BREAKING NEWS

Humphrey Named to AARP National Board

On May 5, Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey III, who has served as volunteer State President of AARP Minnesota since 2003, will be named to AARP’s Board of Directors, the official governing body of AARP. “Skip showed outstanding leadership and dedication in his role as State President and he will definitely be missed,” said AARP State Director Michele Kimball. “"Now the entire Association will benefit from his guidance and expertise, and we know he will make a terrific Board member."

NEWS FROM THE LEGISLATURE

AARP Continues to Urge Final Passage of Health Care Reform Legislation

A conference committee of Senate and House members has been meeting to iron out differences in the recently-passed health care reform bills, and AARP continues to urge legislators and the Governor to come together and support suggested reforms.  So far, more than 3,000 AARP members have e-mailed or called their state legislators and Governor Pawlenty to ask them to support the health care reform proposals being discussed.  AARP is supporting health care reforms that will reduce costs, improve quality and empower consumers with information.  “We are very hopeful that lawmakers and Governor Pawlenty will make these reforms a reality for consumers in Minnesota who are tired of paying more for health care and getting less,” said AARP State Director Michele Kimball.  “We want every lawmaker to know that AARP members care about health care and want to see improvements for people of all ages.”  In the past few weeks, AARP has been engaging its members and the public in several ways:

• On April 23, AARP led a coalition of supporters in running a full-page ad in the Star Tribune, asking Governor Pawlenty and state legislators to “Fix health care now, or we’ll all pay more later.”  A copy of the ad is included in this mailing for your information.

• AARP set up an AARP Health Care Hotline (1-800-480-4397) to encourage members to connect to their legislators’ offices toll-free and personally urge them to support these important bills.

• We have also connected with members online, sending e-alerts by email to activists, allowing members to directly email their legislators with their thoughts on health care.  The message to legislators is simple: Consumers are tired of paying more for health care and getting less.  Too many Minnesota families are facing financial ruin because of a health care crisis.  Pass health care reform this session and help stem the tide of rising costs of individuals, businesses and government.

• Two separate “teletown” hall meetings were held over the phone, reaching a total of 9,500 AARP members across the state with information about the reform proposals.

• AARP State President Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey III and staff recently met with the Governor’s Chief of Staff Matt Kramer to urge the Governor to take an active role in formulating a bipartisan health care reform package that can be signed into law.

“We see these reforms as common-sense, middle-ground proposals that all sides can hopefully accept,” said Kimball.  “It’s time to put politics aside and give Minnesotans health care reforms.”

Bill to Support Family Caregivers Passes Senate Floor

AARP is pleased that Senate File 1128, a proposal to allow employees to take earned sick time to care for an aging loved one, was approved this week by the State Senate.  Last year, AARP began urging lawmakers to better recognize the needs of family caregivers, who provide most of the long-term care given in society.  Both sessions, AARP has supported a proposal to allow employees to use earned sick leave to spend time away from their job to take care of loved ones in need of long-term care.  AARP is urging lawmakers to consider this legislation in order to help alleviate the financial hardship that caregivers experience.  A similar measure is moving through the House. AARP prefers the language in the Senate bill and will work with the authors to ensure that language is passed that we can support.

Property Tax Proposal Considered by House

AARP is monitoring proposed property tax reform legislation moving through the Minnesota House of Representatives.  The goal of the legislation is to bring property taxes more in line with an individual’s ability to pay, but the measure is still under study. The plan proposes a Homestead Credit State Refund program that applies to property taxes that exceed two percent of household income. This program would apply to households with income up to $200,000 and is revenue neutral, meaning that overall taxes are the same, but some will see higher taxes and others lower.  The plan will take three existing property tax programs; the Homeowner’s Property Tax Refund, the Market Value Homestead Credit and the Itemized Deduction for Property taxes and reallocate them under the new formula. AARP is supportive of Minnesota’s current Property Tax Refund and Market Value Homestead Credit, and believes additional analysis is needed to determine the feasibility of merging these two proven programs for a new one. Options to enhance the current Property Tax Refund Program and change its current income restriction should also be available for comparison.  AARP is appreciative that the proposal does keep in place the Renters Credit Program for Minnesota renters.

AARP Monitors Budget Debate

As state leaders grapple with how to resolve the $935 million budget deficit, AARP is watching closely to ensure that Minnesota’s most vulnerable residents, including long-term care residents, are protected from cuts.  Stay tuned as this debate continues.

UPDATE FROM WASHINGTON

Urgent Vote on Medicare Part B Premiums Approaching: Sign the Petitions Now

Action in the U.S. Senate on a proposal that may raise Medicare premiums is imminent. The Senate must pass a bill by June 30^th to prevent a scheduled decrease in payments to doctors.  This may mean increases to Medicare Part B premiums unless Congress acts to prevent beneficiaries from taking a hit.  Since 2000, monthly Medicare premiums have more than doubled. Most people on Medicare don't have any other option for health care. Yet skyrocketing health care costs are eroding their standard of living, and Medicare premiums are rising faster than their Social Security cost of living adjustments (COLA).  Go to www.keepmedicarefair.org and sign the Keep Medicare Fair petition and help us reach our national goal of gathering 200,000 signatures to tell Congress that raising Medicare premiums even higher to cover skyrocketing health care costs is just not fair!  Call Senator Norm Coleman 1-800-642-6041 and Senator Amy Klobuchar 1-888-224-9043 and encourage them both to oppose increases in Medicare Part B premiums.