Opinion Leader Forum on Social Security and Medicare co-hosted by AARP Illinois, WLS 890 AM Radio, and the Union League Club of Chicago.

On October 25, 2012, over 200 people atten

ded an Opinion Leader Forum on Social Security and Medicare co-hosted by AARP Illinois, WLS 890 AM Radio, and the Union League Club of Chicago.  The event was  broadcast live throughout the Chicagoland area from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. on WLS 890, and we made history as it was the first ever live radio broadcast in the 134-year history of the Union League Club.

The radio listeners and live audience heard  Gail MarksJarvis, Personal Finance Columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of  Saving for Retirement (Without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery), moderate an open conversation with panelists including:  David John, Senior Research Fellow for the Heritage Foundation;  Virginia Reno, VP for Income Security for the National Academy of Social Insurance;  Professor Richard Kaplan, Professor of Law, University of Illinois College of Law; and  Sheila Weinberg, Founder and CEO, Institute for Truth in Accounting.  The broadcast included a discussion of the fiscal solvency of Social Security and Medicare, challenges facing Social Security, challenges facing Medicare, and the likelihood of comprehensive reform for either program.  During radio commercial breaks, the panel answered questions from the audience.  Prior to the event, the live audience received welcomes from  David Kohn,  Executive Director of Public Affairs with the Union League Club, and  Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director.

If you'd like to have your say on Medicare and Social Security like our attendees did we're still talking - so visit  EarnedASay.Org the discussion is heating up as the fiscal cliff looms.

 

RELATED: Check out this  INFOGRAPHIC on what Illinoisans have told us so far.

Post by  Ryan Gruenenfelder