Bishop AARP Town Hall Meeting Draws Large Crowd

More than 250 Suffolk County seniors attended a forum on Thursday, July 21 at Brookhaven Town Hall with AARP and Rep. , D-Southampton, to discuss proposed drastic cuts to social security and Medicare funding in an effort to raise the nation's debt ceiling.

According to polling taken at the meeting, 87 percent of those in attendance would be less likely to reelect their member of Congress if they voted for higher Medicaid premiums, and 91 percent would be less likely to reelect a member of Congress who supported cuts to social security.

Half of older Americans rely on social security for 50 percent or more of their household income. Social Security keeps 36 percent of those 65 and older from descending into poverty, studies show. There are 500,000 Suffolk County residents that are Medicare recipients.

Bishop said the Republican drafted budget resolution that just passed in the House of Representatives for the fiscal year of 2012 — which all but four Republicans voted for and every Democrat voted against — will have no change to Medicare for those who are currently 55 and over, but for those 54 or younger, when they turn 65 Medicare would "no longer exist as we know it."

While Medicare is now a guarantee when residents turn 65, under the plan that recently passed the House of Representatives, once a person becomes a senior they will be given a voucher to purchase a private insurance policy.

"It assumes private insurers will sell affordable policies to seniors," said Bishop. "The reason Medicare came into existence was because insurers wouldn't do it back when they were not for profit."

Bishop said that under current law approximately 75 percent of seniors' health care cost is covered by Medicare with 25 percent out of pocket.  If the proposed law passed, in eight years 35 percent will be covered with 65 percent paid out of pocket.

Also addressed was the cap, cut and balance plan which was introduced into the House on July 15 and voted on July 19. It cuts current spending from 24 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to 21 percent next year and 19 percent going forward, and would impose a constitutional amendment that requires a balanced budget.

The GDP has exceeded 18 percent every year since the mid '60s in pre-Medicaid days "when a third of our seniors lived in poverty," said Bishop.

Bishop said he is confident that the House bill will not pass the Senate and called it "a piece of legislation designed to make a statement not to make a law."

Peter Hanson, AARP volunteer and Congressional District I coordinator said the government should be tackling waste, fraud, tax loopholes and unnecessary government spending not social security.

"You've earned benefits over a lifetime of hard work and paying taxes, we shouldn't just change the rules on people who played by the rules their whole life," said Hanson.

He urged those who agree with him to contact their members of Congress.

"We want to flood the halls of Congress with letters and calls," urged Hanson. "We need to remind lawmakers this is about real people."