AARP Reaction to 2006 Budget Reconciliation

Source: AARP Press Center | December 21, 2005

AARP CEO, William D. Novelli, made the following statement today in response to the 2006 budget reconciliation:

This is a sad day in history for the 109th Congress and all American families. Instead of standing up for those who are most vulnerable, today Congress voted to protect the interests of the pharmaceutical and managed care industries.

Throughout this entire debate AARP acknowledged the need to improve Medicaid. We tried hard to ensure a responsible policy that achieved the goals of preventing abuse, but still protected those who innocently helped grandchildren and or gave to charities. It is shameful that the final budget contains measures that penalize innocent people, threaten their ability to keep their homes, and shows a preference for protecting the powerful at the expense of millions of Americans.

This budget represents bad policy and AARP will now work to explain the full impact of this vote to its more than 36 million members.