Republicans Let Corporations Screw Retirees

Time after time, we have seen the Republican leadership in Washington (and here in Texas) favor corporations over people. To the Republicans, corporate profits are always more important than an individual's rights or well-being.

So it really shouldn't surprise anyone that they've done it again. This time it's the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (surely mis-named since the Republicans were put in charge of it).

On Wednesday, the EEOC ruled that employers can eliminate all health benefits for any retiree that reaches the age of 65. They said that once a retiree qualifies for Medicare, the employer has no more responsibility for any kind of health care benefits. Retirees that are under 65 would still qualify for full health benefits.

The EEOC said the rule was not meant to encourage employers to stop providing any benefits they currently provide. But anyone who believes that a corporation will provide anything they are not required to provide for a retiree is out-of-touch with the business world (and the real world).

The AARP believes the corporations will deny the benefits. They say this ruling will affect over 10 million retirees.

The ruling leaves these retirees with nothing but Medicare. The same Medicare that Republicans have tried to destroy since coming to power. The same Medicare that Republicans have gutted so badly that many doctors no longer accept it.

Why do Republicans hate the elderly? First they try to destroy Medicare, and then they make sure that retirees will not be provided supplemental coverage by their former employers.

By requiring coverage for retirees and then allowing that coverage to be completely eliminated when the person turns 65, the EEOC is allowing legalized age discrimination.

Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. First, they deny health benefits to children, and then they cut the benefits for the elderly. What is next -- snatching bottles out of the mouths of babies?