Voters

The following is an op-ed by AARP New Hampshire State Director Todd Fahey surrounding the skyrocketing cost of prescriptions drugs.

Behind closed doors, the drug companies are lobbying members of Congress to help boost their profits and stick seniors with higher drug costs.  Dick Chevrefils, AARP's Regional Volunteer Director for the East Region, thinks Congress needs to keep fighting for lower drug prices.  Here's what Chevrefils has to say:

Statement from Todd Fahey, AARP NH State Director on use of AARP's name in political campaign ads:

Voting in the mid-term elections is easy for some people – just a quick walk around the corner or a short drive to the polling station. But for others, it may seem impossible.

In the 2016 Presidential election, 382,606 Granite Staters  over 50+ voted.   In the 2014 mid-term election, 337,472 turned out.  Meet the state’s largest and most reliable voting bloc.  Just over 500,000 people over 50 years old call New Hampshire home, some 230,000 of whom we are honored to call AARP members.  It’s time for this bloc, like prior generations, to begin repairing broken government at the voting booth.

Congress did a good thing earlier this year when it passed a law that helps millions of seniors save money on prescription drugs. But now lobbyists for big drug companies are working overtime to persuade lawmakers to renege on the deal.

How to strengthen and preserve Social Security for future generations is one of the most important decisions facing federal policymakers. This campaign season, questions about Social Security’s fate belong on the forefront.

AARP is calling on Congress to protect seniors and all taxpayers from price gouging by big drug companies.  There is no reason Americans should continue to pay among the highest prescription drug prices in the world.

Social Security has remained strong over its 83-year-history largely because of its dedicated financing and the commitment of past congresses and presidents to work together to make the changes needed to secure its financial future.

The 2018 midterm elections will be among the most historic elections in a generation.  We need to make sure our elected officials prioritize issues that are important to people as they age.  We need to make sure our voices our heard!