On Medicare’s 59th Anniversary retirees let their voices be heard

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America's Work Force Union Podcast AWF Alliance for Retired Americans

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Rich Fiesta

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Alliance for Retired Americans

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In honor of the 59th Anniversary of the establishment of Medicare, Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans joined the America’s Work Force Union to discuss the history of Medicare, past president’s impact on Medicare and new challenges.

Yesterday, July 30, was the 59th anniversary of Medicare being signed into law by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. Fiesta talked about the significance of the law being signed. Not only was President Johnson involved in the signing, but President Harry S. Truman was also in attendance. Fiesta explained the importance of President Truman’s involvement, including Truman becoming the first person to receive a Medicare card.

Fiesta talked about the opposition to Medicare over the years. Among the vocal objectors was President Ronald Reagan, who at the time was an actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild. Fiesta discussed why Reagan became one of the lead voices against Medicare, and how that continued into his time in the Oval Office. Fiesta outlined how his objection impacted Medicare regulations.

Now Medicare is again under fire from some federal lawmakers. Fiesta discussed the press conference the Alliance held in front of the Heritage Foundation headquarters in Washington, D.C. He discussed the Alliance’s concern about Project 2025, a conservative plan for future government regulation, including privatization of Medicare. As the November election approaches, Fiesta said the Alliance will continue their push to inform the public and lawmakers about the importance of Medicare.

Listen to more from Fiesta by listening to the show above.

America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

On Medicare’s 59th Anniversary retirees let their voices be heard

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