Richard Fiesta Named Alliance’s Next Executive Director

Richard Fiesta Has Been Named the Alliance for Retired Americans’ New Executive Director.  Fiesta Succeeds Edward Coyle, Who’s Managed and grown the Four Million-Member Grassroots Advocacy Organization Since its 2001 Founding.  The Alliance’s Executive Board Voted Unanimously to Appoint Fiesta, Effective December 1st.  The Director of the Department of Government and Political Affairs for the Alliance since 2001, Fiesta Pledged the Alliance Will Aggressively Educate Retirees, the Public and Lawmakers on Ways to Preserve and Strengthen Social Security and Medicare, Make Prescription Drugs Affordable for Future Generations and Ensure All Retirees Can Expect a Dignified Retirement After a Lifetime of Work.  “It’s Gratifying to see Ed Enjoy His Own Retirement After Improving the Retirement Circumstances of So Many Others,” Alliance President Barbara Easterling said.  “I Know that Rich Will Continue the Alliance for Retired Americans’ Tradition of ‘Standing Up’ for Seniors.”  “I Would Not Retire If I Didn't Believe the Alliance Is In Good Hands,” Coyle said. “Rich Fiesta Has Made a Career of ‘Fighting For’ Social and Economic Justice for Retirees and the Middle Class.”  Said Fiesta: “I Am Honored to Become the Alliance Executive Director, Given Our Proven Track Record of Advocacy and Action.  Older Americans Face Many Challenges.  I Look Forward to Building On ‘Our’ Work to Guarantee the Needs of Retirees Remain at the Forefront of the Nation’s Agenda.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren Makes Case For Expanding Social Security

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (Democrat-Massachusetts) has Thrown Her Support Behind Expanding Social Security Benefits, Joining Senators Tom Harkin (Democrat-Indiana), Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont) and Sherrod Brown (Democrat-Ohio) in a Growing Push to Calculate Benefits Through an Index Called CPI-E, Which Will Increase Payments to Meet the Needs of Recipients.  She Referred to S.567, the Strengthening Social Security Act.  U.S. Representative Linda Sanchez (Democrat-California) Introduced the House Version, HR 3118.  Senator Warren Noted The Washington Post had Run an Editorial Mocking the Idea of a Looming Retirement Crisis.  “To Make Sure No One Missed the Point, They Even Put the Words ‘Retirement Crisis’ in Quotation Marks,” she said.  Senator Warren told MSNBC also Told Listeners Increased Benefits Would Help a Middle Class that’s been “Hammered for a Generation.

Federal Budget Negotiation Update - Talks Center On Sequestration

The Federal Budget Deal that was Reached in October Created a Budget Conference to Iron Out the Differences Between the House and Senate Budget Resolutions.  Because Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Would Most Likely Come Into Play in a Grand Bargain Scenario - Which, to Many, Seems Elusive at the Moment - a Main Focus in the Negotiations Right Now is on Replacing Sequestration Cuts.  According to the Center for American Progress, there are Four Factors Making Next Year’s Sequestration Cuts Even More Damaging Than This Year’s.  First, the Sequester Makes Larger Cuts in 2014 Than It Did In 2013.  Second, Many of the Cuts that Were Legally Made This Year Have Not Actually Been Implemented Yet.  “Last month, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat-Nevada) and Democrats were ‘United.’  They Did Not Give Up Anything,” Alliance Secretary-Treasurer Reuben Burks said. “We Need to Keep the Pressure on Lawmakers not to cut seniors’ earned benefits, so that dynamic does not change,” he continued. Pledge now to Make a Call on December Twelfth to Tell Your Elected Leaders to End the Sequester, Close Tax Loopholes and Raise the Revenues Needed for Vital Services.

Social Security Administration Releases Facts & Figures For 2014

The Social Security Administration Recently Released Its Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Program (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Rates and Limits for 2014 (which is Available at http://tinyurl.com/lqqrpx7).  One Statistic the Site Shows is that Americans Will Pay Social Security Taxes On Only the First $117,000 They Earn Next Year. The Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Program is the Official Name for Social Security.  Supplemental Security Income is a Federal Income Supplement Program Funded by General Tax Revenues (Not Social Security Taxes).  It’s Designed to Help Aged, Blind and Disabled People, Who Have Little or No Income, and It Provides Cash to Meet Basic Needs for Food, Clothing and Shelter.