AARP leader: Health care is big issue
Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2008
YANKTON, S.D. (AP) -- Health care will dominate the agenda for AARP South Dakota this year, according to the group's state president, Pat Gross.
"Quite frankly, we would like to see a long-term care program that is run nationwide," Gross said in an interview.
"The Legislature has shown a lot of interest in it at this point. We currently have a health task force that is meeting, and we have representation on that ... to start a good dialogue and try to look at what might be available from a legislative standpoint and from a funding standpoint."
AARP wants to continue its push for more recognition of elder abuse, according to Gross.
"Last year our Legislature did take some of our recommendations as well as others and put a little more power in the law enforcement side so ... now it is a crime to not report an elder situation where they're being abused," he said.
The organization's clout will increase as membership rolls grow, Gross said.
"We feel really good about the fact that in South Dakota we have 102,000 members now, and we believe in their ability to influence some of our policy makers," he said.
Several hundred AARP members will spend three days late this month lobbying lawmakers in Pierre, Gross said.
In a posting on the AARP Web site, Gross wrote, "The growing presence of AARP at the Capitol during the Legislature each year is a testament to the collective power and influence we can have when we speak with one voice. If you haven't joined us in the past, I encourage you to mark your calendar and join us in Pierre Jan. 28, 29 and 30."
On the Net: http://www.aarp.org/states/sd/
"Quite frankly, we would like to see a long-term care program that is run nationwide," Gross said in an interview.
"The Legislature has shown a lot of interest in it at this point. We currently have a health task force that is meeting, and we have representation on that ... to start a good dialogue and try to look at what might be available from a legislative standpoint and from a funding standpoint."
AARP wants to continue its push for more recognition of elder abuse, according to Gross.
"Last year our Legislature did take some of our recommendations as well as others and put a little more power in the law enforcement side so ... now it is a crime to not report an elder situation where they're being abused," he said.
The organization's clout will increase as membership rolls grow, Gross said.
"We feel really good about the fact that in South Dakota we have 102,000 members now, and we believe in their ability to influence some of our policy makers," he said.
Several hundred AARP members will spend three days late this month lobbying lawmakers in Pierre, Gross said.
In a posting on the AARP Web site, Gross wrote, "The growing presence of AARP at the Capitol during the Legislature each year is a testament to the collective power and influence we can have when we speak with one voice. If you haven't joined us in the past, I encourage you to mark your calendar and join us in Pierre Jan. 28, 29 and 30."
On the Net: http://www.aarp.org/states/sd/
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