News from the Alliance for Retired Americans, forwarded to WNYLaborToday.com from Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Representative Earl Frampton:

Did You Know... 21% of Americans take three or more prescription medications daily (Information courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control)

President Obama Establishes Debt Commission To Look At Social Security & Medicare

President Obama has signed an Executive Order establishing a commission to tackle the Federal Debt.  The Commission's purpose is to reduce the Federal Budget deficit from 10% to 3% by 2015, and to propose ways to contain costs related to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.  As co-chairs of the commission, the president named Erskine Bowles, former White House Chief of Staff during the Clinton Administration, and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson.  Bowles, president of the University of North Carolina, worked to pass the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 with Republicans in Congress when he was White House Chief of Staff.  Simpson served as a Wyoming senator from 1979 to 1997 and as Senate GOP Whip from 1985 to 1995.  Alliance for Retired Americans Executive Director Edward F. Coyle said: "Retirees fully support President Obama on the critical need to reduce our nation's budget deficit.  Older Americans have always been uncomfortable with large debt, both in government and in their own families.  We are, however, wary of the objectivity that Commission Co-Chair Simpson will bring to this important assignment.  As a Senator, Simpson referred to older Americans as 'greedy geezers' and launched bitter and protracted assaults against advocacy groups for seniors.  Social Security benefits would have been cut under his plan to change the statistical formula used to calculate Cost-of-Living Adjustments.  We believe that if the Commission takes a thorough and honest look at Social Security and Medicare, it will conclude that these vital programs should be strengthened, not weakened.  Social Security and Medicare are two of our nation's greatest success stories, helping generations of seniors stay healthy and out of poverty."

Health Care Debate Wages On

White House officials are working with leaders in Congress on a Health Care Proposal that could pass without Republican support if GOP representatives do not embrace bi-partisan compromises at President Obama's upcoming summit.  According to the publication - The Hill - the Progressive Change Campaign Committee has circulated a letter among House Democrats, which 119 of them have signed, calling for the reintroduction of the Public Option.  Thirteen Democratic Senators have signed a similar letter.  The letter calls for the Senate to pass a series of "fixes" to the Health Care Bill it passed in December under the budget reconciliation process, a maneuver that would avoid the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate.  House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-South Carolina) says a Public Insurance Option could be part of the final Health Reform Legislation, adding while it was dropped to garner 60 votes in the Senate, a 50-plus-one vote could still carry the Public Option.  It remains to be seen whether the controversial excise tax on high-end health plans will remain in a final bill.  The Alliance for Retired Americans has held more than 20 events across the country during the Congressional recess, reminding lawmakers in their home districts that Health Insurance Reform is still a national priority.  Events have included meetings with Members of Congress, protests, and rallies.  More action is planned for the coming week.

Congressional Retirements Abound

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, who has announced that he will not seek re-election this year, is the fifth Democratic Senator not seeking re-election, joining Senators Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Ted Kaufman of Delaware and Roland Burris of Illinois.  Six Republicans are also retiring, including Senators: Kit Bond of Montana, George Lemieux of Florida, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, George Voinovich of Ohio, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Jim Bunning of Kentucky.  In addition, four U.S. House members - Republican Representatives Vern Ehlers of Michigan and Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, and Democratic Representatives Diane Watson of California and Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island - announced their retirements last week, bringing the total number of House members not seeking re-election in 2010 to 32.  Of those, 18 are Republicans and 14 are Democrats.  "The stakes keep getting higher for this fall's elections, so seniors need to be educated and active," Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara Easterling said.

Billy Tauzin Retires As Head of Pharmaceutical Lobby

The president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, announced he will be retiring on June 30th as head of the pharmaceutical industry's main lobbying group.  The 2003 Medicare drug law, negotiated in part by then-Representative Tauzin (R-Louisiana) before he became a lobbyist, has widely been viewed as a financial windfall for the big drug companies - larger than even the most optimistic Wall Street analysts had predicted.  In response to Mr. Tauzin's resignation from PhRMA, Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance, said: "After helping to negotiate the 2003 Medicare drug law, Billy Tauzin made millions as one of the top lobbyists in Washington, and the drug companies made record profits off the same deal.  For too long, everyone else has been winning at the expense of the Nation's seniors."

Alliance for Retired Americans To Hold Annual Convention In Las Vegas

In early April, the Alliance for Retired Americans will hold its annual convention in Las Vegas.  The conference, under the theme of Building Retiree Power, will offer educational and training opportunities to improve both grassroots activism techniques and leadership skills.  As part of the convention, any delegate registered to attend may offer or second a resolution for consideration.  The resolution must pertain to a statement of the Alliance's position or policy on a specific matter.  Proposed resolutions, and seconds, must be received by the Alliance no later than March 15th, 2010 in order for the Resolutions Committee, designated by the Alliance President, to review them.