Federal Congressional Advocacy
CWAG’s Federal Congressional Platform
1. Work to “Fix Medicare Rx” including: the negotiation of drug prices; the elimination of the “donut hole” or gap in coverage/the elimination of the asset test in determining eligibility for low-income assistance (extra help); the option of receiving the Part D benefit from Medicare instead of from private insurance companies; the development of standardized plans similar to Medigap insurance plans.
2. Strengthen Medicare as follows: increase the per capita Medicare reimbursement in Wisconsin that is below the current national average reimbursement rate; oppose any increase in the eligibility age for Medicare and any further proposals to privatize Medicare; oppose legislation which makes cuts in Medicare; increase regulations and oppose any further incentives for older people to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans; update reimbursement criteria for Medicare outpatient rehabilitation services, such as Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.
3. Strengthen Social Security as follows: oppose any use of private accounts to replace current Social Security retirement benefits; oppose any further increase in age to qualify for full Social Security benefits; support removing the cap on wages for which payment of Social Security (FICA) taxes is required; raise the federal income levels for taxing Social Security benefits and then index the amounts for inflation
4. Support the reauthorization and increased funding for the Older Americans Act programs and services. Oppose OAA changes that would weaken the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), Protection and Advocacy and intergenerational and multigenerational programs.
5. Support legislation to provide universal health care for all people through a public option insurance pool.
6. Continue to support rescinding current Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provisions that deny benefits to legal immigrants not able to achieve naturalization within seven years following entry into the United States.
7. Oppose making the 2001-2003 federal tax cuts permanent.
8. Support federal campaign finance reform legislation and stronger codes of ethics for members of congress, the U.S. Supreme Court and the President and his/her staff.
9. Support expansion of Hospice care to all Medicare beneficiaries, especially in rural areas of the country.
10. Oppose changes to Medicaid programs which deny access to nursing homes and other necessary health care services.
11. Support legislation for federal and state funding of stem cell research, along with public healthcare safeguards, with benefits affordable to everyone.
12. Support legislation to reimburse volunteer and caregiver drivers at the same rate as business mileage required by the IRS.
13. Protection of pensions and retiree 401K and other savings accounts.
14. Accessible and affordable prescription drugs, transparency and ban on gifts and entertainment to prescribers and a ban on data mining by drug companies and medical device companies.
15. Support federal legislation that would strengthen consumer protections from banks, other financial institutions and Wall Street brokerage firms by: creating a new federal agency to police consumer lending, set up a warning systems for financial risk, force failing business firms to liquidate, and map new rules and regulations for financial institutions like Goldman Sachs that have been largely uncontrolled. This legislation would prevent firms like Goldman Sachs from playing the role of “market makers” peddling financial investments/instruments with one hand and then turn around and bet against them with the other hand.
16. Support federal legislation that would require all healthcare providers to conduct random drug and alcohol testing of all health care employees, medical staff and outside contracting firms.
17. Support criminal penalties and civil damages/fines for those oil companies who cause environmental damage as the result of maintenance neglect, insufficient environmental disaster plans and gross negligence in the drilling of new oil exploration sites and existing drilling rigs/platforms.
18. Support closing all federal tax loopholes so that corporations pay their fair share for federal services and taxes.
