Political Interest Groups: AARP Presented By: Mimi Hong Scott Lee.

Political Interest Groups: AARP

Presented By:Mimi HongScott Lee

Mission

• Statement:o “To enhance the quality of life for all as we

age, leading positive social change, and delivering value to members through information, advocacy, and service.”

Demographics

• Size: 37.5 million members• Age: 50+, Retirees (Avg. 64)• Membership fee: $16• Party Affiliation: none

o Aim to be non-partisano Support those who agree with ideals

Ideals, Goals

• Policy:o Strengthen Social Security o Support other retirement savings efforts o Promote affordable health care

• Quality of Life:o Foster livable communitieso Represent its demographico Provide purpose through Create the Good and the

AARP Foundation

Advocacy

• Taken a stand on:oHealth Care Reform (Obama Care)oSocial Security

Advocacy: Obama Care

• Legislation: o Lowers cost of Health Careo Cuts into Medicare

• Group Position: Support Obama Care• Reasons:

o More funding; Additional $20 Milliono Increased enrollment in MediGapo Lowers the cost of health careo Increased unemployment benefits

Advocacy: Obama Care

• Member Position: Oppose• Reasons:

o Cuts Medicare benefits ($500 Billion)• Result:

o Membership Decline: 60,000 from July-August 2009

o Poor reputation

Advocacy: Social Security (SS)

• Position: Keep SS through slight changes• Financial Support for:

o Retireeso Disabledo Unexpected Emergencieso Families after a loss

• Proposal: o Gradually raise the SS wage capo Do NOT cut spending SS (81% Oppose cuts)

Impact

• Support for Obama Care:o AARP Support Support of 35+ Million people o Increased Momentumo Increased advocacy, exposure for bill

• *Push for patients’ benefits: o Improved medical care for chronically ill patients

*Part of Obama Care

Impact

• Push for lower drug prices:o Prompted Congress to conduct investigationso Increased exposure to issue

• *Push for increased unemployment benefits: o Amount: Up $25o Time: Up 26 weekso Increased urgency for 50+ demographic

• *Push for energy assistanceo Funding for energy efficient homes

*Part of Obama Care

Works CitedAARP. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. <http://aarp.org>.AARP. “AARP Members Win: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.” AARP. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://www.aarp.org/ politics-society/ government-elections/ info-02-2009/ american_recovery_act.html>.AARP Logo. N.d. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://www.american.com/ archive/ 2009/ october/ the-aarp-paradox/ FeaturedImage>.“AARP Public Policy Institute: Annual Report 2009.” AARP. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://assets.aarp.org/ rgcenter/ ppi/ general/ ppi-2009-annual-report-100201.pdf>.Diament, Michelle. “Social Security: It’s Not Just for the Retired.” AARP. N.p., 1 Dec. 2010. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://www.aarp.org/ work/ social-security/ info-12-2010/ social_insurance_program.html>.English, Jeffery B. “Obamacare: State Exchanges Forced By 2014.” Bael and Spice: Visioin on Life. N.p., 30 Nov. 2010. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. <http://www.basilandspice.com/ healthcare-issues/ 122010-obamacare-state-exchanges-forced-by-2014.html>.Dr. Obama. N.d. Stand Up for America. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2010.      <http://standupforamerica.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/      health-care-part-1-making-the-case-for-reform/doctor-obama-to-the-rescue/>.

Works CitedFlaherty, Peter. “AARP Sells Out Seniors to Support Obama Health Care.” National Legal and Policy Center. N.p., 23 July 2009. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. <http://nlpc.org/ stories/ 2009/ 07/ 23/ aarp-sells-out-seniors-support-obama-health-care>.Hare, Larry O’. “Behind the Curtain: Why AARP supports ObamaCare.” Big Government. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. <http://biggovernment.com/ sright/ 2009/ 12/ 18/ behind-the-curtain-why-aarp-supports-obamacare/>.Moon, Marilyn. “AARP: Helping Seniors Or Helping Itself?” GOP. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://www.gop.gov/ policy-news/ 09/ 09/ 22/ aarp-helping-seniors-or-helping>.Obama and AARP. N.d. The Right Perspective. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://www.therightperspective.org/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2009/ 08/ Obama_AARP.jpg>."Our Fight: Keeping Social Security Strong." AARP. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Dec. 2010.      <http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-08-2009/      keeping_Social_Security_strong.html>. SEELYE, KATHARINE Q. “A Mini-Mutiny at AARP Over Health Care.” The New York Times 18 Aug. 2008: n. pag. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/ 2009/ 08/ 18/ a-mini-mutiny-at-aarp-over-health-care/>.Social Security. N.d. Social Security Insider. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://www.socialsecurityinsider.com/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2008/ 11/ istock_000001325592xsmall.jpg>.