AARP Montana Stakes Out Legislative Priorities for 2017 Session

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Association to fight for issues critical to aging Montanans; Members urged to ask their legislators to support 2017 agenda.

Montana's 2017 legislative session kicked-off on January 2 and with a slew of new legislators at the capitol, AARP Montana, the state's largest membership association, representing the most active voting demographic, has crucial issues it wants lawmakers to act on.  AARP Montana recently released its 2017 legislative agenda that zeroes in on the key concerns of the state's 50+ population and outlines strategies to address critical aging issues such as consumer protection, senior services, retiree financial security and caregiving.

“Older Montanans, especially those over age 75, are projected to be a larger portion of our state’s population,” said Tim Summers, AARP Montana State Director. “Policymakers need to plan for this shift in demographics by enhancing services and infrastructure in our communities so Montanans can continue to be independent, engaged and productive members of our state.”

AARP Montana based its legislative agenda on surveys of AARP members, its national policies which are determined by a volunteer member council, and issues that AARP Montana undertook in previous legislative sessions.

 

AARP Montana 2017 Legislative Agenda:

• Services to help people stay in their own homes and communities and assisted living as an alternative to nursing home care.
• Supporting Montana’s family caregivers – especially when their loved ones go into the hospital, and as they return home.
• Helping working Montanans boost their workplace savings to help grow the additional savings they will need to live a secure and independent future
• Financial protection -- cracking down on financial fraud and criminals who steal financial data, pension protection, insurance consumer protections.

 

“AARP Montana is the voice of 50-plus Montanans at the State Capitol. Our advocacy efforts during the legislative session are effective because of the efforts of AARP volunteers statewide,” said Summers.  “This was proven in previous sessions when volunteers made over 30,000 separate contacts to legislators to save Big Sky Rx -- including postcards, phone calls, faxes and e-mails.  Montanans all across the state made their voices heard and ultimately made the positive difference. This session we are asking AARP Montana members to contact their legislators early and often.”

AARP is urging Montanans to ask their legislators to support the 50-plus population and critical aging issues by supporting the AARP Montana 2017 legislative agenda.  Montanans can contact their legislators via phone at 406-444-4800 or via email through www.leg.mt.gov/message.

AARP members are encouraged to sign up online to stay informed on issues throughout the 2017 session and to become an e-activist at www.aarp.org/getinvolved.