m going to miss him.

America Must Now Turn to Solving Job’s Deficit

2011-08-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 2, 2011) After the House and Senate passed legislation raising the debt ceiling and cutting as much as $2.4 trillion in spending over the next decade, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director David Foster:

“With more than 14 million Americans out of work, and with sluggish job growth over the last few months, immediate action is needed to put people to work and to ensure that the U.S. stays competitive in the 21st century.

“Unfortunately, the resolution to the manufactured debt-ceiling crisis does nothing to address the heart of America’s long-term economic problem: job creation. Slashing spending will not create jobs, it will not spur economic growth; it will only make it more difficult to solve America’s jobs crisis.

“Congress must now turn to solving America’s jobs deficit.

“Securing the jobs we have now and investing in the industries of the future — renewable energy, energy efficiency, advanced transportation and infrastructure, a smarter electrical grid, broadband internet, safer chemicals, and recycling — require market-based incentives and broad public-private partnerships. Our economic competitors have all adopted similar initiatives that are spurring job creation in manufacturing, construction, education and other sectors. This is our path to economic growth, global leadership, and to putting America back to work.

“The BlueGreen Alliance urges Congress to pass the strategic economic policies that will spur job creation in the industries of the future. If we don’t take action now, we risk taking the backseat as other countries like China take the lead in a global 21st century economy.”

###

The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together 10 major U.S. labor unions and four of America's most influential environmental organizations and unites 14 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

Friday Alert

2011-07-30T14:16:00.000-05:00

Reid Plan Would Address Debt Ceiling without Affecting Medicare, Social Security

Without signed legislation to raise the national debt limit by August 2, the Treasury will not have enough funds to pay the nation’s bills. Administration officials have warned of potentially calamitous effects on the economy if that happens - a spike in interest rates, a plunge in stock markets and a tightening in the job market. Without a higher debt limit, “the choices would be agonizing,” according to AP. The Bipartisan Policy Center says that if the government kept paying for health care programs, Social Security, unemployment benefits and defense contracts and met interest payments on its debt in August, it would have no money left for anything else. Civil servants and troops would go unpaid. Veterans would lose benefits. IRS refund checks would go unmailed. The Justice Department would have to scale back its pursuit of criminals.

A House Republican bill providing an immediate debt limit increase of $900 billion, which is less than half of the total needed to meet President Obama's insistence that there be no replay of the current crisis in just a few short months, is stalled. While the White House and Democrats objected to the House bill, they readied an alternative that contained similarities. Drafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), it will reduce the deficit by $2.7 trillion, without affecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and without changes to revenues. “Just since Monday, Alliance members have sent more than 10,000 e-mail messages to their U.S. Representatives and Senators, saying that cutting Social Security in the name of debt reduction is a bad idea,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “I am confident that many Members of Congress have taken our side’s point of view into account. Thank you to all of you who have taken action during this precarious time in our nation’s history.” To call Congress over the weekend and reiterate the message of “Don’t cut Social Security in the name of debt reduction,” dial 202-224-3121.

Alliance Medicare Birthday Events Bring Attention to the Program at the Right Time
Medicare’s 46th birthday is tomorrow, and the Alliance began commemorating the anniversary with more than 30 events across the country earlier this month. U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was joined by Alliance members Sam Burnett of Toledo, Ohio and Brenda Kelley-Nelum from Woodbridge, Virginia at one birthday event devoted to protecting Medicare on Wednesday, on Capitol Hill. Leader Pelosi spoke of the debt ceiling at the event. “Senator Reid, the Leader in the United States Senate of the Democrats, put forward the responsible plan to reduce the deficit that protects the middle class, and Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid beneficiaries,” she said. To see C-SPAN footage of the event, go to http://cs.pn/qFPgSY.

Earlier this month, in San Diego, more than 150 people participated in a town hall on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid sponsored by the Alliance on July 19. The standing-room-only crowd heard from advocates and experts on the programs. To read more, go to http://bit.ly/nbRvQg. In other events, the Rhode Island Alliance presented U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with its Social Security & Medicare Hero Award. Also, the New York State caravans to “Restore the American Promises” this month ended a two-day, eight-city tour at Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s Hyde Park home. The actors portraying the pair spoke of the New Deal and warned against the raw deal Washington lawmakers are pushing for Social security, Medicare and Medicaid.

This past Monday, the Arizona Alliance ate cake at a retirement home in Chandler, Arizona while learning what is happening with Medicare in Washington. In St. Pete, Florida on Wednesday, seniors commemorated the Medicare birthday by singing karaoke! In Hartford, Connecticut today, Alliance members are recognizing Rep. John Larson for his advocacy on behalf of seniors. The Connecticut Alliance also presented an award to Reps. Chris Murphy and Jim Himes. The Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Washington Alliance chapters will be holding Medicare events in Pittsburgh, Savannah, and Seattle tomorrow, on the actual anniversary date. For more details, go to http://bit.ly/ovUM7u. For a write-up of the Illinois Alliance’s Medicare event in Peoria last Friday, go to http://bit.ly/nlcjK3. To read about the Iowa Alliance’s July 21 event in Waterloo, go to http://bit.ly/o1soPm. For an Albuquerque, New Mexico Alliance video, go to http://bit.ly/riAhhp. Additional events have already taken place in cities including Scottsdale, AZ; Bakersfield, Rancho Cordova, and Stockton, CA; Delray Beach, FL; Chicago, IL; Manchester and Nashua, NH; Las Cruces, NM; Las Vegas, NV, Cincinnati, OH; and San Antonio, League, and Grand Prairie, TX. “Thank you to all who are drawing attention to the importance of Medicare while it is under attack, during the debt negotiations,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

Rallies in Baltimore, DC and State Capitals across the Country
In Baltimore, Maryland on Monday, Maryland-DC Alliance members joined other activists in gathering outside the Social Security Administration to send elected officials a loud and clear message: Don’t cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. Activists rallied on the U.S. Capitol steps on Thursday to keep the pressure on Republicans and tell Democrats to stand strong against the GOP's call for cuts to the three vital programs. Thursday was also a day for rallies and pickets in Capitol buildings across the U.S. to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Alliance’s September Legislative Conference is Fast Approaching
Be sure to join us at the Alliance’s 10th anniversary Legislative Conference, Celebrating Our Past, Fighting for Your Future, on September 6-9, 2011 in Washington, D.C.! Confirmed speakers include: Grammy winning singer and social activist Judy Collins; U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); DNC Chair and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL); and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. Workshops include the latest Medicare information and Building Coalition Partners. To see more speakers, to register, or if you have any questions, please call Event Coordinator Joni Jones at 202-637-5377 or e-mail jjones@retiredamericans.org. On the web, visit http://bit.ly/pjVbXy or http://bit.ly/hQro1V.

Obituary: John Carr, Champion for Workers and Seniors
John Carr, one of the Alliance leaders in Maine for many years and a defender of senior rights, died on Monday, July 25. John will be remembered by all his brothers and sisters in Maine for his lifetime commitment to the labor movement. “I know you join me in sending our best wishes and thoughts and prayers to John’s family,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. John was a retired member of IBEW as well as a champion for workers rights and economic justice.
Source: Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA)

Pay Your Stinking Bills

2011-07-28T22:52:00.000-05:00

Republicans in Congress:

Pay the stinking bills you bunch of welcher crooks. What a bunch of whining cry babies. You're making the whole country look stupid.

Teachers Need Our Help

2011-07-27T20:00:00.000-05:00

Unions United for a

Better and Fairer Tomorrow

First they destroyed our jobs in manufacturing and the mills. Then the big LaSalle St. banks and the rich financial operators ran our economy in the ditch. Now they want to blame the crisis on teachers and other public workers. Hard working teachers and their unions are not to blame for the ills of education.

Join Us!

We need to rally our unions and our community to fight for education and a better future for our children. This is not a deficit crisis; it’s a jobs crisis. We need the rich and the corporations to pay their fair share so we can invest in our schools and neighborhoods for a better tomorrow. We need to rally around the Chicago Teachers Union and allied unions in education.

Speakers: Karen Lewis, President CTU, Ed Sadlowski, AFSCME Council 40, Jeff Zupan, IBEW, WTDY MADISON WISC, SLY IN THE MORNING

For more information or questions:

Susan & Raul Garza – 773-322-2679 or 773-415-4315

10654 ave G Chicago Il 60617

3:30 AUGUST 31^st 2011

Charlie Averill

Friday Alert January 27, 2012

Are Republicans Evil?

USW Supports President's Decision to Delay Pipeline

Liar Liar pants on fire

"Right to Work" Means "No Right to a Team"

Learn About the Right to Work law

Calendar - Current Events

Indiana Alliance Takes on "Right to Work"

Right to Work for Less Town Hall Meeting LaPorte, IN

RTW Town Hall Meeting, La Porte Indiana Today

Mitch Daniels Will Not Disclose

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert January 6, 2012

National Football League Players Association on Right to Work

To win, we have to work together and look out for one another. Today, even as the city of Indianapolis is exemplifying that teamwork in preparing to host the Super Bowl, politicians are looking to destroy it trying to ram through so-called “right-to-work” legislation.

Call Your Senator

Come to Indianapolis to help stop Right to Work for Less

Mitch Daniels Shuts out Hoosiers

Chamber Thoughts on Benefits Without Dues Payment

Merry Christmas to you all

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert December 22, 2011

Good News - Boehner Surrenders

When the Going Gets Tough, Seniors Must Get Voting

Right to Work Means Death

Elaine Averill - Pierogi Princess

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert December 16, 2011

Wyden-Ryan Medicare Plan Would Raise Premiums for Seniors

Bosma Dead Wrong

46th Wedding Anniversary

Jimmy's Peanut Brittle

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert Dec. 9, 2011

Hoosiers Reject Right to Work Legislation

Part D Open Enrollment Ends Tomorrow

You Have Been Forewarned

Friday Alert December 2, 2011

Cooper Tire Turns Rogue

Indiana Doesn't Need Right-to-Work Legislation

Steelworker Retirees Prepare

Largest newspaper of the year

Indiana Workers Protest Republicans "Right to Work" for Less

Indiana Workers Will Not Back Down

Open Enrollment Ends December 7

Friday Alert Alliance for Retired Americans

Hands Off Social Security

Veterans Serve in other than the Military

Veterans Day for all who served

Join SOAR

We Stand Up and Fight Back

Top Question of the day

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert Nov 4, 2011

Senators Lugar and Coates, Get on the Stick

A Stronger Voice

Stand Up Fight Back

Good News for Seniors

Third World America

Four Reasons to Occupy Wall Street

The 99% Seek a Just Economy, Not Just an Economy

A really good documentary - The One Percent

Meet Connie Entrekin, SOAR President

Socialism

We're Movin In

S.S. COLA Clouded by looming Threat on Capitol Hill

No Comment Necessary

Social Security COLA Increase - Finally

Social Security COLA Increase Finally Coming, but Offset by Medicare Premiums

Wanna Be a Pirate?

Unbelievable

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Our Highways and Bridges are Falling Apart

Our One Demand

Republicans Want the Country to Fail

OSHA - Our Government in Action

Autumn Leaves

USW Supports the 'Occupy Wall Street' Protest Movement

Friday Alert

Sickest Medicare Patients May Be Greatly Affected by the Super Committee

Medicare Part D Has New Schedule

Right to Work

Finally, An American Jobs Plan Worth Fighting For

The American Jobs Act