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The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents January 2026 Trump Administration Abandons Attack on Older Disabled Americans Steve Kofahl Late last month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) withdrew a proposed rule that would have made it far more difficult for older workers to access their earned Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Medicare benefits. The rule would have also denied Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid benefits to older low-in-come individuals. The rule would have directly affected entitlement to cash SSDI and SSI payments, but the loss of Medicare and Medicaid benefit eligibility for disabled individuals would have constituted severe collateral damage. SSA disability determinations are based on medical evidence, work history, jobs available in the U.S., education, and age. The rule would have limited age consideration to applicants over age 60, or eliminated age as a factor altogether. A September 18 analysis by Jack Smalligan, of the Urban Institute, estimated that eligibility for SSDI applicants alone could be reduced by as much as 20% overall, and by up to 30% for older workers. Even a 10% reduction could cause 500,000 people to lose access to $82 billion in benefits over 10 years, including 80,000 widows and children. Many older workers, denied SSDI benefits, would likely claim early retirement benefits at age 62, reducing their lifetime benefits by 30 percent compared to what they would have received in SSDI, which converts to unreduced retirement benefits at full retirement age (67). House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John Larson and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz led the effort by only 165 (should have been more) Democratic members in calling on SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano to halt the plan. Their October 20 press release identified the proposed rule as a priority of Project 2025 architect Russell Vought, Trump’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget. It noted that the average SSDI beneficiary is 56 years old, many had worked physically demanding jobs, and that nearly 42% were found to be eligible because age was considered in the decision. They noted that adaptability to new skills and jobs generally decreases with age, as do the effects of disabling impairments. The letter closed with an appeal to reverse recent SSA staff losses, and to present a plan to rebuild frontline and adjudicative capacity in order to eliminate backlogs and meet statutory obligations to claimants and beneficiaries. President Trump has repeatedly assured Americans that he will not cut, or even touch, Social Security. He has demonstrated, however, through his remarks and actions, that he has little regard for disabled Americans. Nevertheless, in this case, advocates and enough House Democrats pushed back hard, and prevailed rather quickly. The great Social Security Act programs are a principal focus of PSARA efforts. The 1935 Social Security Act that established retirement benefits (Title 2) has been amended since that date to add SSDI in 1956, Medicare (Title 18) and Medicaid (Title 19) in 1965, and SSI (Title 16) in 1972. Another amendment extended coverage to self employed individuals in 1951, and there have been many other expansions and improvements over the 90 years since FDR signed the first iteration of the Act. However, there have been no improvements for 43 years, which was when President Nixon signed the 1972 amendment that created SSI, establishing Federal benefits for low-income aged, blind, and disabled individuals. It is time for additional improvements. Not only do we need to protect existing programs, let's collectively determine to expand these vital programs and ensure that wealthy individuals pay their fair share. We must not allow discouragement and despair to defeat our efforts to make a better America for ourselves, neighbors, children, and grandchildren. Whether it’s addressing environmental degradation, race and gender discrimination, homelessness, health care, income inequality, immigration, oligarchy, or any of our priorities, we need to educate ourselves and others, and push back hard against the cruel and incompetent elected and appointed officials who plague us. We can win these battles, and we must. Steve Kofahl is a retired President of AFGE 3937, representing Social Security workers, and a member of PSARA's Executive Board. < Back to Table of Contents

In the Advocate May 2025: Cindy Domingo Resisting Immigrant Deportations – This Is Just the Beginning Cindy Domingo Two hundred fifty people packed Seattle’s International Association of Machinists Local 751 union hall on May 3rd, with another 60+ online, to de- liver a powerful message to the Trump administration that they would resist deportations occurring at a massive level in the US. In a show of unity, a multi-racial crowd of Asian Americans, Latinos, and white people coming from over 150 organizations/affiliations listened to three different panels composed of immigrant rights organizations and advocates, elected officials, lawyers, educators, and representatives from faith-based organizations, labor, and community-based organizations. The new organization Standing for Democracy was the convenor of the conference, which was cosponsored by another 20 organizations, including PSARA and the major statewide immigrant rights organizations NW Immi- grant Rights Project and Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. Opening keynote speaker Rosalinda Guillen, Executive Director and cofounder of Community to Com- munity, provided a vision for Standing for Democracy as she recalled the history and work of the Washington State Rainbow Coalition (WSRC) of the 1980-90’s. WSRC, often portrayed as a multi-racial movement that had an inside/outside Democratic Party strategy, was part of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, but maintained its independence from Jackson. The WSRC developed a comprehensive forward- looking program, which encompassed a local, state, national, and international platform that guided its domestic and foreign policies that remain relevant today. Elected officials and political candidates coming to the WSRC for endorsements were measured by that program. For many during that period, the WSRC became the model of what participatory democracy could look like in the context of a progressive program and party. Presentations by County Council member Teresa Mosqueda and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (via video message) both signaled that the first 100 days of the Trump administration’s policies are quickly moving us towards fascism. The attacks on immigrants, misinformation, denial of due process, and Trump’s seizure of power held by Congress and the Courts is the classic playbook of dictators and authoritarian regimes. Both women called on conference attendees to continue to resist and organize because it is the power of the people that will stop the dismantling of our democracy. The conference reflected the willing- ness of people to come together to de- fend immigrants but also peoples’ need to develop concrete strategies and plans to further disrupt Trump’s over- all move towards fascism. As Jayapal stated, the attacks against immigrants are about all of us and all our democrat- ic rights. While Standing for Democracy in Washington State is just beginning, some ideas from the conference are already taking form. Out of the conference panel on litigation strategies, a group of lawyers led by Attorney Michael Withey are developing a legal “Strike Force” that will use various tools like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to uncover information on the strategies of ICE and local police forces in Washington State. As a sanctuary state, local police forces are not allowed to cooperate with ICE on sharing information on immigrants or cooperating on arrests for federal civil immigration violations. Information from FOIAs could lead to further lawsuits to stop illegal activity. King County Councilmember Jorge Baron, a longtime leader on immigration policy in Washington State and nationally, and Mosqueda both called upon Standing for Democracy and attendees to assist in developing and supporting policies that resist the Trump administration’s attacks on im- migrants, diversity/equity/inclusion, and programs such as Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare. Washington State has already been targeted by Trump for severe federal budget cut- backs. Although that policy has been contested in court, the two Councilmembers along with Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, who presented on the allies panel, need a strong movement to develop new revenue to support core programs for working class people of our state and those most impacted by poverty and racism. Organizers for Standing for Democracy are considering going to the vari- ous organizations that cosponsored the conference and others across the state who are interested in building an inter- sectional movement to resist Trump’s anti-democratic policies and his moves toward fascism. There are many organizations operating throughout Washington State that work on a variety of issues, including in rural Washington and in municipalities of various sizes. These organizations do great work in their communities. As a new organization, we want to know how we can move forward together without usurping what others are doing already. One of the ideas that evolved out of the Social Forum model was the concept of Peoples’ Assemblies where communities of particular areas or sectors come together to develop their own platform based on their experiences, knowledge, and aspirations. This model has the potential of develop- ing a statewide platform similar to the Washington State Rainbow Coalition. Another tool that the National office of Standing for Democracy has developed, which was tested at the conference, was a curriculum on fascism that could potentially be adapted for use in particular sectors or communities. Standing for Democracy is holding a follow-up Zoom gathering on May 22. It is open to conference attendees who would like to further develop ideas and strategies for working together to grow our movement. Cindy Domingo is PSARA's Co-VP for Outreach and a veteran activist with LELO (Legacy of Equality, Leadership, and Organizing) and APALA (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance). BACK TO THE ADVOCATE

Read American Medical Association’s (AMA) In Opposition to the Medicare WISeR Program

PSARA, August 2025, Retire Advocate, Table of Contents, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action The Retiree ADVOCATE The Monthly Publication of PSARA EDUCATION FUND Vol XL, No 8 August 2025 “Uniting Generations for a Secure Future” In the Advocate August 2025: Click Here For the Advocate Print Version CMS Expands Prior Authorization in Original Medicare Robby Stern reports on the implementation by Medicare management (CMS) of a test program in six states (including WA) that will require require Original Medicare patients receive authorization on a variety of procedures. How To Make America Sick The Trump administration’s plan to “Make America Healthy Again” will make Americans’ health worse. In our current upside down world Donald M. Berwick, MD reviews how RFK Jr. and the Trump administration are exploring ways to “make America sick” by cutting care. The One Big Beautiful Billionaire Act: Tax Breaks for the Wealthy Paid for by the Rest of Us Rick Timmons drills down highlighting how Republican budget plan not only attacks Medicaid, Medicare, and education and sets the stage for major cuts in Social Security. All to benefit the wealthy in the short term. Social Security: A detailed behind-the-curtain look at what's going on, posted by a Social Security Administration worker In a series of short internet posts an anonymous Social Security worker pulls the current back on how the Trump Administration is working to destroy Social Security. Vote Yes on Prop 1 to Keep Seattle’s Elections in the Hands of the People For those voting in Seattle August 5th primary includes Proposition 1 renewal of the Democracy Voucher Program. As Alice Woldt reports this has been an extremely successful program. PSARA endorses passage of Prop 1. GENIUSes at Work: Crypto Buys the Government The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act is now law. What could go wrong. Michael Righi discusses the risks and who stands to benefit. You’ve probably already guessed who stands to benefit. PSARA Letter to the Washington State Congressional Delegation National Climate Assessment has been funded since 1990 under the US Global Change Research Program, the next report is due in 2028. The Trump Administration has cut the funding for the Assessment and fired all the authors working on the upcoming Sixth National Climate Assessment, Please read the PSARA letter to our WA State Federal Legislators requesting that they pursue hearings to shine a light on this issue. PSARA Signs an Open Letter Rejecting the House Homeland Security Committee’s Unfounded Inquiries into 200+ NonprofitOrganizations Republicans from the house and Senate are demanding information on contributors from over 200+ nonprofits. PSARA has signed onto a letter protesting this politization of Non profits who have done nothing but carry out their work. You can read the letter here.

In the Advocate July 2025: 4,000 Attend No Kings Event at People’s Park, Tacoma! John Alessio Our Vote, Our Choice, Our Power, Our Voice!” “Power to the People, We Insist-Billionaires Should Not Exist!” “Say it Once,Say it Twice, We Will Not Put Up With ICE!” These are just a few of the chants heard at People’s Park Saturday, June 14th. PSARA joined Indivisible Tacoma and many other organizations to create an informative, riveting, and festive event on “No Kings Day”. Other participating groups were: 350 Tacoma; AF- SCME Council 28; Evergreen Resistance Tacoma; Black Panther Party, The TSM Shop; Jewish Voice for Peace Tacoma; La Resistencia; Rainbow Center; The Tacoma Urban League; LD27, LD28, and LD29 Democrats; Oscar’s Enemies; Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Pierce County Immigration Alliance; Tacoma Democratic Socialists of America; Tacoma Fellowship of Reconciliation; Tacoma for All; Tacoma Veterans for Peace; The Conversation 253; Washington Wildlife First; and United Food & Commercial Workers Local 367. Careful planning included meetings and continuous communication between the leaders of many of these organizations to assure a safe and meaningful protest of the Trump administration’s immoral and unconstitutional activities. Preparation included de-escalation training sessions that resulted in a roaming Safety Team during the event. A First Aid Sation was created, with drinking water, snacks, and other relevant supplies. Various groups had their own information booths, plus a booth for sign-making, and even a face painting booth. People’s Park was humming with excitement and enthusiasm. Four thousand people, peacefully demonstrating, were completely rapt for two and a half hours listening to inspiring speeches about what is being done, and what still needs to be done, to stop Trump and his minions from destroying our democracy and inflicting more grievous harm on large segments of our population. The event started and ended with lively protest music, and there were clever chants interspersed throughout. The importance of local elections was emphasized, and people were encouraged to get involved by door-knocking, providing support to progressive candidates, and especially voting in the upcoming 2025 Primary on August 5 and again in the General on November 4th! Action events were announced, such as a June 18th “Door-Knocking for Introverts” to help people become effective doorknockers. On July 9th Indivisible Tacoma endorsed candidates will participate in a Candidate Forum at 6:30PM at Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Church, 1115 So. 56th, Tacoma. La Resistencia and others will continue to strategize and call for united actions against the activities of ICE and the Northwest Detention Center - a critical court hearing is set for September. Some people may want to attend the “Breakfast With the Sheriff” meetings to remind Pierce county Sheriff Keith Swank that Washington state laws protect people from unconstitutional harassment and arrest. The next scheduled breakfast is 7-9AM Saturday, June 21st. We know he would love to see us. A Facebook message to a friend read: “I was at People’s Park with my brother who is blind and paralyzed on his left side. We had the best day. He felt part of society.” That statement captures the mood and inclusive spirit of the Tacoma “No Kings Day”. Let’s keep it going! John Alessio is a member of PSARA and Indivisible Tacoma. BACK TO THE ADVOCATE

Vote Yes on Prop 1 to Keep Seattle’s Elections in the Hands of the People, Alice Woldt In the Advocate August 2025: Vote Yes on Prop 1 to Keep Seattle’s Elections in the Hands of the People Alice Woldt For more than a quarter-century, PSARA has fought to protect the security and dignity of older Americans and the generations that follow. That mission is deeply tied to the health of our democracy. If billionaires and corporate interests drown out our voices, we all pay the price – whether it’s in lost retirement security, unaffordable healthcare, or neglect of our most vulnerable neighbors. That’s why I’m urging PSARA members to vote Yes on Proposition 1 this August to renew funding for Seattle’s groundbreaking Democracy Voucher Program. Since voters first approved it nearly a decade ago, this program has transformed how our city elections work by putting real power back in the hands of everyday people. Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program gives every resident four $25 vouchers to contribute to local candidates of their choice. It’s a simple idea that has had extraordinary results. Instead of local campaigns relying on a handful of wealthy donors and corporate PACs, they’re fueled by small contributions from people like us – retirees, renters, working families. And the proof is overwhelming: Since the program began, small donor participation has increased fivefold, with more than 105,000 Seattle residents using Democracy Vouchers. The vast majority were first-time donors, many from lower-income house- holds and communities of color who previously had little voice in our local politics. The candidate pool is more diverse than ever. There’s been an 86% jump in the number of candidates per race, opening the door for more women, younger candidates, and people of color to run competitive campaigns. And it’s made our elections more fair. Contributions under $100 have surged by 156%, while large contributions over $250 have dropped by 93%. Big out-of-city money has plummeted by up to 84%, making local campaigns truly local again. This is precisely the kind of change many of us dreamed of when we first took up the fight to reduce the influence of big money in politics. And it’s working. A study even found that Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program boosted voter turnout by nearly 5 percentage points – an enormous shift in local elections that typically struggle to bring people to the polls. Right now, we have a chance to protect all of this progress. Prop 1 would renew the small property tax levy that funds the Democracy Voucher Program for another 10 years. For the average Seattle homeowner, it’s a modest investment – about $13 a year – to keep our democracy strong, fair, and accountable. Without renewal, the program’s dedicated funding will disappear. Seattle would either have to drastically cut back or eliminate the program, or raid the city’s general fund – already under strain from other vital needs. Worse, letting it lapse would send a terrible message: that we’re willing to let billionaires and special interests reclaim their grip on our elections, right when so much is at stake. Our country is at a crossroads. Across the nation, we’re seeing voting rights rolled back, dark money unleashed, and attempts to silence the voices of working people. Here in Seattle, we can show there’s another way. We can stand up for a democracy that works for retirees on fixed incomes, young families starting out, and everyone in between – not just the wealthy few. So here’s what you can do: Mark your calendar and return your ballot by August 5th. Talk to your friends, family, and neighbors – especially younger voters – about why voting Yes on Prop 1 matters for the future of our city and our democracy. And if you have questions or want more resources, visit www.YesOn Prop1Seattle.org. As a long-time advocate for democracy reforms, I’ve seen countless efforts come and go. Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program is different. It’s a proven success, built by voters, supported by voters, and now ready to be protected by voters once again. Let’s make sure we keep our elections of, by, and for the people. Vote Yes on Prop 1 this August. Alice Woldt is the former Executive Director of Fix Democracy First and Washington Public Campaigns and a member of PSARA. PSARA has endorsed a Yes vote on Prop 1. BACK TO THE ADVOCATE

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents October 2025 How WISeR Will Enable Companies to Profit from Pain – A Retired Physician’s Story Jaisri Lingappa, MD PhD As a retired and otherwise healthy physician, I recently endured weeks of intense pain this summer due to a herniated disk, which developed out of the blue without an obvious cause. This pain was beyond anything I had previously experienced – I am generally quite stoic, but these episodes reduced me to tears in the middle of the night. Disk herniation is a common spine condition that causes intense back pain and sciatica. The herniated (bulging) disk impinges on a spinal nerve causing inflammation that in turn increases pressure on the nerve leading to worse pain and inflammation in a vicious cycle. Epidural steroid injections are simple outpatient procedures that are performed in a few minutes without general anesthesia but must be done by a specialist using fluoroscopy (real- time X-ray imaging) to guide the injection to the site of the herniation. By delivering anti-inflammatory steroids to the exact site of the herniation, the epidural injection reduces the inflammation, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of pain and providing short term relief, often to a dramatic extent. In the long term, the patient’s immune system can trim the bulging disc, leading to a full recovery, but it is difficult for that healing process to begin when a patient is struggling with the vicious cycle of painful inflammation worsened by daily activity or impaired sleep. Thus, epidural steroid injection is a straightforward and minimally invasive procedure that can play a critical role in management of a common form of back pain. Pain specialists spend years learning when and how to use this important tool. Shockingly, “epidural steroid injection for pain management” is one of the 17 procedures that will soon require prior authorization for patients in Original (Traditional) Medicare in Washington State, thanks to a new program called WISeR(1) about to be instituted by Dr. Oz, the new Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS). My herniated disk prevented me from sleeping for more than 90 minutes at a time without severe pain for much of this past summer. Because my Washington State town lacks practitioners who offer epidural injection, I tried other approaches for pain relief, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, oral steroids, and intra- muscular steroid injections. But after seven weeks of repeated setbacks and severe sleep deprivation, I searched outside our area for the procedure. Because I am on Original Medicare, I was able to choose the best physician for this purpose regardless of location or network affiliation. A highly regarded pain specialist an hour away was able to schedule the initial visit in two weeks and the procedure, which included a diagnostic and therapeutic component, a week later. Within days after the procedure, I was sleeping pain-free for the first time in 10 weeks, and a couple days later I resumed my previous level of exercise. A month out from the procedure, I continue to be pain-free and my spine appears to be well on its way to healing. Under the new WISeR program, Washington State residents on Original Medicare will need prior authorization (PA) to obtain epidural steroid injections for pain management in the future, along with 16 other procedures - a list that could grow over time. Authorization will be decided by companies that use AI to make decisions and will gain profit through denying authorizations. This approach will be modeled on the current use of PA by Medicare Advantage (MA). MA, which is offered by for-profit insurers as an alternative to Original Medicare, has gained attention for the use of PA as a mechanism for enhancing corporate profits(2,3). “Data submitted by MA insurers show that 81.7% of prior authorization denials were overturned in 2023” upon appeal according to a recent article from Healthcare Uncovered (4). The success of most appeals shows that prior authorization denials are often medically inappropriate – in which case why is CMMS replicating MA programs already proven to be problematic (5) and imposing them on Original Medicare? I cannot begin to imagine how much worse it would have made my life to endure weeks or even months of additional excruciating pain and sleep deprivation while awaiting prior authorization and perhaps even an appeal. Is this what our country has come to? Will seniors now be forced to endure pain and illness, while knowing that relief used to be easily available if their physician deemed it necessary? Important procedures will soon be out of reach because our government allows corporations to reap huge profits by denying necessary healthcare. Citations: 1. WISeR Model RFA. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. P. 20. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/wiser-model-rfa.pdf 2. Medicare Advantage Plans Often Deny Needed Care, Federal Report Finds. Reed Abelson, The New York Times, April 28, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/28/ health/medicare-advantage-plans- report.html 3. Insurers Pledge to Ease Controversial Prior Approvals for Medical Care. Reed Abelson, The New York Times, June 20, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/ health/health-insurance-prior-authori- zation.html 4. CMS is Trying to Expand Prior Authorization in Traditional Medicare Even Though All Data Points Say That’s a Bad Idea. Rachel Madley, Healthcare Uncovered, July 7, 2025. https://healthcareuncovered.substack . com/p/cms-is-trying-to-expand-prior- authorization 5. About the Current Prior Authorization System. AMA Website FixPrior- Auth. https://fixpriorauth.org/issue Jaisri Lingappa is a retired physician and professor of global health, and a member of PSARA's Level the Playing Field task force. < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents June 2026 Louisiana v. Callais: The Supreme Court, Jim Crow, and Voting Rights Anne Watanabe On April 29, the US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais , eviscerating the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The VRA was enacted in 1965 to protect voters from racially discriminatory election practices. After the ruling, Louisiana Governor Landry ordered immediate suspension of an ongoing primary election for a House seat; the state senate plans to eliminate one of the Black-majority districts. At the time of writing, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia were redrawing or planning to redraw voting district maps, no longer constrained by the VRA. The Callais decision will have major impacts on the midterm elections and beyond. To fully comprehend this decision, it’s helpful to review the VRA’s history and purpose. In 1870, the 15th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting federal and state governments from denying or abridging a citizen’s right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” But a Jim Crow nation quickly resurrected barriers for Black voters, ranging from poll taxes to violent mobs. After the horrific attack on civil rights marchers on Bloody Sunday in Selma in 1964, President Johnson signed the VRA into law on August 6, 1965. The federal government immediately began enforcing the VRA. States, particularly in the south where nonwhite voters were in the majority, created new maps that reflected racial populations. The VRA includes two sections, Sections 2 and 5, that were once powerful weapons protecting voting rights. Section 5 included a “preclearance” provision requiring states with a history of racially discriminatory voting restrictions to submit changes to election laws or electoral district maps to the federal government for review. These “covered” states were required to show the changes were not discriminatory. In its 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder , the Court nullified Section 5. It concluded that gaps in turnout between Black and white voters had narrowed, rendering invalid the formula used to determine which states were covered. The justices pointed to high Black voter turnouts in 2008 and 2012, conveniently ignoring the possibility that the candidacy of President Barack Obama had driven Black voter turnout rates to high levels. A Brennan Center study found that the turnout gap greatly increased in the 10 years following the Shelby decision in the formerly covered states. Section 2 prohibits race-based vote dilution, meaning states may not create district maps depriving a group of nonwhite voters of an equal opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice. In 2022, the state was successfully sued by voters who argued that Louisiana was “packing” Black voters into a single voting district and diluting their votes - the 2020 census showed that Black Louisianans comprised one-third of the state’s population. The state redrew its map in 2024 to create a second Black-majority voting district. A group of white voters challenged that map, leading to the Callais decision. The Court concluded that the 2024 map violated the Constitution by taking race into account, and that the VRA did not authorize this consideration. Justice Alito, writing for the majority, proclaimed that Section 2 required a showing that the state “intentionally drew its districts to afford minority voters less opportunity because of their race.” Regardless of a map’s impacts on nonwhite voters, a challenge which “cannot disentangle race from the state’s race-neutral considerations, including politics" will fail. In other words, unless state officials confess that their intent is to disenfranchise nonwhite voters (rather than other political groups), no relief is available. Callais now makes it nearly impossible to enforce Section 2. Southern states are redrawing their voting maps, but the gutting of the VRA runs deeper than federal seats in southern states. State and local offices, school boards, etc., are all affected. In Washington State, GOP lawmakers seek to undo a map redrawn pursuant to a court ruling that an older map diluted Latino votes. Washington enacted a state voting rights act in 2018, and last session, the Washington Legislature passed a preclearance law. But it is at least arguable that under Callais , such laws could be challenged as being racially discriminatory. What can we do? There are no easy answers, but the threat to our democracy is immediate. Increasing voter turnout, especially in states redrawing their maps to weaken nonwhite votes, is essential. Civil rights groups, including the NAACP, ACLU, and others, are filing lawsuits to overturn “Jim Crow” redistricting. Please stay informed and engaged in state and national efforts to protect the right to vote. PSARA will alert members to these efforts, and we welcome your ideas and participation. And for now, our board members, civil rights leaders Larry and Rhonda Gossett, advise us all to “Keep hope alive!” Anne Watanabe is Chair of PSARA's Race and Gender Equity (RaGE) Committee. < Back to Table of Contents

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are Under Attack Social Security* Closing of SSA offices across the country. Announced plans to cut 7,000 employees. Reduction in phone customer support services. Increases in wait times for services. requiring in-person interviews for many recipients Data security has become a major concern at SSA, Medicare* The Trump administration is introducing a new control on Traditional Medicare in a six state demonstration program, which includes Washington State. This program, called WISeR, is an attempt to control your medicare benefits by requiring prior authorization before you and your doctor can make certain medical decisions. Threats to Social Security staffing may spill over to Medicare impacting customer service. Privatization of Medicare (Medicare Advantage) is expected to expand. In 2025. Medicare is expected to pay $84 billion more for Medicare Advantage, or about 20 percent higher, than if Medicare Advantage enrollees were enrolled in Traditional Medicare. Medicaid* Discussions are underway to significantly reduce or eliminate Medicaid. As part of its overall service to the low Income Community Medicaid assists Medicare patients in the following ways: Click here to see what the impacts to Medicaid will be for the State of Washington. One in five Medicare enrollees relies on Medicaid to help pay Medicare premiums and cost sharing. Nearly 30% of Medicaid funding goes to people with Medicare. Medicaid is the primary payer for 63% of nursing facility residents. Without Medicaid, over 12 million Medicare enrollees would experience gaps in care that jeopardize their health and well-being. * Click here to review our source documents What you can do: Alert your friends and family to challenges faced by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. On December 6th PSARA Board Members Robby Stern and Anne Watanabe (hosted by Dan Grey and Evegreen State College ) discuss the attacks on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Please listen to the interview and share with your friends: Click here to hear the interview Read Ann Widger’s Letter to Federal Employees and add your Experience in dealing with Social Security Sign the Social Security Works Letter: Tell Congress: Stop Musk and Trump from Destroying Social Security! Or separately write your U.S. Representative and your U.S. Senators. Even if you know that they support Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid make sure that they know how much you care about these entitlements and benefits and the importance of maintaining them for future generations. Participate in the Friday Rallies at the Seattle Federal Building Join PSARA Rallies to defend attacks on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid Click here for our Calendar page Click here for our resources page which further documents the attacks on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

Thank you for Completing PSARA ’ s 2024 Washington State Legislive Survey.

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents March 2025 SJM 8002 Hearing in Washington State Senate Tim Wheeler In a crowded hearing room in Olympia, WA, on Feb. 11, Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle) introduced SJM-8002, addressed to President Trump and the US House and Senate. The Senate Joint Memorial 8002 urges the lawmakers in Washington D.C. to enact a law to halt Medicare Advantage overcharges and fraud and to “level the playing field” by adding benefits to traditional Medicare and capping out-of-pocket expenses. Hasegawa told fellow Senators and a crowd that included members of PSARA, “This memorial comes from the people themselves. They drafted this legislation.” Medicare was enacted in 1965 as a “public good,” Hasegawa added, “one of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s star programs” to benefit all senior citizens, paid for from a payroll tax on employees and employers. More than $1.6 trillion has accumulated in the Medicare Trust Fund, a target for runaway Wall Street greed. “Unfortunately, there is a move to privatize Medicare,” he continued, with Medicare Advantage permitted to pocket 15 percentof every Medicare dollar in administrative costs and profits. “No one has explained to me how Medicare Advantage provides more efficient healthcare while also collecting 15 percent in profits,” he said. Traditional Medicare administrative costs are under two percent. There are no profits. This Senate Joint Memorial 8002, if approved by the Washington State Legislature, demands that Congress enact and Trump sign a law to terminate Medicare Advantage profiteering and preserve original Medicare. Ed Weisbart, a retired physician and Vice President of Physicians for a National Health Program, hailed the Hasegawa measure. Speaking via Zoom from St. Louis, he stressed the importance of recouping the tens of billions – some estimates are as high as $140 billion – stolen from the Medicare Trust Fund by Medicare Advantage providers and using the money to help finance expanded Medicare benefits. Karen Richter, PSARA Co-President, told the hearing that PSARA strongly supports SJM-8002. “Leveling the playing field,” she said, “would scrub overcharging and fraud from the Medicare system while allowing Medicare beneficiaries a real choice about which program they would prefer." A level playing field will give traditional Medicare recipients the same benefits provided to Medicare Advantage enrollees –now just over half the 60 million Medicare recipients. Legislation is needed, said Richter, to restore Medicare “as the public good it was created to be in 1965 and to continue the tradition of Medicare being the lowest cost and most effective health care program in the United States.” Anne Watanabe, speaking for the PSARA Race and Gender Equity Committee, also endorsed SJM 8002. “Unsurprisingly, higher percentages of seniors of lower income and seniors of color enroll in private Advantage plans,” she said, because they can’t afford supplemental insurance to cover the 20 percent not covered by traditional Medicare. They discover too late “that their private advantage plans impose limits on coverage or limited networks, especially in rural areas. Medicare Advantage profiteers delay or deny treatment recommended by their doctors….” Ellen Menshew, a PSARA member from Clallam County, cited Olympic Medical Center (OMC) in Port Angeles, a public hospital that provides urgent care from Neah Bay on the Pacific coast to Quilcene near Hood Canal. “OMC is more than just a healthcare provider,” she said “It is a lifeline. As the largest employer in our county with 1,500 employees, OMC plays a crucial role in our local community. “The most glaring common denominator in the failure of rural hospitals is the impact of for-profit corporate insurance companies,” Menshew continued. These profiteers impose “delays, denials, and slow payments….leaving providers struggling to maintain financial stability and forcing hospitals into mergers or total acquisitions...” The result, she charged, is reduction in services, staff cuts, and ultimately “a decline in the overall health and well being of the community.” The presentations by PSARA leaders and allies both in oral and written testimony were compelling. Two days after the hearing, SJM 8002 was passed out of the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee with a “do pass” recommendation. The Republicans on the Committee voted against it. Now legislation goes to the Senate Rules Committee, this is empowered to send the bill to the floor of the Senate for a vote by the entire Senate. Here is the link to SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8002: https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Joint%20Memorials/8002-Medicare.pdf#page=1 Tim Wheeler is a veteran activist and journalist, a member of PSARA's Executive Board, and a leader of PSARA organizing in Clallam County. < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents January 2025 Throw It Away! But Where Is “Away”? Bobby Righi As we shop this season, we need to be awakened to the fact that we are drowning in refuse – plastic, clothes, electronics, shoes, etc. These are things that “go away” to landfills and incinerators and are shipped around the world to poorer countries. They eventually end up in rivers and flow whole or in their chemical parts to litter beaches and then flow into the oceans. Garbage is all around us. Watch the film “Buy Now” on Netflix or in theaters to get a graphic view of this process and an explanation of why we are in this fix. Plastic, in nearly all manufactured goods, is everywhere – mountain-sized heaps in landfills, jamming up rivers, and continent-sized islands in the oceans. It breaks into tiny particles that are in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. So it is inside us as well, even in mothers’ breast milk and the placentas of new born babies. What is it doing to our DNA and all the planets’ organisms? That’s under investigation. People who live near garbage land- fills and those near refineries that make the chemicals for plastic have shortened lives from the toxic pollution. People who try to make a living from polluted waters and lands are struggling to feed their families. Meanwhile, the plastic is piling up higher. We produce about 400 million tons of plastic waste each year, and global production of primary plastic is forecasted to reach 1,100 million tons by 2050. Most gets sent “away” to poor countries in Africa or Asia. Alarms about plastic are being raised around the world, and people are trying to address the problems. In Washington State the Rewrap Bill was introduced last year and will come up again during this legislative session. Packaging manufacturers will be responsible for paying for the full lifecycle of their products, including disposal and recycling. At the federal level, the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act has been around for several years and will, hopefully, come up again this year. The bill will shift the burden of cleanup and waste management to where it be- longs: on the corporations that produce this waste. It establishes source reduction targets for single-use plastic products, creates a nationwide beverage container refund program, and bans certain single-use plastic products that are not recyclable. It will pause plastic manufacturing facilities until critical environmental justice and health issues are addressed. The fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, “The High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution,” just ended their meeting in Busan, Korea. It had one job – to come up with a treaty to curb plastic pollution. Since 2022 there have been five of these meetings, but the attendees reached no agreement. They will reconvene in 2025. At every level, oil producing countries and oil companies block any agreement that cuts down on the amount of plastic produced or phases out certain problematic chemicals and products. At this meeting, it was Saudi Arabia and Russia who blocked progress. The Biden administration joined them in refusing to ask for a cap on plastic production. The US reversed their position from August 2024, when Biden administration representatives raised hopes that the US would join countries like Norway, Peru, and the United Kingdom in supporting limits on plastic production. But United States delegates supported a “flexible” approach in which countries set their own voluntary targets for reducing plastic production. We are very aware that “voluntary” targets get us nowhere. The plastic producers work hard to convince us that things would be clean and pristine if we just recycled our plastic refuse. Less than 10 percent is being recycled, so they say it is the consumer’s fault. This is a big lie. Most plastic cannot be recycled. It cannot be broken down and safely reused. PET, the type in most beverage containers, can be reformed into clothing and bottles, but it is expensive. Coca-Cola, a top plastics polluter, has completely dropped its 2022 goal of achieving 25 percent reusable packaging by 2030. Instead, Coca-Cola continues to focus on failed recycling goals that will do little to address the plastic crisis. The high costs of recycling, coupled with low oil prices, means that recycling plastic now costs more than manufacturing virgin plastic. So the producers want to keep on filling our lives, lungs, and gut with polyethylene terephthalate (PET – what Coke bottles are made of) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE – the material for milk cartons and toys). Then there is polyvinyl chloride (PVC – used in medical applications and construction and known to leach dangerous toxins like lead, dioxin, and vinyl chloride throughout its entire lifecycle). These are the most common types but there are others, like the plastic of shopping bags and cling wrap, which are almost impossible to recycle. We can fight this by getting the WA Legislature to pass the Rewrap Bill and also pressuring Congress to pass the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act. We should not be stopped by a House and Senate controlled by Republicans. Those reps and senators have families who are ingesting and breathing plastic, and their babies and grandchildren are being affected even before they are born. There really is nowhere to hide from this plague of plastic, and they should be open to correcting the situation by lowering the amount of plastic produced. Let’s demand that they do! Bobby Righi is Co-Chair of PSARA's Climate and Environmental Justice Committee. < Back to Table of Contents