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Advocates mark Medicare anniversary with protest at Southerland's office

Barbara Devane (in yellow)
Barbara Devane (in yellow)

By Tom Flanigan

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-979885.mp3

Tallahassee, FL – As the debt debate drags on in Washington, several Florida groups were putting some pressure on their U.S. House member. Tom Flanigan reports advocates for the elderly, the poor and labor showed up at the Tallahassee office of North Florida Republican Congressman Steve Southerland.

It started with a birthday party of sorts in the parking lot outside the congressman's office. There was a cake celebrating this weekend's forty-sixth anniversary of the Medicare program. Congressman Southerland had favored a Republican budget plan that would replace traditional Medicare with vouchers. That drew the wrath of Barbara DeVane with the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans.

"And I don't want them balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class, the poor, the workers, the retirees."

DeVane was joined by people from civil rights and labor groups. They delivered their message, along with some Medicare birthday cake, to the congressman's office staff.

"Well, we're going to bring you some birthday cake."

Southerland himself wasn't there. He was in Washington, locked in the debt debate. The staff members in his Tallahassee office were a bit surprised by all the attention, but kept smiling throughout the ordeal.

"We're happy to have anyone come by today."

Congressman Southerland's communications people pretty much had the same reaction.