"Raising the retirement age would inflict further hardship among a group of workers who are likely to face health and economic problems in their 60s." –Doug Hart, President, Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
"Of all the lies and confusion that still surround the Affordable Care Act, perhaps the greatest is that it is bad for seniors." - Dave Meinell, President, Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans
"My father died when I was three. Because of Social Security (survivors) benefits, my Mom, my younger sister and I survived." – Diane Fleming, DC Alliance Member
"We fear that Congress will balance the budget on the backs of the 98 percent, which is working Montanans and retired Montanans. We simply cannot afford these devastating cuts to vital services such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid," –John Forkan, President, Montana Alliance for Retired Americans
"Along with national parks and Social Security, Medicare is one of the best ideas we Americans have ever devised." -Tim Cunningham, New Mexico Alliance Member
"Seniors have earned and deserve their Social Security checks, and they shouldn't have to go to Congress every 10 years and beg for the program to be renewed." –James Parent, Alliance for Retired Americans Regional Board Member
"Today's retirees paid Medicare and Social Security taxes in every paycheck we ever earned. Now that we are retired, these programs help us to be able to stay healthy and pay our bills. They are the promise we make to people who worked hard all their lives, and we need to keep that promise for today’s workers." –Tony Fransetta, President, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
"Today's seniors want to lower the budget deficit. We do not want a large debt to be the legacy we leave to future generations, but we should not punish people who have paid Social Security taxes all their lives." –Jim Moore, President, North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans
"Social Security should remain what it has been for 77 years – a solid, reliable way that generations of workers have been able to retire with dignity, economic security, and peace of mind." –Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
"The fight for Social Security and Medicare is part of a larger fight for justice and fairness"—Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
"The health insurance reform helps not just seniors, but also middle-class families and young Americans, who are just starting to see the benefits. Don’t let Republicans take all that away." –Don Rowen, President Emeritus, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
"Honoring the promise of Social Security and Medicare should not be a partisan issue. Honoring the contributions that we make throughout our working years so that we may feed and clothe ourselves, keep a roof over our heads and those of our family, there is no reason for that to be a hotly contested partisan issue." –Edward Coyle, Executive Director, Alliance for Retired Americans
"We need to make sure that people who need Social Security to make ends meet will have it, and not fall victim to ill-informed and unnecessary cuts to these vital programs."
–Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
Financial Reform Bill Will Protect Seniors, Retiree Leader Says
April 28, 2010
For Immediate Release
Financial Reform Bill Will Protect Seniors, Retiree Leader Says
Retirement Security Devastated in Recent Years
Below are the prepared remarks of Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara J. Easterling, who today joined Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Senators in support of a financial reform bill.
"On behalf of the 4 million members of the Alliance for Retired Americans, I am proud to support S 3217. It is time for certain Senators to act in the best interests of people, not profits.
"Seniors are struggling to get by in today's economy. They are the victims of years of unchecked greed and abuse on Wall Street. The stock market plunge and the collapse of housing values have combined to devastate their retirement security.
"Many retirees dedicated their whole lives to companies who were pressured by Wall Street into gambling away their pensions and savings. While this was happening our government just stood idly by, like the lookout man at a bank robbery.
"Seniors are increasingly the victims of financial scams and marketing abuses. They are looking to the federal government for help. They want to finally feel like the government is on their side.
"This legislation would do just that. It would require that the terms and conditions of loans and credit cards be written in clear language. It would put in place strict new rules to protect seniors from gimmicks and predatory lending. And it would create a powerful new federal watchdog to stand on the side of consumers. It would provide badly-needed financial education to people of all ages, including seniors.
"But older Americans care about more than just themselves. We worry about our children and grandchildren in these difficult times. We want them to be able to find a good job and be able to save money to buy a home, start a family, and have a safe and secure retirement when their working days are done.
"Mr. Majority Leader, our current financial system is failing our nation's seniors. The Alliance for Retired Americans strongly supports this bill. It is time for the Senate to act."
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Contact: David Blank (202) 637-5275 or dblank@retiredamericans.org










