Texans Rally for Reform—and Other Health Care News
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More than 3,000 union members and allies crowded the streets of Austin, Texas, on Saturday to show their support for health care reform.
The demonstrators gathered at the State Capitol to hear from workers, community leaders and lawmakers. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Emerita Linda Chavez-Thompson got the crowd fired up, and leaders and activists from across the union movement encouraged the crowd to stay mobilized.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who voted for the House’s historic health care reform bill a week ago, thanked those present for their activism and said we need to keep fighting to pass real reform legislation. Said Doggett:
We need an engaged citizenry to say we won’t stand for anything less than genuine reform.
Doctors, Seniors Unite Behind House Health Care Bill
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| Members of CWA 3122 in Florida spread the word about the need for health care reform. | |
In a massive show of support for health care reform, the nation’s largest organization for doctors, the American Medical Association (AMA), today urged the House to pass the bill it begins debate on today, H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act.
The AMA’s historical backing for health care reform follows this morning’s endorsement of the House bill by the largest U.S. advocacy group for seniors, the 40-million member AARP. As we noted yesterday, the bill has many provisions that will immediately benefit to seniors.
The American Cancer Society Action Network also is throwing its support behind the bill, calling it “an exceptional opportunity” to improve our health care system.
These groups are joining a broad coalition, from businesses to civil rights organizations, groups for youth and for seniors, unions, medical professionals and faith groups, all asking Congress to pass this critical bill that will expand health care coverage, cut costs and put patients first. This support is critical, as the closer we get to real reform, the harder the insurance companies and their lobbyists and front groups will fight to block it through scare tactics and falsehoods.
Want to get involved? Click here to call Congress.
Trumka: Retirement Security Promise Must Be Kept
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The ability to retire after a lifetime of hard work is not just an economic issue, it’s a moral one, said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, speaking today at the Retirement USA “Re-Envisioning Retirement Security” conference.
Joining U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and an array of experts and leaders, Trumka took part in a conversation about the breakdown of the promise of retirement security and what we need to do to restore it.
Trumka called the retirement security crisis one that
threatens American workers with yet another painful consequence of the “you’re on your own” social and economic model of the last thirty years.
Drop Dead? Is That the Way Republican Reps. Talk to Seniors?
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Opponents of critically needed health care reform continue to demonstrate how out of touch they are with working America—and in a recent egregious comment by a House Republican, the opposition has also insulted the nation’s seniors.
Here’s what Florida Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite said Tuesday on the House floor:
“Last week, Democrats released a health care bill which essentially said to America’s seniors: ‘Drop dead.’ ”
Tony Fransetta, president of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, is outraged by Brown-Waite’s injudicious and downright ugly comment.
Rep. Brown-Waite’s remarks earlier this week were not only inappropriate and inaccurate, but they were a misleading and divisive attempt to scare Florida’s seniors in the current debate over national health care reform.
Sebelius: Now Is the Time for Health Care Reform
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This is the year for passing real health care reform and to begin rebuilding the nation’s middle class by passing laws that give workers a free choice to join a union. And union retirees, one of the most active political groups in the country, will play a big role in bringing about change, top government leaders said.
Speaking in the opening session of the Alliance for Retired Americans annual legislative conference last night, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told the seniors they can be a big part in the historic shift in health care policy.
This is the time [to pass health care reform]. This is the moment. We cannot let it pass by. This is the year for health care reform to be passed. It’s the president’s number one priority.
Write Letter, Win Pen: A Retiree’s Prescription for Health Care Reform
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Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara J. Easterling encourages union retirees to contact their local newspapers about health care—and get a free union-made Retirees with the Write Stuff pen.
As Congress begins to vote on health care reform, we must all make our voices heard. One of the most effective ways to do this is by writing a letter to the editor.
In many newspapers, the Letters to the Editor page is the most widely read section. Not only can you help educate others in your community, but you can get noticed by savvy elected officials who keep a close eye on these letters to gauge the mood of their constituents.
Retirees with the Write Stuff is simple: Write letter, win pen. If a newspaper runs your letter about health care or any other retiree topic, send us a copy and you will receive a free, union-made Retirees with the Write Stuff pen.
Workers, Allies to Pulte Shareholders: You’re Responsible for Working Conditions
Robert Masciola, deputy director of the AFL-CIO Center for Strategic Research, shares this recent action by workers and their allies at a recent Pulte shareholder meeting in the Detroit area.
Outraged Detroit community members demanded entry to Michigan-based Pulte Homes’ Annual Shareholders Meeting on Friday, armed with copies of a newly released report detailing the company’s lending practices. More than 100 Michigan residents, ranging from construction workers and seniors to Catholic priests and nuns, marched on the meeting held in Pontiac.
Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO President Saundra Williams welcomed supporters of the Building Justice campaign to Detroit to demand that Pulte take accountability for all its business practices.
Working America AND UAW Don’t ♥ Sen. Corker
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The hundreds of UAW members who rallied Friday were among the thousands who have written Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) letters protesting his anti-worker stance and attempts to require major concessions from the UAW.
Working America, the AFL-CIO community affiliate, recently sent a canvass team into Nashville and surrounding communities that collected more than 1,400 letters. Seven canvassers knocked on doors and greeted passers-by on busy streets and college campuses. Michigan State Working America Director Cara Alcantar, who helped with the canvass action in Tennessee, reported that
people are really supportive of what we’re doing, they’re supportive of the union, because they’re going through tough times. Most of the people we’ve spoken to do not believe that what Corker is doing is right.
Retiree Roadrunner Project Showcases Seniors’ Concerns
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As part of the political mobilization by the Alliance for Retired Americans, the Alliance’s Retiree Roadrunner vans are driving around key states to make sure seniors have the facts on what’s at stake this election. Across the country, seniors are stepping up to talk about why it’s important to vote this year. The Alliance has been gathering videos of savvy seniors talking about Social Security, health care, the economy and other critical issues.
Betty Thomas, a retiree from Cincinnati, says that one of her top issues this year is making sure the guarantee of Social Security is kept for today’s seniors and for future generations. She says the current economic crisis shows that privatized accounts are too big a risk for those who are depending on Social Security to survive.
If they start to attack or try to dismantle Social Security, go to private accounts, well, look what’s happening to banks right now….We need to protect our seniors, and we need to help our seniors protect our grandchildren and our children.
Sen. Clinton, Rep. Lewis, Sweeney, Holt Baker Rally Seniors for Obama
Today in Pittsburgh, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney joined members of the Alliance for Retired Americans to rally on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama. Meanwhile, in Georgia, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker joined the Alliance and Rep. John Lewis for a forum on seniors’ issues in Atlanta.
Clinton and Sweeney spoke to more than 1,000 seniors in Pittsburgh, highlighting why Obama is the right choice for retirees in this critical state. Obama will protect Social Security benefits, eliminate income taxes on low- and middle-income seniors and ensure Medicare cuts costs for seniors by negotiating for lower drug prices.
