FYI:

Do Your Senators and Representatives Vote in Favor of Legislation That Supports Retirees?

New Jersey Senators, Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez, in 2010 (most recent statistics) voted on ten major legislative bills that support seniors.  In these key votes, Lautenberg’s vote was in favor of retirees 100% of the time and Menendez 90%.    Lautenberg’s lifetime score is 95% and Menendez 90%.  This bills included:

1.  Establishment of the Fiscal Commission.  This amendment to the debt ceiling bill would have created a fiscal commission with the authority to recommend changes to programs such as Social Security and Medicare.  It failed to be passed due in part to Senator Lautenberg's vote.

2.  $250 Stimulus Payment.  This amendment would have provided a $250 payment to Social Security recipients and other retirees in 2011 since there was no cost of living increase in 2010.  Although this amendment failed, both Senators Lautenberg and Menendez voted in favor.

3. Eliminate CLASS ACT.  This amendment to the health care reform reconciliation bill would have repealed the CLASS ACT, a voluntary, affordable, and self-funded program for long term care.   The amendment was defeated by the entire Senate, including NJ's two senators' votes.

4. Stop Health Care Repeal.  An amendment to the health care reform reconciliation bill would have repealed the underlying health care reform law, including a loss of new benefits for Medicare recipients such as an annual wellness physical.  This motion was tabled despite the votes of Lautenberg and Menendez.

5. Keep Medicare Intact.  Another amendment to the health care reconciliation bill would have allowed individuals to opt of Medical Part A hospital insurance.  The effect would be the dismantling of Medicare as a social insurance program.  This amendment was tabled as well.

6.  Health Care Reform.  The Senate passed health care reform legislation which contained several pro-retiree measures.  Included among them were the elimination of co-pays and deductibles for preventive care screenings and an annual wellness checkup starting in 2011.  This bill included the closing of the Part D doughnut hole coverage gap, the phasing out of overpayments to Medicare Advantage insurance companies, and incentives for employers to keep early retiree-health care coverage.  Both Lautenberg and Menendez voted for this bill.

7.  Medicare Physician Payments I and II.  The Senate passed a short term bill preventing pending cuts to physician reimbursement rates under Medicare.  Also included in the bill was additional funding for the Medicaid program, which provides funding for many seniors in nursing homes.  The motions to invoke cloture on the amendment failed in spite of our senators' votes.

In the House our representatives voted on issues such as health care reform, Wall Street reform, funding of generic drug reform, funding for low income senior housing, Medicaid funding, a Social Security stimulus payment, and retiree programs for senior assistance.   On 10 key bills Representatives Rob Andrews, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Steve Rothman, Donald Payne, Rush Holt and Albio Sires had a 100% score in favor of the legislation that supported seniors.  Scott Garrett (0%), Leonard Lance (10%) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (10%) had the worse records.   Lance and Frelinghuysen voted only in favor of stopping senior fraud.  These three legislators’ lifetime votes in favor of seniors are 15% or lower.

1.  Health Care reforms.  The House passed health care reform legislation which included elimination of co-pays and deductibles for preventive care screenings and an annual wellness checkup beginning in 2011.  The Medicare Part D doughnut hole was "closed" and overpayments to Medicare Advantage insurance companies were to be phased out.  Employers were provided with incentives to maintain early retiree health care coverage.  This passed the House.

2.  Wall Street Reform.  The House passed the conference report to curb abuses in the financial services industry.  The reform provisions include developing educational materials and training to reduce the fraudulent marketing of financial products to seniors.  The bill passed the House.

3.  Generic drugs.  This bill prohibited brand name drug companies from entering into "pay for delay" agreements with generic drug companies.  Under these agreements brand name companies could delay the introduction of generic drugs into the marketplace.  This bill passed in the House.

4.  Senior Fraud.  This bill provides for $150 million over five years for the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department to conduct consumer education and outreach programs regarding fraud targeting senior citizens.  The bill passed.

5.  Senior housing.  The House included $825 million in funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs to be used for the rehabilitation and construction of new housing for low income seniors.  There are long waiting lists for seniors who need affordable housing.

6.  Medicaid funding.  The House passed legislation which provided $16.1 billion in funding for the operation of state Medicaid programs.  The most common Medicaid recipient is a nursing home resident, which makes the program vital to seniors.  This bill passed.

7. $250 Stimulus payment.  Similar to the Senate bills to provide $250 to Social Security recipients in lieu of a cost of living increase in 2010, this bill failed to pass.

8.  Food Safety Reform.  This bill gave the Food and Drug Administration authority to recall directly tainted products, rather than waiting on voluntary cooperation from manufacturers.  This bill passed.

9. Retirees Programs Funding. This bill provided several key retiree programs with additional funding, including $5.1 billion for the Low Income Home energy Assistance Program on which seniors rely.  This bill passed.

If you are in the districts represented by Garrett, Lance or Frelinghuysen, consider the lack of support from your House Representatives when voting in November 2012.  We want legislators who support retirees and our issues.  A call or letter to Garrett, Lance and Frelinghuysen (if they are your representatives) in the new year would be appropriate.

Amended 1/9/12 lad

According to the League of Women Voters, the “strength of our democracy depends on citizens getting involved and engaging our government.  The organization suggests the following:

1.     Politicians are interested in the opinions of people who can vote for them.  When you call one, identify yourself as a constituent.

2.     When writing or calling your legislators, focus on a single topic.

3.     Ask the legislator to take specific action, like supporting a piece of legislation.  Ask for written response that gives your legislator’s position on the issue.

4.     Make your points quickly and concisely for a greater impact.

Phone numbers to connect you to elected officials:

Capitol Operator to offices of senators and congress people:      202 - 224 - 3121

NJ Governor's Office:  609 - 292 - 6000

NJ Legislative Services to state senators and assembly  people:   609 - 292 - 4840