AARP

Leading Seniors Groups Strongly Oppose McCain Medicare Hail Mary

Brian Beutler | December 2, 2009, 3:55PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) says that health care reform will spell bad news for America's seniors and has introduced an amendment to recommit the entire health care bill to the Finance Committee and have it stripped of all its Medicare fixes.

And for his efforts, two of the largest senior citizens organizations in the country are saying thanks, but no thanks.

"[W]e oppose the amendment offered by Senator McCain to recommitt [Senate health care legislation] to the Senate Finance Committee," reads a letter from AARP to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

CEO Addison Barry Rand says "the legislation does not reduce any guaranteed Medicare benefits."

Similarly a letter from the Alliance for Retired Americans to members of the Senate reads, "The Alliance for Retired Americans, on behalf of its nearly four million members throughout the nation, opposes the motion by Senator John McCain to commit the Patient Protection and Affordable Care America Act, H.R. 3590, to the Finance Committee. We urge its prompt defeat by the Senate."

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AARP

AARP To Reid: Congrats On Your Bill, But We're Still Thinking

Brian Beutler | November 21, 2009, 3:12PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

The good folks at AARP endorsed the House health care bill, and it seems likely that they'll do the same with the Senate bill. But they're not ready just yet. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid obtained by TPMDC, AARP CEO Addison Barry Rand says the senior citizens association wants tonight's vote to succeed, but is still evaluating the proposal.

"This comprehensive, health reform legislation moves us one important step closer to enacting historic legislation to control skyrocketing costs, improve quality and expand access to affordable care," the letter reads. "We strongly urge the Senate to vote for cloture this Saturday to begin debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.... After further analysis, we will send you a more detailed letter of our views of the legislation."

You can read the entire thing here.

Health Care

Conservative Seniors Group Targeting Dem Reps Over Health Care Vote

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 12, 2009, 12:31PM

Pat Boone, "National Spokesperson" for the 60 Plus Association

The 60 Plus Association has a message for those participating in the next phase of the health care debate in Washington: "Senators Beware!!!"

60 Plus, the self-proclaimed "conservative alternative to the AARP," promises to go after Senators who vote for a health care bill that includes the changes to Medicare funding found in the House version of the bill. To prove its threats aren't idle ones, the group launched a TV ad campaign today aimed at Democratic Representatives who voted for the bill in the House Saturday night.

"I have a warning for Congress," 60 Plus president Jim Martin said in a statement. "There is a senior citizen tsunami flooding towards the halls of Congress, unless it subsides, they can expect their offices to be flooded with angry voices."

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Barack Obama

Influential Players: How Six Big Stakeholders Shaped Health Care

Brian Beutler | November 11, 2009, 8:39AM

President Barack Obama

The biggest players in the health care reform debate often blur together into a swirl of acronyms and policy jargon. But they're also key to understanding how health care reform has been shaped, and how it's come as far as it has.

At this point in the health care debate, pro-reform groups have spent more money on health care ads than have well-heeled health care opponents. That's a testament to just how important the issue is to the liberal base, but it's also the precise effect President Obama was seeking when he partnered with the health care industry's most powerful stakeholders.

What sets the following six players apart is how they've defied the usual expectations and taken positions that don't easily fit into the usual left vs. right or corporate vs. consumer paradigm.

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AARP

AARP To Make 'Major Announcement' On Health Care Tomorrow, Won't Confirm Rumors Of House Bill Endorsement

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 4, 2009, 4:37PM

AARP logo

The AARP is planning a major announcement on health care tomorrow, an official told TPMDC tonight. But the group won't confirm today's AP story that AARP is ready to endorse the health care reform bill presented by House Democrats this week.

AARP's announcement will come at a press conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the group's D.C. headquarters, the official said. Should it be the subject of the briefing, an AARP endorsement of the House bill would be a big victory for supporters of the Democratic reform package. AARP is second to none when it comes to influence on policies related to seniors, and the backing would give the bill a stamp of approval from one of the most powerful non-partisan groups in the country.

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Health Care

Is AARP The GOP's New ACORN?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 28, 2009, 1:28PM

AARP logo, GOP logo

The GOP's new line of attack against health care reform is starting to sound familiar.

On Monday, we reported on the House GOP's plans to target AARP in the health care reform debate. Republican leaders say AARP is supporting changes to the Medicare system included in Democratic health care reform bills because they would result in more sales of AARP-branded insurance. They claim that "backroom deals" between executives of the AARP and Democratic leadership -- deals the GOP say are designed to protect the executives' high salaries -- led to the group's pro-Medicare reform stance.

Yesterday, the message gained traction among the right wing commentariat. AARP flatly denies the claims and says it's beginning to feel a little like the GOP's new ACORN.

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