U.S. Republican Senators, do your stinking jobs.

Senate Finally Fixes The Filibuster

The U.S. Senate finally voted to change the rules and end the practice of filibusters on presidential nominations to the executive branch and to the courts (except the Supreme Court).

The abuse of the filibuster to undermine policies that the minority could not defeat through the normal legislative process has harmed our democratic institutions and had to be addressed. With this change, the Senate has restored fairness and honor to the nomination and confirmation process for executive and judicial nominations.

Prior to this reform, the Senate was unable to act on issues important to all Americans. The President will be able to fill executive positions critical to creating middle-class jobs, fixing the housing crisis, cleaning our air and water, holding big corporations accountable, and so much more.

The Senate can now move forward and end the crisis in our judiciary system. Too many vacancies exist in our federal courts. They can now confirm judicial appointments ending the empty-bench crisis in our judiciary, filling critical judicial positions and ensuring that justice is no longer delayed and denied.

It is time to stop the partisan bickering in Washington. The Senate must perform in a constructive way that fulfills both their constitutional responsibilities and the needs of the American people. After all, that’s what they were elected to do!

Jim Centner, SOAR Director

Retirees Lament Departure of Senator Snowe

ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS   
815 16th Street, NW, 4th Floor ¨ Washington, D.C. 20006 ¨ (202) 637-5399 ¨ www.retiredamericans.org

 For Immediate Release                                                                                                                         Contact: David Blank (202) 637-5275 or dblank@retiredamericans.org
February 29, 2012

“An increasingly rare voice of moderation”

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

“The retirement of Senator Snowe is yet another reminder of the extreme direction in which the Republican Party is heading.  Senator Snowe has been an increasingly rare voice of moderation and openness.

“While retirees and workers did not agree with Senator Snowe on every issue, her door was always open to listen and engage in meaningful discussion.  She regularly met with Alliance members when they visited Washington and spoke at our Maine Alliance meetings.

“Perhaps Senator Snowe's experience was shaped when her party's leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, announced that his top priority would be to defeat President Obama.  Senator Snowe, like Arlen Specter, Jim Jeffords and others before her, was a throw-back to a day when legislators of both parties sought to forge common ground.

“Retirees want to be able to pay their bills and stay healthy.  That should not be a Republican goal or a Democratic goal, but something that all Americans want.

“The Alliance for Retired Americans congratulates Senator Olympia Snowe on a lifetime of dedication to public service.”
 
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.

Brad Ellsworth's Indiana Works Tour