"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
Retiree Voting Record Focuses on Health Care, Medicare, and Economics
May 04, 2010
For Immediate Release
Retiree Voting Record Focuses on Health Care, Medicare, and Economics
Seniors Fight Uphill Battle to Maintain Standard of Living
Washington, DC - To mark Older Americans Month, the Alliance for Retired Americans today released a new report detailing the voting record of every U.S. Senator and Representative on key issues affecting current and future retirees. The document is available at http://bit.ly/9KfGCU.
"The 2009 voting record showed a continuation of support for seniors in America, despite a tough economy," said Alliance President Barbara J. Easterling.
"Higher scores show a commitment to improve health care, strengthen Medicare, and put seniors ahead of drug and insurance companies," Easterling said.
The Alliance voting record examines 10 key Senate votes and 10 key House votes in 2009, showing the roll calls on issues such as helping pre-Medicare retirees afford health care, as well as Medicare-covered preventive screenings for seniors. Several votes addressed national spending on health care, including historic votes on epic health care reform that extended the financial wellbeing of the Medicare Trust Fund.
According to the Alliance, 183 U.S. House members achieved perfect scores of 100 percent in 2009. One hundred and eighty-five received failing grades (60 percent or lower), with 16 receiving scores of zero.
Of the House members appointed to the President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform in 2010, Reps. John Spratt (D-SC) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) scored 100% with the Alliance; Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) scored 90%; Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) scored 10%, and Reps. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) scored 0%. The panel is considering major changes that would affect the financial future of Social Security and Medicare.
Fifteen members of the U.S. Senate achieved perfect scores of 100 percent in 2009, while 43 received failing grades of 60 percent or lower. Both Senators from Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar (D) and Al Franken (D), received perfect scores in 2009. The same was true for both of the Vermont Senators, Patrick Leahy (D) and Bernie Sanders (I). However, all of the Senators from the states of Georgia, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming scored zero: Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Robert Bennett (R-UT), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and John Barrasso (R-WY). Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has the lowest current lifetime Senate score with the Alliance, 1%.
"This voting record measures how committed our elected officials are to retirees and seniors. I encourage everyone to monitor how their leaders vote. With so much at stake, we must be as educated and active as we can be," Easterling said.
Contact: David Blank (202) 637-5275 or dblank@retiredamericans.org










