Sign Our Petition to Remove President Trump from Office NOW

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump incited a mob of right-wing extremists who then marched to the U.S. Capitol and attempted to derail the electoral college vote process. These outrageous acts resulted in loss of life and scores of injuries, and all of those responsible must be held accountable.

“President Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol building and to fight,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “The bloodshed and damage to our democracy is on his hands. He is no longer fit to serve and remains a danger to the democracy that we cherish.”

Please sign our petition to demand that members of Congress and all other federal officials with the appropriate power take action to remove him immediately.

The Constitution grants the Vice President and the Congress options to swiftly remove him from the White House, either by invoking the 25th Amendment, or by voting for impeachment and removal. This is no time for delay.

Ossoff, Warnock Senate Victories a Momentous Win for Retirees

Democrats won the runoff elections for both Senate seats in Georgia Tuesday, greatly improving the prospects for President-elect Joe Biden’s legislative agenda.

Raphael Warnock, a pastor at the historic Ebenezer Baptist church, beat Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler and became the first Black U.S. senator to represent Georgia. Jon Ossoff, a documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist, beat Republican David Perdue and will become the Senate’s youngest member at the age of 33.

Alliance members mobilized to elect Warnock and Ossoff with a multi-prong campaign to reach union retirees through phone banks, peer-to-peer texting, direct mail, digital advertising, and a Get-Out-the-Vote Tele Town hall with Amb. Andrew Young. The Alliance has 69,000 members in Georgia.

“Thank you to everyone who helped elect these rising political stars and bring new leadership to the U.S. Senate,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance.

“These elections also mean the end to Senator Mitch McConnell’s control of the Senate,” added Executive Director Fiesta. “We look forward to halting constant threats to our earned retirement benefits and making progress on the issues most important to retirees, including ending the pandemic, strengthening Social Security, and lowering prescription drug prices.”

Attacks on SSA Lead to Lost Benefits for Seniors

A new report from the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Inspector General estimates that the agency has failed to issue full benefit payments for thousands of Americans. The agency did not issue payments to more than 27,000 eligible recipients owed $52.1 million and did not locate more than 17,000 people eligible for approximately $90.4 million.

People who have contributed to Social Security over a lifetime of work should receive their benefits -- and hard working Social Security Administration employees should have the resources they need to make it happen. Benefits provide 50% of income for about half of America’s seniors and at least 90% of income for 1 in 4 seniors.

“This is an outrage and needs to be corrected immediately. The SSA leadership needs to prioritize these people and pay them the benefits they have earned,” said Fiesta. “Congress must also fully fund the SSA so that workers have the resources they need to serve the American people.”

Mayor Marty Walsh will be Nominated to be Secretary of Labor

President-elect Biden has selected Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a former top union leader with expertise in Multiemployer Pension plans (MEPs), to lead the Department of Labor.

Walsh has been the Mayor of Boston since 2014. Prior to that he was president of the Laborers’ Union Local 223, secretary-treasurer and general agent of the Boston Metropolitan District Building Trades Council, and state representative in Massachusetts.

“President-elect Biden has made an outstanding choice,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “His labor background, his knowledge of pension policy, and his experience leading the city of Boston make him uniquely qualified to oversee the Department of Labor.”

KHN: Seniors Face Crushing Drug Costs as Congress Stalls on Capping Medicare Out-Of-Pockets

By Harris Meyer, Kaiser Health News

Sharon Clark is able to get her life-sustaining cancer drug, Pomalyst — priced at more than $18,000 for a 28-day supply — only because of the generosity of patient assistance foundations.

Clark, 57, a former insurance agent who lives in Bixby, Oklahoma, had to stop working in 2015 and go on Social Security disability and Medicare after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. Without the foundation grants, mostly financed by the drugmakers, she couldn’t afford the nearly $1,000 a month it would cost her for the drug, since her Medicare Part D drug plan requires her to pay 5% of the list price.

Every year, however, Clark has to find new grants to cover her expensive cancer drug.

“It’s shameful that people should have to scramble to find funding for medical care,” she said. “I count my blessings, because other patients have stories that are a lot worse than mine.”

Many Americans with cancer or other serious medical conditions face similar prescription drug ordeals. It’s often worse, however, for Medicare patients. Unlike private health insurance, Part D drug plans have no cap on patients’ 5% coinsurance costs once they hit $6,550 in drug spending this year (rising from $6,350 in 2020), except for very low-income beneficiaries.

Read more by clicking here.

Thanks for reading. Every day, we're fighting to lower prescription drug prices and protect retirees' earned benefits and health care. But we can't do it without your help. Please support our work by donating below.