Alliance for Retired Americans Backs Meek

The Alliance for Retired Americans, a seniors advocacy group with 4 million members in the nation and 200,000 in Florida, announced it is backing U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, frontrunner for the Democratic U.S. Senate nod.

"Throughout his career, Kendrick has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the quality of life for older Americans, said the Alliance in its endorsement. His leadership on issues such as fighting Social Security privatization and strengthening the Social Security and Medicare systems exhibits that commitment.

Meek, trailing both GOP candidate Marco Rubio and independent Gov. Charlie Crist, was grateful. "I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Alliance for Retired Americans, he said. Across this state I've met seniors and retirees who are feeling the effects of Florida's economic downturn. Rising health care costs affect seniors more than any other group. My fight has always been to ensure all seniors have access to affordable care and low-cost prescriptions, even if that meant getting on the bad side of big health insurance companies. Now, more than ever, Floridians need leaders who will tackle big issues and fight for them, not politicians who put their own political careers or their own philosophy first."