AARP Idaho Volunteers from Boise Visit Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, DC – AARP volunteers and staff from Idaho and every other state in the nation visited Capitol Hill today to express opposition to the President’s proposed Social Security benefit cut known as Chained CPI and to support responsible solutions to strengthen Medicare for Idahoans. Meeting with Senators Mike Crapo and James Risch and  Representatives Raul Labrador and Mike Simpson and their staff, AARP volunteers urged our representatives to have a separate debate on Social Security and to back specific proposals that would strengthen Medicare and the health care system overall.

“Our families, friends, and neighbors want Washington to listen to them when it comes to Medicare and Social Security,” said AARP Idaho volunteer Peggy Munson of Boise, Idaho. “They’ve made their voices heard online, at community meetings and events all over Idaho, and today we’ve brought their message to Washington with the hope that we can go home and tell the people who live in our neighborhoods that Congress will strengthen these lifeline programs that matter so much to us.”

In addition to pushing for a broader retirement security debate on Social Security that is separate from ongoing budget negotiations, AARP Idaho volunteers and staff discussed embracing health care reforms that eliminate waste and improve care in order to drive positive change throughout the entire health care system and bring down health care costs for everyone, including in Medicare.

By taking action on items that include reducing waste and inefficiency, improving care coordination, and reforming Medicare’s payment incentives to doctors and hospitals in Idaho for providing good care, Medicare can remain strong into the future.

AARP Idaho volunteers and staff will continue to oppose harmful cuts and push for responsible change to strengthen Medicare and Social Security when they return home from Washington. For more on specific Medicare solutions AARP  supports visit our Medicare solutions fact sheet.