Biden-Harris 2024 Announces the Launch of Seniors for Biden-Harris

This week members of the Alliance participated as the Biden-Harris campaign launched its “Seniors for Biden-Harris” effort to engage senior voters for the 2024 reelection campaign with events in at least seven states. The campaign initiative seeks to engage senior voters through a variety of events, from postcard writing and phone banks to pickleball tournaments. See how Arizona Alliance members played in one of the bingo nights.

Michele Smith (center) and Former Arizona Alliance president Saundra Cole (right)
at a Seniors for Biden-Harris event

President Biden and Vice President Harris have a strong record on issues important to older Americans. The Biden Administration has taken on Big Pharma by requiring Medicare to negotiate lower prices for the highest priced prescription drugs, capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries and made all recommended adult vaccines free under Medicare. 

In addition, the administration has demonstrated unwavering opposition to GOP cuts to Social Security and Medicare, instead offering ways to expand the programs. 

For a comparison of the Biden and Trump records on seniors issues, click here.

On Wednesday, a “Seniors for Biden-Harris Grassroots Supporters Call” was led by DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. It featured Reps. John Larson (CT), Grace Napolitano (CA) and Jan Schakowsky (IL); Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, seniors activist and performer with the group Sha Na Na; and other speakers telling their personal stories. The call discussed the many ways that President Biden and the administration are fighting for older Americans and their families.

During the call Minnesota Alliance member Marianne Yernberg spoke powerfully about how she has benefited from the annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drug costs. She paid more than $7,000 a year out of pocket for her medications in 2022 and 2023 but this year will pay no more than $3,200 thanks to the law passed by the Biden-Harris administration. Next year her out of pocket costs will decline to $2,000.

“The future of our Social Security and Medicare benefits depend on the outcome of this election,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “President Biden has proven he fights for seniors, and the Biden-Harris administration will do even more if reelected.”

Pennsylvania Alliance Files a Lawsuit Challenging Mail-in Ballot Rejections

The Pennsylvania Alliance has filed a lawsuit against the Lancaster County Board of Elections to challenge the rejection of mail-in and absentee ballots that are missing the last two digits of the year from the handwritten date on the outer return envelope.

Pennsylvania voters are required by law to record the date they sign their declaration. Late last year, the Pennsylvania Department of State (DOS) started pre-printing the first two digits of the year on the outer envelopes of mail-in and absentee ballots. This threatened voter access during this year’s primary elections in April, as certain counties – including Lancaster County – chose to reject ballots with envelopes that included the day and month but not the last two digits of the year, even though the ballots were timely received in the county election office The Pennsylvania Alliance’s lawsuit argues that this is not lawful because the current year is displayed on the ballots themselves and the year in which they are issued and cast is self-evident.

“The right to vote and choose our leaders is our most basic freedom, and it should never be infringed upon. Counties should not be permitted to throw out a ballot just because the voter neglected to fill in the last two digits of the year on the outside of the ballot envelope," said Mike Crossey, President of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans. “The Pennsylvania Alliance is determined to fight to make sure that no county is allowed to disenfranchise voters over this minor technicality.”

“Older Pennsylvanians should not have to worry about nitpicky requirements when casting their ballots,” added Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “We will always fight to ensure that every American can exercise their right to vote without unnecessary restrictions.”

Alliance Hosts Southern Regional Meeting in Orlando

The Alliance hosted its Southern Regional meeting in Orlando on Tuesday and Wednesday. Members from Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas discussed the 2024 elections; collaborated on ways to build support for retiree issues, including lowering drug prices and expanding Social Security; and brainstormed ideas for bringing younger workers into the movement. Executive Director Fiesta talked about the upcoming election and the importance of turning out the senior vote. 

Ken Goodfriend and Tony Padilla were reelected as regional Alliance board members and Kirk Gillenwaters and Steve Barger will be reappointed by President Roach.

left to right: Kirk Gillenwaters, Tony Padilla, Ken Goodfriend, Steve Barger, and Richard Fiesta

Registration is still open for the Northeast regional meeting in Washington, D.C., July 30-31, 2024. Strengthen your skills as a retiree activist! Make sure you’re ready to help elect pro-retiree candidates this November and win the fight for retirement security. Click here to register.

All meeting attendees will participate in four interactive workshops with fellow retiree activists. For more information, please contact Joni Jones by calling 202-637-5377 or e-mail [email protected].

Study Finds Medicare is a Top Voting Issue for Gen Xers and Millennials

A study of Gen X and Millennial Americans by eHealth found that 78% of those surveyed said that Medicare is one of their top three issues in the 2024 election, and 47% said that health care broadly is their number one issue in the election. Generation X is described as people born between 1965 and 1980, while Millenials are those born between 1981 and 1996.

Over 1,000 Millennials and Gen Xers ages 28 through 59 participated in the survey. Sixty-seven percent say that access to quality, affordable health care will become “much more important” to them as they age. 

Many Gen Xers and Millennials said they are not satisfied with the way elected officials are currently handling Medicare, and few think that elected officials will do what they need to do to keep Medicare running into their retirement. 84% would agree to increased payroll taxes if it ensured that Medicare is there for them in the future. The study showed that Americans, regardless of age, gender, or political affiliation, support strengthening Medicare.

"If we re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris and the Democrats take the House and keep the Senate, we can strengthen and expand both Medicare and Social Security for the next generation of seniors," said President Roach.

Alliance Mourns the Death of Scott Watts

Founding President of the Nevada Alliance Scott Watts passed away on May 29. Scott served as President from the Alliance’s inception in 2001 until 2014. In his role as President, he managed over 19,000 members and 28 chapters, and under his leadership, the Nevada Alliance grew into the largest progressive senior citizen organization in Nevada. Scott championed Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. He was a retired UAW member who served on its staff assisting other members during his work life. Scott and his wife Susan were a great team of senior activism.

“Scott will be remembered not only for his enduring leadership of the Nevada Alliance and the incredible impact he left, but also for his upstanding character and the many ways he improved the lives of those around him,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “He will be missed but we will always remember his kindness, thoughtfulness and dedication.”

The Nevada Alliance honored Scott with a resolution in 2015.

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