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AARP Connecticut 2008 Legislative Priorities
AARP works to ensure that people have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable for them and for society as a whole. To attain this goal, AARP will work to accomplish the following priorities in 2008:

Long Term Care
AARP will advocate for a balanced system of long term care that includes more home and community based options for people, regardless of age or physical disability, as an alternative to institutional care. AARP will advocate for legislation to continue implementation of the “Money Follows the Person” grant and to spend federal and state dollars to create a program that ensures people not needing nursing facility care do not need to enter a nursing home to take advantage of the program. AARP will advocate for legislation to create a single point of entry and information for all people needing long term care services. AARP also will work to ensure that regulations adopted to comply with 2007 assisted living legislation enhance safety and consumer protections.

Health Care Reform
AARP will work to ensure that every resident of Connecticut has access to adequate and affordable health insurance. Reforms should include proposals for shared responsibility of health care costs among government, individuals and business. AARP will work to preserve the state wrap-around program for Medicare Part D and ConnPACE and support efforts to make prescription drugs more affordable

Electricity
Connecticut residents continue to pay the highest electric rates in the continental United States. AARP will work to protect and ensure low income support for energy assistance. AARP will intervene at the regulatory level to ensure that implementation of Connecticut’s 2007 energy law does not pass unnecessary or unjustified costs down to the consumers. AARP will support legislation to correct parts of the 2007 energy bill that AARP opposed.

Grandparents as Parents
AARP will continue to advocate for more resources for grandparents raising grandchildren and other low income populations. AARP will promote the state's new Kinship Navigator Program and will continue to monitor its effectiveness.

Fair Lending
AARP will work to improve predatory lending laws in Connecticut to offer better consumer protections and transparency. Consumers should be educated on safe retirement-related investment products and how to avoid fraudulent activity.

Mobility Options
AARP will work to expand the state’s commitment to fixed bus route service and work to expand the number of towns getting municipal matching grant funds for Dial-A-Ride. AARP will work for the successful implementation of 10 Independent Transportation Networks. AARP also will seek legislation to make defensive driver insurance discounts applicable to online driver safety courses.

Divided We Fail
Divided We Fail is AARP’s national effort to raise the voices of millions of Americans who believe that health care and lifetime financial security are the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Together we will demand action, answers and accountability from our nation’s leaders and common sense solutions that recognize that individuals, business and government all have a role and a responsibility in securing health care and life-time financial security.

To become a Divided We Fail voter, or to share your personal story on issues of health care or financial security, please visit: www.dividedwefail.org.