Washington, Mar 5, 2004 - Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) “can be depended on to protect Social Security and Medicare; he cares deeply about senior issues.”

That assertion was made by Jim Martin, President of the 60 Plus Association, a non-partisan group that relies upon support from nearly 5 million senior citizens.

Pearce received those accolades from Martin at a Capitol Hill photo event designed, Martin said, to “honor those who are truly a friend of senior citizens.” Pearce was presented with the group’s highest honor, its Guardian of Seniors’ Rights Award.

Martin said “seniors have no finer friend” than Steve Pearce.

Martin cited support by Pearce to:

· Provide for a prescription drug benefit for seniors;
· Abolish the 87-year old death tax which hurts small businesses and farmers;
· Repeal the 1993 tax on Social Security benefits;
· Abolish the 60-year earnings limit imposed on working seniors between 65-69;
· Repeal the 102-year old tax on telephones to finance the Spanish-American War.

“I believe it unequivocally when I say that senior citizens can count on Steve Pearce. And on a personal note as a senior citizen myself, and on behalf of my two favorite seniors, my mother who now lives in Florida and my step-father who was 104 years old last month (he was born September 25, 1899 so Bill Solliday started out in the 19th century, lived through the entire 20th century and is now well into the 21st century) I would not be touting the leadership of Steve Pearce unless he was heart and soul in the corner of seniors.”

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60 Plus is a 10-year-old nonpartisan group with a less government, less taxes approach to seniors’ issues. 60 Plus has become one of the fastest growing seniors groups in the country, doubling then tripling its support in the past year. 60 Plus now calls on support from nearly 4.5 million citizen lobbyists to print and mail millions of letters and petitions. 60 Plus publishes a newsletter, SENIOR VOICE, and a SCORECARD, bestowing a GUARDIAN OF SENIORS’ RIGHTS award on lawmakers in both parties who vote “pro-senior.” 60 Plus has been called “an increasingly influential lobbying group for the elderly…”