ARA Retirees Gear up to Get Out the Vote and protect Worker Rights

 

Leading up to Labor Day, the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) gathered to endorse worker rights champion Rep. Jahana Hayes for re-election in the 5th Congressional District, a battleground targeted by the national Republican Party and corporate funding sources re-take control of the House of Representatives.

Representing more than 59,000 members from many unions, the CT ARA also endorsed US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. John Larson and Rep. Joe Courtney for their 100% voting records on senior issues and commitment to oppose privatization of Social Security at the top of the Republican agenda..

“Rep. Hayes has earned a perfect lifetime score of 100% in the Alliance’s annual Congressional Voting Record,” said ARA president Bette Marafino. “She knows that thousands of seniors in her district rely on the Social Security and Medicare benefits they have earned, and she's working to protect all of our retirement security.”

Rep. Hayes, a former teacher and state worker expressed appreciation saying, "Our seniors have done the hard work of helping to build this country, that’s why I will work just as hard to protect and expand Social Security, fight for affordable healthcare and make sure our retirees are never left behind.”.

Hayes has been a leader in the fight to protect earned pension benefits and lower drug prices. She voted to require Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors, cap out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year and cap insulin co-pays at $35 a month. She also voted to provide hearing benefits under Medicare and $150 billion for Medicaid home care services.

Accepting the endorsement from ARA, Sen. Blumenthal emphasized the clear choice in this election.

 

While Blumenthal helped lead passage of gun control legislation and passage of the Inflation Reduction Act which includes lowering prescription drug costs and measures to stem climate change and create jobs, his opponent,Trump-endorsed Leora Levy, “considers the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol legitimate political discourse. Her program includes privatizing Social Security, banning abortions, and opposing gun control measures.”

The Connecticut AFL-CIO is kicking off its voter education and turnout program on Labor Day weekend, with plans to visit union members and their families at their homes across the state, listen to the issues they are concerned about, and win support for labor endorsed candidates.

Families with Children and Essential Workers Get Relief Funds

At a time of great need, Connecticut families with children and essential workers are in line to receive relief benefits from American Rescue Plan funds. “Thank you to Connecticut's federal delegation for voting for President Biden's American Rescue Plan!” was the message from Democratic legislators, even as state Republicans dismissed the relief as a “systemic failure” and “one-time gimmicks “.

Over 15,000 Connecticut families, including 27,000 children, will receive a one-time, back-to-school, COVID-19 relief benefit of $257 from the Department of Social Services (DSS) just in time for the new school year.

Known as the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF), this special benefit comes from a $7 million federal grant DSS received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

“Premium Pay” relief for essential workers is also available through ARPA funds. When State Comptroller Natalie Braswell opened applications, thousands of workers responded immediately and the computer system temporarily crashed. The program will provide $1,000 per essential worker, including healthcare, grocery store, transit, manufacturing, teachers and child care workers. . Applications are due by October 1 at www.ctessentialworkerrelief.org.

The legislature and Governor allocated $30 million for “Premium Pay.” As is clearly the case, labor leaders warned much more would be needed. If applications exceed the $30 million, everyone's share will be reduced proportionately.

Reducing the benefit is unacceptable said Ed Hawthorne, president of the CT AFL-CIO. He called for increased funding now. “There was an invisible virus that was killing people, and these people went into work,” he said. “One thousand dollars is the least we can do for them.” During the legislative session the labor federation had proposed $2,000 per essential worker.

Democratic candidate for Comptroller Sean Scanlon also called for an increase in funding to assure that all eligible essential workers receive the full $1,000.

“The Premium Pay program will work in tandem with the existing COVID-19 Relief Fund,” said Comptroller Braswell. “Applicants can apply for both funds if they qualify.

 

The COVID-19 Relief Funds are available to any essential worker who lost wages due to COVID-19 infections while on the job between March 2020 and July 2021. Additional benefits include out-of-pocket medical expenses and burial costs for family members who died as a result of COVID-19. Apply at: www.ctessentialworkerrelief.org.

Proposed Health Insurance Rate Increases Met with Outrage

The move by health insurance companies to raise rates on individual plans by an average of 20% next year and on small group plans by 14% has outraged elected officials, health care advocates and members of the public who are calling on the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) to deny the requests from CIGNA Health & Life, CTCare Inc., CTCare Benefits Inc., and the ConnectiCare Insurance Company, Inc. and others.

Leading up to public hearings, Connecticut Citizens Action Group issued the latest in their series of “Five Families Reports” which found that five of the companies looking to increase premium rates saw billions of dollars in profits, stock buybacks, and executive compensation.

“It is important to look at what insurance companies are doing with the dollars they collect from Connecticut residents,” said Tom Swan, executive director of CCAG. “Their greed is appalling. The health and well-being of their subscribers and of Connecticut residents is the last thing from their mind.”

The report found that Anthem saw $6.1 billion, CIGNA saw $5.36 billion, CVS, which is the parent company of Aetna, saw $7.9 billion, and UnitedHealth saw $17.3 billion in profits in 2021.

Noting that CIGNA CEO David Cordani made $91 million in 2021, CCAG asked “Do Connecticut consumers need to make David Cordani even richer?! We think not.”

Also speaking in opposition to the rate hikes were U.S. Sen. Blumenthal, Sen. Matt Lesser, Connecticut Health Care Advocate Ted Doolittle, and Attorney General William Tong.

They rejected insurance companies' claim that rate hikes are needed because Affordable Care Act funds were due to expire, noting that the Inflation Reduction Act extends those funds.

In a letter opposing the rate increases, AFT Connecticut, whose members include nurses and health care workers, said “Consolidation of our health care system has led to excessive profits and executive compensations in our “not for profit” hospitals, pharmaceuticals and insurance corporations. These costs should not be borne by the residents of our state.”

A sign-on letter being circulated by Medicare for All Connecticut declares, “These proposals are outrageous. The state should reject them. Insurance companies bring in millions of dollars in profit. The idea of raising rates on working people, which would result in the loss of access to care, is unconscionable.”

Democracy is on the ballot in November

With primary elections over in Connecticut, the shift to to the general election on November 8 is underway. Labor and people's organizations are preparing for a full mobilization to get out the vote, as extremist Republicans target this state.

As became clear when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, all hard won constitutional, rights including the right to vote itself are at stake. Democracy will be on the ballot along with reproductive rights, voting rights, workers' rights, civil rights and environmental justice.

Extremist Republican Leora Levy, supported by Donald Trump, will be challenging Richard Blumenthal for U.S. Senate. Right-wing Republican Bob Stefanowski will be challenging Governor Ned Lamont.

And in the Fifth Congressional District, the national Republican campaign committee is targeting former teacher and union member Rep. Jahana Hayes, the first African American woman in the Connecticut Congressional delegation.

The Connecticut AFL-CIO is launching an all-out voter mobilization of union members and their families at a Labor Day Breakfast on September 2. At it's biennial convention in June, delegates adopted a resolution calling the election one of “extremely high stakes for working people.”

This election's high stakes were underscored last week when all Republicans in the US Senate voted against the Inflation Reducation Act. The bill passed with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Kamala Harris.

While the $370 billion bill got watered down to achieve enough votes for passage, in a press conference at the state capitol Senators Blumenthal and Murphy said it is critical to improve peoples' lives.

“This measure is truly historic,” said Blumenthal who fought for its passage.. “It is the biggest single investment in fighting climate change in United States history. It is the most important step to cut medicine costs in American history. It is the biggest step forward in tax fairness in recent history.”

The bill allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices, caps out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare recipients and imposes a 15% minimum tax on corporations earning at least $1 billion and a 1% tax on corporate stock buybacks .

While the bill takes important steps to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, climate change activists emphasize there is much more action required. This election will determine the ability to wage that fight.

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CT Peace and Solidarity Coalition Says “Stop the Wars!”

As the threat of nuclear war and world devastation heightens, the Connecticut Peace and Solidarity Coalition published a full page ad in the New Haven Register calling for a stop to wars.

Headlined “Stop Promoting War in Ukraine! Negotiate Peace Now! Fund Families, Not Weapons Makers!,” the message urges calls to Congress and the White House.

The text reads:

“The war in Ukraine is costing thousands of lives, generating millions of refugees and causing the destruction of billions in infrastructure. We demand it quickly end. The only way it can end is through honest negotiations, not actions that lead to the escalation of violence. There are no victors, there are only victims.

“We consider all actions that prolong the war to be deadly, costly, immoral and inexcusable.

“We call on Ukraine, Russia, the United States and its NATO allies to immediately agree on a prompt ceasefire, stop pouring weapons trainers and troops into Ukraine, and quickly negotiate steps toward peace and common security for all parties.

“Such a ceasefire includes lifting economic sanctions against Russia and Belarus. This hybrid warfare is creating terrible hardship throughout the world, including in the U.S. Where families are struggling with high inflation and inability to buy necessities like food and fuel.

“The global expansion of U.S – led military alliance NATO is an obstacle to long lasting security and peace. In an age of nuclear weapons, such alliances do not bring us security.

“We are frightened about the danger of nuclear war. The longer the war lasts the greater chance that nuclear weapons will be used creating global catastrophe.

“We reject mainstream media's ongoing cheer leading the war, similar to what we saw when the U.S. Prepared to invade Iraq.

“We call on President Biden and Congress to promote peace.”

Demands included are:

“Immediate cessation of all military actions throughout Ukraine. Peace negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Immediate humanitarian aid to all civilians within Ukraine. End the war now before it escalates to nuclear warfare. End US/EU financial and economic sanctions against Russia and Belarus. Stop NATO expansion.”

The message asks for calls to Congress 202-224-3121 and the White House 202-456-1111.