Though AARP gives no endorsement, Kerry aligned wth AARP positions

[Nicholas_J]

AARP opposes creation of individual Social Security Accounts

Kerry opposes them

Bush favors them though he chose not to respond to AARP questionaire

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AARP supports providing employer incentives to make Health Care More Affordable.

Kerry supports this position


Bush refused to respond to the questionaire.

AARP on Prescription Drug Costs:

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AARP supports closing the coverage gap in Medicare Drug plan
AARP supports Importation of Drugs from Canada
AARP supports the HHS secretary negotiating bulk purchases of drugs to lower costs:

Kerry supports all three positions

Bush...you guessed it, refused to respond to the questionaire

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Long Term Care

AARP Shpports providing more and better home based care options

Increase traiinng and staffin across all settings

Expand stable financing sources.

Kerry supports all three of AARP's positions.

George W. Bush....need I tell you...the candidate shose not to respond to this question.


***************************************************************

This came from the most recent copy of the monthly AARP magazine.

No online information.


Though AARP does not endorse candidates, this article made it clear who supports AARP's positions and lobbying efforts for the retired.

The articles was very clear in its indications of Kerry's total alignment with AARP's positions.

By indicating that Bush refused to "fill in a response for this question" for each question, they have made it very clear to retireees that regardless of what Bush says during the campaign, he refuses to rspond publically and in writing to any position that indicates that he will not make changes to programs effecting the retired and disabled which will adversely effect this voting bloc.

AARAP has a very large membership and the members in general are more active as voters and most often align themselves with the geneal indications that this Voters Guide shows.

This will have an even greater effect on the percentage of seniors. voting for Bush.

[luaneryder]

1. Well, I'm still PO'd at AARP

over the Medicare thing and won't renew. Glad they're leaning K-E, tho.

[Nicholas_J]

2. AARP's position on the Medicare bill was simple

Some program is better than NO program. And it was very clear that Bush would have veto'd anything that was not his program.

AARP clearly stated, pass this bill, and fix the problems in it later. such as stated in the questionaire. Close the donut hole and remove the prohibitions againt importation of Canadian drugs and reomve the prohibitions against negotiating for lower prices for bulk purchases and you have a good prescription drug plan. It is easier to get a piece of legislation passed and then repair the parts that you dont want, than it is to write and fight for a completely different piece of legislation. To amend the law would be far easier than passing a new one.

Once the donut hole, and the prohibitions against bulk purchases and reimportation from Canada is done. the windfall for American Pharmaceutical companies completely disappears. as the windfall comes from the two prohibitions. This also ends up reducing the final cost of the plan by over 200 billion dollars.

In fact, right now, there is enough support from moderate Republicans to make these changes to the existing plan, except for the Bush threat to veto it.

In the case Kerry wins the election, the amendment of the act could be done in a period of weeks, no more than a few months, while scrapping the act and writing a new one would take at least a year, possibly more.

Kerry's position is exactly the same as AARP's is, to fix whqt is wrong with the act, not to get rid of it.

[TexasSissy]

3. Come on, now. AARP is the largest ins. co. in America (the world?)

Who do YOU think they support? Maybe the candidate whose Medicare Reform Act (written by the pharmaceutical industry in conjunction with the insurance industry) they fully supported and campaigned for to the tune of millions of dollars, despite the majority of their members being against it? Maybe that candidate? (His name is Bush, I think.)