Congressmen Introduce Legislation To Protect Pensions

By Marianna Levyash-Talk Radio News Service

Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) and Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) Tuesday introduced the Preserve Benefits and Jobs Act, which seeks to provide reasonable pension funding relief to employers facing a troubled financial market.

"Today employers...struggle to navigate in a severe recession. They face decreased cash flows, typed credit lines and they need to fund up the very significant book losses that they have on their investments from 2008...under a short 7-year time frame," stated Pomeroy during an afternoon press conference.

The Congressmen believe that, due to the economic crash last year, companies will either freeze their pension plans, continue to increase them or cut their workforce to make up for these losses. The two stated that they hope that this bill will give employees the security they need in knowing that they can continue working and that their retirement benefits carry on progressively.

"When a pension is frozen, workers in their fifties can expect a drop in benefits of about 35%, even when combined with a 401k coming along as a replacement...a huge setback for someone's retirement plans," said Pomeroy.

The bill proposes two alternatives for struggling employees: a nine-year program with payments of interest-only during the first two years or a fifteen year payment schedule that requires specific conditions.

"This bill...is a vehicle...to help Americans across the country as they struggle with [a tough economy]," said Tiberi.

Sen. Murray Introduces Bills To Help Veterans

By Marianna Levyash-Talk Radio News Service

At a hearing Wednesday morning held by the Committee of Veterans' Affairs, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA.) introduced three bills aimed at bolstering the Department of Veteran's Affairs' ability to successfully care for U.S. servicemen and women.

The three bills include: The Homeless Woman Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2009, The Prisoner War of Benefits Act of 2009, and The Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act of 2009.

"My bills...share a common thread. Each of them would give the VA better tools to provide our veterans with the care and benefits that they have earned through their selfless service to our nation," said Murray.

Murray said she hopes that the committee will support her bills so that veterans can have the high level care that they are entitled to.

Gender Is Not A Pre-Existing Condition, Says Women's Law Center

By Marianna Levyash-Talk Radio News Service

The National Women's Law Center (NWLC), a non-profit organization that protects women's legal rights, held a news conference Tuesday morning, announcing their new public awareness campaign titled "Being a Woman is Not a Pre-Existing Condition."

The NWLC found that many women pay more than men and get less coverage than they need, a practice called gender rating.

Women may also be denied coverage because of "pre-existing conditions", such as having a cesarean section or surviving domestic abuse.

"Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is right now circulating a dear colleague letter to the Senate Leadership to ensure that the merged health reform legislation will ban gender rating for all groups regardless of size," announced NWLC Co-President Marcia D. Greenberger.

The campaign includes a new website, video, newly designed t-shirts, and events that provide information to help both men and women understand how important it is for women to have affordable and beneficial health care.

The goal of the NWLC is to teach women about health care coverage and unite them to contact their members of Congress to call for health care reform legislation that works for women.

"The need is as urgent today as when we issued our first report one year ago...today we release the center's new report, still nowhere to turn," said Greenberger.

Those who wish to join the campaign can visit www.awomanisnotapreexistingcondition.com to get more information.

California's First Lady Issues Report On Women In The Workplace

By Marianna Levyash - Talk Radio News Service

The Center for American Progress welcomed California First Lady Maria Shriver Friday afternoon to discuss her newly released report entitled "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Changes Everything."

The report reveals a comprehensive study about men and women as dual equals in the workforce.

"The goal of this report is to take a look at who the American woman is in 2009," said Shriver.

For the first time in American history, women are one-half of all U.S. workers and the breadwinners in two-thirds of American families. Currently, there is a decline in male-dominated jobs, but a growth in female-dominated jobs.

Shriver's report reflects a national poll that looks at the changing opinion of working class Americans about the role of women in the workforce.

"The goal is to turn us into a people's nation," she said.

The California First Lady hopes that government, policy groups, and individuals can come together to demand social change to strengthen people's lives.

The report is available at www.awomansnation.com.

Coalition For Accountable Recovery Concerned Over Stimulus Data

By Marianna Levyash-Talk Radio News Service

With the first quarterly round of spending data from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) looming to be released tomorrow, there are concerns that the data will be incomplete.

The Coalition for Accountable Recovery (CAR), a collection of several groups seeking to promote transparency and accountability over the use of recovery act funds, fear that the data will provide debatable numbers regarding jobs that have been created through ARRA not reflect spending by the ultimate recipients.

"We know this is a first time effort, and in any first time effort, and in any first time effort you’re going to have data quality concerns, said Executive Director of OMB Watch, Gary D. Bass.

Despite the concerns, CAR added that certain aspects of ARRA, such as the act's website which allows users to track funds, have made strides in transparency and accountability.

"When it comes to contracts, grants, and loans, the Recovery Act is the most transparent federal spending bill ever enacted," said Bass.