State and Local Officials Address AARP Members in Peoria

More than 120 AARP members, volunteers and guests gathered today in Peoria to hear from their elected officials about the state’s fiscal crisis, economic security, caregiving and other issues important to Illinoisans 50-plus. State Senators Chuck Weaver (Senate District 37) and David Koehler (Senate District 46), State Representative Mike Unes (House District 91), and Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis participated in the legislative breakfast moderated by Brad McMillan, J.D., executive director of the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service, and co-hosted by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).

McMillan, along with representatives from AARP and OLLI, tackled several important topics with the elected officials, including:

• How they will address the state’s fiscal crisis, which has created a $7 billion backlog of unpaid bills, $1 billion in interest owed and $130 billion in unfunded public pension obligations.
• Whether they will stand with Illinois seniors in voting “no” on legislation to tax retirement income, which is opposed by 89% of older Illinoisans.
• How they will help seniors continue to age in place—rather than in costlier nursing homes—through innovative policies for affordable housing, meals on wheels and the Illinois Community Care Program (CCP).

“Forums like this are an important opportunity for Illinoisans to hear directly from their state and local officials about the issues that matter most to them,” said AARP Illinois Associate State Director Lori Hendren. “Illinois has been in a deep financial crisis for too long because of political gridlock, and it’s being felt by residents of all ages. Now is the time for our leaders to take action.”

Learn more about how AARP is demanding action from Illinois politicians and candidates to make the state’s finances their number one priority by visiting enoughisenough.aarp.org.