OARA Greets Senator McCain - Questions his commitment to Healthcare

Contact:  Norm Wernet  

For Immediate Release
Contact: Norm Wernet
July 23, 2008

Ohio Retirees to Tell John McCain Social Security Not a “Disgrace” but His Health Plan Is

Local Seniors to Denounce Comment Social Security an “Absolute Disgrace, Demand Real Plan for Affordable Health Care

Columbus, Ohio — When John McCain arrives for the LIVESTRONG Presidential Town Hall on Cancer tomorrow, July 24, he will be greeted by a crowd from the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans demanding plans for Social Security and health care that are not left to the whims of Wall Street and big insurance companies.

Speaking at a town hall in Denver on 7, McCain said, “Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that's a disgrace. It's an absolute disgrace, and it's got to be fixed.”

Yet, recent media accounts state that John McCain received $23,157 in Social Security benefits in 2007, an average of $1,929.75 each month. Earlier this week, the national Alliance for retired Americans began a television advertising campaign around Senator McCain's position on Social Security, available for viewing at http://www.retiredamericans.org.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Senate voted on H.R. 6331, the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008,”a bill ensuring doctors in Medicare are paid, so they continue to take patients in the program. The legislation also cut the dramatic government overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, which are run by private insurance companies. Sen. McCain didn’t bother to show up.

“Senator McCain's health plan like his position on Social Security is a disgrace because we are left to the unknowns of the "free market" insurance industry,” said Norm Wernet, the Alliance’s Ohio Director.