OH-16: Alliance for Retired Americans Endorses John Boccieri

The Alliance for Retired Americans says John Boccieri is the best choice to succeed retiring Rep. Ralph Regula in the race for Ohio's 16th Congressional District.

The organization, which has nearly 271,000 members in Ohio and represents over 3.5 million seniors across America, wrote in their endorsement that Boccieri's "election to the House of Representatives will enhance the quality of life for older Americans."

The Alliance cited:

"Boccieri's leadership on issues such as fighting Social Security privatization and strengthening the Social Security and Medicare systems... In addition, our members can support your candidacy because of your belief in the need to provide more affordable health care for older Americans, to create a Medicare drug program that benefits seniors, not insurance and drug companies, as well as the need for stronger retirement and pension security, and quality long term and nursing home care."

Boccieri thanked the group for its endorsement and reiterated his commitment to standing up for seniors.

"If you've worked hard, played by the rules, and given back to your community your entire life, you deserve your pension benefits, affordable health care, and financial security in retirement. That's the dream that has made America strong, and that's the promise that I will fight for in Congress."

Boccieri has a strong record of supporting seniors in the state legislature and has committed to use his voice in Congress to address the plight of local retirees like those from Republic Technologies who have been denied much of their promised pension benefits.

In stark contrast, when Republic Technologies retirees invited State Sen. Kirk Schuring to an October 11 meeting about their pension struggles, Schuring never showed up. And this Tuesday, the editors of the Akron Beacon Journal noted that Schuring has expressed "willingness to consider privatizing a portion of Social Security" if elected to Congress.

In 2001, Schuring cast the only Ohio House vote against creating the Golden Buckeye discount prescription drug program ["Legislation Would Give Seniors Drug Discount," Dayton Daily News, 6/6/01], and more recently voted to raise the retirement age and strip half a billion dollars from state pension funds. [127 SB 148]

OH-16: Schuring Sides with Social Security Privatizers

Canton, OH - Kirk Schuring is getting his Social Security policy guidance from one of the leading groups behind President Bush's failed attempt to privatize the program.

In a press release issued on October 6, Schuring's campaign cites http://www.socialsecurity.org/, the website of the "Project on Social Security Choice", and proudly notes that Schuring used the group's talking points in his appearance before the Greater Canton Veterans Council on October 4.

A 2004 Los Angeles Times article quotes the director of the Project on Social Security Choice as one of the major supporters of President Bush's plan to shift Social Security savings into Wall Street investment accounts. The New York Times reported that the group was actually called the "Project on Social Security Privatization" until the name was changed to make it more politically palatable.

16th District congressional candidate John Boccieri asked today:

"How out of touch can Kirk Schuring be that in the middle of a global financial meltdown, he's getting his Social Security policies from a group that advocates gambling away our retirement on the stock market?"

Boccieri added:

"This raises serious questions about his commitment to protecting Social Security, especially given his poor record on seniors' issues in the State Legislature."

In Columbus, Schuring has voted to strip half a billion dollars from state pension funds while raising the retirement age, and was the only State Representative to vote against creating the Golden Buckeye program that negotiates lower prescription drug prices for Ohio seniors. (Schuring refused to support the program after his amendment to released participant names to the public was rejected.)

Schuring has strained throughout the campaign to conceal his willingness to turn America's most successful social safety net over to Wall Street - but this is not the first time he has let his true feelings show. In a meeting with local reporters at the Alliance Review on August 14, Schuring said that "everything should be on the table" when it comes to Social Security.

Boccieri's Social Security facts, which the Schuring campaign attacked in their press release, come from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. The Akron Beacon Journal cited the same information as recently as August.

BACKGROUND:

"The Cato Institute, a libertarian research center, established a Project on Social Security Privatization in 1995, but in 2002 it was renamed the Project on Social Security Choice. ...'Republicans in Congress do not like the word 'privatization' because it does not poll well,' said Michael Tanner, director of the project." ["AARP Opposes Bush Plan to Replace Social Security With Private Accounts," New York Times, 11/12/2004]

"President Bush on Thursday set the stage for a monumental legislative battle by placing Social Security reform at the top of his second-term agenda... 'It’s going to be an enormously bloody fight,” predicted Michael Tanner, director of the Project on Social Security Choice at the libertarian Cato Institute. “But the political climate really has changed, and it is possible to do this now.' " ["Privatized Accounts Moved to ‘Fast Track’," Los Angeles Times, 11/5/04]

The website description for www.socialsecurity.org - apparently unchanged since 2004 - invites visitors to "Read about privatization and benefits of moving current Social Security systems capital into private pension funds." [Page source, http://www.socialsecurity.org, accessed 10/7/08]

In their October 6 press release, the Schuring campaign quotes the Project on Social Security Choice's claim that the Social Security Trust Fund "has no money in it and it never did." This is a resurrection of George W. Bush's widely-mocked claim in 2005 that Social Security was nothing but "I.O.U.s" inside a "filing cabinet." As the Akron Beacon Journal recently reported, "Bush's statements left many economists shaking their heads..." ["Social Security more solvent than most Americans realize," Akron Beacon Journal, 8/24/08]

In the state legislature last year, Schuring voted to strip half a billion dollars from state pension funds while raising the retirement age. [127 SB 148] He was the only State Representative to vote against creating the Golden Buckeye program that negotiates lower prescription drug prices for Ohio seniors. [124 HB 4] Schuring refused to support the discount drug program after an amendment he sponsored to release Golden Buckeye cardholder names to the public was rejected.

In an interview in Alliance on August 14, Schuring told reporters and editors from Dix Communications, "I think everything should be on the table" when it comes to Social Security reform. ["Kirk Schuring on Social Security/Medicare," Dix Communications, 9/5/08]

The 2006 Congressional Budget Office report cited by Boccieri at the Greater Canton Veterans Council forum projected that Social Security will remain solvent until 2046. ["Updated Long-Term Projections for Social Security," Congressional Budget Office, 6/06] A newly-released CBO report actually extends the program's projected solvency to 2049. ["Updated Long-Term Projections for Social Security," Congressional Budget Office, 8/08]

OH-16: Schuring on Wrong Side of Economic Crisis

Blocked predatory lending crackdown, wants more giveaways to Wall Street

A devastating week for the U.S. financial sector has underscored the danger of congressional candidate Kirk Schuring’s economic policies for working families in the 16th Congressional District and across America.

Democratic candidate John Boccieri said today:

"Kirk Schuring's economic philosophy is as bankrupt as Lehman Brothers. He is not offering the change that middle class families need to bounce back from this economic crisis."

Schuring is staking his campaign on the same failed policies that caused the crisis by constantly siding with Wall Street over Main Street. His policy stances will actually worsen the impact of economic instability for middle class families.

FACT: Schuring blocked crackdowns on predatory lenders in the state legislature. In 2001, he helped push through a sham reform bill supported by predatory lenders in order to prevent Ohio's local communities from regulating out-of-control predatory mortgage loans. [HB 386; "Home Security," The Columbus Dispatch, 9/21/05]

FACT: Schuring’s top economic priority is giving more tax breaks to the Wall Street firms that created this financial mess. Corporate tax giveaways are the very first item in Schuring’s “jobs plan” – but he has not proposed a single tax cut directed at the middle class. [www.schuringforcongress.com/issues, accessed 9/24/08]

FACT: Schuring's response to the crisis focuses only on helping Wall Street. In an interview on WHBC this morning, Schuring did not once call for direct assistance to the innocent homeowners at the heart of this crisis.

FACT: While Schuring claims to oppose out-of-control spending in Washington, he insists on an open-ended commitment to spending $5,000 per second in Iraq, which has already led to the largest budget deficit in American history, forced the government to borrow billions from nations like China, and left us with limited resources to stabilize our struggling economy. [“16th District Notebook,” The Canton Repository, 9/21/08]

FACT: Schuring has said “I think everything should be on the table” when it comes to Social Security. [“Kirk Schuring on Social Security/Medicare,” accessed 9/24/08] Schuring's Republican allies in Washington have been trying for years to turn Social Security over to Wall Street, and Schuring’s stunningly anti-senior record in the state legislature makes clear that he can’t be trusted to look out for older Americans in Congress. ["Boccieri Calls for Protecting Social Security on 73rd Anniversary"]

Let the facts speak for themselves; Kirk Schuring's policy positions are not what the working families of Ohio's 16th Congressional District need in the United States Congress.

OH-16: Date Set for Fourth Boccieri-Schuring Debate

Date Set for Fourth Boccieri-Schuring Debate

Schuring, Canton Chamber of Commerce Reject Additional Forums

Both 16th District congressional candidates have agreed to a fourth debate before the November election. This discussion will take place live on the WHBC radio show "Points to Ponder" on October 15.

Unfortunately, Sen. Kirk Schuring has refused a debate proposed by the AARP that was to take place at Stark State College of Technology. Sen. John Boccieri had agreed to this debate, but the AARP has canceled the event after Schuring rejected their offer.

Senator Major John Boccieri(D-Alliance) responded to the news as follows:

"It's unfortunate that Senator Schuring refused to participate in an open discussion about the issues facing our seniors in this election. Social Security, pension protections, and the cost of health care and prescription drugs are vital concerns that the next Congress will have to address, and it's disheartening that Senator Schuring is unwilling to do so."

Don Singer, a representative of the Boccieri campaign, also responded to the Canton Chamber of Commerce's cancellation of a debate that both candidates were willing to participate in:

"After much progress, I'm disappointed that the Chamber of Commerce suddenly closed the door on negotiations despite Senator Boccieri's willingness to debate the candidate they had just endorsed."

What gives? The Canton Chamber of Commerce endorses Schuring, plans a debate, but as soon as John Boccieri accepts they pull the plug? I might be wrong, but this just doesn't pass "the smell test". As for the AARP debate, I think we covered that here.

OH-16: John Boccieri - Protecting Social Security

Retirement and Social Security - Supporting America's Seniors

Citizens who have spent their entire lives contributing to the strength of America deserve the best support and care we can provide. The keys to a secure, comfortable retirement include a strong Social Security system, robust pensions and retirement savings, and high-quality, affordable health care services.

John has consistently supported seniors in the Ohio state legislature, working to protect pensions, control prescription drug costs and improve in-home health care and nursing home care. In Congress, he will fight to secure the promise of a comfortable retirement for this generation and many more to come.

John will fight for these priorities in Washington:

Protect and Strengthen Social Security

Social Security is a vital program that helps millions of Americans in their senior years. It must be protected and preserved.

John opposes any effort to privatize Social Security. Contrary to the claims of alarmists, Social Security will remain solvent and pay full benefits for decades to come. The program faces a long-term challenge, and we should take careful steps that will secure the benefits of this successful program for future generations with minimal impact on taxpayers or beneficiaries today.

Help Workers Save for Retirement

While Social Security provides an essential safety net, a comfortable retirement requires additional long-term savings. Today, the amount Americans save for retirement depends largely on the type of savings programs their employer chooses to provide. Roughly half of the U.S. workforce has no retirement plan at work, dramatically reducing the chances that workers will save enough to supplement Social Security in retirement.

We can address this problem by providing easy retirement savings options for workers who do not receive a retirement plan through their employer. Giving these workers incentives to enroll in their own retirement savings accounts would make saving simple and let them continue saving even when they leave or change jobs. This system would also ease burdens on employers, who should be encouraged to make matching contributions to employees’ retirement savings.

Enhance Pension Protections

Workers who have paid into an employer-provided retirement plan must have every guarantee that they will actually receive their benefits when they retire. Employers cannot be allowed to fold a company and leave employees who have been working there for decades with dramatically reduced pension payments or no pension at all.

We need to strengthen the laws that protect pensions to ensure that companies are responsibly managing their pension liabilities and that workers receive the benefits they were promised even if a company declares bankruptcy. We should also give employers and employees incentives to choose retirement savings options that maximize security and minimize risk.

Strengthen and Improve Medicare

42 million Americans currently receive health care support from Medicare. This vital program can be made more effective and cost-efficient by:

• Allowing Medicare to Negotiate Lower Prescription Drug Prices.

Medicare Part D currently bans the government from negotiating with drug companies to get seniors lower prices on prescription drugs – even though the VA, Department of Defense, and other government agencies are allowed to negotiate drug prices. This ban was added to the Medicare law by a Congressman who now works as the top lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry. With the cost of brand name prescription drugs rising 50% since 2002, it’s time to end this ban and allow Medicare to negotiate cheaper drug prices for seniors.

• Closing the Medicare Part D Coverage Gap.

Medicare D currently provides no help with prescription drug expenses over $2,500 and under $5,700 per year – a large gap in coverage often called the “donut hole.” We should act to shrink this gap and help seniors avoid unmanageable drug costs.

• Emphasizing Preventive Care.

Providing easy, affordable access to health services to prevent illness or catch medical problems early is one of the most effective ways to reduce costs across our health care system. Medicare should provide incentives to beneficiaries to seek preventive care.

Fix Our Broken Health Care System

High-quality health care is especially important for older Americans. Those between the ages of 55 and 64 spend almost twice as much on health care as people between 35 and 44, and costs only rise from there. Health care premiums have doubled since 2001.

We need to overhaul our healthcare system to ensure that every American can receive quality, affordable care. Encouraging preventive care, making health coverage portable from one job to the next, and ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions will go a long way toward fixing our health care system. Through a combination of public and private solutions, we can put patients and doctors first, control costs, and give all Americans the choice they want and the care they need.

Improve the Quality and Affordability of Long-Term Care

As America’s population ages, access to a range of choices for long-term care is more important than ever. We need to ensure the quality of in-home professional caregivers and nursing home facilities, and give families the resources and knowledge they need to provide their own care and make informed long-term care decisions. This will require strong standards, increased access to information about care options for seniors and their families, and investments in training for caregivers.

Help with High Heating Costs

The rising price of oil not only impacts prices at the gas pump but the cost to heat many homes during the winter months. The Low-Income Heating Assistance Program helps many seniors afford the cost of heating oil, and we must ensure that this program is prepared to meet rising need as fuel costs increase.

"With two parents who are retired, this is a personal issue for me. We need to support our citizens who have worked hard and given back to their communities their entire lives." ~ Senator Major John Boccieri(D-Alliance), Thursday, August 14, 2008

Opponent Kirk Schuring has not only voted to raise the retirement age, strip half a billion dollars from state pension funds, and block lower prescription drug costs for seniors, but actually sponsored legislation to eliminate privacy protections for Golden Buckeye cardholders by releasing their names to the public. Schuring was the only State Representative to vote against the Golden Buckeye program to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors.

Listen to John discussing the success of Social Security and his plans to preserve it.

OH-16: John Boccieri Calls for Protecting Social Security

Boccieri Calls for Protecting Social Security on 73rd Anniversary

Boccieri's complete plan is available on his campaign website. (Click here to read the full plan.)

Boccieri said today:

"I will fight in Congress to keep Social Security strong for future generations and protect it from politicians who want to privatize it and hand it over to Wall Street."

Since the enactment of the Social Security Act, poverty rates among America's seniors have fallen from over 35% to under 10%. Contrary to the claims of alarmists, Social Security as currently structured will continue to pay full benefits until at least 2046 according to the Congressional Budget Office.

In Congress, Boccieri will take careful steps to secure the benefits of Social Security for future generations with minimal impact on taxpayers or beneficiaries today. His plan to support America's seniors also calls for:

Helping workers save for retirement
Enhancing pension protections
Strengthening and improving Medicare
Fixing America's broken health care system
Improving the quality and affordability of long-term care
Helping seniors with high heating costs

Boccieri has been a strong supporter of seniors in the state legislature, fighting to protect pensions, reduce prescription drug costs and improve in-home health care and nursing home care.

Opponent Kirk Schuring has not only voted to raise the retirement age, strip half a billion dollars from state pension funds, and block lower prescription drug costs for seniors, but actually sponsored legislation to eliminate privacy protections for Golden Buckeye cardholders by releasing their names to the public. Schuring was the only State Representative to vote against the Golden Buckeye program to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors.

This would make for a good opportunity for a "comparison and contrast", but Schuring does not even acknowledge Social Security on his web-site.

Senator Major John Boccieri(D-Alliance) drives home the importance of this issue to all of us:

"With two parents who are retired, this is a personal issue for me. We need to support our citizens who have worked hard and given back to their communities their entire lives."

Does Kirk Schuring even care about the elderly?