Legislative Victories Support Washingtonians of All Ages
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-07-11 11:10:25.518929-04:00
Legislative Victories Support Washingtonians of All Ages
AARP Advocates joined Governor Chris Gregoire, center, as she signed a bill to help low-income older adults and others afford their medications.
For AARP and its members, the 2007 legislative session proved to be an intergenerational success story. Major accomplishments included expanding children's health care, unprecedented investments in education, and significant strides in health care reform and financial security.
"It was a banner year for health care," said AARP Advocacy Director Lauren Moughon. "Fixing the health care system is just as important for our children and grandchildren as it is for older Washingtonians."
AARP's top budget priority—funding prescription drug co-pays for low-income seniors—passed early in the legislative session. Steps toward more comprehensive health care reform were not far behind.
AARP endorsed Governor Gregoire's health care reform proposal, Senate Bill 5930, which passed in April. The bill includes measures to improve patient safety and quality of care, reduce costs, and expand coverage for the uninsured.
"The Governor's bill wasn't the end-all, be-all of reform because so many of these problems have to be addressed at the federal level," Moughon said. "But it made major strides toward fixing some of the broken parts of the system."
Two particularly noteworthy bills related to financial security also passed this session.
The first new law, Senate bill 5826, will allow all consumers (beginning in September, 2008) to place a protective security freeze on their credit reports. Placing a security freeze means that no one can open new accounts in your name, even if they have your personal information. Until now, only those already victimized by identity thieves had access to this important protection. Working closely with AARP, Attorney General Rob McKenna led the fight to ensure this legislation contained important consumer protections.
The second, a financial security budget item endorsed by AARP, created a new project called "Washington Voluntary Retirement Accounts." These accounts will be designed to function as a state-based 401(k) system to help people save for retirement, much as today's Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program helps them save for their higher education needs.
"With the national savings rate near an all-time low, AARP believes we have to do everything we can to help people take responsibility for their own financial futures," Moughon concluded.
preview