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Energy Assistance Fair Shows How To Save Money

Jackson — The Energy Assistance Fair will demonstrate ways to stretch energy dollars. The free event is Tuesday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jackson Medical Mall.

People who attend can sign up with participating community agencies to find out if they quality for energy assistance. Mississippi received $43 million from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program this year and the majority of those LIHEAP funds have yet to be distributed.

Experts will demonstrate home weatherization techniques. United Way representatives will discuss the 2-1-1 program, a number callers can dial anywhere in the United States to get connected with essential community services, including child and elder care, training, employment, food pantries, addiction treatment and affordable housing options.

Participants include Entergy Mississippi, Atmos Energy, United Way’s 2-1-1 Mississippi, the City of Jackson, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Hinds County Human Resource Agency, State Bank & Trust Co. and others.

Added: April 9, 2009
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AARP Supports Serve America Act

To solve the problems our nation faces will require more than a financial stimulus package. We also must issue a call to the American people to help out, neighbor to neighbor, and get us through this crisis.

AARP Mississippi urges Senator Thad Cochran and Senator Roger Wicker to support the Serve America Act on Capitol Hill this week. At a time when many communities are in great need, this important, bipartisan bill will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages.

Our research shows that 40% of boomers and older Americans plan to increase their volunteer time in the next five years. There is no shortage of opportunitiesfor them to pitch in.

Now is the time for action on this voluntary national service legislation, part of which is devoted to enhancing service opportunities for persons 50+, so they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills to help remedy a wide variety of urgent needs.

We ask Senator Cochran and Senator Wicker to join their colleagues on both sides of the aisle to swiftly pass the Serve America Act so that those who stand ready to answer the call will find ample opportunities to give back to their country and community.

Added: March 26, 2009
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AARP Public Policy Institute: Nursing Home Use Remains Flat

For Immediate Release Contact: Ronda Gooden

March 4, 2009 601-206-1850

Elders Saying No To Nursing Homes

Nursing Home Use Remains Flat Despite Aging Population,

Says New AARP Report on Long-term Care

Jackson - Nursing home residents, beds, and occupancy rates have remained nearly constant in the last five years, even though the older population has increased, according to Across the States 2009, Profiles of Long-Term Care and Independent Living, a new state-by-state report from the AARP Public Policy Institute.

Specifically, the report finds that spending for long-term care services is not a primary force behind escalating Medicaid costs. The report shows that on average, Medicaid funds spent on home and community-based services can serve three older people or adults with disabilities for each resident in a nursing home.

In Mississippi, only 11 percent of Medicaid funding is allocated for home and community-based services. AARP supports rebalancing home and community-based funding so that it comprises at least 25 percent of Medicaid expenditures. The new national average for home and community-based services Medicaid expenditures is 27 percent.

Currently, the Mississippi legislature is considering HB 105 which would rebalance Medicaid funding for home and community-based services. The bill would increase home and community-based service waiver slots by 200 a month for three years beginning in May 2009.

“Those states that have developed home and community-based service programs are slowing the rate of growth in spending on care for older persons and people with disabilities,” said Susan Reinhard, Senior Vice President for Public Policy. “In these tough economic times, investment in home and community-based services can contribute to long-term savings that could help preserve the safety net for future generations.”

Despite a growing trend toward providing HCBS—which most older people prefer—the report finds that the bulk of Medicaid long-term care dollars still go to nursing homes. Only a handful of states—New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and California—now spend more Medicaid dollars on HCBS than nursing homes, achieved through major system reforms. However, the number of people receiving Medicaid HCBS across the country is growing and now nearly equals the number in nursing homes.

The report presents comprehensive state-by-state data on long-term care services provided in home and community-based settings and nursing homes. It is designed to help policymakers in the states address the long-term care challenges of an aging population.

The population age 85 or older—the age group that is most likely to need long-term care services—is expected to increase by 74% between 2007 and 2030. As the baby boomers turn age 85 between 2030 and 2050, the age 85+ population will skyrocket by another 118%.

The report emphasizes, however, that family caregivers remain the main providers of long-term care services in all the states and nationwide. By providing personal care and even health care, family caregivers help to contain costs by delaying or preventing the use of nursing home and hospital care.

Among other highlights of the report:

· From 2007 to 2030, the population age 65+ is projected to grow by 89%, more than four times as fast as the population as a whole. The states with the greatest projected age 85+ population growth in this period are Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming and New Mexico.

· About 1.44 million Americans live in nursing facilities, occupying 85% of a total of 1.7 million nursing home beds. Although people tend to associate long-term care with nursing homes, the great majority of people with disabilities live in community settings.

· The number of older people and adults with physical disabilities receiving Medicaid-funded HCBS increased by about one-third from 2000 to 2005, to a total of nearly 1.4 million beneficiaries.

· In 2007, nine states—Tennessee, Indiana, North Dakota, Utah, South Dakota, Kentucky, Alabama, Connecticut, and Delaware—spent 10% or less of their Medicaid long-term care funds for older people and adults with disabilities on HCBS – far below the national average of 27%. In fact, roughly two-thirds of the states fall below this national average.

· Older people with disabilities have a growing array of service options, but the services are costly and can deplete the life savings of older households. Assisted living has emerged as a major option for many older people, for example. The average private-pay base rate for assisted living services is about $3,000 per month, though this rate typically does not include skilled nursing or other intensive health-related services that are add-ons.

Across the States 2009 is available online at http://www.aarp.org/acrossthestates.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Added: March 4, 2009
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AARP Opens Call Center To Aid Consumers In DTV Transition

For Immediate Release: Contact: Ronda Gooden

February 17, 2009 601-206-1850

AARP Mississippi Launches Toll Free Help Line To Aid

Consumers During DTV Transition

Washington , D.C. – Since February 17, many Americans may find that some of their TV stations are no long available as they undergo the switch from analog to digital signals. AARP continues to educate older Americans and their families about the steps they must take to prepare for the transition, and now is operating a national DTV call center individuals may call for personal assistance.

“AARP is committed to providing relevant and important information to our members and their families to make this transition as easy and affordable as possible,” said Sherri Davis-Garner, Senior State Director for AARP Mississippi. “Through a contract from the Federal Communications Commission, we are able to provide trained operators, implement a toll-free number and run a center that individuals can call for information and help as they prepare for the transition in their homes.”

Many older Americans depend on television for critical news and safety information, and may face significant challenges when television signals become exclusively digital. In conjunction with an ongoing education campaign, AARP has established a toll-free phone number consumers can call.

Individuals can call 1-877-698-8068 to speak with a trained operator who can answer their DTV questions.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. EST.
Spanish-language operators are available as well.
The national DTV call center will be in operation through March 31, 2009.

“We look forward to helping as many consumers as possible in the transition process,” said Davis-Garner.

For more information about AARP and the DTV transition please visit: www.aarp.org/dtv .

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Added: February 23, 2009
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AARP Mississippi Records Key Vote On Economic Stimulus

AARP Mississippi: Stimulus Is First Step Toward Restoring

Long-Term Financial Security For Older Americans

AARP Tracks “Key Vote” on Government Watch For 40 Million Members

Washington, D.C. – In a historic and critical vote, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Designated as a “key vote” by AARP on behalf of its 40 million members, the elected officials’ votes will be posted on AARP’s Government Watch site (www.aarp.org/governmentwatch) so that individuals across the nation can see how their elected official voted on this legislation.

Mississippi’s delegation voted as follows:

U.S. House of Representatives

Yea – Representative Travis Childers, D-MS (1^st Congressional District)

Nay – Representative Gregg Harper, R-MS (3^rd Congressional District)

Nay – Representative Gene Taylor, D-MS (4^th Congressional District)

Yea– Representative Bennie Thompson, D-MS (2^nd Congressional District)

U.S. Senate

Nay – Senator Thad Cochran, R-MS

Nay – Senator Roger Wicker, R-MS

“Unprecedented job loss, loss of savings and investments, and rising numbers of uninsured individuals has forced every American to take notice of this dire moment in history,” said Sherri Davis-Garner, Senior State Director for AARP Mississippi. “The passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a critical moment for Americans young and old and a vital jump start to our ailing economy. We are encouraged by the long-term investment made by Congress that brings us steps closer to health care reform. Funding for health information technology, comparative effectiveness research and nurse and primary care training are all essential building blocks for reform and AARP is encouraged by their inclusion in the stimulus bill.”

A recent letter from AARP CEO Bill Novelli to House and Senate leadership outlines the most important issues for older Americans in this legislation:

The bill contains many provisions that we believe are paramount to promoting economic growth, assisting those most affected by the economic crisis, and providing the foundation for meeting critical needs, such as health care and the development of livable communities. Among the provisions we agree are especially needed are:

· A $250 economic recovery payment for older persons, veterans, and individuals with disabilities who are ineligible to receive a Make Work Pay credit.

· A significant increase in Medicaid spending that will help to stimulate the economy as the current economic downturn causes caseloads to rise while revenues plummet.

· Essential building blocks for health care reform, including support for health information technology that includes critical privacy protections, health care comparative effectiveness research, and nurse and primary care training. These changes are critical because we cannot fix our economy if we do not address our broken health care system.

· An increase in funding for the Social Security Administration at a time of significant caseload increases.

· Affordable health insurance via subsidized COBRA for those who have lost health coverage along with jobs.

· An extension and increase in unemployment benefits. Over the past twelve months the number of unemployed aged 55 and older has risen by 65 percent.

· An increase in Food Stamps and other nutrition support. Fixed and low-income individuals face unacceptable choices as food costs increase along with the price of medicine and health care.

· An increase in the Weatherization Assistance Program to help low-income and older couples reduce their energy costs.

· A substantial increase in funding for transportation infrastructure projects that expand mobility options, including mass transit, rural and para-transit programs, and improved coordination of human services transportation programs.

· An increase in the loan value limit for FHA-insured reverse equity mortgages that would allow greater numbers of older homeowners to safely tap the equity in their homes to refinance unaffordable mortgages, obtain more suitable housing, pay medical bills or just meet daily living costs.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Added: February 16, 2009
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Tell The Senate Public Utilities Committee To Pass SB 2790

Call 1-888-333-5757 today!!!

Call members of the Senate Public Utilities Committee now and tell them to support Senate Bill 2790! The bill must pass the committee by February 3, in order for the full Senate to vote on it.

Don’t let this important bill be blocked in committee!

Let your legislators know you want a Utility Consumer Advocate to speak up for you when the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) makes decisions that could increase your utility bills.

Mississippi is one of 10 states without a consumer advocate who represents utility customers before the PSC.

It’s not fair for utility companies to have lawyers, paid for by customers, when customers have no legal representation.

Call the following Senate Public Utility Committee members today and tell them to vote yes on SB 2790. The full Senate should have an opportunity to vote on this bill so that you can have a Utility Consumer Advocate.

Call 1-888-333-5757 today!!!

Senate Public Utilities Committee

Chairman Sen. Nolan Mettetal – Panola, Tate (District 10)

Sen. David Blount – Hinds (District 29)

Sen. Nickey Browning – Calhoun, Pontotoc, Union (District 3)

Sen. Hob Bryan – Itawamba, Lee, Monroe (District 7)

Sen. Terry Burton – Lauderdale, Newton, Scott (District 31)

Sen. Videt Carmichael – Clarke, Lauderdale (District 33)

Sen. Sampson Jackson II – Kemper, Lauderdale, Noxubee, Winston (District 32)

Sen. Thomas Edward King, Jr. – Forrest, Lamar, Perry (District 44)

Sen. Ezell Lee – Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone (District 47)

Sen. Tommy Moffatt – Jackson County (District 52)

Sen. Michael Watson – Jackson County (District 51)

Added: January 30, 2009
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Mississippi Utility Customers Want A Voice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ronda Gooden

December 16, 2008 (601) 206-1850 (work)

(601) 209-1812 (cell)

Mississippi Utility Customers Want A Voice

AARP survey shows support for consumer advocate, opposition to upfront plant construction costs

Jackson - Mississippi’s utility consumers want someone to represent them in rate increase decisions before the state Public Service Commission, according to an AARP survey of people who live in Entergy and Mississippi Power Company service territories. According to the survey, conducted in November, 86 percent of respondents strongly support a law that would establish a consumer advocate office to represent and protect residential customers.

“Utility rate increases have a direct impact on the financial security of Mississippians,” said Sherri Davis-Garner, AARP Mississippi Senior State Director. “This survey shows that Mississippians want utility companies to be accountable to customers. Now more than ever Mississippians are demanding fairness from utility companies. The days of quietly accepting rate increases without a voice at the table are over.”

Before the Mississippi legislature changed the law in 2008, utilities had the responsibility of borrowing money from banks to build new power generating plants. Customers did not start paying for new construction until power was provided to them from the new plant.

A new law, Senate Bill 2793 passed in 2008, allows electric companies to charge customers upfront for all planning, pre-construction, and construction costs of new power plants. Eighty-four (84) percent of respondents strongly support returning to the old law whereby customers did not pay for power plants until they were completed and providing service.

Electric companies sometimes purchase electricity, fuel, or other products directly from an affiliate company that it owns or from a company with which it is in partnership. Eighty-seven (87) percent of respondents strongly support a requirement that their electric company purchase fuel at the lowest possible cost. Also, 91 percent of respondents strongly support a requirement that their electric companies must prove they got the best deal possible when they make purchases from an affiliated company.

Eighty-six (86) percent of respondents would support PSC requirements that utility companies share future plans for providing electricity to its customers through the use of coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind and solar power.

Finally, 82 percent of respondents said they would support an energy assistance program, even if it meant they would have to pay an additional $1 each month to their electric bills.

For a copy of the survey, call 1-866-554-5382.

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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP has launched Divided We Fail to raise the voices of millions of Americans who believe that health care and life-time financial security are the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Learn the issues, add your voice and find out how you can get involved at www.dividedwefail.org

Added: December 22, 2008
Views: 191 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Senior State Director Participates in Nursing Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 25, 2008

Contact: Ronda Gooden, 601-206-1850

MISSISSIPPI TEAM SELECTED TO ADVANCE SOLUTIONS

TO NURSING, FACULTY SHORTAGES

SHERRI DAVIS-GARNER TO PARTICIPATE IN AARP, RWJF,

LABOR DEPARTMENT SUMMIT TO ADDRESS NURSING EDUCATION CAPACITY

Jackson, MS – AARP Mississippi Senior State Director Sherri Davis-Garner will participate in the first Nursing Education Capacity Summit convened by AARP, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D.C. on June 26 and 27. The goal of the Summit is to identify solutions to the nurse faculty shortage that is forcing nursing schools to turn away thousands of qualified nursing candidates each year. Summit participants will identify and develop approaches to improving nursing education capacity – with the ultimate goal of reversing the persistent nursing shortage that could leave the United States without enough nurses.

Mississippi will send a team of multi stakeholders to the Summit including Davis-Garner. Other states participating include: AL, CA, CO, FL, HI, IL, MA, MD, MI, NC, ND, NJ, OR, SC, TX, VA and WI. They will share best practices and focus on four key areas: strategic partnerships and resource alignment; policy and regulation; increasing faculty capacity and diversity; and education redesign.

“AARP recognizes the important role that states play; they are where the rubber meets the road in terms of health care delivery,” said Senior Vice President of the AARP Public Policy Institute and Chief Strategist for the Center to Champion Nursing in America Susan Reinhard. The Center to Champion Nursing in America is a joint initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Nurses play a significant role in reducing medical errors and improving health care quality, which is why we urgently need to find solutions to address both the shortage of nurses and the shortage of faculty to educate them,” Reinhard added.

Mississippi is uniquely positioned to contribute to the Summit because of a commitment to team work, demonstrated best practices related to increasing the nursing workforce, and excellent capacity to build even more effective partnerships for solutions in the future.

The Summit comes at a critical time for nursing. Latest surveys project that the United States could fall short by close to half a million registered nurses by 2025 absent aggressive action. Currently, the supply of new nurses is failing to keep pace with rising patient demand, in part because a significant number of interested and qualified nursing school applicants have been turned away in recent years due to a growing shortage of nursing faculty.

“The time to simply talk about the problem is over,” said RWJF Senior Program Officer Susan Hassmiller. “What’s essential now is to fundamentally rethink how nurses are and should be educated and how they should be deployed in the workforce. The experiences of these states offer the best hope for achieving these goals.”

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The AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity. Foundation programs provide security, protection and empowerment for older persons in need. Low-income older workers receive the job training and placement they need to re-join the workforce. Free tax preparation is provided for low- and moderate-income individuals, with special attention to those 60 and older. The Foundation’s litigation staff protects the legal rights of older Americans in critical health, long-term care, consumer and employment situations. Additional programs provide information, education and services to ensure that people over 50 lead lives of independence, dignity and purpose. Foundation programs are funded by grants, tax-deductible contributions and AARP. For more information visit www.aarp.org/foundation

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

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Added: June 25, 2008
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Columbia Gets Andrus Legacy Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ronda Gooden

March 19, 2008 (601) 206-1850 (work)

(601) 209-1812 (cell)

AARP Presents Columbia High School $10,000 Award For Innovation

Recognition highlight’s AARP’s 50^th Anniversary

Jackson - Columbia High School will receive AARP Mississippi’s Ethel Percy Andrus Legacy Award in recognition of the school’s student performance incentive program at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 19 at the school, 1009 Broad Street, Columbia, MS. In celebration of its 50^th anniversary, AARP is providing $10,000 awards to one innovative high school in each state, as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.

AARP’s 50^th Anniversary, “Generations Connecting for Change,” is a year-long, national celebration that highlights the association’s foundation of leadership and service to others by uniting generations and building a better future. AARP was founded 50 years ago by Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired teacher and principal from California.

“Dr. Andrus was a champion for all generations who believed, as we do today, that the generations are connected by a strong commitment to values, community and service,” said Sherri Davis-Garner, AARP Mississippi’s Senior State Director. “This award not only pays tribute to Dr. Andrus, it also acknowledges our continued commitment to recognize and encourage educational achievements in Mississippi and throughout the country.”

After a statewide selection process, Columbia High School was selected for an innovative program that rewards students’ passing grades, good behavior and school attendance.

Three years ago, school principal Sheila Burbridge developed a program aimed at helping students excel academically and improve their attendance. Working with partners in the community, she purchased tickets to a New Orleans Saints football game to give to those students who earned passing grades, and demonstrated good behavior and exemplary attendance. The money raised also helped pay for a charter bus to drive the two-hour distance to New Orleans. Students returned motivated to excel. Now the school, through its community partners, purchases season tickets so more students can be awarded for good grades, behavior and attendance. Burbridge credits the program with raising the school’s state academic rating from level three to four (five is highest).

Learn more about Columbia High School at www.chs.columbiaschools.org.

Nationwide, AARP has donated more than $1 million to support educational programs that have demonstrated a commitment to connect generations and foster greater civic engagement among students and their communities. Schools in Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami and Philadelphia received $100,000 awards.

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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have

independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP has launched Divided We Fail to raise the voices of millions of Americans who believe that health care and life-time financial security are the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Learn the issues, add your voice and find out how you can get involved at www.dividedwefail.org

Added: March 25, 2008
Views: 769 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Mississippi's 2008 Day at the Capitol

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ronda Gooden

March 5, 2008 (601) 206-1850 (work)

(601) 209-1812 (cell)

Day at the Capitol brings AARP members,

volunteers to State Capitol

Medicaid, proposed utility rate hike

among AARP’s top legislative issues

Jackson – More than 300 AARP Mississippi volunteers and members from throughout the state will bring their concerns to legislators on Thursday, March 6, 2008. AARP’s annual Day at the Capitol gives Mississippi’s 50-plus population the opportunity to ask lawmakers about legislation that is important to them.

This year’s top legislative issues include: long-term care choices, identity theft prevention and a tobacco tax increase/food tax decrease legislation. AARP has organized grassroots advocacy volunteers and members throughout Mississippi’s Congressional and state legislative districts. These members are able to respond to state and federal legislative calls to action.

Key legislation that is still being considered includes:

Medicaid Technical Bill (House Bill 1013), which increases the excise tax on cigarettes by $1 to help fund the state’s Medicaid program. AARP opposes proposals that would increase taxes on hospital beds because these would only be passed on to patients.
Electric Rate Hike Bill (Senate 2793), which authorizes the Public Service Commission to allow public utility companies to increase consumer rates for all expenditures, including pre-construction, construction, operating and related costs.

AARP supports the Medicaid Technical Bill because its provides for a “Money Follows The Person” program, which could give nursing home residents a choice in their long-term care by remaining in a nursing home or receiving long-term care in a community setting.

“AARP members are concerned about this bill because it would provide choices in their personal long-term care,” said Sherri Davis-Garner, AARP Mississippi’s State Director. “Our members are concerned about the quality of their lives as they grow older, and they want long-term care options to be available to them.”

AARP members and electric consumers throughout the state are concerned about the possibility of utility rate increases as the economy continues to look bleak.

“As energy consumption increases, certainly the need for more powerful facilities grows,” Davis said. “But Senate Bill 2793 places the entire financial burden of new facilities on the shoulders of Mississippi ratepayers.” AARP members say the shareholders of the utility companies should handle the expense of building new facilities.

Day at the Capitol begins at 9:15 a.m. with a review of AARP’s top legislative issues at Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church, 305 N. Congress Street. Then members will walk across the street to the state Capitol to discuss the issues with legislators.

“Day at the Capitol is important because AARP is an organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all as we age,” said Bruce Brice, AARP Mississippi’s Interim State President. “Our volunteers’ presence shows their dedication.”

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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP has launched Divided We Fail to raise the voices of millions of Americans who believe that health care and life-time financial security are the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Learn the issues, add your voice and find out how you can get involved at www.dividedwefail.org

Added: March 25, 2008
Views: 1088 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

My Journals (20)