109th Congress Disappointed Seniors in 2006, Alliance Voting Record Reveals
Many of the lawmakers who did the most damage to the health and economic well-being of America's seniors during the second session of the 109th Congress no longer hold office, according to the results of the Alliance for Retired Americans' 2006 Voting Record released to the press on Monday. The Alliance has been monitoring the senior-issue votes in the House and Senate for six years, and the 2006 Voting Record may mark the end of a disturbing trend of anti-senior sentiment in Congress. The complete record is posted at www.retiredamericans.org.
Two of the six Senate seats that changed from Republican to Democratic hands in the 2006 mid-term elections were held by Senators who scored zero on the 2006 voting record, Senators George Allen (VA) and Rick Santorum (PA). "Several of the Senators who disappointed retirees the most lost their seats in the 2006 elections. We are hoping for much better results from their successors," said George J. Kourpias, President of the Alliance.
Nine House seats which switched from Republican to Democratic control in November had been held by Representatives who scored zero. Those were the seats of Representatives Bob Beauprez (CO), Henry Bonilla (TX), Chris Chocola (IN), Melissa Hart (PA), Jim Kolbe (AZ), Anne Northup (KY), Jim Ryun (KS), Don Sherwood (PA), and Charles Taylor (NC).
The 2006 Voting Record reports that overall, 54% of the Senate and 55% of the House received a failing score. The Alliance concluded that many unhappy seniors made their feelings known at the polls. With 54% of House Republicans and 40% of Senate Republicans scoring zero, but no Democrats scoring zero in either chamber, Republicans would have some catching up to do to be considered a friend to seniors. Thirty-six percent of both Senators and House members scored a perfect 100% for their senior-issue votes. "The Voting Record is a report card for seniors," stated Mr. Kourpias. "It affords an opportunity for seniors to evaluate and judge their lawmakers' votes on issues of importance to older Americans and, if necessary, put a politician on notice. The Voting Record is the ultimate reality check for who is - and isn't - a true advocate for seniors."
"This past year, retirees saw Congress enact legislation that contributed to record level spending deficits and deepened the nation's budget and fiscal crisis," said Edward F.Coyle, the Alliance's Executive Director. "Congress also failed to alleviate the confusion caused by the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. But there was one bright spot: Alliance members and all older Americans did manage to stop Social Security privatization in its tracks."
As a result of the November 2006 elections, the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year passed legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate bulk discounts from drug manufacturers. A majority of U.S. Senators now support a similar bill, but allies of the pharmaceutical industry have so far been able to obstruct this effort to lower drug prices for seniors.
The Graying of America's Suburbs
Historically dominated by families and children, America's suburbs are graying at a faster rate than its major cities due to the aging of the nation's first suburban generation, a study published recently in The New York Times concludes. The findings suggest that most of the senior population growth will stem from aging baby boomers who currently live in these areas, rather than any migration of retirees. While Florida is still the number one destination for those relocating, the fastest overall growth of 55-to-64 year-olds has been in Western and Sun Belt metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, known for younger median ages. In Arizona, this population is projected to increase by 80 percent from 2000 to 2010. Other graying areas include New Hampshire and Vermont, where mobile workers have settled for the scenery and small-towns. As big cities remain havens for younger job-seekers, smaller cities and metropolitan areas have also begun marketing themselves toward urban professionals ages 65 to 74, many of whom are still working, healthy and wealthy. "With the number of seniors in these areas growing so quickly, elected officials there should want to pay more attention than ever to the needs of retirees," said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.