Two Senior Champions were honored by WSARA on Tuesday at our annual luncheon to raise money for 2020 political activities.
ELECTED OFFICIAL SENIOR CHAMPION AWARD:
Retired Public Employees Council of WA Vice-President Nancy Heley, who retired from working at the Insurance Commissioner’s office, presented this award to WA State Insurance Commission Mike Kreidler. He was recognized for his strong and consistent support for affordable health care for all and his diligent work to protect seniors. And, she spoke on his valuable partnership with retired public employees to improve their state health care benefits.
Because Kreidler was unable to attend, the Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Consumer Protection Division Todd Dixon, accepted the award on his behalf. Todd provided an overview of the many public policies Kreidler has implemented to help retirees. He is the only Insurance Commissioner in the country who uses state funds to support our State Health Insurance Benefit Advisors program (SHIBA), whose volunteers provide free and unbiased help with Medicare enrollment and health care coverage information. And, after leading the passage of legislation earlier this year in our state to prevent surprise billing, he is leveraging his position as the most senior Commissioner in the nation, to lobby Congress to ensure any bill they pass has similar great protections for patients.
SENIOR ADVOCATE CHAMPION:
Retired Machinists Union member and Former Interim WSARA President Ron McGaha presented the SENIOR ADVOCATE CHAMPION AWARD to Carl Schwartz. As the long-serving Legislative Committee Chair for IAM District 751 Retirement Club, he was recognized for his many years of retiree activism and strong political voice for seniors.
Schwartz gave an eloquent review of his lengthy participation with the IAM District 751 as a union leader and Legislative Committee member. He has also been a long-time Democratic Party state leader and provided many stories of using his political connections with state legislators and members of Congress to help workers and retirees. Carl is also well known for writing articles in his union newsletter, frequent letters to the editor and as a prolific author of resolutions.
