AFT AND AARP

WHEREAS, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) gave assistance to the administration in revising the current Medicare legislation; and

WHEREAS, the new Medicare law fails to provide adequate prescription drug coverage or address out-of-control drug prices by forbidding Medicare to negotiate lower prices with the pharmaceutical industry; and

WHEREAS, the new Medicare law's out-of-pocket cost structure and provisions are complicated and difficult to understand; and

WHEREAS, the bill promotes the privatization of Medicare by providing drug coverage through enrollment in private insurance plans that are costly for retired union members living on a fixed income:

RESOLVED, that the AFT encourage its members to speak out against AARP's past and present endorsement of the Medicare law and call on members to urge AARP to support the changes in the law called for by organized labor and the Alliance for Retired Americans.