Arkansas Voters Have Their Say on Social Security and Medicare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 31, 2012

CONTACT:
Michael Rowett, 501-217-1625, mrowett@aarp.org

Arkansas Voters Have Their Say on Social Security and Medicare

AARP’s You’ve Earned a Say delivers questionnaire results and statements from voters  to candidates and lawmakers

LITTLE ROCK – With Election Day just days away, AARP Arkansas representatives delivered a report entitled Arkansans Have Their Say about Medicare and Social Security to Arkansas members of Congress and congressional candidates. 

The report conveys the opinions of more than 3,700 Arkansans who have participated in You’ve Earned a Say – a national conversation about how to protect Social Security and Medicare for today’s seniors and strengthen them for future generations. National and state-specific versions of the report* are being delivered to presidential and congressional candidates in every state, as well as sitting lawmakers, so they can hear directly from Americans about strengthening these vital programs.

A copy of the Arkansas specific report is attached and also is available at  http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/politics/advocacy/2012-09/arkansans-have-their-say-about-medicare-and-social-security-aarp.pdf

“Through You’ve Earned a Say, we’ve heard from voters from across Arkansas who think that when it comes to Medicare and Social Security, Washington isn’t listening,” said AARP Arkansas State Director Maria Reynolds-Diaz. “With these reports, we are helping Arkansas make their voices heard with candidates and lawmakers.”

“People of all ages and across party lines believe Medicare and Social Security are critical to the health and retirement security of older Americans and yet all voters are hearing from the candidates about these programs are attack ads and 30-second soundbites,” Reynolds-Diaz added. “The next President and Congress could determine the future of Social Security and Medicare. Voters want and deserve to know where the candidates stand.”

AARP sponsored “Election 2012: The Debates” which aired on the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN). All of the debates will be rebroadcast before the election, on Sunday Nov. 4. The 1st Congressional District debate will air at 1:30 p.m., followed by the 2nd District debate at 2:30 p.m.; the 3rd District debate at 4 p.m.; and the 4th District debate at 5 p.m. AARP also sponsored “Election 2012: The Ballot Initiatives” which will be rebroadcast Friday, Nov. 2, at 10 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 4, at 6:30 p.m. Additional information is available at www.aetn.org/elections

Through the reports, debate sponsorship activities and ongoing You’ve Earned a Say events, AARP is working to elevate the voices of Arkansas voters and provide them with nonpartisan information about candidates’ positions on issues important to Americans 50 and older. In August, AARP launched the “You’ve Earned a Say: Vote for Retirement Security” 2012 Voters’ Guides featuring information from presidential, senatorial and congressional candidates—in their own words—on their plans to strengthen Social Security, Medicare and financial security.

A recent AARP nationwide survey of registered voters ages 50 and older found that 47 percent of these voters are not confident they’ll ever be able to retire and 67 percent believe the recent economic downturn will force them to rely even more on Social Security and Medicare. 

Voters 50-plus think that the next President and Congress need to strengthen Social Security (91 percent) and Medicare (88 percent). They also overwhelmingly (91 percent) believe that these issues are too big for either party to fix alone and require Republicans and Democrats to work together.

For more information, please visit www.earnedasay.org.
*The reports feature the non-random, unscientific results of three You’ve Earned a Say questionnaires. The results are not representative of AARP members or any particular group. They indicate the opinions of millions of people who chose to answer the three questionnaires.
About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for Americans 50+ and the world's largest-circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for the 50+ audience; AARP VIVA, a bilingual lifestyle multimedia platform addressing the interests and needs of Hispanic Americans; and national television and radio programming including My Generation and Inside E Street. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

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