Rep. Jahana Hayes Wins Support of Union Retirees

Rep. Jahana Hayes (CD-5) had to wipe away her tears at the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans convention, after accepting the Charlene Block award and receiving the national and state organization's endorsement for her 100 percent voting record. The tears came, she explained, because everything she does is to make her grandmother proud.

Hayes won the hearts of the union retirees in the packed room at AFSCME Council 4 in New Britain when she told her story of being raised with her brother by her grandmother in Waterbury. She remembered the anxiety on the third of each month looking for the Social Security check in the mail in order to pay the bills.

“I know what it means to worry about how to cover the rent or mortgage and put food on the table. I understand how policy affects people,” she said warning, “All the Republican proposals cut Social Security and Medicare.”

“We're not asking for anything we didn't earn,” said Hayes to applause, “these are not entitlements.”

An ARA Report card presented by national director Rich Fiesta, emphasized Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Healthcare, Pensions and other issues on the Republican chopping block.

When one delegate asked about Medicare Advantage, which allows pharmacies and insurance companies to override doctors, Hayes immediately responded to loud applause, “I am against privatization of Medicare, because it was never set up for profit.”

Describing the Fifth Congressional District, often a battleground, Hayes said the 41 towns include more elite boarding schools than any district in the nation, and also include four of the top ten failing school districts in the country. “I am committed to close these gaps,” Hates said. “Every family should know that their child is getting a good education, and be able to afford to live in the counties where they work.”

“My grandmother impressed upon me the wisdom of our elders. I want to make sure to create a world where people can retire with dignity,” she said adding that if the cap on Social Security taxes for top earners were lifted there would be financial security into the future.

The union retirees left enthusiastic to get a big voter turnout from their members to protect all that is at stake and support the work of Rep Jahana Hayes and others like her.