Barbara B. Kennelly, President and CEO
Max Richtman, Executive Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2002

CONTACT: LEE GOLDBERG 202/216-8376

NEW SCORECARD RATES LAWMAKERS ON KEY ISSUES Leading Seniors Group Looks Past Campaign Rhetoric to Congressional Performance on Seniors Issues Washington, D.C. -- The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare today released its scorecard for the 107th Congress grading lawmakers on more than a dozen key votes on critical issues that affect seniors and their families. "The midterm elections could have a significant impact on the future of Social Security and Medicare. Seniors and their families need to know who are their friends on these issues," Barbara B. Kennelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Committee said today. "We will be distributing over a million scorecards to members and supporters around the country to help them decide which candidate to support in upcoming congressional elections," she said. "Candidates position on the future of Social Security and the creation of a Medicare prescription drug benefit may well decide a number of close races around the country. This scorecard is about keeping lawmakers accountable," she said. The scores of individual lawmakers are based on 13 votes in the House and 15 votes in the Senate. Votes are chosen based on their importance to the National Committee's legislative agenda that was published in January 2000. Only those votes in which the National Committee publicly announced a position are used as part of the scorecard. Beside the creation of a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the scorecard also includes votes on increased access to generic prescription drugs, across-the-board tax cuts, the creation of a Social Security "lock box" and the reduction of Social Security fraud. "Seniors are expected to be as many as 30 percent of the vote this fall. This scorecard will help inform a large block of voters in some of the closest races around the country," Mrs. Kennelly said. The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.