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NEWS & LETTERS, NOVEMBER 2003Retirees blow whistle on CongressmanBakersfield, Calif.--Oct. 10 turned into a red-letter day for Bakersfield and Congressman Bill Wilson, who has represented that conservative congressional district for longer than anyone can remember. Wilson, who has spent his congressional career trying to get rid of Medicare, had an office visit by a delegation of 254 people from the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), a new organization of retirees now being set up on a national basis by the AFL-CIO. The theme was “Blow the Whistle on Bill Wilson” for his mission against Medicare, and there was a tasteful white plastic whistle on a gala red ribbon hanging around every neck. Television cameras were on hand for what may well have been the first ever grassroots visit to Wilson’s office. The congressman was in Washington despite prior notification of the visit, and nobody in his office appeared to defend his stance on Medicare. Undismayed, the visitors sang songs, blew their whistles, paraded with their “save Medicare” banners and posed politely for the media cameras. Their point was well made. ARA people in Bakersfield had their ranks augmented by busloads of concerned seniors from Los Angeles, Fresno, San Jose, Sacramento and the East Bay. Although picket lines and mass political protest are routine in Northern California venues, for Bakersfield, long an agribusiness bastion, this visit was an event. The ARA is urging that Congress not pass a Medicare bill this session. One Medicare bill from the House and one from the Senate are now in conference committee charged with the task of reconciling them. Because the effect of this legislation would be to begin the process of privatizing Medicare, progressive members of Congress are working to defeat it. --Retiree, Oakland, Calif. |
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