March 13, 2012—SOARChapter 4-AB1, in cooperation with theOccupational Health Clinical Center of the North Country (OHCCNC)and USWLocals 420 and 450, held an informational meeting to addressconcerns related to occupational exposure to “Coal Tar Pitch” (CTP).The retirees worked at theAlcoa aluminum smelting facilities inMassena,NewYork andmay have been exposed to this known carcinogen.

Approximately 120 retirees and spouses attended the session. The meetingfocused on the importance of cancer health screening for retirees potentiallyexposed to coal tar pitch while employed in the aluminum making process.Greg Siwinski, OHCCNC Certified Industrial Hygienist explained how workers inthe aluminum smelting process are exposed to coal tar pitch, the various wayit enters the body and reviewed chemicals that are present in CTP.

Medical Director of OHCCNC, Dr. Michael Lax, MD; MPH, explained the poten-tial effects CTP exposures and the types of cancers that are known to be associatedwith them. He emphasized the importance of establishing a good base line healthscreening, as Alcoa has recommended in a letter sent to some of our retired mem-bers. He also explained how the OHCCNC would conduct the cancer screening forall that choose to be tested at the clinic and discussed how the clinic works withtheir primary care doctors for any follow-up testing that may be required.

Richard Orton, District 4 SOAR coordinator and chapter president helpedorganize the meeting and discussed how important it is for retirees to stay connectedto their union. He urged those in attendance to join SOAR and to be involved withtheir chapter.

7/2

SOAR HOLDS MEETING TO ALERTRETIREES ON OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

Dr. Michael Lax, Medical Directoraddressing the retirees on healthhazards associated with exposure tocoal tar pitch.

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T ’ S D E S K

Voter SuppressionThe right to vote, the most fundamental andcherished right in our democracy, is underattack. State after state has passed, or are inthe process of passing laws that greatly restrictour access to the polls.

The advocates for this heinous legislation refer to it

as “Voter ID,” but these state laws are much more

restrictive than producing an ID at your polling place.

Some of these new laws limit early voting, end same-

day registration and make it difficult for groups to register new voters.

The voter ID requirements are designed to confuse and ultimately make

it more difficult for many voters to cast their ballots on Election Day.

For example, in Texas the law allows handgun licenses but not student IDs

for voter identification. In Ohio, during their most recent primary, an

86-year-old veteran was denied his right to vote when a poll worker

refused to accept his photo ID issued by the Department of Veterans

Affairs. In Tennessee, a 96-year-old woman was denied the right to vote

because she did not have her marriage certificate. Her birth certificate

(her primary proof of identity) and voter registration card were two differ-

ent names. Her birth certificate had her maiden name, since she was

unmarried when she first registered to vote. Her married name was on her

voter registration card.

Sanity is now starting to enter the debate. Maine voters overwhelming

rejected the legislature’s attempt to end same-day voter registration. In

Texas and South Carolina the Justice Department stepped in to block their

laws requiring voters to present personal identification before going to the

polls. In Wisconsin, two judges found their Voter ID law unconstitutional

because it would abridge the right to vote.

Wisconsin Judge Richard Niess wrote in his eight-page ruling that “voter

fraud is no more poisonous to our democracy than voter suppression.”

Although the Legislature and Gov. Walker have the power to enact laws

regulating elections, they had exceeded their authority. “A government that

undermines the very foundation of its existence—the people’s inherent,

pre-constitutional right to vote—imperils its legitimacy as a government

by the people, for the people and especially of the people,” Niess wrote.

Voter suppression, through new laws that make it more difficult to regis-

ter to vote and cast a ballot and aggressive tactics to intimidate voters at

the polls, are undermining the country’s democratic foundations and must

be stopped!

CONNIE ENTREKINSOAR President

USW@Work (ISSN 0883-3141) is publishedfour times a year by the United SteelworkersAFL-CIO-CLC Five Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, PA15222. Subscriptions to non-members: $12 forone year; $20 for two years. Periodicals postagepaid at Pittsburgh, PA and additional mailingoffices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:USW@Work, USW Membership Dept., 3340Perimeter Hill Rd., Nashville, TN 37211.

Published as an edition to USW@Workfor the United SteelworkersFive Gateway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15222Winner of ICLA’sjournalistic competitionawards for General Excellencein 1986, 1990 and 1993

Jim Centner, Director/EditorLee Etta Hairston, Copy EditorAddress editorial material to:

Editor, USW@Work, SOAR in ActionUnited SteelworkersFive Gateway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15222-1209Send address changes only to:

USW Membership Department3340 Perimeter Hill DriveNashville, TN 37211

When submitting address change, pleaseinclude address label from last issue.

Page 2 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2012

SOAR Chapter 13-1Honors MartinLuther King

SOAR Chapter 13-1 marched in theannual Dr. Martin Luther King Paradein Corpus Christi, Texas January 16,2012. Pictured left to right: ManuelMota; Andy Rosas, president; DavidPosada, sgt.-at-arms; Carlos Moreno;George Rosas, secretary-treasurer;Cornelius Mills; Leo Guevara;Leo Estrada; Robert Cage; FletcherSingleton; Frank Trevino; andRobert Mendez.

USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2012 Page 3

Over 45 Million SeniorsWouldBe Forced Onto VouchersWhenThey Retire. Starting in 2023,seniors will receive a voucher to pur-chase either private insurance or tradi-tional Medicare. There are more than45,007,000 near-elderlyAmericanswho are now ages 47-56 who, insteadof getting Medicare as we know itwhen they retire, would only get avoucher to purchase their insurance.Private insurance plans will aggressivelypursue the healthiest, least expensiveenrollees, thereby allowing Medicare—currently the lifeline for 47,672,971seniors—to “wither on the vine.”[CBPP 3/20/12, Census, accessed on 3/20/12;CBPP 12/21/11; KFF, accessed on 3/21/12;NCPSSM, 3/20/12]

The Devastating RepublicanProposed Budget Will IncreaseOut of Pocket Costs ByAs MuchAs $5,900 Per Senior. The Repub-lican budget would cap these vouchersfor individuals at growth levels that

are lower than the existing increases inhealth care costs. In other words,seniors could be forced to pay higherpremiums in order to access the samebenefits they would receive under thecurrent system.According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office(CBO), the plan could increase out ofpocket costs by $5,900 and lead todiminished access to quality care.[CBO, 3/20/12; CBPP, 12/21/11; CAP, 3/20/12]

The Ryan PlanWill Force5,101,493 Seniors Back Into thePrescription Drug “Donut Hole.”The Republican budget would“re-open” the prescription drug donuthole and cost the average senior whofalls into the donut hole approximately$11,794 between 2012 and 2020. The“donut hole” forces seniors to pay thefull cost of their prescription drugs aftertheir yearly drug expenses exceed$2,840, and full coverage doesn’tresume until total drug spending hits

$6,447 for the year. Since health reformwas signed into law in 2010, 5,101,493seniors saved $3,238,145,149.77 onprescription drugs.[HHS, 3/19/12; State level data compiled by HHS,3/20/12]

Republican Proposed BudgetCould Force Millions of SeniorsTo Pay More For PreventiveServices This Year. The Republicanbudget will require that seniors paydeductibles, co-insurance, and copay-ments for many preventive servicescurrently covered by Medicare;including cancer screenings such asmammograms and colonoscopies aswell as annual wellness visits. As aresult, fewer seniors will access thesepreventive services, thereby dramati-cally increasing Medicare spendingin the long-term.[CMS, 2/15/12]

Radical RepublicanBudget PlanWILL DESTROYMEDICARE

Paul Ryan’s Snake Oil

U.S.Treasury Requiring Electronic Federal Benefit PaymentsThe Treasury Department is phasing out paper check payments and requiring federal benefitrecipients to get their money electronically. You can choose to get your payments by direct depositto a bank or credit union account or to a Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card account.

� All Social Security recipients under the age of 90 who are now receiving a paper check must switchto electronic payments by March 1, 2013. You may do so by going online at: www.godirct.govor by calling your local Social Security office.

� If you do not choose an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013, you will receive yourpayments via the Direct Express® card so you will not experience any interruption in payment.

� If you are already receiving your federal benefit payments electronically, this change willnot affect you.

Instead of strengthening Medicare, the new Republican budget asproposed by Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would end Medicare aswe know it, turning guaranteed benefits into a voucher that will shifthigher costs to seniors over time. It would shower the wealthiest fewAmericans with an average tax cut of at least $150,000, and pay for it byslashing Medicare and taking away the health benefits seniors enjoy as aresult of health reform. The consequences for seniors across the countrywould be devastating.

SM

Page 4 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2012

The President of the New Brunswick Federation of Union Retirees(NBFUR) has encouraged SOARmembers in Bathurst to step up theirpolitical activism—directly to the Prime Minister’s office.

NBFUR President Cecile Cassista recently called on Chapter 6-SA1 membersin Bathurst to write letters to Prime Minister Harper and federal MPs todenounce Conservative government actions that adversely affect seniors andretired persons.

Cassista recognized the ongoing political activism of Chapter 6-SA1 and itspresident, Phil Best. She also brought members up-to-date on political issuesaffecting retirees and spoke about various campaigns in which NBFUR and theCongress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC) are engaged.

In the coming months SOAR members across the country will be speaking outagainst the federal government’s assault on Old Age Security and demandingprotection for the Canada Pension Plan.

The Bathurst SOAR chapter is one of the largest in Atlantic Canada. Most ofthe members are former miners and smelter workers.

Chapter 6-SA1 hears from NBFUR president.Pictured left to right, front row: ValentineWard, Secretary; and Phil Best, president.Middle row: Cecile Cassista, PresidentNBFUR; Back row: Armand Frenette and LeoFrigault, executive members; Gary Levigne,vice president; Anne Marie Gammon andBetty Lavigne, executive members.

Doug Macpherson, District 6 SOARexecutive board member was joinedrecently by SOAR Vice-PresidentHarry Hynd and Emeritus SOARboard member Dan McNeil at a recep-tion to celebrate the new Guelph-Wellington SOAR Chapter 6-03 andpresent the chapter with its charter.

Also attending the festivities, held atthe USW Local 4120 offices, wereUSW area coordinator Tom Walsh,District 6 SOAR coordinator RegDuguay, President Harold Assman ofSOAR Chapter 6-80, USW Local 4120President Wendy Morley and severallocal union executive officers.

Members of the provincial and fed-eral parliaments sent letters congratu-lating the chapter on its founding andwishing it well in its endeavors.

“For over 27 years the SteelworkersOrganization of Active Retirees haslinked active and retired members of

the United Steelworkersin an effort to strengthenadvocacy work on a num-ber of the incrediblyimportant social issues fac-ing Canadians: Old AgeSecurity, the Canada Pen-sion Plan, access to HomeCare resources, nursinghomes and health care—all issues I fight for dailyin my work as a Memberof Parliament for Guelph,” wrote MPFrank Valeriote.

“Your work goes a long way, notonly in improving the working condi-tions of employees across Guelph, butalso to advancing social justice issuesand the well being of members of thiscommunity and other Canadiansacross Southwestern Ontario.

“It is no surprise, with organizationslike SOAR in Guelph, that this is one

of the most compassionate and caringcommunities in the country. It is anhonour to represent such a communityand to work with you to make it better.”

In his presentation Macphersonencouraged chapter members to workto make their community better, tosupport local unions and the broaderlabour movement in their struggles andto advocate in the political arena onbehalf of retirees and senior citizens.

GuelphMember ofParliament CongratulatesNew SOARChapter

President of the New Brunswick Federation of Union RetireesEncourages Chapter 6-SA1Members to Get Politically Active

NEWS FROM CANADA

SOAR board members celebrate Chapter 6-3 presentedcharter. Pictured left to right: Dan Kehoe, chapter presi-dent, Harry Hynd, SOAR vice president; and DougMacpherson, SOAR national coordinator.

Jack Munro awarded Queen Elizabeth IIDiamond Jubilee Medal

SOAR board member JackMunro has been awarded theQueen Elizabeth II DiamondJubilee Medal for his serviceto his country. The medalcommemorates the 60thanniversary of Her Majesty’saccession to the Throne.

“In granting you this honour, I thank youfor your dedicated service to your peers, toyour community and to Canada,” states aletter to Jack from Governor GeneralDavid Johnston, the Queen’s representa-tive in Canada.

“The contributions you have made toour nation are most commendable anddeserve our praise and admiration,”the letter states.

Jack joins a select group of Canadiansto receive this honour. He was recog-nized for many years as the voice oflabour in his home province of BritishColumbia and across Canada when heserved as National President of theInternational Woodworkers for17 years.

Jack was instrumental in the 2004merger of the Woodworkers’ unionand the Steelworkers. Appointedby International President Leo W.Gerard to serve on the SOARboard, Jack continues to do sowith distinction.

NEWS FROM CANADA

SOAR Chapter 3-14 Donates $1,000 to Burns LakeFund to Assist Victims of Sawmill Explosion

On January 20, 2012, the community of Burns Lake, B.C. was devastated by a horrific explosion and fireat the Babine Forest Products sawmill that killed two employees and injured 19 others, all USWmembers.

The USW immediately sprang into action, sending in the union’s emergency response team and counselors. Oncethe devastation was assessed and the magnitude of the crisis established, the USW set up a trust fund to assist theaffected workers and their families. The union issued an appeal to the Canadian labour movement for support and asusual workers and labour unions across Canada responded generously.

Chapter 3-14, meeting in Langley, B.C., responded as well. On February 8, the chapter membership adopted amotion to “help our brothers and sisters at Burns Lake. We hope that our donation of $1,000 will help the unfortunateworkers in some small way.”

We know the workers and families at Burns Lake appreciate the solidarity and generosity of the retired members ofChapter 3-14, as they continue to heal from this tragedy and rebuild their community.

SOARmembers of Chapter 3-27were surprised and gratefulwhen former NationalPresident of InternationalWoodworkers of America andcurrent SOAR board memberJack Munro, along with retiredDistrict staff Gerry Smithattended their recent meetingin SalmonArm, B.C.

“As a small group of retirees wewere amazed that Jack Munro andGerry Smith came to the meeting,”Chapter President Wayne McMillannoted. “Many members had never metBrother Jack Munro but they certainlyhad heard of him. His reputation as afighter for workers’ rights, while hewas president of the powerful Interna-tional Woodworkers of America, isknown throughout the province andacross the country. It was really excit-ing to meet ‘Union Jack.’”

Former Local 1-471 PresidentsJack Kerssons and Kevin Kelly fromKamloops also attended the meeting.Both were employed at the CanoeFederated Co-operatives Mill prior tomoving to the local office in Kamloopsas Presidents. Marty Gibbons, thecurrent local president also attended.

“The meeting was great, old storiestold and old acquaintances renewed,”Wayne said.

Surprise Guests Attend Meeting

Page 6 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2012

Pictured left to right: Jack Munro,IWA executive board member; JackKerssons; Kevin Kelly; Gerry Smith;Marty Gibbons; and Wayne McMillan,Chapter 3-27 president .

Presenting the Proof

At the end of January, theAlliance forAmericanManufacturing (AAM), the United Steelworkers (USW),the UnitedAuto Workers (UAW), Members of theHouse and Senate, and a number ofAAM stakeholderscompanies unveiled several studies and reports (go to“americanmanufacturing.org” to review them) that laidout in detail the Chinese government’s assault onAmerica’sdomesticAuto Parts sector.

Demanding Government Action

AAM called on Congress and the President to use the“self-initiation” provisions of current trade law to go afterChinese government violations of our trade agreements in

the auto parts sector. The self-ini-tiation provisions allow our gov-ernment to finance trade cases onbehalf of an industry that is beingharmed. This is particularlyimportant in the auto parts sector,

where many of the manufacturers are small companies thatdo not have the ability to finance these expensive tradesuits themselves.

The Chinese Government has LaidDown the Gauntlet

The Chinese government, in its 12th Five-Year Plan, hasopenly targeted the U.S. auto parts industry. The Chineseplan gives their auto parts manufacturers priority status forboth massive government subsidies and protection in theirhome Chinese markets. TheAAM/USW/UAW/Congres-sional Press Conference showed that the United States hasalready lost close to 400,000 of these good, family-sustain-ing jobs and we have 1.6 million of them that we need tohold on to.

Congress Puts on Pressure

In March, AAM, the USW, and its partners in theAutoParts campaign were able to convince close to 200 membersof Congress to send a letter to President Obama, urging himto use a newly created multi-department Trade EnforcementTask Force to take up the auto parts issue.

The Grassroots Campaign

AAM is carrying out a nationwide grassroots campaignthat includes a four-part postcard signup that goes to thePresident, your two Senators, and your Member ofCongress. The USW Rapid Response program is undertak-ing a nationwide effort to place member-written editorials inthe media. In addition, there will be presentations and pub-lic events that will get our message out to the public andelected officials. You can view and download a YouTubevideo that you can use with your group athttp://youtu.be/R39iaT_DGHo.

Our Finest Hour

We’ve made lots of progress on manufacturing and tradeissues. The Senate passed currency manipulation legislationlast fall, the House version has over 230 cosponsors, thePresident focused on manufacturing and trade enforcementin his 2012 State of the UnionAddress, we passed and gotsigned into law a piece oflegislation that reverseda court decision limit-ing our ability to putcountervailingduties on China,and many candi-dates are talkingabout manufac-turing and tradein their stumpspeeches. We arein an intense elec-tion campaign periodwhere we have theopportunity to get realcommitments and action fromthose seeking to represent us. Helpus by showing the video, getting postcards signed, gettingauto parts companies in your area interested in ourcampaign and writing to your local newspaper. The year2012 could be manufacturing supporters’ finest hour.

AAM AND THE USW DEMAND THAT THEPRESIDENT AND CONGRESS DEFEND

1.6MillionAmericanAuto Parts Jobs

USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2012 Page 7

Americans love their Social Security and Medicare yet these earned benefitprograms continue to be the focus of attacks like the GOP/Ryan Budget orthe endless slew of “bipartisan” commissions like Simpson Bowles or theGang of Six. Here are 10 reasons why workers, retirees, the disabled andtheir families love Social Security and Medicare and how these benefits areso vital to middle class Americans:

1 Social Security benefits are guaranteed. Unlike savings and investments,you can’t outlive your benefits. Social Security benefits are especially vital towomen, who live on average longer than men.

2 Social Security benefits are protected from inflation. Social Security isone of the few retirement programs that provide an automatic annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to beneficiaries. The annual COLA is intended toensure that retirees, survivors and the disabled maintain their purchasing power.

3 Social Security is a valuable life insurance policy. Besides old age insurance,for the average wage earner with a family, Social Security insurance benefits areequivalent to a $476,000 life insurance policy.

4 Social Security provides disability insurance. Social Security ensures work-ers will have steady income if they become disabled and can no longer work.The insurance benefits are equivalent to a $465,000 disability insurance policy.

5 Medicare provides comprehensive health care coverage for seniors.Since its creation in 1965, Medicare has provided universal, reasonably afford-able health care to millions of seniors. Before Medicare, more than half ofseniors lacked hospital insurance. Today, virtually all people ages 65 and overare covered by Medicare.

6 Medicare provides free preventive health screenings. Seniors do not haveto pay for Mammograms, Diabetes or Cancer screenings thanks to new provi-sions in the Affordable Care Act.

7 Social Security has a $2.7 trillion surplus. Since 1982, Social Security hasmaintained a budget surplus. Social Security remains strong, despite the lingeringeffects of the recession, and will be able to pay full benefits for the next 25 years—until 2036. Despite the gloom and doom rhetoric of those who want to cut SocialSecurity to balance the budget, the program continues to run an annual surplus.

8 Medicare’s costs rise slower than private insurance.Medicare spendingper beneficiary rose more than 400 percent from 1969 to 2009 but inflation-adjusted premiums on private health insurance rose more than 700 percent.Although high healthcare costs system-wide affect Medicare, it’s clear we havea health care problem, not a Medicare problem.

9 Social Security’s administrative costs are low. Less than one percent ofSocial Security’s budget goes to administrative costs. In a privatized system,commissions and fees could easily burn up as much as 15 cents out of everydollar of a worker’s annual investment as they do in some countries withprivatized systems.

10 Social Security andMedicare are social insurance programs. Perhapsone of the biggest reasons why Social Security and Medicare are universallycherished is that in return for the contributions to these programs we make duringour working years, we receive guaranteed retirement, disability or survivor bene-fits. These are, for most people, a lifeline of support; insurance for what PresidentRoosevelt once aptly described as the “hazards and vicissitudes of life.”

Ten Things to Loveabout Social Security and Medicare

Page 8 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2012

The Affordable Care Act strengthensMedicare and helps seniors takecharge of their health. The lawprovides important benefits such asfree preventive services, free annualwellness visits, and a 50 percentdiscount on prescription drugs forMedicare recipients in the coveragegap known as the “donut hole.”You can also work with yourdoctor to create a personal-ized prevention plan.

Top Things to Knowfor Seniors� Under the health care law, your

existing guaranteed Medicare-cov-ered benefits won’t be reduced ortaken away. Neither will your abil-ity to choose your own doctor

� Nearly 4 million people withMedicare received cost relief duringthe law’s first year. If you hadMedicare prescription drug cover-age and had to pay for your drugs inthe coverage gap known as the“donut hole,” you received a one-time, tax free $250 rebate fromMedicare to help pay for your pre-scriptions.

� If you have high prescription drugcosts that put you in the donut hole,you now get a 50 percent discounton covered brand-name drugs whileyou’re in the donut hole. Betweentoday and 2020, you’ll get continu-ous Medicare coverage for yourprescription drugs. The donut holewill be closed completely by 2020.

� Medicare covers certain preventiveservices without charging you thePart B coinsurance or deductible.You will also be offered a freeannual wellness exam.

� The life of the Medicare TrustFund will be extended as a result ofreducing waste, fraud and abuse,and slowing cost growth inMedicare, which will provide youwith future cost savings on yourpremiums and coinsurance.

Seniors andthe Affordable

Care Act

USW@Work/SOAR Winter 2012 Page 9

Some days, it seems like there are threats everywhere.Corporations devise plans to challenge pro-worker laws.Anti-union politicians offer legislation that would undercutour middle class. China’s government targets our industries andresorts to unfair and illegal tactics to get them for themselves.

How Do You Like to Stay in Touch?

Unless we know about these threats—and theforward-looking legislation that our union advo-cates—we won’t be able to act to change the out-come. That’s why Rapid Response has two moreways to stay in touch. This does not mean that wewill end our faxing or e-mailing, just that we areexpanding to meet more of our members’ andretirees’ preferred ways of receiving information.

Facebook

One of the fastest growing groups of facebookusers are those over 50. For that reason and more,Rapid Response launched a facebook page earlythis year. Even if you’re not “on” facebook, youcan stop by and see what’s happening at any timeat www.facebook.com/USWRapidResponse.We’re sharing stories of activism, posting newsabout key issues, circulating videos, photosand more.

Texting

If you text, please join our textingprogram. Text uswrapid to 69866to sign up.

Need more information? Want to sign upfor faxes or e-mails? Just give us anold-fashioned call at 412-562-2291!We are happy to help get you connectedhowever you’d like tostay in touch.

69866uswrapid

By Denise Edwards

With Social Security, Medicare andMedicaid in the cross hairs of ourbankers’ favorite Republicans, a newlaw restricting the right to vote inPennsylvania begins to make sense.Keystone state seniors are a crucialconstituency in this battlegroundstate. Right-wing Republican candi-dates have failed to convince retireesto shoot themselves in the foot, soradical-conservative politicians in theState Assembly enacted legislationrestricting voting rights. “I think theyknow that we are terribly disgustedwith them,” said Pennsylvania

Alliance of Retired Americans(PARA) president and SOAR Chapter15–13 president Jean Friday. “Theireconomic plans target seniors and thepoor and we know it.”

The Pennsylvania Voter ID Act,requiring a state issued photo ID withan expiration date in order to vote,became law in early March. It passedby a razor thin margin in the state sen-ate, following a campaign uniting 45groups including SOAR, the Pennsyl-vania Alliance of Retired Americansand the AARP.

Although the Pennsylvania VoterID Act sounds non-threatening, truth

is far different. The requirements toget a state-issued photo ID present asteep barrier for many seniors. In mid-April, SOAR leaders and activistsfrom around the state traveled toHarrisburg for two days of training,which featured an action plan to guar-antee retirees’ right to vote. “We aregetting the information we need tomake sure no retiree is denied the rightto vote,” said SOAR Chapter 20–15recording secretary Bob Wilson. “Weare prepared spend the time on thephone, go to the Department of MotorVehicles, whatever it takes. Voting isprecious, not some political football.”

THE RIGHT TO THE FIGHT IS ON!VOTE

Take Time toGet the Facts

It has been said that ifyou tell a lie oftenenough the lie takes holdas if it were the truth.Repeating somethingover and over againseems to have lastingvalue for the perpetratorof the lie. In reverse, Iwant to repeat the truth,

hopeful that when the truth isrepeated over and over again andgets accepted as the truth. Everyyear, especially during electionyears, the truth is important toeveryone. Truth is a virtue, a com-mendable quality or trait.

I recently read an article titled “DoYou Know When Presidential Candi-dates Lie” by Kim Bowman; a longtime journalist currently based in Sili-con Valley, California. In the article,Bowman writes about the importanceof finding reliableand unbiasedsources to check onthe rhetoric beingtossed aroundduring a campaign,an opinion thatI share. What Ifound particularlyinteresting are thesources she recom-mends as reliablefact checkers.

Reliable Fact Checkers

FactCheck.org—a project of the AnnenbergPublic Policy Center,University of Pennsylvania;

PolitiFact.com—aPulitzer Prize winning sitethat uses a truth-o-meterto rate claims made bypoliticians and tracksweather politicians fulfillcampaign promises;

The Fact Checker—from The Washington Postwhich offers analysis of politicalclaims; and,

VoteSmart.org—Another goodresource which was founded byRichard Kimball in 1986 and hasbecome a reliable research organiza-tion over the years. VoteSmart.orgoffers voters political information insix categories including campaignfinancing, voting records andissue positions.

As you all know, over the years,SOAR and the USW have developedstrong ties with other unions and havebecome coalition partners with them,and other retiree organizations andlike-minded public interest organiza-tions that share in our core beliefs.Through these coalitions, we work toferret out the truth in the campaign

and develop a message that we thencommunicate with our members.Hopefully, our members take thatmessage and share it with theirfriends and families—reporting andrepeating the truth. Seniors should beespecially weary of campaign state-ments. Truth checking is critical andonce we have the facts it is important,as I stated earlier in this column, torepeat the truth. Repeating it over andover again is important to everyone.

It is incumbent upon all of us toknow what the candidates are for andagainst and vote accordingly. Forexample: The House passed PaulRyan’s (R-Wis.) proposed HouseBudget, which would end Medicareas we know it. Medicare will eventu-ally force over 45 million “seniors”into a higher cost voucher programran and controlled by the insurancecompanies. Out of pocket costs (pre-miums, co-pays, deductibles) couldadd an average of $5,900 in costsannually per “senior” according to thenon-partisan Congressional BudgetOffice and over 5 million “seniors”would be forced back into MedicarePart D Prescription Drug Donut Hole.

Ask yourself, is the House passedRyan budget in your best interest?Your sons and daughters best interest?Simply stated, the Ryan Budget is adisaster in the making, the equivalentof a senior economic tsunami.Repeat, repeat and repeat again theabove facts.

Page 10 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2012

By Ken KovackSOAR Legislative DirectorWashington, D.C.

WashingtonWrap

USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2012 Page 11

By Barbara J. Easterling

Mitt Romney recently turned 65.He celebrated his birthday by doingwhat he does nearly every day—by saying something that reminds usof just how out of touch he is.

On his 65th birthday Mitt Romney said nothanks to Medicare, choosing instead to keephis own private health insurance. Maybe ifyou were born into the Romney family, you

would have that luxury. But for the rest of us, Medicare isthe only affordable way to see a doctor or fill a prescription.

It makes you wonder if perhaps Romney lives in such an iso-lated world that he thinks no one needs Medicare. That couldexplain why he not only wants to repeal the health reformlaw’s new benefits for seniors, but would also switch much ofMedicare to a privatized voucher program. Under the Romneyplan, seniors would get a small voucher to purchase coveragein the expensive, unfair private insurance market. That’s notMedicare for seniors, that’s welfare for corporations.

When we talk with ourneighbors and children andgrandchildren, we must remindthem that before Medicare andSocial Security, people used to workuntil the day they died. Many seniorslived out their final years in bad health and terrible poverty.We have come a long way in this country, and we cannot letpoliticians like Mitt Romney take us back.

Social Security and Medicare are what give middle classworkers hope and faith that someday, when their workingdays are over, they will be able to relax and enjoy a breakafter decades of hard work. This is a promise America mustcontinue to keep.

Barbara J. Easterling is president of the Alliance forRetired Americans. She was previously the secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America.For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.orgor call 1-800-333-7212.

The Alliance for Retired Americanshas held three of the scheduled fourRegional Conferences so far this year.The first was held in Las Vegas, Nev.February 29-March 2; the second inMilwaukee, Wis. March 5-7 and thethird in Orlando, Fla. April 30-May 2.The last one is scheduled forMay 14-16 in Philadelphia, Pa.

SOAR representatives from acrossthe country have participated in thesemeetings. The conferences were amix of plenary sessions andworkshops. Alliance National Presi-dent Barbara Easterling opened eachmeeting and spoke on the growth ofthe organization. The ARA has grownto over four million members, with

more than 1500 chapters and 32 char-tered state organizations.

Executive Director Ed Coyle dis-cussed the challenges of the upcom-ing presidential election and took alook at the electoral votes of eachstate and what it would take for Presi-dent Obama to be victorious this fall.Rich Fiesta, the Political and Legisla-tive Director gave an overview of the2012 Congressional races and the bat-tles that lay ahead.

Other speakers included JulieGreene, Assistant Political Directorfor the AFL-CIO, who spoke on votersuppression and the leadership rolethe AFL-CIO is playing in voter pro-tection. The delegates also heard from

Herb Schultz, Regional Director ofthe Office of Intergovernmental andExternal Affairs with the U.S. Dept.of Health and Human Services. Heexplained how the Affordable CareAct helps seniors and led a very infor-mative question and answer sessionthat addressed the many myths associ-ated with the new health care law.

The workshops focused on SocialSecurity, Medicare and the 2012Election. In addition, workshops wereconducted on; using new on-line com-munication tools to educate people ofall ages, building and growing localretiree chapters and coalitions, how toparticipate in media events and ralliesand how to organize them.

Pictured left to right: Pat Lane, District 7coordinator; Carol Trach, Chapter 33-4;Charlie Averill, international secretary-treasurer; Dave Trach, District 11 boardmember; Jan Gibbons, Chapter 30-18;Virginia Heidelberg, recording secretaryChapter 27-1; Bill Gibbons, PACE boardmember; Bonnie Carey, District 11 coordi-nator; Dorine Godinez, president Chapter30-18; Willie Moore, District 1 board mem-ber; Sharie Raymond, treasurer, Chapter30-18; Carol Centner, Chapter 20-15; JimCentner, SOAR director; and Elaine Averill,Chapter 30-18.

Alliance forRetiredAmericansHolds Regional Conferences

HowMitt Romney Celebrated His 65th Birthday

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