AARP Montana Scores A Number Of Victories During 2009 Legislative Session

Source: AARP.org

AARP Montana declared the 2009 Montana legislative session a success, calling passage of more than $10 million in funding for Home and Community Based Services the most significant accomplishment of the session for aging Montanans.

“It was, by any measure, an extraordinarily productive session,” said AARP Montana State Director Bob Bartholomew. “And so much of what we accomplished was both good for Montana’s older population as well as important for all consumers in the state. We achieved those results because our AARP Advocacy Team worked together with the legislature in a true spirit of partnership.”

Known as the Capital City Task Force, AARP Montana’s advocacy team included 18 Helena volunteer advocates that testified on bills, educated legislators, monitored committee hearings and floor proceedings and tracked bill progress.  In addition, AARP Montana engaged thousands of grassroots activists from around the state to communicate with their legislators through email alerts, postcard campaigns and phone calls. This session AARP took a position on 63 pieces of legislation and presented testimony at 90 hearings.

“Although state revenue projections declined at an alarming rate causing legislators to cut many appropriations, AARP Montana was successful in our advocacy to expand funding for Medicaid Home and Community Based services, health care coverage programs, Area Agencies on Aging, Adult Protective Services, and other priorities,” said Claudia Clifford, AARP Montana Director of Advocacy. “We defeated some bad bills, improved some misguided legislation and set the stage for more work on health care reform.”

“I am very pleased with the end results of this legislative session,” said Joy Bruck, AARP Montana State President.  “Working together with the Legislature and Schweitzer administration, we were able to advance an agenda that will benefit consumers and older Montanans across the state for years to come.  I commend the AARP Advocacy Team and the Legislature for its work, and look forward to continuing our efforts together.”

Find a detailed list of AARP legislative accomplishments for the 2009 session on our Online Community Journal.