Attendees;

John Kotson; IBM Retiree, RMAC Chairman

Ed Bettinardi; Johns Manville Retiree, Health Care Committee Chairman

Hazel Floyd; AUSWR Regional VP, Health Care Committee Chairman

Barbara Wilcox; AUSWR CO/WY Health Care Specialist, Committee Member

Joe Halpern; AUSWR Member, District AARP Representative

Helen Domaratz; IBM Retiree, RMAC Member

Pat Finley; AUSWR Member, RMAC Member

NATIONAL

Status of Health Care Bill—Acknowledging the difficulties in achieving a consensus on health care at the national level, it was decided to shift much of the group’s efforts towards state health care reform. State Representatives Beth McCain and John Kefalas were identified as persons that should be contacted regarding Colorado health care reform. However, John Kotson has the action to write letters to our national congressional representatives urging them to not give up on health care reform.

2010 Agenda—Three major items were identified, Medicare, Social Security, and state health care reform as objectives, for this year.  The consensus of the group was that we need to wait to see the directions taken on these programs before we can formulate an action plan. It was decided to meet quarterly instead of monthly this year.

Ed Bettinardi felt we should also work on constitutional changes and campaign finance reform in response to the Supreme Court decision to allow unrestricted campaign contributions by industry. Hazel Floyd noted that we should be aware of Senate Bill S.2853 that creates a fast track commission to recommend changes to Social Security and/or Medicare.

NRLN Legislative Agenda for 2010—Hazel Floyd requested we review the NRLN agenda for 2010. The results will be given to AUSWR President Mimi Hull who would communicate it to NRLN.  Overall, we agree with some items, but there are far too many to be effective. NRLN should pick the top three (items, not categories of items) and focus on them for maximum effectiveness. 

Website—Website maintenance will be worked out between pat Finley and Helen Domaratz. Barbara Wilcox will be the point of contact to determine which materials should be posted on the website. The group agreed that items posted should be informative and politically neutral. John Kotson will continue writing the meeting reports.

AARP—Joe Halpern had nothing new to add. He will try to get a copy of their 2010 agenda.

Colorado/Wyoming

Markey Petition—the “Change That Works” organization is presenting a petition to Congresswoman Betsy Markey to get behind health care reform. All RMAC members signed the petition.

Representative Interface Assignments for 2010

a.      Congressman Jared Polis—Helen Domaratz and John Rommelfanger assigned. Helen attended a meeting of Polis’ SAGE, a group to discuss senior’s issues. Polis sits in on the meeting once a quarter.  Stuart Feinhor, Polis’ community liaison staffer, chairs the group. Attendance was much better than past meetings, with a doctor and members of CARA and “Aging Services” in attendance.  However, no one is communicating for them or recording minutes; Helen will suggest they do so. John suggests they choose 2 or 3 issues to focus on.

b.      Congresswoman Dianna DeGette—Barbara Wilcox assigned. A need was expressed to meet with her again after we see how health care reform evolves.

c.       Congressman Ed Perlmutter—Pat Finley assigned. Pat sent an invitation for his community liaison person, Jerry Pifer to attend our meeting, but she did not respond. Pat will keep trying.

d.      Congresswoman Betsy Markey—John Kotson assigned. John published a letter in the Fort Collins newspaper urging her to get behind health care reform. She voted against the House health care bill and has joined the “Blue Dog” Democrats. RMAC will carefully examine competitors for Markey’s House seat.

e.      Senator Michael Bennet—Hazel Floyd assigned. Hazel will continue to interface with Betty Sweeney, Bennet’s community liaison staffer. Joe Halpern will interface with Andy Romanoff, Bennet’s Democratic challenger.

f.        Senator Mark Udall—Ed Bettinardi agreed to provide this interface.  Hazel has tried repeatedly to have Udall’s health care staffer, Paul Samson, attend our meetings.

g.      Senator Mike Enzi—Hazel Floyd assigned. Hazel will work with Enzi’s Cheyenne office to try for another video teleconference with Katy Barr, staffer for the Senate HELP committee.

New Business—John Kotson will continue to chair the meetings for another year. Quarterly meetings will be held instead of monthly meetings. John will try to have Colorado State Legislator John Kefalas attend the next meeting. Hazel heard him speak at an Alliance meeting and said he has good ideas. The next meeting will be on April 9^th and Helen Domaratz will check on the availability of Johnson’s Corners for the meeting.

Ed Bettinardi will look for a way to track ERISA court cases and will find out what the Frommert case is about.

John Kotson