Nonpartisan AARP Florida Issues Voter Guides to Let You Know Where Sunshine State Candidates Stand on Issues That Matter to You

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 7, 2014

CONTACT
Kathy Marma, 727.592.8004
kmarma@aarp.org
or
Dave Bruns, 850.577.5161
dbruns@aarp.org

Nonpartisan AARP Florida Issues Voter Guides to Let You Know Where Sunshine State Candidates Stand on Issues That Matter to You

AARP Reports Candidates’ Own Words on Support for Family Caregivers, Retirement Savings, Livable Communities; ‘You Be the Judge,’ AARP’s Johnson says

St. Petersburg, Fla. –Today the nonpartisan AARP Florida released voter guides featuring positions from candidates for Governor and Congress – in their own words – on critical issues including Social Security, Medicare, and financial security. Voters of all ages may view the voter guides at www.aarp.org/yourvote.

“AARP Florida is doing everything it can to equip voters of all ages with information about what the candidates are saying about issues that matter to Floridians 50+,” said AARP’s Florida state director, Jeff Johnson “So far, Florida voters have seen many negative ads but fewer specifics on how candidates would address our problems. Our nonpartisan voter guides help voters cut through the political noise.”

Johnson noted that AARP Florida’s voters guides report the gubernatorial candidates’ own words, without editing, on key questions important to Floridians 50+ and their families. Voter guides on Florida’s 27 Congressional races include candidates’ public statements, provided in advance to candidates’ campaigns for review.

“There is no spin here,” Johnson said. “These are the candidates’ own words. You be the judge.”

For the governor’s candidates Gov. Rick Scott, Charlie Crist and Adrian Wyllie, AARP Florida asked four questions:

• With fewer jobs offering pensions, some public pension systems facing underfunding and more than 70 million workers without access to a retirement account at work, what will you do to help Floridians save so they can have a secure financial future?
• In Florida, unpaid family caregivers help seniors live independently at home – as opposed to costly nursing homes, often paid for by the state through Medicaid. Considering family caregivers are often on call 24/7 while holding down full-time jobs, what would you do to help them continue to safely care for their loved ones, at home? Would you support laws that call for hospitals to recognize and train family caregivers when their loved ones are hospitalized?
• Floridians age 50-plus contribute positively to our state. As governor, how would you ensure that their communities, including transportation options and housing needs, are safe, accessible, and promote aging in place?
• What is your plan to seek and to provide accessible, affordable, quality healthcare for FL's uninsured and underinsured residents at a level equal to or greater than as provided for under the Affordable Care Act?

For candidates for Congress, AARP Florida drew on candidates’ public statements to respond to these questions:
• How would you protect Social Security for today’s seniors and strengthen it for future generations?
• How would you put Medicare on stronger financial ground and protect today’s seniors and future retirees from the burden of rising health costs?
• How would you help Americans save so they can secure their future and live independently as they age?

Visitors to www.aarp.org/yourvote can also contact the campaigns with their comments or questions and find out where they can vote in their state.

Additionally, this year AARP Florida has published election and issue surveys. To learn more, go to www.aarp.org/yourvote .

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. 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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