Voter Suppression Puts Racism Before Democracy

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 4-11-14

Headlines:
U.S. House Approves Ryan Budget that Slashes Medicare
Sebelius Steps Down as Secretary of Health and Human Services
GOP Pursuing New Voter Restrictions in Swing States
Ohio Alliance Holds its Convention
Fiesta Travels to Mass. and Michigan to Discuss a New Chapter, Attend Convention
Alliance’s National Convention is April 28 – May 1, 2014 at Bally's Hotel Las Vegas

U.S. House Approves Ryan Budget that Slashes Medicare
In a nearly party-line vote, the Republican-led House of Representatives voted 219-205 on Thursday to approve a 2015 budget plan unveiled last week by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chairman of the House Budget Committee. Ryan’s plan would make sharp cuts to Medicare, as well as other domestic programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, while lowering taxes for corporations and high income individuals. It would also repeal the Affordable Care Act. All of the House Democrats and twelve Republicans voted against the plan. It offers a vision of Republican budget priorities heading into this year’s mid-term elections. For a tally of the vote, go to http://tinyurl.com/krjj3em.

Ryan’s plan would give seniors a coupon to pay for Medicare, cutting benefits and shifting costs to retirees. A voucher would give seniors a fixed amount to purchase a plan, forcing them to cover the difference between the amount of the voucher and the actual cost of the plan. According to the Congressional Budget Office, premiums for traditional Medicare under Ryan’s proposal would be 50% higher than current projections by 2020. Yearly increases in voucher amounts are also not expected to keep pace with growth in health care costs, forcing seniors to cover an increasing proportion of health costs over time. Alliance members had sent more than 10,500 letters to their U.S. Representatives just this week urging them not to support Ryan’s budget. If you did not yet send a letter and still want to contact Congress, go to http://tinyurl.com/nkys839.

“Seniors hope that Thursday’s vote shows the public what would happen if the Ryan budget were to be passed by the U.S. Senate: they would pay dearly,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance.

“Ryan’s dangerous budget proposal would end the Medicare guarantee and cause seniors’ out of pocket health expenses to skyrocket,” added Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

To see the Alliance press release about the House action, go to http://tinyurl.com/ls9x27p. For a breakdown of what the Ryan budget would mean for each state, go to http://tinyurl.com/m93ttam.

Sebelius Steps Down as Secretary of Health and Human Services
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is resigning. President Obama will nominate OMB Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell to follow her. “We are grateful to Secretary Sebelius for overseeing HHS during such a challenging time for our nation’s health care policy, and for all the Alliance events she attended,” said Mr. Fiesta.

GOP Pursuing New Voter Restrictions in Swing States
Republican-controlled governments in swing states like Ohio, North Carolina, and Wisconsin are pursuing a variety of new, restrictive voting rules that go even further than recently enacted voter identification laws, according to The New York Times. The new rules would limit early voting days, place limits on weekend voting, and make it more difficult to register, vote absentee, or use provisional ballots. In total, nine states have passed measures making it more difficult to vote since the start of 2013. The new restrictions come in the wake of a 2013 Supreme Court decision which struck down central provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The decision allowed a number of mostly Southern states to modify election laws without receiving prior approval from the Justice Department. Read more about the new limits in the Times here: http://tinyurl.com/n4a9572.

Democrats and opponents of the measures say that the changes are designed to give the GOP an electoral advantage. The groups most affected by the changes are expected to be minorities and low-income urban voters, core Democratic constituencies. Democrats have responded by filing lawsuits in states like North Carolina and Texas in an effort to keep the new rules from taking effect.

“These new restrictions threaten the fundamental right of Americans to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “They certainly place additional burdens on seniors.”

Ohio Alliance Holds its Convention
The Ohio Alliance for Retired American Educational Fund convention took place on Tuesday. A state chapter-record 175 active, engaged retirees were in attendance.  They heard a rousing call to action from Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga, followed by a release of the first-ever Ohio General Assembly Voting. The convention also addressed Governor John Kasich’s (R) tax shift and the recent round of voter suppression bills. As the day concluded, there was a brief presentation by Wynne Antonio, Retiree Council Coordinator at the North Shore AFL-CIO, about how to set up a speakers bureau.

Fiesta Travels to Mass. and Michigan to Discuss a New Chapter, Attend Convention
Mr. Fiesta traveled to Massachusetts on Monday for discussions about building a future Massachusetts Alliance for Retired Americans chapter.

Fiesta was in Warren, Michigan on Wednesday for the Michigan Alliance’s biannual convention.  150 people attended, marking the tremendous growth of the organization.  Re-elected to the Michigan Alliance Executive Board were: Dick Long, President; Henry Lykes, Executive Vice President; Judy Foster, 1st Vice President; Charlie Robinson, Treasurer; and Richard McInerney, Secretary.

Alliance’s National Convention is April 28 – May 1, 2014 at Bally's Hotel Las Vegas
It is not too late to register for the Alliance for Retired Americans 2014 National Membership Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 28 through May 1. Speakers include Linda Chavez-Thompson, former Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO; Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security; J. David Cox, President of the American Federation of Government Employees; Lee Saunders, President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Liz Shuler, Alliance Executive Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO; and many others. Workshops are slated to include Building Coalitions; Voter Rights and Voter Protection; The Trans Pacific Partnership Exposed; and more! Additional info is at http://bit.ly/1hYpj0g.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://bit.ly/1esnvMP.

For the Alliance's Spanish language page, which includes last week's Friday Alert in Spanish, go to www.alianzadejubilados.org

Now is Not The Time To Let Up

Remember to Vote on November 6th!
Election Day - Tuesday, November 6 - is now just four days away. “I want to thank all of our activists who have been working tirelessly, planning ahead for months,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “Now is not the time to let up. We must decide if we want to elect a President who represents all of us, or just a select few.”

Ms. Easterling continued, “Please make sure to vote this Tuesday if you have not already taken advantage of early voting. We need all hands on deck to make sure that we have the votes of everyone who supports President Barack Obama and other Alliance-endorsed candidates. For everyone – but especially if you live in a swing state like Ohio, Colorado, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, North Carolina, New Hampshire, or Pennsylvania: we are relying on you. President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden deserve to be re-elected, because they will keep Social Security and Medicare from being privatized and turned over to Wall Street and the big insurance companies.”

Ms. Easterling added, “Besides the race for President, key statewide races in states such as Massachusetts, Indiana, Connecticut, Montana, Nevada, and Wisconsin will determine who controls the U.S. Senate. And in the House of Representatives, Republicans look to make their majority more comfortable.”

“In case there are long lines on Tuesday, bring a book, water, a snack, a chair – and your friends and neighbors. Above all else, don’t leave until you’ve made sure that your own vote is counted!” Ms. Easterling concluded.

For a map with Alliance-endorsed candidates, go to http://bit.ly/PoHcY7. For a reminder of what the Paul Ryan budget, endorsed by Mitt Romney, would mean for seniors, Social Security, and Medicare, go to http://bit.ly/PoCA28.

Biden Video Captures the Message
There is now a 2-minute campaign video of Vice President Biden speaking specifically about seniors issues. It contrasts President Obama and Vice President Biden with Mr. Romney and Rep. Ryan on Medicare, Social Security, and other issues. Biden notes that the Romney-Ryan Medicare plan would cost seniors tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. Click here to watch: http://bit.ly/StEqPw.

Voter Protection: The Effect of Hurricane Sandy
With election officials scrambling to prepare polling places pummeled by Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno said yesterday that the state would deploy military trucks to serve as makeshift polling places and extend the deadline for requesting mail-in ballots. A spokesman for Guadagno said that voters had until the end of business Thursday to request mail-in ballots, and that they could be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The previous deadline had passed last Tuesday. For more information, and details about other states affected by the hurricane, go to http://bit.ly/PrrITk. “Hurricane Sandy was a terrible tragedy,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “Our hearts go out to all who have suffered the loss of loved ones, and to those who have lost their homes. Let’s contain the damage and not let it affect the elections.”

Hurricane Sandy may not be the only obstacle. “If you become aware of any voting intimidation, irregularities or have any problems, please call 1-866-OUR VOTE,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. “That is the number for the toll-free nationwide Election Protection Hotline, a joint project of a coalition of groups, including the AFL-CIO and the Alliance, promoting voting rights.” If you have a voting problem, you can also ask to speak with the chief election official or a voting rights volunteer at the polls. For more information on voter protection, please visit http://bit.ly/R0DftK. The site includes information on how new voter identification laws apply to you and your state.

Kaiser Study Gives Clues to what is on Voters’ Minds
The Kaiser Family Foundation's October Health Tracking Poll (http://bit.ly/YmlYeM) finds, one week before the presidential election, the economy remains the primary concern on voters' minds nationally, but health policy issues are also in the mix. The Kaiser Foundation is a health-care policy group based in California.

The study estimated that a Medicare plan similar to Mr. Romney's proposal would likely result in higher premiums for 59% of Medicare beneficiaries. It found that for Democratic voters, Medicare (43%), Medicaid (43%), and the Affordable Care Act (41%) all share the top spot as the most important issue, along with the economy.

The economy is the winner (67%) for Republican voters, with the most important health issue, the Affordable Care Act (49%), ranking third behind the deficit (58%).

On Medicare, senior voters are the most likely to oppose switching to vouchers: 72 percent prefer keeping Medicare as is, compared to 58 percent of likely voters under 65. “That makes sense, since the Congressional Budget Office projects that new beneficiaries could pay more than $5,900 more per year in out-of-pocket costs by 2050 if we go to vouchers,” said Mr. Coyle.

Florida Alliance Goes International
In Tampa yesterday, Florida Alliance members took part in a discussion with eleven international journalists participating in the East-West Center's upcoming 2012 U.S. Presidential Election Reporting Seminar. The East-West Center, headquartered in Honolulu, promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the U.S., Asia, and the Pacific. FLARA guests included State President Tony Fransetta, Barbara Phillipi, Tony Kiwak, Tom Snover, Bob Wagner, Georgina Wagner, Ray Davis, Carolyn Davis, David Bernstein, and Marilyn Warner.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://bit.ly/TqtMXA.

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 10-5-12

Debate Highlights the Differences between Romney and Obama
The first of three presidential debates took place on Wednesday, with President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney both striving to gain favor with the middle class and seniors. “Mitt Romney continued to hide the details about how he’d repeal Obamacare and still keep all of its benefits for seniors, such as more affordable prescription drugs and free preventive care,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. Coyle also said that Romney had relentlessly mischaracterized recent improvements to Medicare, “advancing his plan to gut traditional Medicare with a voucher-based scheme that gives more power and profits to the big insurance companies.”

“Even on a night when Obama wasn’t at his best, the President offered a more fair and honest path forward for seniors,” he continued. “Mitt Romney knows his explanations just don’t add up logically or mathematically and would hurt for the middle-class. He would take Medicare away from Grandma, and Big Bird away from her grandkids,” Coyle added - a reference to proposed cuts by Romney to public broadcasting in addition to Medicare.

Judge Halts Pennsylvania Voter ID Law
On Tuesday, a Pennsylvania judge declared that the state should not allow its harsh new voter identification law to take effect for the November election.  In his ruling, Judge Robert Simpson said that the state had not made sufficient progress towards supplying photo identification to voters, and therefore the law held a great potential to disenfranchise otherwise qualified voters.  Election officials may now request voters to show identification, but they may not turn away registered voters who had not been able to obtain the identification or force them to cast provisional ballots.  However, Matthew Keeler, deputy press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of State, said officials have not decided whether to appeal Tuesday's ruling. The voter ID law was passed by newly elected state leaders in Pennsylvania, one of whom said that the law would “allow Governor Romney to win the state.”

“A great injustice has so far been averted thanks to the Pennsylvania Courts and Judge Simpson,” said Coyle. “Pennsylvania seniors, many of whom do not have a driver’s license or other photo-identification, have been spared the hardship associated with getting one and the atrocity of disenfranchisement. Now we have to hope that there is no appeal that reverses the decision.”

Alan Simpson Strikes Again
Former U.S. Senator and co-chairman of President Obama’s deficit commission Alan Simpson told an audience on Tuesday that politicians talk too much about the poor and vulnerable for political gain, and that he regrets the way his opponents have used his commission’s recommendations. “Could you please cut out the babble? Would you quit talking about the poor, the vulnerable, the veterans, the old ladies going over cliffs, the hospices, the bedpans?” Simpson said at the event. According to Huffington Post (http://huff.to/Ptp2Qq), Simpson spent much of his time on the panel railing against those who have opposed the recommendations made by the Simpson-Bowles commission, formerly known as the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The commission’s plan was mentioned several times at this week’s debate. Simpson also recalled his interaction with the California Alliance for Retired Americans. Earlier this year, the California Alliance handed out a flyer featuring images of young people and saying that Simpson was using the deficit as an excuse to gut Social Security; Simpson responded with a letter that was noted for its outrageousness: http://bit.ly/KyMQ1o.

“What a wretched group of seniors you must be to use the faces of the very young people that we are trying to save, while the ‘greedy geezers’ like you use them as a tool and a front for your nefarious bunch of crap.” Simpson wrote. “You must feel some sense of shame for shoveling this bullshit.” At the time, the Alliance responded with a press release (http://bit.ly/KTZKsS). On Tuesday, Simpson slammed AARP for resisting cuts to Social Security and Medicare. He also mistakenly encouraged audience members to visit www.fixthedebt.com, which belongs to a debt consolidation and credit repair company.

Connecticut Alliance Voices its Disapproval of Paul Ryan, Linda McMahon
The Connecticut Alliance “welcomed” Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan to Connecticut on Sunday, with members protesting his policies that would benefit the wealthy at the expense of Medicare and Social Security. The next day, the Connecticut Alliance hosted a demonstration outside U.S. Senate nominee/former Word Wrestling Entertainment executive Linda McMahon’s headquarters, focusing on her call to “sunset” Social Security. A video of McMahon saying that she would favor sunsetting - a policy allowing Social Security to expire if the law is not renewed, placing its long-term future in jeopardy - has been getting widespread attention recently (http://bit.ly/PBpuMg).

Barbara Easterling Addresses Postal Workers in Virginia
Alliance President Barbara J. Easterling was in Fairfax County, Virginia Wednesday to address the American Postal Workers Union. “Yes, we are labor activists.  Yes, we are seniors activists. But what we fight for goes beyond any one group of workers or any one age group,” she told the crowd.

Something on Your Mind? Write Letter, Win Pen!
Is there something you want retirees 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 widely read,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “With the wealthy business interests we are up against, it’s nice to have an option that doesn’t cost anything.” Most recently, Adolphe Bernotas, Don Berry, Leon Burzynski, Barbara Cunningham, Doug Curler, Bentley Davis, Robert Dougherty, Jeanne Doyle, Raymond Ensher, Bob Felzke, John Forkan, Jr., Barbara Franklin, Tony Fransetta, Francis Giunta, Doug Hart, Doug Hill, Jan Laue, Bob and Joni Laurence, Jim Moore, Jody Oliver, James Parent, Dianna Porter, Carol Ring, Linda Silva, Donald Singer, William Stevens, Scotty Watts, Ethan West, and Charlie Williamscontributed to their local papers. If you have had a letter published, please e-mailaracommunications@retiredamericans.org.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://bit.ly/Wv8CvV.

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 9-28-12

Past Statements by Paul Ryan Shed More Light on his Policies Regarding Seniors
A transcript of a speech made in 2005 by Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan has received renewed attention this week, after the national Catholic weekly publication America published an article on his remarks. Ryan, who has long described philosopher Ayn Rand as one of his inspirations, made the speech at the Atlas Society’s 2005 “Celebration of Ayn Rand.” Rand’s 1964 collection of essays is called The Virtue of Selfishness: A new Concept of Egoism.

In his 2005 speech, Ryan took an extremist stance on Social Security and Medicare. He called Social Security and Medicare “collectivist” and “socialistic” and described his plans for privatization. Ryan stated that he supported, “switching these programs— and this is where I’m talking about health care, as well — from a third party or socialist based system to an individually owned, individually pre-funded, individually directed system.” To see the full article and transcript, go to http://bit.ly/Ueopk6.

Alliance Executive Director Edward F. Coyle commented, “These statements by Paul Ryan reinforce that he doesn’t intend to take the proper steps to protect or strengthen Medicare and Social Security, but sees them as a form of Socialism. Yet, Mitt Romney wants him to be his Vice President.” For quotes from Mitt Romney endorsing Paul Ryan's plans, go to http://bit.ly/P1ZL2R.

Early and Absentee Voting is Under Way in 30 States
According to NBC’s First Read (http://nbcnews.to/V02r31), “…voters in 30 states -- including the battleground states of Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Virginia -- are now casting ballots, either via absentee or early in-person voting.” Yesterday, early in-person voting began in Iowa and Wyoming, while absentee ballots are already being sent to voters requesting them in Alabama, North Dakota, and Illinois. By the end of next week, voters in five more states, including Ohio and Florida, will be on this list.

Many election experts predict that as many as 40% of voters will vote early or absentee for the November 6 election. “The explosion of early voting gives seniors more time to vote in an environment of harsh new voter identification laws in several battleground states,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “The Alliance applauds states that have expanded their early voting programs to make the polls more accessible for all Americans.” To see which states have already begun voting, go to http://bit.ly/JqkLdd. For general voting information in your state, go to http://www.vote411.org.

Affordable Care Act Saves Seniors $4.5 Billion on Prescription Drugs
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Medicare beneficiaries have saved a total of $4.5 billion on their prescriptions since January 2011 thanks to the 2010 health care reform law.  The savings came both from increased coverage and from drug makers’ agreeing to lower their prices under the law.  Through August of 2012, beneficiaries had saved an average of $641 this year. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has also begun to close the Medicare Part D prescription drug “doughnut hole” - the coverage gap that is on schedule to be completely eliminated by 2020. 

Romney: Uninsured can get Health Care in the Emergency Room
Asked on the show 60 Minutes recently whether government has a responsibility to provide health care for the 50 million Americans who are currently uninsured, Mitt Romney responded, “Well, we do provide care for people who don’t have insurance, people—we—if someone has a heart attack, they don’t sit in their apartment and die. We pick them up in an ambulance, and take them to the hospital, and give them care. And different states have different ways of providing for that care.” However, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of HHS, the cost of a doctor visit in an emergency room averages $922, whereas an office visit averages $199.

Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance, responded, “Mitt Romney’s answer showed a lack of comprehension of the actual costs incurred by ER visits. He seems to be saying that the emergency room is a viable health care solution for the millions of Americans who will lose coverage or be kicked off their insurance plans if he repeals Obamacare. To suggest that the ER could ever be a good substitution for affordable health care is utterly unrealistic.”

Alliance Leaders: Institute for Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly Honors Easterling
The Institute the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly honored Ms. Easterling on Thursday, giving her the Advocacy Award at the Institute’s Annual Gala Banquet.  The Institute is a nonprofit and service organization serving New York’s growing Latino and other ethnic/racial minority seniors, and their families.  They serve over 100,000 retirees in the New York City metropolitan area. “I want to thank the Institute for presenting me with your 2012 Advocacy Award.  This is a great honor,” said Easterling. “Retirees and activists of all ages have much to be proud of, but our work is far from over,” she told the crowd.

Today, Ms. Easterling is speaking at a tele-townhall with the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, while Mr. Coyle is addressing the International Union of Police Associations in Bonita Springs, Florida.

NFL Referees’ Strike is Settled
The National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) reached an agreement ending a three-month strike on Wednesday night. The NFL had locked out the regular referees in June, after heated arguments during contract renegotiations with the referees’ union. The main point of contention in the contract negotiations was the referees’ pensions, which the NFL wanted to replace with 401(k)s. NFLRA representatives had noted the unsavory irony of a league generating $8.3 billion in annual revenue wanting to cut retirement benefits.

“The elimination of defined benefit pensions has been happening in too many industries for too long,” said Mr. Coyle. “I congratulate the referees on fighting back.” Football fans everywhere had been up in arms about a call made by a replacement referee at the end of Monday night’s Seattle Seahawks-Green Bay Packers game. This year’s football season, which kicked off in early September, has seen three weeks of controversial calls made by replacement referees.


For a printable version of this document, go to bit.ly/P09o4r.