RetireSafe's Sham Award to Harris
November 23, 2011 at 12:47 PM
By MIKE BROWN
I was shocked to read in the November 9 Star that Rep. Andy Harris, of all people, received a "Standing Up for America's Seniors" award for his efforts to protect the health benefits and security of Maryland's seniors and disabled citizens.
This is the same Andy Harris whose vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act would harm current seniors by eliminating Medicare coverage for annual checkups and cancer screenings and reopen the donut hole costing many seniors an additional $5,000+ annually.
Harris also voted for the Paul Ryan budget, which would slash Medicaid funds supporting current seniors' nursing home care and eliminate Medicare for future seniors, turning it into a privatized voucher program that would enrich private for-profit insurance companies while forcing seniors to pay huge premiums and 68% of their health care costs (compared with 15% now), according to the CBO. Many seniors could not afford this, and would be left uninsured and without needed care.
It came as no surprise that the award came from a right-wing organization, RetireSafe, closely associated with Republican/conservative lobbyists and causes such as privatizing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. But I was greatly disturbed that Delmarva Community Services, an organization seniors depend on and trust, lent its name to this sham award as did other nonprofit senior advocacy groups such as the Alzheimer's Association - Greater Maryland Chapter.
They do a disservice to seniors in our community by misleading them about who really represents their interests. Harris most certainly does not.
Tags:
Category: Viewpoints
Please add a comment
Leave a Reply
Recent Viewpoints
Andy's Mendacity
By RICHARD CALKINS
Two recent press releases from Andy Harris vividly demonstrate his dis...
Drinking the Water
By RICHARD CALKINS
“The reason I got involved in public service… if I had to credit one thinker, ...
Candidate for the Bully Pulpit
By RICH LEVY
Now we're treated to accounts of Mitt Romney's prep school "pranks", including ganging...
Indiana GOP Make a Bad Choice
By FRANK LAWLOR
The respected Republican Senator Richard Lugar was defeated in a primary election.
...
Forum Events
| May 2012 | ||||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 29 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| << | -=- | >> |
| Mon - Jun 04 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM |
Opening of Forum Headquarters |
|
| Sat - Jun 16 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM |
Grand Opening of Forum Headquarters |
|
| Sun - Jun 24 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Democratic Women's Club Annual Meeting with Senator Ben Cardin |
|
| Wed - Jul 04 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
Forum July 4 Celebration |
Board of Directors
President Richard Calkins
Vice President Bob Potter
Secretary Marilyn Furlong
Treasurer Paula Lowry
Board members
Steve Bailey
Wayne Brobst
Pamela Clay
Francine DeSanctis
Charlene DeShields
June McGuckian
Jane Hohnson
Rick Lynch
Blair Potter
Joyce Scharch
Hasan Wilson