By Ralph McCutchen, TSCL Chairman of the Board
Seniors are in for one challenging year ahead!  The newly elected TSCL Board of Trustees is hard at work already, taking your concerns door to door on Capitol Hill.  I’m stepping in as the new Chairman, taking over the reins from George Smith.  As always, we are unpaid volunteers – and all retirees ourselves.

Medicare is rolling out one tangled web of confusion with the new Medicare "Part D" drug program.  We recently learned that tens of thousands of seniors are losing their drug coverage as their employers or unions drop older Medigap drug coverage.  Those folks were told that they would need to get their drug coverage under the new Medicare Part "D."  That hasn’t been easy.  TSCL has been barraged with your questions about the complicated new program.  We’re concerned that some seniors who find the program too confusing, or who suffer from debilitating health conditions, may be without coverage, and could have unexpected out-of-pocket drug costs.

Although seniors received the highest Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in 14 years, it was just 4.1%.  Meanwhile, the monthly Medicare Part B premium increased 13% to $88.50, and heating fuel costs are up 50%, even 100% in some parts of the country.  We continue to press for a FAIR COLA!

Of equal concern is the outrageous U.S. / Mexico Social Security Totalization treaty, which continues to move forward and which will, if passed, create a massive drain on Social Security.  Worst of all, it would give benefits to people who have broken our laws as illegal immigrants and illegal workers.

Notch Reform remains locked up in committee, but Members of Congress steadily continue to sign on as co-sponsors, especially at the urging of their Notch Baby constituents.

We’re honored to have received recognition in the past by Members of Congress.  Not too long ago, Representative Gil Gutknecht (MN) addressed the House of Representatives saying, "These are people who volunteer.  They do not get paid large retainers.  All that they do is work on behalf of their members and on behalf of seniors everywhere.  When they saw what was happening to the cost of prescription drugs, they stepped up, and they made a difference."

TSCL is not going to let a single one of these issues go unnoticed by Members of Congress.  We plan to continue to "step up and make a difference" defending your earned benefits.

December 2005