The past few weeks have given us the 75^th anniversary of Social Security, the 47^th of Medicare, and a reminder of the millions of people the programs have assisted throughout the past decades.

Social Security and Medicare provide protection and support to millions of seniors, and were started with the spirit and belief that America's seniors should maintain a basic quality of life in their golden years. This social support is critical to protecting the health care and basic needs of our elders, here in Iowa and around the country.

That's why I'm baffled when I hear that some politicians are trying to do away with Medicare and privatize Social Security.  After years of service and work, our seniors deserve a happy, secure retirement and access to quality, affordable health care.

And I know this through personal experience in my own family - my mom, Marcia, receives both Medicare and Social Security.  She earned it, just like millions of other seniors.

But everywhere you turn, you hear the latest outrageous claims about Medicare and Social Security.  So, to put it in plain English, here's how I view it:

1.       The term "entitlement" is misleading.  It should be "investment."  My mom paid into Medicare and Social Security her entire working life, just like every other working Iowan.  She paid for those benefits, and nobody should take that away.

2.       It's not just seniors who have paid into Medicare and Social Security.  If you are working, then you are helping pay for these programs, whether you're 25, 55, or 65.  So when politicians talk about cutting benefits for those 55 and younger, they're still talking about a breach of contract.  If you're 54 years old, you've probably been investing in these programs for over 30 years.

3.       Medicare is currently solvent until 2024, and Social Security until 2033.  These are the facts.  This means that we should be thinking about the future of the programs, but we should not give in to knee-jerk reactions or those who use scare tactics to call for immediate, drastic changes.

I believe that we can protect Medicare and Social Security, maintain all current benefits, and keep the programs solvent.  We should not privatize the programs, turn them into vouchers, or cut benefits - these are just too drastic, and would be bad for seniors and Iowa families.  I'm confident that if we bring a little Iowa common sense to Washington, we can come up with ways to ensure strong, solvent and stable Medicare and Social Security programs for years to come.  I'm not just protecting these programs for my mom, Marcia.  I'm also protecting them for my daughter, Lisa.

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The Office of Governor Quinn encourages all Illinois youth between K - 12 to participate in this 1st Annual 2012 Hispanic Heritage Month Art & Literary Work Contest. There is no entry fee and submissions are limited to one entry per person. Contest participation requires the creation of one original piece per person, inspired by the interpretation of the Hispanic Heritage Month theme "Many Backgrounds, Many Stories...One American Spirit" and as described in the guidelines below.  There will be a total of four (4) $100-$200 cash prizes that will be awarded to winners based on their age range. Winners will also have their art or literary work displayed in the Illinois State Capitol Building throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

Art Entry Guidelines:

The Hispanic Heritage Month Art contest is open to all Illinois students in grades K-12. Two winners will be selected: one elementary student (grades K-5) and one middle-school or high-school student (6-12).

In your artwork, depict how Hispanics/Latinos have contributed to the American spirit. You may use traditional, cultural or historical images in your piece.

·      Medium can be mixed, watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen, pencil, chalk, or marker on any type of paper or canvas.

·      Artwork must be two-dimensional and must not exceed 24" x 48"

·      Student's original signature should be at the bottom right corner of the artwork or on the back of the art piece

·      Judging is based on originality, creativity and interpretation of the Hispanic Heritage Month contest theme

Each art entry must include a title page with the following information:

·      Student's Full Name,  Student's Grade Level

·      Title of Work, Medium

·      Sentence about inspiration or description of work

·      Sentence about the student's interest in art

·      School or Organization Name and Address

·      Student's Home Address, Telephone Number

Literary Work Guidelines:

The Hispanic Heritage Month Literary contest is open to all Illinois students in grades K-12. Two winners will be selected: one elementary student (grades K-5) and one middle-school or high-school student (6-12).

In your literary piece, describe how Hispanics/Latinos have contributed to the American spirit. You may use traditional, cultural or historical references in your work.

·      Acceptable literary forms include essay, poem or short story only.

·      Submissions must be typed; handwritten submissions will not be accepted.

·      Piece must not exceed 500 words, and must contain page numbers at the bottom.

·      Each essay must reflect the contestant's own research, writing and original thinking.

·      Essay must be written in English but may include Spanish vocabulary.

Each essay must include a title page, not considered part of the 500 word text, with the following information:

·      Author's Full Name, Author's Grade Level

·      Title of Literary Piece

·      Sentence about the student's interest in art

·      School or Organization Name and Address

·      Student's Home Address, Telephone Number

Deadline: 5pm, Monday, Sept. 10^th, 2012.

Early entry submissions are encouraged.

Mail all entries to:

Office of Governor Quinn

Attn: Office of New Americans

100 W. Randolph St., #16-100

Chicago, IL 60601

 

Additional Terms:

·      One entry allowed per student

·      No entry fee

·      Art and literary works will be judged by a panel of experts.

·      The Office of Illinois Governor will have final authority to define what constitutes an acceptable entry

For additional questions or concerns, please call or email:

Socorro Del Real · Office of Governor Pat Quinn · (312)814-1604 · Socorro.Delreal@illinois.gov

 

 

 

General Release:

By entering the Contest, contestants release and covenant not to bring claim against Sponsors and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, directors, officers, employees, representatives, partners and agents from any liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or with the acceptance, possession or use of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light). Winning artists grants the Governor's Office permission to reproduce his or her artwork for non-profit purposes; all other rights to the image remain with the artist. An entry to this contest constitutes full agreement on the part of the artist or their guardian to all conditions outlined in the entry guidelines.

DES MOINES -- Obama for America Iowa released a new radio advertisement today detailing the impact of the extreme Romney-Ryan budget on wind, an investment critical to a strong middle-class and a growing economy.  In Iowa, voters will hear how clean energy would be slashed under the Romney-Ryan budget, threatening Iowa's status as a leader on wind energy jobs.

Iowans can't afford to go back to the same policies that crashed our economy and punished the middle-class - we need to continue moving forward toward an economy built to last that strengthens the middle-class by paying down our deficit in a balanced way while making the investments critical to a growing economy.

Please click HERE to listen to the ad.

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Local organizations launch petition drive at ProtectIowaSeniors.com

DES MOINES, IOWA -- Iowans are petitioning their members of Congress today to ask: will you protect Iowa seniors? The petition drive was launched at ProtectIowaSeniors.com by the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans, Progress Iowa, and Protect Your Care. The petition calls for Iowa's delegation to reject the Romney/Ryan budget and support the reforms made in Obamacare.

"Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are the most anti-senior ticket in history," said Jan Laue, President of the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans. "Their ticket and the Romney/Ryan budget pose unprecedented threats to all Iowans, particularly Iowa seniors. We are calling on Iowa's Congressional delegation to reject the Romney/Ryan budget, and protect the programs that benefit our seniors."

The Romney/Ryan budget ends Medicare as we know it for more than 500,000 Iowans through privatization, replacing the current payment system with a fixed-cost voucher program. The budget also forces more than 60,000 Iowa seniors back into the prescription drug "donut hole" and raises the amount they have to pay for medicine. Iowa's Congressional delegation has twice voted on the Romney/Ryan budget. Congressmen Dave Loebsack, Bruce Braley, and Leonard Boswell have all opposed the budget. Congressmen Tom Latham and Steve King have supported the budget.

"Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security have provided a strong foundation for Iowa seniors," said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. "And the new reforms in Obamacare only strengthen the care seniors receive. We are now asking Iowa's congressional delegation: will you protect Iowa seniors by standing up for the reforms we've fought for, and by rejecting the Romney/Ryan budget?"

Since Obamacare became law, Iowa seniors have saved more than $32 million on prescription drugs, and more than 400,000 Iowa seniors have received free preventive care. In addition, the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund is extended by reducing overpayments to insurance companies and cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare.

To learn more about the petition and issues facing Iowa seniors, visit ProtectIowaSeniors.com.