Printable Version
Voting Record Press Release
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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