Printable Version
Voting Record Press Release 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
(Alliance for Retired Americans)For Immediate Release
Capitol
Hill Votes on Seniors and Retirees
Scrutinized
Congress Tries to Stand Up for
Seniors, but Faces Stiff Resistance from White
House, Drug and Insurance Industry
Lobbyists
Washington, DC -
Marking the beginning of Older Americans Month,
a new congressional voting record released
today by the Alliance for Retired Americans
details the voting record of every U.S. Senator
and Representative on key issues affecting
current and future retirees. The document
is available at www.retiredamericans.org.
“What
is at stake is nothing less than the future of
retirement in America. As our leaders in
Washington vote on prescription drugs,
Medicare, Social Security, health care, and
pensions, politically savvy seniors need to
know where their elected officials stand on
these important issues,” said Alliance
President George J. Kourpias.
“I am not
the only one who worries that this may be the
last generation that ever gets to retire,”
Kourpias said, noting a recent nationwide
survey of seniors in which 88 percent of
respondents did not believe their children or
grandchildren would have the quality of life
that they have had.
The Alliance voting
record examines 10 key Senate votes and 10 key
House votes in 2007, showing the roll calls on
blocking Social Security privatization,
lowering Medicare costs, expanding access to
affordable health care, stopping oil price
gouging, and protecting voting rights.
According to the Alliance,
244 U.S. House members received passing grades
(60 percent or higher), with 176 achieving
perfect scores of 100 percent. 189
received failing grades (below 60 percent),
with 66 receiving scores of zero. Two
seats were vacant during these votes.
In
the Senate, 52 members received passing grades
(60 percent or higher), with 31 achieving
perfect scores of 100 percent. 47
received failing grades (below 60 percent),
with 27 receiving scores of zero. Senator
Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack
Obama each scored 100 percent, while Senator
John McCain scored a zero on the ten votes
evaluated by the Alliance in 2007.
The
widespread voter discontent in the 2006
congressional elections ushered in a new
Congress which sought to improve health care,
reduce drug prices, and end taxpayer
overpayments to private insurance companies who
operate Medicare Advantage programs.
Unfortunately for America’s seniors, these
efforts were stymied by opposition from the
White House and pharmaceutical and insurance
lobbyists.
“This voting record measures
how committed our elected officials are to
retirees and older Americans. I encourage
everyone to become fully aware of how their
leaders vote. With so much at stake, we
must be as educated and active as we can,”
Kourpias said.
Contact: Marcie Kohenak (202)
637-5178 or mkohenak@retiredamericans.org