Older Voters Key to Biden Victory

The major U.S. news organizations officially declared Democratic nominees Joe Biden and Kamala Harris the winners in the race for President and Vice President on Saturday, clinching a clear, hard fought, and historic victory. Biden defeated President Donald Trump in several key swing states including Pennsylvania, whose 20 electoral college votes put him well over the 270 minimum needed to be elected. In the days following the announcement, Biden was also declared the winner in Nevada, Arizona and Georgia.

The latest exit poll data show that two percent more voters over the age of 65 voted Democratic than in 2016. In Michigan Biden won the 65+ vote by 8% and in Arizona he won by 2%, a significant shift from four years ago. Organized labor also played a critical role in helping the Biden-Harris ticket win: the AFL-CIO conducted a poll of 1,000 members on Nov. 2 and 3 and found that they preferred Biden to Trump 58% to 37%, with retired members voting at a 69% to 30% margin.

“The Alliance would like to extend a hearty congratulations to President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “We would also like to thank our 4.4 million members for both voting despite major impediments and volunteering in record numbers.”

An estimated 160 million voters participated in this election, with more than 100 million voting before Election Day. The turnout rate was the highest since 1900.

Click here to sign the Alliance’s petition to begin Biden’s transition period immediately.

New Covid Cases and Hospitalizations Reach Record Highs as Holidays Approach

The number of new Coronavirus cases in the United States topped 153,000 on Thursday, the worst day ever. In addition, the number of Covid-19 patients in ICUs Thursday totaled 12,518, the highest figure since May. The recent surge has prompted numerous states across the country to roll out new social-distancing and travel restrictions. To date, 90% of all people who died from COVID-19 deaths were over the age of 50. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidelines for celebrating Thanksgiving, noting that the safest way this year is to celebrate with people in your household who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 – or to plan a virtual Thanksgiving celebration.

The CDC also urges anyone gathering to stay outdoors, rather than inside. If you must be indoors the CDC urges you to wear masks, stay at least six feet from others, wash hands frequently and keep windows open until guests leave to improve air circulation.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is worried about the winter and said this week that holiday gatherings will result in higher coronavirus infection rates.

Pfizer’s “Free” Vaccine is a Marketing Ploy

This week Pfizer, along with its German partner company BioNTech, announced that its Covid-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing infection. The announcement generated excitement throughout the world, sent the stock market soaring and also raised questions about how the vaccine would be priced and distributed if it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Pfizer has stated that their vaccine will be made available at no cost, and the corporation has agreed to supply 100 million doses to the United States at a price of $39 for a two-shot course, or $19.50 per dose. Pfizer’s touting a “free” vaccine rings hollow, since the pharmaceutical corporation has benefitted from millions in tax breaks over the last two years and will receive significant support from the federal government to distribute the vaccine across the country.

“Progress toward an effective vaccine gives us some hope for containing the virus and preventing unneeded death. However, we must continue to fight to ensure any coronavirus vaccine or treatment is free and available to all who need it, no matter where they live,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

The Make Medications Affordable by Preventing Pandemic Price-gouging (MMAPPP) Act, introduced by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL), Francis Rooney (FL), Lloyd Doggett (TX), Rosa DeLauro (CT), and Peter DeFazio (OR), would ensure that any taxpayer-funded vaccines or treatments for COVID-19 proven to be safe and effective will be accessible, affordable, and available to all who need them. 

Affordable Care Act Comes Before Supreme Court for a Third Time

On Tuesday the Supreme Court heard oral argument in California v. Texas, a case brought by Republican governors and supported by the Trump Administration that challenges the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This is the third time the Supreme Court has heard a major case over the law which provides health care coverage for over 23 million Americans.

If the ACA is struck down, millions of Americans with preexisting medical conditions and disabilities would lose access to affordable health insurance. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that the majority of Americans (58%) do not want the Supreme Court to overturn the ACA.

“Older Americans depend on the ACA. Seniors are paying the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “The ACA has eliminated the prescription drug ‘doughnut’ hole, saving Medicare beneficiaries thousands of dollars on average.” 

The Court is not expected to rule on the case until 2021. During oral arguments Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that “it does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate provision and leave the rest of the act in place — the provisions regarding pre-existing conditions and the rest,” giving ACA supporters hope that he could cast the deciding vote to uphold the law.

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