A Message from NOW President Kim Gandy

December 5, 2003

After a disappointing two weeks here in Washington, D.C. watching the 'slash and burn' tactics of the administration and Republican Congress working arm in arm with the pharmaceutical and for-profit health care industry, I am more proud than ever to lead an organization whose policies and priorities are determined and driven directly by our NOW members at the state and community level. Last week, I watched in "shock and awe" as the Medicare bill was railroaded through Congress with the support of the AARP, the largest, most visible and best funded national organization purporting to represent the interests of our nation's senior citizens.

Rather than staying true to its mission, AARP cut deals, abridged the trust of their 35 million "paying customers" and ignored recommendations from their own board by spending $7 million to promote a bill which essentially breaks the 40 year-old promise made to retired citizens—guaranteed basic health care. Now seniors will need a bookkeeper and lawyer to go with them to the drugstore or doctor's office to help them keep track of their expenses and to negotiate fair premiums and covered treatments.

In the end, the interests of their money-making arm, AARP Services Inc, trumped the best interests of seniors. Apparently uninterested in using their large membership, influential voice, and expertise in bulk buying and group discounts to ensure the health and welfare of retired people, AARP's Executive Director (and Newt Gingrich ally) Bill Novelli instead helped create the circumstances for realizing Newt's dream—ending the Medicare entitlement altogether.

Thousands have ripped up their AARP cards and cancelled their memberships in disgust. The organization we had relied on to represent the best interests of ALL mid-life and older Americans—two-thirds of whom are women—regardless of their economic circumstances, disabilities, race, religion, gender, geographical location, mental and physical health care needs, had been exposed as merely another corporation driven by a profit margin and the draw of the 'inner circle.'

So, who can best look out for the economic, health and safety interests of mid-life and older women? NOW and Older Women's League (OWL) for sure, but it looks as if we can no longer partner with and count on AARP and their unparalleled resources to lead the fight to protect our rights. Until that organization returns to doing the work promised in their mission statement ("to enhance the quality of life for all by promoting independence, dignity and purpose,"), we'll continue to work with Congress for "real" Medicare reform and prescription drug coverage. We'll also be mobilizing our members and voters to protect the promise and demand the guarantee. Politics is local, and that's why NOW is proud to be an activist organization.

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