2008 AARP Iowa's Legislative Priorities
By: States: Iowa Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-12-19 17:04:32.035900-05:00
AARP's top legislative priorities for 2008 will ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health care and prescription drugs, lifetime financial security and stronger consumer protections.
“We have ambitious goals for working together with Iowa’s state and national leaders to seek solutions that will improve access, affordability and quality of health care and long-term care, expand consumer protections against fraud, and enhance financial security for all,” said AARP Iowa State Director Bruce Koeppl.
In Iowa, AARP is working to advance passage of the “Iowa Consumer Rights Act,” to give individual Iowans the rights residents of every other state have–the right of victims of fraud to take legal action against the perpetrators of unscrupulous business practices. In addition, Iowa AARP is supporting state health care reform legislation that will improve coverage, access and affordability for all Iowans, as well as supporting passage of nursing home accountability measures to improve quality of care standards of Iowa’s long-term care facilities, and measures to enhance financial literacy for Iowa’s future generations.
“We look forward to continuing our work with lawmakers across the country to seek solutions that will protect the pocketbook of every American, reform our broken health care system, and ensure that older Americans have access to appropriate and affordable housing options,” added AARP Director of Government Relations and Advocacy David Sloane. “Working in a bipartisan fashion, we will strive to end gridlock on the tough issues facing America.”
Sloane noted that AARP is part of the Divided We Fail coalition, a national effort designed to engage the American public and elected officials in finding bipartisan solutions to ensure affordable quality health care and long-term financial security for everyone.
Highlights from AARP’s advocacy agenda include seeking solutions that will modernize and improve health care and contain costs, such as through health IT (including e-prescribing) and greater reliance on evidence-based medicine.
AARP will work to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, expand health coverage for children (SCHIP) and people age 50-64 and make prescription drugs more affordable.
On the financial front, AARP will focus on establishing programs in the workplace that help Americans save for retirement, including automatic enrollment in IRA and 401(k) plans and greater use of payroll deduction through the work place. AARP will seek broader protections for consumers from financial fraud and abuse and improved transportation and housing options for older Americans. AARP will work to protect funding for federal housing programs and promote more affordable reverse mortgages. The organization will also advocate for better utility regulations and more affordable energy.
“Our members expect us to look out for their best interests, and we intend to do just that,” Sloane said. “We are their voice in Washington, DC, and in their state capitals.”
For the complete AARP Advocacy Agenda visit: http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/aboutaarp/AARP2008AdvocacyAgenda.pdf
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