AARP "Waffles" to Be "Included in Washington's Power Structure," Say Bob Weiner (Ex-House Aging Committee Chief) and John Horton; Medicare and Social Security at Risk

"NO MORE POLITICAL PLAYTIME FOR AARP"

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP's recent "waffling" about cuts to Social Security is putting seniors in Florida and the nation at risk, says Robert Weiner, former Chief of Staff for the House Aging Committee under Claude Pepper (D-FL), and John Horton, Senior Political Analyst at Robert Weiner Associates. Quoting chief policy analyst of AARP, John Rother, as saying that cuts were "inevitable" and his admission that he just "wanted to be at the wheel when that happens," Weiner and Horton argue, "No more political playtime for AARP—Florida's and the nation's seniors are at risk with 'reforms.'"

In an op-ed article appearing in the influential South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "Waffling AARP: Medicare, Social Security at Risk," Weiner and Horton point out that, "Changes to Social Security or Medicare would have disastrous effects in the future for Florida's highest-in-the-nation number of senior citizens (currently 17 per cent of Floridians) and the nation's 35 million seniors.  Republicans in Congress have caused the House to pass both "Cut, Cap, and Balance," and the Ryan budget plan. Beginning at decade's end, these proposals would cut Medicare benefits in half, cost families an extra $6,000 in health costs, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and force seniors to use private insurers to decide when and what illnesses are covered."

Weiner and Horton assert that while AARP is "indispensible to seniors with travel discounts, health insurance opportunities, and home and auto insurance discounts.  There is power in volume. However, AARP leadership gets too cozy with the political leadership they are trying to affect, at the expense of its membership. Perhaps the 'issues' mantle of protecting seniors should be led by other single-focus groups. Organizations such as the Gray Panthers under Maggie Kuhn, were very successful in the past advocating forcefully for the rights of the aged. The Alliance for Health Reform, whose CEO is former Claude Pepper-House Aging Committee Counsel Ed Howard, is reliably supportive and substantive.  Former Congressman Barbara Kennelly's National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is laser-focused on stopping cuts."

According to Weiner and Horton, AARP must not let themselves be used to "give political cover to opponents to cut the deficit on the backs of the elderly." Weiner and Horton point out that  Third Way, a lobbying group, said AARP  'opened the door to 'reform.''  Republicans and Democrats have discussed reducing cost-of-living triggers, raising the retirement age, higher co-pays, means testing, and other gradual reductions using seniors' programs to lower the nation's debt."

Weiner and Horton express hope that AARP has "seen the danger of their position. In July, AARP released a TV ad which aggressively shows a senior citizen threatening politicians who want to cut benefits. The man poses in front of his home, arms folded, forcefully claiming that 50 million senior citizens will not be used as pawns in deficit negotiations. AARP wants politicians to remember that 70% of those over 65 vote. AARP may have learned the lesson from the recent special congressional election of NY-26 where underdog Kath Hochul upset her Republican opponent – the first Democratic victory in the district in 30 years-- by framing the campaign solely on cuts to Medicare. Suddenly, AARP understood that if they continued to advocate cuts in Medicare or turning it into vouchers, they, too, would lose members."

With the Supercommittee set to return to Washington and Congressional votes upcoming on the budget, Weiner and Horton assert, "This is not the time for AARP to waffle about using its full force to support Medicare and Social Security.  If AARP is willing to support reductions to programs projected to be solvent for decades, just to feel included in Washington's power structure, they will forfeit all good will from the people expecting help.  No more political playtime for AARP—Florida's and the nation's seniors are at risk with 'reforms.'"

Link to article (paste entire link into browser):  
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-aarp-oped0821-20110821,0,512693.story#tugs_story_display

Contact: Bob Weiner/Khurram Abbas 301-283-0821 or 202-329-1700

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates