Activists At U.S. Capitol Warn: “Don’t Use Shutdown To Cut Benefits For Seniors”

Scores of Seniors came to the U.S. Capitol Last Week, Joined hands with Members of Congress and formed a Human Chain in Opposition to the Chained CPI Formula and All Benefit Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.  The Congressional Progressive Caucus Hosted the Demonstration as Alliance Members Joined with Social Security Works and Other Allies.  The Event was Emceed by Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Keith Ellison (Democrat-Minnesota).  Other Members of Congress at the Event included U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (Illinois); David Cicilline (Rhode Island);Yvette Clarke (New York); John Conyers (Michigan); Elijah Cummings (Maryland); Rosa DeLauro (Connecticut); Alan Grayson (Florida); Mike Honda (California); Steven Horsford (Nevada); Barbara Lee (California); Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas); Alan Lowenthal (California); Daniel Maffei (New York); Carolyn Maloney (New York); Jerrold Nadler (New York);  Mark Pocan (Wisconsin); Jan Schakowsky (Illinois); Mark Takano (California); and Paul Tonko (New York).  Politico wrote about the Event at http://tinyurl.com/pp6e7te.  “Congratulations to Everyone Who Made Today a Success or Got This Event Started by Hosting a Human Chain Event on July Second,” Alliance For Retired Americans President Barbara Easterling said.  “Seniors Sent a Message Today: We are Standing Up for our Hard-Earned Benefits and Will Not Allow a Government Shutdown to Force Cuts to our Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid!” Alliance Executive Director Edward Coyle said. “But Today was also a Part of a Timely Revolt against Republicans' Hostage Taking Strategy.  Whether Shutting Down the Government to Protest Obamacare or Using a Debt Crisis to Force the Chained CPI on Seniors, Americans have Had Enough.” Group Shots from the Day’s Demonstration, including Video Footage of Representative Honda saying: “Cut the Crap, Scrap the Cap,” are at http://tinyurl.com/nhwct34.

Rolling Stone Magazine Explains How Wall Street Wins At Public Workers’ Expense

Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone Magazine Writes: All Across America, Wall Street is Grabbing Money Meant for Public Workers. The Piece Explains How Rhode Island was Used as a Test Case for the Rest of the Country “at the Behest of Powerful Out-of-State Financiers with Dreams of Pushing Pension Reform Down the Throats of Taxpayers and Public Workers from Coast to Coast.”  “This Scathing, Much-Talked-About Article Explains How Wall Street Benefits, while Public Workers are Losing Their Pension Funds,” Alliance Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks says.  You can Read the Piece at: http://tinyurl.com/kjag4xj. 

Video Explains Affordable Care Act As It Applies To Seniors

Kaiser Health News’s Mary Agnes Carey Appeared on the PBS Newshour Recently to Answer Questions from Seniors Uncertain of How the Affordable Care Act Will Affect Older Americans and What Changes are Coming for Medicare Recipients. That Video is Available at http://tinyurl.com/onj5mm5.   Also Last Week, the On-Line Health Insurance Marketplaces - the Centerpiece of President Obama’s Health-Care Law - Opened for Business Despite the Government Shutdown.  The Plan is for Millions of Americans to Go On-Line to Compare Health Plans, Find Out If They’re Eligible for Federal Help with Premiums and Buy Coverage. The Obama Administration Acknowledged the Debut Was Not Flawless - with Some Computer Glitches - but Officials Expect the Kinks to be Ironed Out Soon.  An Exchange is a Website Designed to Make It Easy To Find Health Coverage.  Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries Aren’t Eligible for Them.  Those Who Are in the Country Illegally are Barred From Them and Most Workers at Bigger Companies that Provide Health Coverage Won’t Use Them.  Each State Will Have An Exchange.  Some States are Running Their Own.  The Rest are Either Partnering with the Federal Government or Relying on the Federal Government to Operate Theirs. Exchanges are Designed for the Uninsured, People Who Buy Their Own Coverage and Those Whose Employer-Provided Coverage is Too Expensive or Lacks Important Benefits.  Initial Open Enrollment Now Runs Through March 31st.  Those Who Are Eligible Can Find an Exchange at www.healthcare.gov.