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** How a legislator votes on issues is only one factor in evaluating hisor her legislative performance, which should also include such things asconstituency services and committee work.
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"Today's vote is a victory for the 44 million Americans who depend onMedicare, and we applaud Senators Hutchison and Cornyn, as well asRepresentatives Burgess, Cuellar, Culbertson, Doggett, Edwards, Gohmert,Gonzalez, Granger, Al Green, Gene Green, Hall, Hinojosa, Jackson Lee, EddieBernice Johnson, Lampson, McCaul, Ortiz, Poe, Reyes, Rodriguez, Sessions,Smith, and Thornberry for their continued support," said Bob Jackson, statedirector for AARP Texas. "This bipartisan legislation will help more Americansafford their health care bills while bringing doctors offices and pharmaciesinto the 21st century with e-prescribing."
Jackson added: "We are disappointed that Representatives Barton, KevinBrady, Carter, Conaway, Hensarling, Sam Johnson, Marchant, Neugebauer and Paulvoted against this important legislation. This bill would begin to bring downhealth care costs for millions of Americans, while reducing dangerous druginteractions with electronic prescriptions."
AARP has been advocating for several months to ensure that lawmakers keepMedicare fair for the people who depend on it when Congress addressesphysician payment cuts. AARP has also been advocating for this bill'simprovements to Medicare, particularly the low-income programs and electronicprescribing.
Since launching the "Keep Medicare Fair" initiative in April, AARP'sgrassroots volunteers and activists have sent more than 1.2 million messagesto Congress and the White House. As part of this effort, an AARP surveyreleased May 19 found that of adults 50-plus, 81 percent oppose additionalincreases to Medicare premiums and 66 percent are less likely to vote for aMember of Congress who supports those increases.
AARP notified the 110th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes onkey legislation important to its 39 million members and reporting the outcomesof these votes back to its members.
"We believe people make the right choices when they understand the issuesand positions taken by their elected officials. AARP intends to ensure thatits members get that information," Jackson concluded.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial andaffordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidatesfor public office or make contributions to either political campaigns orcandidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 millionreaders; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million membersand Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publicationdedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website,AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security,protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support fromthousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030514/AARPLOGO ) VOTED YES TO PASS VOTED NO MEDICARE BILL ON MEDICARE BILL Hutchison, Kay Bailey Cornyn, John
