AARP Idaho Takes Aim at Preventing Harsh Budget Cuts & Protecting Living Wills

Assoc. Rolls Out 2011 Legislative Agenda, Budget Cuts, Tax Exemptions, Cig. Tax, Fixing "Conscience" Law Top Member Concerns

BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With Idaho's 2011 legislative session just underway, lawmakers and the voters who elected them have tough issues on their minds.  65% of all votes cast in Idaho this past election season came from a voter 50 or older; nearly half of the state's 50+ population count themselves as an AARP member, and today the Association announced its legislative priorities based on its members top concerns.

"Our members, like most Idahoans, are looking to their elected officials for leadership on key issues this legislative session," said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho.  "They want to see smart fiscal policy that doesn't balance a budget on the backs of children, families and the elderly, and they are calling for the state's 'conscience' law to be fixed protecting their living wills and advance directives."

On the heels of statewide efforts, listening to members issues and concerns in every legislative district in Idaho, AARP's 2011 Legislative Priorities include:  

Staving off Harsh Budget Cuts: A "cuts only" approach could mean significant cuts to Medicaid programs and services and possibly other crucial areas. Any cut to Medicaid will mean that Idaho will lose federal matching funds – a $25.5 million (as is on the table) cut would mean a loss of over $90 million.  Possible cuts could also force more Idahoans into emergency rooms for basic care, which would prove much costlier to the state than funding Medicaid.  AARP will work to avoid cuts to critical Medicaid programs and services and keep an "eagle eye" on other areas that could be impacted by proposed cuts.

• New revenue: AARP is urging legislators to look at options to increase revenue such as: increasing the tobacco tax by $1.25, a move that could bring $50 million into Medicaid and stave off cuts, while decreasing juvenile smoking; working towards better collecting taxes on on-line purchases, a move that could bring in as much as $30 million; and reviewing all sales tax exemptions, which cost Idaho roughly $1.8 billion a year, with the same critical eye used to considered budget cuts.

Protecting Patient's Rights - "Conscience" Law:  AARP will aggressively work to fix Idaho's new "conscience" law, which currently allows all health care professionals in Idaho to refuse to honor a patient's living will or advance directive.  AARP is advocating for the removal of language impacting a patient's legal end of life wishes. The Association recently launched the Patient's Rights Hotline to connect members with their legislators on the issue: 1-800-232-0581.

Keeping Education Strong:  As the Association was founded by a retired teacher, education is an issue at AARP's core.  After last year's brutal cuts to education, AARP will work closely with the Retired Educators Association of Idaho to follow changes or potential cuts to Idaho's education system for any negative effect.  

Standing Up for Retirees: Last year, retirees had to fight to prevent a legislative proposal aimed at blocking a modest 1% COLA, this year, AARP will closely monitor any attempts to revamp the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho for a potential negative impact on today's and tomorrow's retirees.  

Helping Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: AARP will work to remove obstacles for grandparents and other relatives raising children when it comes to being able to make health and education decisions for children in their care.

AARP is Idaho's largest membership organization with 180,000 members.

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SOURCE AARP Idaho