For Immediate Release
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
AFSCME Urges Congress to Reject Medicare Agreement
WASHINGTON —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, stands adamantly against the latest proposed agreement on the Medicare prescription drug bill.
"This latest proposal is a partisan smoke screen, designed to trick seniors into thinking they are going to be taken care of, when they are actually getting their benefits ripped out from under them," said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee. "We strongly urge Congress to do the right thing and oppose this agreement. Give seniors what they deserve — a real, comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit."
McEntee continued, "One-third of retirees, including thousands of AFSCME members, who have worked hard, played by the rules and were promised quality coverage during their retirement could lose their employer-sponsored prescription drug coverage."
He added, "This misguided agreement requires states to permanently pay for 75 percent of the costs of providing drug coverage for this population. The Bush administration is trying to pass the cost for this program off onto the already cash-strapped states and local governments. This is the wrong move at the wrong time."
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, is one of the nation's largest and fastest growing unions in the AFL-CIO with more than 1.4 million members. AFSCME organizes for social and economic justice in the workplace and through political action and legislative advocacy.
