Retirees' Rights Champion
Doug Hart, Tempe, Arizona
Cause:
Social Security
Doug Hart is an active retiree in Tempe, Arizona and President of the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans. Doug is an activist and a fighter and knows how much Social Security and Medicare mean to the livelihoods of hardworking Americans.
Like many people, Doug faced adversity in his life. After his father died in World War II, Doug’s mother went to work cleaning houses, waiting tables, and finding any work that she could to put food on the table. His father’s Social Security benefits are largely what kept the family afloat and allowed Doug to work hard and finish his schooling.
Bob Kirkner, King, North Carolina
Cause:
Pensions
Bob Kirkner of King, North Carolina, is a proud father and grandfather. He is 70 years old and gave 34 of those years as a mechanic to US Airways. He retired with a good pension and an optimistic future. But when US Airways declared bankruptcy, Bob had no idea that it would mean drastic cuts to his pension, and the end of his family’s health and life insurance benefits.
When US Airways went bankrupt the first time, Bob’s life began to change. "We were paying $40/month for health insurance, and until my Medicare and VA benefits kicked in, our premiums jumped to $600. Now how are we supposed to afford that?" he reflects. Even with Medicare and VA benefits, the Kirkners' healthcare costs them almost $400/month After the second bankruptcy filing, Bob’s pension was drastically cut, and his social security check that used to be a supplement is now half of his income and pays for all of his utility and insurance bills.
Jill Quackenbush, Greenfield, Indiana
Cause:
The Baby Boomer Squeeze
Jill Quackenbush is a 54-year-old mother of four in Greenfield, Indiana. As a self-described “young retiree” living off of her UAW pension, Jill is worried that she is watching the American Dream slip away from future generations.
Jill says that she is watching the great community that she grew up in slip away right before her eyes. She has watched the Auto plants that were once its livelihood close and her sister was recently laid off from the Delphi plant in town after 24 years of service. “This wasn’t the way it was supposed to happen,” Jill states. “Work hard, be responsible, and you are supposed to make enough to heat the house and give your children a future.”
Sammy Uveges, Waynesurg, Pennsylvania
Cause:
Health Care
Sammy Uveges is an active retiree living in Waynesurg, PA. At 57, Sammy is an outspoken advocate for universal healthcare who, since retiring, has realized that America needs to in a new direction.
“Everyone in the country should have the kind of quality health care I have as a union mine worker,” reflects Sammy. “As a father of a sick child I know what it’s like to have $900-1000 a month in medical bills. I also know how it feels to have insurance companies tell me they can’t help because my son’s illness falls under a pre-existing condition.”