AARP ADVOCATE: The Rx win that keeps on winning, Be a Social Security voter, The state of caregiving, AARP Backs New Legislation to Help Lower Drug Prices, Presidential Race a Toss-Up in Battleground State Michigan, says AARP poll, Social Security COLA 2025: How Much Will Payments Increase Next Year?, What It’s Like In Judy’s Shoes 28AUG24

 

This is a reason to celebrate! We made history two years ago by fighting to pass a bill that capped prescription costs for millions of seniors enrolled in Medicare plans for the first time ever. Now, Medicare finally has the power to negotiate outrageous drug prices. That historic win is a reminder: When people 50-plus come together and demand a better tomorrow, we win. See how much the historic Rx law — made possible by you — has improved our lives and pocketbooks in our new report >> Social Security is the largest source of income for most older Americans, and one in five Americans 65-plus rely on it for nearly all of their income. But without Congressional action, projected shortfalls could lead to cuts to the Social Security you've earned through a lifetime of hard-work in the next decade. We NEED to elect lawmakers who will protect and save our Social Security. And because voters like us decide elections, we MUST raise our voice. Join the 200,000+ voters 50-plus who committed to vote for Social Security. Take one minute and say you are a Social Security voter >> How do you modify a house to make it wheelchair-friendly? What foods are best for chronic kidney disease? Learning to care for a spouse, parent or other loved one can be confusing and stressful. So AARP Illinois fought hard — and won — to bring state, federal, nonprofit, and paid resources for family caregivers into one convenient place. Learn about this “one-stop shop” for family caregivers in Illinois >>

In the News AARP Backs New Legislation to Help Lower Drug Prices Presidential Race a Toss-Up in Battleground State Michigan, says AARP poll Social Security COLA 2025: How Much Will Payments Increase Next Year?

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE         Before Medicare negotiated down the price of Januvia — an anti-diabetic medication — it cost close to: A) An oil change B) A diamond ring C) A month’s worth of groceries for an average American household D) A new pair of tennis shoes         Scroll down for the answer

We are AARP: What It’s Like In Judy’s Shoes     Judy says living on a fixed income is getting harder and harder. She — along with hundreds of other members in this community — told us what she’d like candidates in the upcoming elections to know about her daily challenges. “Along with the increase of everything, it makes it impossible to make ends meet,” says Judy. From the rising prices of groceries to increasing rent, candidates must listen and understand what voters 50-plus like Judy are going through — because WE decide elections. Craig, what’s it like in YOUR shoes? We’re here to listen — and to amplify YOUR voice to candidates running for office >>

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ANSWER     Correct answer: C – The list price for Januvia is $527 for a 30-day supply, which is slightly higher than the average American household’s monthly grocery bill. Now — thanks to the historic Rx law that advocates like you helped make happen — Medicare has negotiated the price down for enrollees by a whopping 79 percent! See the rest of Medicare’s negotiated prices for the 10 most costly medications >>

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ACLU DEBRIEF: Texas Voter Purge | Campus "Free Speech Zones" | The Patriot Act lives on 16FEB19

I am, and have been for years, a proud member of and monthly donor to the ACLU! You're welcome 😊😊😊😊😊

FROM THE FRONT LINES Donald Trump pledged his help and support to adoption agencies that discriminate against gay parents. ACLU's Leslie Cooper explains: “We can't afford to have good families cast aside based on a religious test.” We're challenging this policy in Michigan. (please note that this link brings you to a third-party website, washingtonpost.com)   Amazon claims that its facial recognition technology can be used by law enforcement without jeopardizing civil rights. ACLU, Black lawmakers — and some of Amazon's own shareholders — firmly disagree. Read more about this concerning technology. (please note that this link brings you to a third-party website, thehill.com)   Pennsylvania has made strides recently to reform its criminal justice system. However, a proposed “victims' rights” law would be a major step in the wrong direction. Learn more about this flawed and dangerous constitutional amendment.   Free speech on campus is not really free when it's confined to a “free speech zone.” That's why we're defending the First Amendment at Arkansas State University.   We're suing Texas for rolling out an error-ridden voter purge program that flagged tens of thousands of registered voters for review — despite officials knowing that the list included naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote. (please note that this link brings you to a third-party website, chron.com)   TUNE IN Watch ACLU's Lee Gelernt on Democracy Now! discuss how badly the government mishandled the family separation crisis at the border — and where the case is headed next. (please note that this link brings you to a third-party website, democracynow.org)   WHAT’S NEXT? Parts of the Patriot Act are due to expire this year. As Congress prepares to debate reauthorizing them, this is how we shine a light on government surveillance.   TAKE ACTION All workers need paid family leave to address serious health and care giving concerns without risking their lives and livelihoods. Tell Congress: Pass the FAMILY Act now. DONATE

TARGET, END YOUR HYPOCRISY AND STOP HURTING NEW MOMS 12FEB19

I like shopping at Target, or I did until I found out they are just like almost every other company in America, greedy liars and hypocrites. So I am prepared to spend my money somewhere else until Target ends it's policy of cutting employees hours to make them ineligible for paid family leave. Please click the link to sign the Ultraviolet petition to Target to restore paid family leave to their hourly employees and take the time to add a message to Target, here is mine
'I will make my family and friends aware of Target's hypocrisy and will spend my hard earned dollars elsewhere until Target restores paid family leave to it's employees.' 
I also went to Target's facebook page and posted this entire blog post

Target Corporation, one of the biggest employers in the country, is swindling its workers out of paid family leave.

Hourly Target workers across the country--nearly everyone who works at an actual store--are speaking out about a widespread corporate practice of managers slashing hours so employees won't qualify for the company's paid family leave program. This impacts workers like Callie Leamy, a Target employee in Maryland who is 9 months pregnant, will likely get no paid maternity leave after giving birth, and is facing homelessness as a result.¹

Target is aware that it has attracted its customers based on its "progressive" reputation. So if Target customers and the public raise an uproar about its scheme to swindle working parents out of family leave, we could force Target to live up to its reputation and actually guarantee ALL employees paid family leave.

Tell Target Corporation: "Stop cheating your workers. Offer 12 weeks of paid family leave to ALL employees, including hourly employees who need it the most."

Sign the petition

Target amassed $71 billion in revenue last year, in part because of its public image as a one-stop shop for families needs.² And who are the people moving that money into Target executives' and shareholders' pockets? Rank and file Target workers who have families of their own. They deserve the ability to care for a new child.

With all the attention on Target and its reputation for "doing right by America,"³ we can force Target to do right by its hundreds of thousands of workers all over the country--and make a huge splash in the corporate world by demonstrating how "good" companies treat its workers.

And it's important for women that this growing movement for paid parental leave trends in the right direction: in the United States, 60% of women are the primary caregiver responsible for a family member--inadequate access to paid parental leave sets entire families back financially. In fact, over 80% of Black families, 60% of Native families, 50% of Latino families, and 40% of white families depend on the mother as the main breadwinner.⁴ That means access to better parental leave is essential to reaching economic equality across race lines.

Target is the perfect company to uphold as an example of an employer that values its workers fairly--but only once caring customers successfully push it to treat its workers better, and equally, with 12 weeks of paid family leave.

Will you sign the petition to Target Corporation now?

Thanks for speaking out!

-- Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Holly, Kathy, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Emma, Pilar, Natalie, Melody, Pam, Lindsay, Ryan, Sonja, and Noma, the UltraViolet team

Sources:

1. Pregnant and Homeless, Fellow Target Team Member at Store #1265 Needs Our Help!, Target Workers Unite, January 8, 2019

PL+US 2018 Employ Scorecard, Paid Leave in the United States, accessed: February 12, 2019

2. Target, Fortune 500, accessed February 12, 2019

3. Just 100: Companies Doing Right By America, Forbes, December 10, 2018

4. Breadwinner Mothers by Race/Ethnicity and State, Institute for Women's Policy Research, September 2016

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Want to support our work? UltraViolet is funded by members like you, and our tiny staff ensures small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Trump's "Motherhood" ad 4OKT16

donald drumpf is more likely to scream MOTHERF@&KER than sing the praises of mothers and Motherhood. His childcare proposal is just more lies, more deception, more manipulation and more for the rich, the 1%. To counter his propaganda campaign share this ad from UltraViolet and consider making a donation to get this on the air across the country. You can check out the Clinton-Kaine campaign's child care proposal here. 

This is it. The second presidential debate is on 9 OCT 16, and it's our chance to force Donald Trump to own up to some of the bogus claims he's made to women.

That's why we made this ad that we need you to share before Sunday's debate. It reveals the truth about Trump's "plan" to improve access to child care and paid family leave for working women--a plan that gives huge tax breaks to the wealthy, does basically nothing to help low-income women--who are often women of color--and excludes dads, most gay parents, and adoptive parents.³

His plan is a ploy to win over women voters, and it may be working, even after last weeks tweets, rants and raves. We need to spread the truth about his bogus plan before it's too late. Can you watch the ad and share it with your friends and family?

Share on Facebook.

Not on Facebook? Click here for more sharing options.

Donald Trump's new child care plan only helps the rich--and his family leave plan excludes dads, most gay parents, and adoptive parents. We can't let families get fooled. Can you watch and share the video below?

Thanks for sharing!

--Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Onyi, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Megan, Libby, and Emma, the UltraViolet Action team

Sources:

1. Trump Campaign Releases First General Election Ad Featuring Ivanka Trump, ABC News, September 30, 2016

2. Trump's Parental Leave Proposal Sure Leaves Out A Lot Of Parents, Huffington Post, September 15, 2016

Donald Trump's Maternity Leave Plan Is Absurd in 2016, Cosmopolitan, September 14, 2016

Donald Trump's New Childcare Plan Would Only Help The Rich, ThinkProgress, September 14, 2016

Donald Trump's new paid maternity leave plan might exclude single mothers, Washington Post, September 21, 2016

3. Ibid

4. Poll: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton tied across battleground states, CBS News, September 18, 2016

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Want to support our work? UltraViolet is funded by members like you, and our tiny staff ensures small contributions go a long way.Chip in here.

BIG NEWS: The next presidential debate 29SEP16

ULTRAVIOLET is committed to human rights, civil rights and civil liberties with emphasis on women's issues. They are a member of the Open Debate Coalition and are asking for your vote for the questions below. Please vote for the questions you want to be asked in the next debate by clicking on them. And if you are not sure if you are still registered to vote , or you need to register to vote click here. REMEMBER, democracy is not a spectator sport so VOTE on 8 NOV 16 !
Click HERE for the question I submitted on 1 OKT 16 to vote for it if you like....

Huge news--for the first time ever, the public can vote on which questions to ask at the next presidential debate.¹

That means YOU and other UltraViolet members have a huge opportunity to make sure moderators ask the candidates questions actually important to women in real time.

Equal pay, paid family leave, child care--we need clear answers on these issues, and this is our chance to make sure voters hear them.

So far, none of the top questions touch on issues that impact women. But UltraViolet members have already submitted dozens of questions they want the presidential candidates to answer--and if we want questions about issues that impact women included in the debates, we've got to vote on the new, official forum. Can you cast your vote today?

Click on the question below to cast your vote.

• As President, will you commit to keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers? What specifically will you do to address domestic violence against women, including keeping guns away from abusers?
• Quality child care is increasingly unaffordable, especially for Black and brown families, what will you do to fix that?
• Should politicians have the power to ask doctors to give medically inaccurate information regarding abortion to women?

This isn't by coincidence--the commission that runs the debates finally gave in to public pressure. Together with progressive allies, UltraViolet has been clamoring about the fact that the debates leave out issues most important to women, including 46,500 members who named over a thousand questions they want asked during the debates.

And it's about time that the debate commission listened. Out of the 700-plus questions that have been asked in the countless number of debates this election, only SIX had been about issues that impact women.² Now here is our chance to make sure the potential next President answer questions that women are asking--questions about abortion, child care, equal pay, and more.

Thanks for taking action.

--Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Onyi, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Megan, Libby, and Emma, the UltraViolet team

Sources:

1. The Second Presidential Debate Will Try Something New, The Atlantic, September 27, 2016

2. What's Next For Women in this Election?, The United State of Women, July 5, 2016

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Want to support our work? UltraViolet is funded by members like you, and our tiny staff ensures small contributions go a long way.Chip in here.

Sign the petition: Stand with Bernie Against Private Prisons & Daily Kos Recommended 2NOV15

 

THERE is a lot of talk across the country and among most of the presidential nomination candidates about the need for reform of our judicial system, especially sentencing guidelines. Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders I VT is trying to end for-profit prisons with legislation he has introduced that will cut the funding for for-profit prisons, basically making them illegal. As a nation we can do better for the victims of crime as well as those convicted of crimes. As a people we have the moral responsibility to do better for both groups. Please check out Sen Sanders find out more about his progressive agenda at his campaign website  +Bernie 2016 . And check out these other stories from +Daily Kos ......

Today in America, shamefully, we have more people in jail than any other country on earth. We must recreate our criminal justice system, but we cannot do that as long as corporations are allowed to profit from mass incarceration.

I have recently introduced legislation that will put an end to for-profit prisons. My bill will bar federal, state, and local governments from contracting with private companies who manage prisons, jails, or detention facilities.

It is wrong to profit from the imprisonment of human beings and the suffering of their families and friends. It’s time to end this morally repugnant process, and along with it, the era of mass incarceration.

Add your name to stand with me against the private prison system profiting from human suffering.

Thank you for your support.

Bernie Sanders

Sign the petition: Stand with Bernie Against Private Prisons

By signing this petition you will receive periodic updates on offers and activism opportunities from Daily Kos, Bernie Sanders for President, and related campaigns. Paid for by Bernie Sanders for President. You may unsubscribe at any time. Here's our privacy policy.

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