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It's Not a Dirty Word, Just a Description of Decency
They used to call them 'entitlements,' but if you listen to Newt Gingrich these days, nobody's entitled to nothin'. The Clinton administration and congressional friends of labor, on the other hand, are working with CWA to ensure that working families remain entitled to quality health care, education, Social Security benefits and Medicare.
Patient Bill of Rights
With 75 percent of insured Americans enrolled in managed care health plans, CWA is backing the Patient Bill of Rights Act of 1998 (S. 1891/H.R. 3605). Sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the bill would provide for the right number and variety of health care providers; out-of-network referrals to specialists; direct access to obstetrical/ gynecological care; continuation of care if there are changes in the plan, and emergency care without prior authorization.
The measure also contains a grievance procedure and remedies, protections for health care workers who report problems, and a requirement that plans provide uniform, comparable information to consumers.
Delegates to CWA's Legislative-Political Conference applauded Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-Mass.) support, when he stated that, "Medical decisions should be made by you and your doctor, not by your insurance agent." Kennedy later introduced his own bill to require companies that employ more than 50 workers to provide health insurance.
Social Security
Just about a week before the conference, President Clinton conducted a hearing on Social Security in Kansas City, Mo. Clinton has called for a year-long dialogue on reforming the fund, which currently provides benefits to 44 million Americans who are elderly, disabled or survivors of disabled workers and which - even without adjustment - could continue to meet its obligations for 30 years.
"Social Security first," has been the President's rallying cry to protect a projected $50-billion balanced-budget windfall. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), voicing strong support for the President's plan, said, "Our job is not to dismantle Social Security but to preserve it for succeeding generations."
House Speaker Gingrich (R-Ga.) would set up private retirement savings accounts for the 130 million workers paying into Social Security. His plan would shift all the risk for investment decisions to the individual. On April 1, Sen. William V. Roth (R-Del.) pushed through the Senate an amendment to the budget act, 51-49, to use the budget surplus to this end.
Other plans under discussion involve raising the retirement age, hiking up the earnings cap on which Social Security tax is paid (currently $68,400 annually), adjusting how the Consumer Price Index is calculated to slow down Social Security cost-of-living increases, and splitting investment responsibility between the government and the individual.
Medicare
Medicare, an offshoot of Social Security, is also a sensitive issue for CWA retirees and members, who want to be sure that when they retire, they will not be saddled with exorbitant medical expenses.
CWA is backing the "Medicare Early Access Act of 1998" (S. 1789/H.R. 3470), which would help members and their companies facilitate early retirements by expanding Medicare benefits. The proposed legislation provides that individuals 62-65 years old with no access to health insurance may buy into Medicare by paying a base premium now and a deferred premium during their post-65 Medicare enrollment. It would also allow workers 55-62 who have been laid off and have no access to health insurance, as well as their spouses, to buy into Medicare by paying a monthly premium of about $400. Retirees age 55 or older whose employer-sponsored coverage is terminated could buy into their employer's health insurance for active workers at 125 percent of the group rate.
Rep. Pete Stark has introduced a bill (H.R. 444) that would amend the Internal Revenue System code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to assist in assuring health coverage for workers over 55 who leave employment. The bill has 24 cosponsors, including two who addressed the conference: Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).
CWA is opposing an amendment to the balanced budget act by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Rep Bill Archer (R-Tex.), titled the "Medicare Beneficiaries Freedom to Contract Act (S. 1194/H.R. 2497)." That bill would weaken the Medicare structure by allowing individuals to contract privately for Medicare services.
Education
On the subject of education, Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-Tex.), a member of the House Labor Committee, spoke of his successful advocacy in Texas for state funding of lifelong learning provisions such as CWA advocates. Kitty Higgins, deputy secretary of Labor, called upon delegates to lobby for the Workforce Investment Partnership Act, which consolidates some 70 training, vocational and adult education programs into block grants and promotes "one-stop shopping" for employment and training at the state and local level. The bill overwhelmingly passed the Senate, May 6, on a bipartisan vote of 91-7 and at press time was headed for reconciliation with a similar House bill.
Maria Echaveste, an assistant to the President and White House director for public liaison, spoke against vouchers for private education and for improving public education by hiring more teachers, building new schools and wiring schools to the Internet.
Census 2000
Echaveste also urged CWA members to stand up for an accurate count of the U.S. population at the turn of the century, amid partisan bickering over the methodology to be used for Census 2000. A headcount will determine congressional redistricting.
"It sounds like a boring subject," said Echaveste, "yet accuracy of data will determine whether we make good policy. The census will affect decisions on a whole host of programs."
Patient Bill of Rights
With 75 percent of insured Americans enrolled in managed care health plans, CWA is backing the Patient Bill of Rights Act of 1998 (S. 1891/H.R. 3605). Sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the bill would provide for the right number and variety of health care providers; out-of-network referrals to specialists; direct access to obstetrical/ gynecological care; continuation of care if there are changes in the plan, and emergency care without prior authorization.
The measure also contains a grievance procedure and remedies, protections for health care workers who report problems, and a requirement that plans provide uniform, comparable information to consumers.
Delegates to CWA's Legislative-Political Conference applauded Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-Mass.) support, when he stated that, "Medical decisions should be made by you and your doctor, not by your insurance agent." Kennedy later introduced his own bill to require companies that employ more than 50 workers to provide health insurance.
Social Security
Just about a week before the conference, President Clinton conducted a hearing on Social Security in Kansas City, Mo. Clinton has called for a year-long dialogue on reforming the fund, which currently provides benefits to 44 million Americans who are elderly, disabled or survivors of disabled workers and which - even without adjustment - could continue to meet its obligations for 30 years.
"Social Security first," has been the President's rallying cry to protect a projected $50-billion balanced-budget windfall. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), voicing strong support for the President's plan, said, "Our job is not to dismantle Social Security but to preserve it for succeeding generations."
House Speaker Gingrich (R-Ga.) would set up private retirement savings accounts for the 130 million workers paying into Social Security. His plan would shift all the risk for investment decisions to the individual. On April 1, Sen. William V. Roth (R-Del.) pushed through the Senate an amendment to the budget act, 51-49, to use the budget surplus to this end.
Other plans under discussion involve raising the retirement age, hiking up the earnings cap on which Social Security tax is paid (currently $68,400 annually), adjusting how the Consumer Price Index is calculated to slow down Social Security cost-of-living increases, and splitting investment responsibility between the government and the individual.
Medicare
Medicare, an offshoot of Social Security, is also a sensitive issue for CWA retirees and members, who want to be sure that when they retire, they will not be saddled with exorbitant medical expenses.
CWA is backing the "Medicare Early Access Act of 1998" (S. 1789/H.R. 3470), which would help members and their companies facilitate early retirements by expanding Medicare benefits. The proposed legislation provides that individuals 62-65 years old with no access to health insurance may buy into Medicare by paying a base premium now and a deferred premium during their post-65 Medicare enrollment. It would also allow workers 55-62 who have been laid off and have no access to health insurance, as well as their spouses, to buy into Medicare by paying a monthly premium of about $400. Retirees age 55 or older whose employer-sponsored coverage is terminated could buy into their employer's health insurance for active workers at 125 percent of the group rate.
Rep. Pete Stark has introduced a bill (H.R. 444) that would amend the Internal Revenue System code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to assist in assuring health coverage for workers over 55 who leave employment. The bill has 24 cosponsors, including two who addressed the conference: Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).
CWA is opposing an amendment to the balanced budget act by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Rep Bill Archer (R-Tex.), titled the "Medicare Beneficiaries Freedom to Contract Act (S. 1194/H.R. 2497)." That bill would weaken the Medicare structure by allowing individuals to contract privately for Medicare services.
Education
On the subject of education, Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-Tex.), a member of the House Labor Committee, spoke of his successful advocacy in Texas for state funding of lifelong learning provisions such as CWA advocates. Kitty Higgins, deputy secretary of Labor, called upon delegates to lobby for the Workforce Investment Partnership Act, which consolidates some 70 training, vocational and adult education programs into block grants and promotes "one-stop shopping" for employment and training at the state and local level. The bill overwhelmingly passed the Senate, May 6, on a bipartisan vote of 91-7 and at press time was headed for reconciliation with a similar House bill.
Maria Echaveste, an assistant to the President and White House director for public liaison, spoke against vouchers for private education and for improving public education by hiring more teachers, building new schools and wiring schools to the Internet.
Census 2000
Echaveste also urged CWA members to stand up for an accurate count of the U.S. population at the turn of the century, amid partisan bickering over the methodology to be used for Census 2000. A headcount will determine congressional redistricting.
"It sounds like a boring subject," said Echaveste, "yet accuracy of data will determine whether we make good policy. The census will affect decisions on a whole host of programs."