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Legislative Issues in North Carolina: A Survey of Residents 50 Plus

Exploring the opinions of age 50+ North Carolina residents about legislative issues in their state, this AARP survey finds health care (including prescription drugs) and economic security concerns dominating the issues they consider most important. These issues affect all Tar Heels regardless of AARP membership or age.

Of those surveyed...

  • 76 percent support North Carolina providing additional funding for home- and community-based services, even if it means an increase in their taxes
  • 85 percent feel the state should provide assistance with prescription drug costs for low-income older and disabled residents who do not qualify for extra help from the Medicare Part D program
  • 66 percent favor legislation that would allow low-income elderly and disabled residents to delay paying property taxes
  • 60 percent say they always vote in elections for governor and state legislators

Overall, most are aware of the challenges facing the state regarding these issues. They are willing to bear higher taxes, if necessary, in order to preserve crucial social programs, and would be likely to vote for or against candidates for state office based on their proposals on these key issues.

This telephone survey of 801 age 50+ North Carolinians – 55 percent of whom identified themselves as AARP members – was conducted for AARP by Woelfel Research during April and May 2006. Further information about this survey may be obtained by contacting the report's author, Erica Dinger of AARP Knowledge Management, at 202-434-6176. (29 pages)