Pennsylvania Alliance Files Lawsuit to Ensure Safe and Fair Voting During Pandemic Crisis

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Alliance and four of its members individually filed suit in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. They are challenging several provisions of the state’s absentee voting law in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that older Pennsylvanians, in particular, have the ability to cast a ballot that will actually be counted.

The suit, which has received widespread attention in Pennsylvania and across the country, alleges that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has failed to prepare for the elections that will be held amid the coronavirus pandemic, forcing older voters to choose between their civic duty and their health.

"The Secretary of the Commonwealth must extend the deadline for returning absentee ballots, and also allow voters who may be unable to leave their home to have someone else deliver a ballot on their behalf,” said Dwayne Thomas, President

of the Pennsylvania Alliance and one of the plaintiffs. “We are calling on the court to act now to protect our right to vote.”

The other plaintiffs are Pennsylvania Alliance members Michael Crossey, who is the group’s Treasurer; Brenda (“Jody”) Weinreich, who is a national Alliance regional board member; and Irv Weinreich. 

Social Security Trust Funds Remain Strong 

The Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees released their yearly report this week on the financial solvency of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds. The reports show that Social Security remains strong, with enough money to cover all payments until 2035, and Medicare has sufficient funds to cover its obligations until 2026. The projections are unchanged from last year. 

“While the figures do not account for the current economic crisis, Social Security and Medicare have weathered tough financial times before,” said Alliance Executive Director Richard Fiesta in a statement. “There is no reason for retirees to stop receiving their full benefits, but we need to act to strengthen the system now.”

“Attempts to weaken the system with dangerous payroll tax cuts or by diverting money from the Trust Funds for other government expenses are extremely misguided,” added Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

The Alliance is fighting to lift the Social Security cap on earnings subject to the 6.2% payroll tax, which this year is $137,700. Workers earning hourly wages currently pay a higher percentage of their income into Social Security than millionaires and billionaires - a fact that many find outrageous. 

To strengthen Medicare, the Alliance continues to lobby Congress to take real action to lower prescription drug costs, including requiring Medicare to negotiate lower prices for consumers and taxpayers. Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs while multinational pharmaceutical corporations continue to rake in billions in profits. 

“Drug prices continue to go up with no end in sight, harming both seniors and the Medicare system,” said Executive Director Fiesta. “Americans have earned their Social Security and Medicare benefits through a lifetime of hard work and will rely on these benefits even more in the coming decades.”

Florida Alliance Pushes Back Against Lack of Transparency in Nursing Homes

Dozens of people living and working in a Florida nursing home have tested positive for the coronavirus and more have been hospitalized, but it took days for the information to become public. While senior care facilities across the country have become coronavirus hotspots, it is unclear which facilities in Florida have cases because state public health officials are refusing to name them.

Florida Alliance (FLARA) leaders and members across the state are pushing back against the lack of transparency. 

“What is the governor trying to hide? And why is he trying to bully people who want answers?” asked FLARA Recording Secretary Barbara DeVane during a conference call with senior advocates. She called on Governor Ron DeSantis to release more information about the impact COVID-19 is having on seniors’ long term care facilities.

The lack of transparency about cases and testing is “like a hand grenade waiting to go off,” emphasized Bill Sauers, FLARA President.

Workers Memorial Day Reminds Us of Workplace Safety, Especially Amid Pandemic

April 28 is Workers Memorial Day, a time to reflect, remember and honor workers and retirees who have been killed or injured at work. It is also a time to thank those who have protected and continued to fight for the right of workers to be healthy and safe on the job.

The coronavirus pandemic

demonstrates that the fight for worker health and safety continues.

A top labor movement priority is forcing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to create an emergency temporary standard to protect workers from infectious diseases. Essential workers need access to personal protective equipment and rapid COVID-19 tests. No worker should have to choose between their job and their life.

“Millions of working Americans are going beyond the call of duty in the face of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Robert Roach, Jr., Alliance President. “Now the federal government must do its job by issuing strong, enforceable protections for all workers at risk of exposure - especially those on the front lines such as nurses and other medical workers, first responders, grocery workers and meatpackers.”

Alliance Cancels 2020 Regional Meetings; Registration Fees Being Refunded 

In light of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations against holding large gatherings and non-essential travel, the Alliance has canceled its Midwest (Detroit, April 27-28), Western (Las Vegas, May 12-13), Northeast (Washington, DC, May 28-29) and Southern (Orlando, June 5-6) regional meetings. 

As soon as Alliance staff can safely return to the headquarters office in Washington, DC, we will return the original checks we received from members who paid by check. If you paid your registration fee online, the Alliance will reverse the charges to your credit card account. 

If you have any questions, please contact Joni Jones at [email protected], [email protected] or 888-373-6497.

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