“It’s that Republican plan to end Medicare as we know it, putting us at the mercy of insurance companies”
Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 25, 2011. The Alliance for Retired Americans begins airing radio ads today protesting Republican budget cuts to Medicare and Social Security. The ad will air in Colorado, Missouri, and West Virginia for 7 days. To hear it, go to http://bit.ly/h0ZHX1 (transcript below).
In addition to the radio ads, the Alliance is holding 27 public events in 14 states this week, featuring retirees in their old work uniforms, to protest budget cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, all of which have been recently voted on in Congress. The public events are part of a national week of action called “Don’t Make Us Work ’Til We Die,” and are taking place in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Nationally, these events are sponsored by the Alliance for Retired Americans and the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 300 other national and state organizations.
The Alliance is also placing phone calls to its members in a dozen states protesting an April 15th vote in favor of the House Republican budget, which would turn Medicare over to insurance companies and slash Medicaid spending by $1.4 trillion. In a related message, Alliance members are telling their Representative that they oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including raising the retirement age.
For a detailed list of the events taking place in the coming week, as well as a video that demonstrates what’s at stake for retirees and workers who attend them, please go to http://www.retiredamericans.org/issues/Working_Til_We_Die.
The events are occurring as the budget debate is heating up in Washington, and as many in Congress propose big benefit cuts to Social Security, including increasing the retirement age to 69 or even 70.
“Social Security belongs to the people who have worked hard all their lives and contributed to the program. It does not belong to politicians in Washington who want to use it as a piggy bank to fund tax cuts for the rich or bailouts for Wall Street,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Social Security is based on a promise.”
Transcription:
“I’m angry – it’s that Republican plan to end Medicare as we know it, putting us at the mercy of insurance companies.
“The Congressional Budget Office says our yearly costs will go up over $6,000 dollars.
“They’ll use our money to give more tax breaks to millionaires and corporations, and cut nursing home care and Social Security, too.
“With Republican priorities upside down, its time for us to speak up.
“Now more than ever we need (Senator Manchin; Senators Udall and Bennet; Sen. McCaskill) to stand for seniors and oppose these Medicare and Social Security cuts.
“This ad was sponsored by the Alliance for Retired Americans.”
Source: retiredamericans.org