Statement By 60 Plus Association President James L. Martin

Arlington, VA — “Senior citizens need to know that most anyone on Medicare is eligible for a Medicare-approved drug discount card that can save them big dollars on most prescription drugs.

But there is an enrollment period with a deadline for claiming that credit, and it is fast approaching.

People whose monthly income is $1,048.00 (single) or $1,406.00 (married) may lay claim to $600.00 credit for prescription drug payments in 2004 and another $600.00 for payments in 2005 — a total of $1,200.00 — but only if registered by December 31st of this year.

That’s key.

Senior citizens may have already received their Medicare-approved drug discount cards entitling them to the $1,200.00 credit — but may not have activated the card as yet! Activating the card is as simple as calling 1-800-MEDICARE where an operator will check-for and enroll those eligible for the discount.

It’s that easy.

But the clock is ticking and December 31st is right around the corner.

On behalf of the 60 Plus Association, I urge senior citizens — or those with a loved-one on Medicare — to be sure they are eligible for this significant Medicare drug card savings and if they haven’t already, register before the end of this month by calling 1-800-MEDICARE before it’s too late.”

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This Article Appeared In The Washington Times On Sunday, November 14, 2004

“Although America’s economy is revving up, the price of a little blue flame imperils our resurgence. As Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has said, America is threatened by high natural gas prices. This menace not only endangers our economy, it is especially threatening to America’s seniors who are struggling to make ends meet. The time has come for our national leaders to take the necessary steps to moderate soaring natural gas prices.

We seniors employ a simple, straight-forward analysis of the things that touch our lives. Over our kitchen tables, we discuss the issues affecting our families, friends and the great nation we so dearly love. Most times, mere talk of the weather ‘trumps’ discussion of natural gas bills. Now however, that’s not true. Seniors’ are genuinely worried about high natural gas bills. We still invoke the weather — but nowadays it’s likely to be included in a prayer in the hope that we can delay touching the thermostat.

Many folks think that high natural gas prices are a concern during the winter. They are. High prices bite hard into fixed incomes — sometimes severely. But high natural gas prices are more than seasonal harbingers. They are a year-round concern. Seniors must make increasingly tough choices to apportion precious resources. “Kitchen table” talk now centers on balancing the costs of fuel, food, and pharmaceuticals. All are up. Sometimes, something has to give — sadly, with even occasionally fatal consequences.

The fact is that fuel, food, pharmaceuticals and natural gas are intrinsically linked — even if we’re not firing up our furnaces. Natural gas is essential to produce foods, medicines and a host of necessities. Natural gas powers much of our electric grid, warms our homes, and is likely even embedded in many of the utensils and TV trays that rest upon our kitchen tables.

The price of natural gas is up. The government’s Energy Information Administration’s forecasts a typical residence’s heating bill will hit $993 this winter. That’s 15% over last year’s average and up 65% from only three years ago. Seniors on fixed incomes must somehow stretch finite dollars to cover their increasingly costly basic needs. High natural gas prices are fueling price increases in electricity, propane, and many of the commodities Americans require.

Our leaders must address this problem now, for our nation and for the 46.5 million Americans who receive Social Security checks. The causes are clear. Increasing demand for natural gas and unreasonably constrained supplies have predictable effects on prices. They go up! Although Congress has tried to pass sweeping energy legislation, it appears unlikely to be enacted into law this year. Our leaders must not shy from a frank and honest discussion about natural gas. Ultimately, they must address both supply and demand, and the infrastructure that ensures natural gas can efficiently reach the consumers who need it.

To get a handle on high natural gas prices, all sides must come to America’s kitchen table and talk straight about moderating them. We can do more to conserve energy and diversify fuels. We can improve our infrastructure. We can also better access domestic gas reserves. The U.S. Secretary of Interior is working to do just that, and I applaud Gale Norton for her leadership. She is taking an important step in the right direction, but Congress can, and must, do much more — and Congress must do so quickly.

In the interim, Congress can take the necessary steps to protect America’s most vulnerable citizens from the crushing effects of high natural gas prices. The federal government can and must better-fund its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Inflation has hobbled this program which helps qualified Americans shoulder their home energy costs. LIHEAP’s buying power has been eroded by nearly 60%. As a result, eight out of ten Americans who are eligible for this help are not reached. That error must also be rectified.

Even if Congress were to enact an energy bill this year, it must also specifically address the problems driving natural gas prices up when it reconvenes in early 2005. The Federal Reserve Chairman and America’s seniors are legitimately concerned about the effects of these escalating prices. Our nation’s use and movements of natural gas can be made more efficient, our access to natural gas can be improved, and our economy can recover further — if our leaders can promptly take steps that will rationalize these market prices and rekindle this little blue flame in the New Year.

Jim Martin is President of the 60 Plus Association, a national non-partisan senior citizen organization based in Arlington, VA. The author can be reached at 1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 960, Arlington, VA 22209. The email address is JMartin@60plus.org

Arlington, VA — “I salute Frontiers of Freedom that has issued a report entitled “Prescription for Fear” which documents an outrageous scare campaign by numerous elected leaders against the new prescription drug benefit.  The report details how these elected officials, in their own words, have tried to keep seniors from enrolling in a program that promises as much as $1200 in benefits to a low-income senior ($2400 for a low-income couple) for prescription drug purchases.

“For years, America’s seniors have desperately needed more affordable access to prescription drugs.  That’s why Congress and the President last year passed a program to help them — a new benefit that offers millions of elderly poor a helping hand with their medication.

“It’s a boiling outrage that so many elected officials have schemed to keep seniors from saving money on their prescriptions.  These seniors have worked hard all their lives and played by the rules.  They shouldn’t have to cut their pills in half to save money because some self-righteous politicians have scared them away from accepting the $1200 federal prescription drug benefit.

“Politicians who talk of ‘cheating old people’ and putting a ‘dagger’ into Medicare are gambling with seniors’ health needs for narrow political demands.  Our parents and grandparents deserve these new medication benefits offered by the federal government. And it’s contemptible that so many politicians, who talk about helping seniors, are actually using them as convenient pawns for their own political ambitions.”

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Statement By 60 Plus Association President James L. Martin

Arlington, VA — “On behalf of senior citizens all across America, I am both pleased and honored to add my voice to those calling for passage of legislation presently before Congress, H.R. 2735 and S. 2138…together, more commonly referred to as The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act.

These bills represent common sense and pro-consumer initiatives that I’m certain seniors’ know are in their best interest.

Today, the major automobile manufacturers and their dealerships hold great sway over the repair and servicing of their automobiles. This is primarily accomplished by secrecy… by preventing the free marketplace from gathering what I call ‘the inside skinny’ on service and parts replacement, such as particulars surrounding the on-board computers of today’s cars, details about brake systems, air bags, ignition, steering and other such auto-specific information. Effectively locking out motorists from key automotive information, by essentially determining who repairs and maintains their automobile — even including the individual car owner who elects to be a ‘Mr. Fix-it’ — strikes this senior as anti-competitive and anti-consumer. It’s just plain wrong.

And what of safety? If seniors get stranded on a lonely rural location with a dealer many miles away, it could be risky for their health and well being not to have the convenience of choice in repair options.

The 60 Plus Association says give we senior citizens every right to choose what repair shop we wish to bring our car to for servicing. Auto dealerships are fine places to choose from — but should not be the only place to go for servicing. That’s just not the American way.”

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In announcing Jones as a July winner of the award, 60 Plus Association President Jim Martin praised Jones for his “pro-senior voting record.”

“Congressman Jones has always been someone seniors can count on. He has truly been a man for all seasons. Seniors know that Walter Jones can be depended on,” he said.

Martin cited Jones’ votes to:

-Repeal the death tax, which hurts small businesses and family farms

-Repeal the Earnings Limit for seniors 65 to 69

-Support the work of the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security

-Oppose taxes on Social Security benefits.

“Congressman Jones deserves credit for voting right whenever an issue important to seniors is before the House. That’s why he has been chosen as a Lawmaker of the Month for July,” Martin said.

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