shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

The New York Times has a new blog, "The New Old Age: Caring and Coping" penned by the great Jane Gross. Here's the description:

Thanks to the marvels of medical science, our parents are living longer than ever before. Adults over age 80 are the fastest growing segment of the population, and most will spend years dependent on others for the most basic needs. That burden falls to their baby boomer children, 77 million strong, who are flummoxed by the technicalities of eldercare, turned upside down by the changed architecture of their families, struggling to balance work and caregiving, and depleting their own retirement savings in the process.

Between Gross' insight and the Times' readership, I don't doubt The New Old Age will foster some great discussion on this intergenerational struggle; make sure to check it out.

I saw this story today about a "modern day Bonnie and Clyde" who have stolen the identities of friends and neighbors in the Philadelphia area.

In a recent statement to the public, Steve Ely, Equifax's President of Personal Information Solutions (Equifax is one of the three major credit bureaus) said:

"Consumers should not wait until they have become a victim to take steps to protect themselves. A proactive approach is the best way for consumers to protect themselves and minimize damage to their credit and financial health."

He's right! and we all know how id theft seems to be running rampant - and these unscrupulous thieves are targeting...of course...the most vulnerable members of our communities. So, in the spirit of covering our bums, here are some resources and advice for protecting your nest eggs, identities and saving your good credit!

Some advice for limiting the risk of identity theft from Equifax, AARP and other credit savvy minds includes:

• Limit the number of credit cards you carry - better yet, carry only what you need in your wallet or purse.
• Protect your social security number like it's baby! Don't give it to strangers, don't give it out on the phone unless you know who you're talking to, and certainly don't carry your card with you unless it's absolutely necessary.
• When in doubt - shred it! Your local AARP office might hold shredding parties where you can bring all of your sensitive documents for safe disposal. Visit www.aarp.org. for more information.

Depending on your personal needs, you may want to consider freezing your credit report with the three major credit agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experion). If that sounds a bit extreme - or maybe you're house hunting or car shopping and you need regular access to your credit report - consider a credit monitoring services.

Equifax has a nifty identity theft protection product, Equifax ID Patrol. ID Patrol lets you: lock/ unlock your Equifax credit file, receive alerts if your Social Security/ credit card numbers are found on Internet trading sites, access a trained ID Theft Resolution Specialist 24/7, and receive credit monitoring and alerts within 24 hours to key changes in credit files. Learn more at www.equifax.com/idpatrol and get other great tips for protecting your identity here.

So, we're still fired up about this idea of "de-aging" your resume.

Bulletin Today (the online version of AARP's The Bulletin) has a great article about job hunting strategies for the web. Advice ranges from the basic: don't pay for services when there are plenty of free sites out there that'll more than do the job for you. To the advanced: hunt for industry, age and location-specific sites that suits your needs.

Check it out and polish up that resume!

The New York Times had a really good (yet upsetting) piece this weekend on the severe effects that the rising gas prices are beginning to have on older folks:

"Faced with soaring gasoline prices, agencies around the country that provide services to the elderly say they are having to cut back on programs like Meals on Wheels, transportation assistance and home care, especially in rural areas that depend on volunteers who provide their own gas. In a recent survey by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, more than half said they had already cut back on programs because of gas costs, and 90 percent said they expected to make cuts in the 2009 fiscal year."

Without Meals on Wheels, they would need transportation or home care. Without transportation, they need home care or Meals on Wheels. So without any of the three, where exactly does that leave them? And it doesn't end there - not only are these necessary programs being cut, but it's getting more and more difficult to get volunteers, who are increasingly harder to recruit as they cut back on their miles.

The article touches on a couple of personal stories from citizens of Michigan that really hits home; we can talk prices and numbers all we want, but humanizing the problem and seeing how this is affecting real Americans is what will resonate with people.

One ray of hope is that the agencies are currently urging Congress to account for fuel inflation in reimbursement rates and reinstate special increases for providers in rural areas - a program that actually expired in 2006. It looks like we need it now more than ever.

We're on a guest blogger roll here folks! Yesterday Congressman Neal, from the fine state of Massachusetts, held a hearing about saving for retirement at work. Now, if you didn't know already, 75 million people in the United States have no way of saving for their retirement! Congressman Neal is working to change that. Read on below to see his plan.

We have all heard of the three-legged “retirement” stool meant to prop us up in our golden years -- that is, Social Security, pensions, and savings. Without one leg, that stool will be hard to sit on. Unfortunately, recent statistics show that our personal savings rate continues to decline. In fact, our personal savings rate has declined so much over the last few decades that, since 2005, it has been a paltry one-half of one percent.

Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs, have existed for decades, with the hopes that those without employer plans would save on their own, and yet we are still faced with underutilization by the intended targets. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently projected that 37% of all workers will retire with zero plan savings, and that of young and low-income workers, 63% will have no plan savings at retirement. Clearly, Congress must do more to foster personal savings.

We must begin to think more creatively and use innovation to capture this group of workers who are not saving. One of these vehicles is the Auto-IRA (HR 2167), a bipartisan bill that I have sponsored along with my colleague Rep. Phil English (R-PA). With 75 million workers with no access to a workplace retirement plan, and only 10% of these workers saving on their own, clearly the current incentives are not working.

Our bill creates automatic payroll deposit Individual Retirement Accounts for workers who do not have access to employer-provided qualified pension plans. Our bill would require employers to automatically enroll employees in an “auto IRA” unless the employee opts out. These are ‘set it and forget it’ payroll deposit accounts. The non-partisan Retirement Security Project has estimated that this proposal could raise net national savings by nearly eight billion dollars annually.

At a recent hearing before a House Ways and Means Subcommittee, Dr. Leo Estrada, a member of the Board of Directors of AARP, testified in support of this bill. He said, “Studies have shown that automatic enrollment programs provide a way of improving retirement savings by using the so-called ‘power of inertia’ to change non-savers into savers.” I am pleased to be joined by the more than 39 million members of AARP in supporting this innovative savings vehicle.

As George Foreman observed, “The question isn't at what age I want to retire, it’s at what income.” If only we all had this same observation in our 20’s, we wouldn’t be fighting so hard to save in our 50’s.

This has been quite a week for talking about money - especially for AARP. Our folks have been at conferences, talking to Congress, and popping up in the media even!

We thought we'd invite someone to guest blog with us here at Shaarp Session about your money and offer some advice. Ric Edelman has been ranked among the 100 best financial advisors in America five times and he's here to offer some advice about what do with your 401(k) when it's time to move on to a new job. Check it out below - and send us your questions about personal finance. We'll make sure Ric gets to see them.

If you’re leaving an employer, what should you do with the money in your retirement plan?

Regardless of why you’re leaving — you’re retiring, you found a new job, you quit, you were fired, whatever — we routinely recommend that you move the money to an IRA account. This is true regardless of what kind of retirement plan you have — 401(k), 403(b), 457, TSP, etc.

Moving the money from a former employer’s plan to an IRA has several advantages: You gain the ability to select from a potentially unlimited number of investment options, and you enjoy complete control over your account, with no interference from a Human Resources or plan administrator.

When people move money from an employer plan to an IRA, they frequently refer to the transaction as a “rollover.” But that term is rather inaccurate. A true rollover occurs only when your employer sends you a check for the account balance that’s made payable to you. In this case, you’d deposit the check and write a new one, which you’d forward to your IRA account. Rollovers must be completed (meaning the money must be deposited into the IRA) within 60 days; otherwise, you’ll owe taxes (plus a 10% IRS penalty if you are under age 59½ at the time of the rollover). To make matters worse, employers typically withhold 20% of the funds when sending you that check. It’s hard to roll over money that you never get — making it more likely that you’ll incur taxes and penalties!

Fortunately, there’s an easier way to move money out of that employer plan. Simply sign a form your employer can give you, authorizing a “direct transfer.” The form instructs your employer to send the money in your retirement account directly to your IRA. This is easy (you just sign the form) and stress-free (there’s no 60-day deadline). Plus, your employer will not withhold 20% of your money!

Sometimes, employers send “transfer” checks to the employee (you) instead of directly to the IRA. Have no fear: As long as the check is payable to the IRA trustee or custodian, it’s considered a transfer and not a rollover. It’s OK even if your name appears on the check. (Your name should be preceded by the initials FBO, which means “For the Benefit Of.”)

Thus, if you receive such a check, don’t deposit or sign it. Instead, just mail it to your IRA. You’ll get confirmation shortly, showing that the money has been deposited into your account.

Then, sit back and relax, knowing that your retirement assets are working for you.

By Ric Edelman

Tomorrow Congress is going to take a closer look at payday lenders and their targeting of social security beneficiaries. These crafty and unscrupulous businesses set up shop around government subsidized housing and sometimes even around retirement communities! Generally speaking, I’d say payday loans aren’t the way to go - but they are especially dangerous for Social Security recipients who are bamboozled into signing their checks over to these lenders to settle accumulating debts.

If you ARE dealing with payday lenders never, ever sign over your Social Security checks to a bank account that’s controlled by the loan company. You always have options, so talk to your family about a small loan or call your creditors and explain the situation – many are happy to develop a payment plan that works for everyone.

While you’re spreading the word, AARP will be up on Capitol Hill tomorrow talking about ways to protect ya’ll and your Social Security checks! We’ll keep you posted.

I got my stimulus payment finally, how about you?

According to a USA Today story, more than 5 million potentially eligible retirees and disabled veterans haven't received a stimulus check yet because they haven't filed a tax return. If you haven’t received your rebate, it’s not too late. You could still be eligible for several hundred dollars.

Here’s the deal: you have to file a tax return form, but not with all the mess and confusion. So what are you waiting for? Visit AARP’s Stimulus Payment Tool – it’s free and easy. The hardest part will be deciding what to do with the money …

It is a good day. We've been watching this closely and apparently so has the Huffington Post:

The Supreme Court made it easier Thursday for employees to prove they have suffered discrimination because of their age.

In a 7-1 ruling, the court said that when older workers are disproportionately affected by an employment decision, the employer bears the burden of explaining whether there was a reasonable explanation other than age for the company's action.

The lawsuit involved 26 former employees of Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in upstate New York who were all over 40 at the time they were laid off in 1996. In fact, 30 of the 31 workers who were laid off that year were over 40 years old.

But the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects them, and the Supreme Court justices agreed. The New York Times reports:

The issue in the case, while technical, is important for the litigation of age discrimination cases in which an employer's action or policy that appears neutral on its face has a disparate impact on older workers. David Certner, the chief legislative counsel for AARP, praised the decision and said it would prove 'vital to the creation and maintenance of a workplace that is fair and free of age bias.'

Indeed. Read the Times article for more details, and let's start celebrating.

Alexis Leondis of Bloomberg reports that a growing number of seniors are using reverse mortgages to pay for things they might never be able to afford on their own. Leondis describes reverse mortgages this way:

Reverse mortgages are for people aged at least 62. The loans, which lenders charge fees equal to as much as 6 percent of a home's value, allow borrowers to use their home equity to get cash tax free. After the borrowers die, or move, the lenders are repaid when the house is sold.

Like every other personal financial decision, the question of whether or not a taking out reverse mortgage is the right decision is a deeply personal and circumstantial one. The AARP Foundation’s Reverse Mortgage Education Project has many tools folks can use to find out if a reverse mortgage is appropriate to their particular circumstance.

Check out this Yahoo! article about aging Aussies who rallied for better pensions … in their underwear. Well, it certainly got our attention, right? How far would you go to make your voice heard? Here’s an idea – start by signing the Divided We Fail pledge to ensure that all Americans have access to health care and long-term financial security. You can also share your story and spread the word about Divided We Fail. It’s not naked, but it’s a start!

We haven’t talked about the stimulus in awhile but since checks are in the mail starting today, I thought we'd start entertaining the possibilities. New summer clothes? A new set of golf clubs? Some bills?

Share your ideas in the comments section here or if you need inspiration, check out this great website and read what other people are doing. A notable post is from Bill and Jackie Nopar in Phoenix, who are spending their stimulus on their prescription drugs. How about you?

Tonight's primary showed us more of what we have already seen. And what's that? 50 plus voters turning out to vote and economic issues topping voters' concerns. According to the exit polls, North Carolina saw 55 percent of the electorate over 50 and in Indiana, 49 percent were 50+. The economy dominated as the top issue, with 61 percent in North Carolina and 67 percent in Indiana naming it as a top concern.

Hmmm... haven't we heard this before? Seems that across the nation there are two things that are pretty consistent - half the electorate is over 50 and the top issue is clearly the economy. Let's hope the candidates are paying attention.

Interesting read from the San Francisco Chronicle today about the age gaps in the electorate. While the piece talks about the different perspective on age, it digs a little deeper and brings up the issue of socioeconomic status. According to The Numbers from ABC News, it appears that how much you make is a bigger factor than how many years you’ve got. This is a valid point, especially when you consider that key issues like health care and financial security are both connected to your finances. Regardless of age, everyone is concerned about skyrocketing health care cost, but especially those who are struggling the most financially. As for financial security, it’s no different – those who are the most concerned are those who feel least secure today.

The Planning to Retire blog over at US News and World Report peeks at a new report that throws caution to the wind for women when it comes to planning for retirement. According to the report, women are twice as likely to end up in poverty when they are older. Check it out ladies...

New survey out today from AARP Financial finds that over half of Americans don’t read financial literature because it’s too hard to understand. No kidding. Have you tried to figure this stuff out? I’m with the 73 percent surveyed who said that financial professionals use more jargon than car mechanics.

The unfortunate thing about this is that people may be missing out on opportunities, making investment mistakes, even not sign up for retirement plans at work because of confusion. I can’t solve all your problems, but there are good, easy to understand resources out there, particularly when it comes to planning retirement.

While tonight's debate began as most of the debates so far this election cycle - full of sniping and attacks - the debate finally settled down and we heard some substance. The candidates did talk about financial issues, which are weighing heavily on all Americans. But there was virtually no mention of health care tonight, which is unfortunate

The most interesting portion came when the candidates traded lobs on Social Security. While Senators Clinton and Obama are both concerned about the future of the program, they traded barbs about how to ensure the program is strong for future generations. It was a healthy discussion and it's a good thing to see the candidates willing to discuss a range of options. Getting to solvency is going to take a commitment from everyone.

The most disappointing thing about tonight's debate was that too much time was spent on the accusations and attacks that turn people off from politics. With just seven months left of the election season, it would be nice to see more substance and less fluff. Hopefully that's what we'll get.

Yes, America is stressed about the single largest source of retirement savings – our homes. This is especially true when too many people are faced with losing them, as we are seeing in today’s fragile economy. The Senate passed housing legislation today that just doesn’t do enough. While there are some good things to help with reverse mortgages in the bill, bankruptcy protections that already apply to some should be available to help all homeowners. This thing still is not over, now the House has its turn to provide relief to homeowners.

Troubling poll numbers on how middle class Americans feel about their lives, according to a new poll out from the Pew Research Center. One-third of those who responded to the poll believe they are worse off than five years ago – the highest number over the last 50 years.

If this isn’t a battle cry for change, I am not sure what is. Let’s just hope people actually hear it.

Feeling secure about personal finances is tough for everyone right now. Home values are dropping, the stock market is volatile, and the price of food and gas keeps rising. One of the ways to dodge the bullet is to plan and be smart about your dough. According to the Wall Street Journal, even Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is pushing the financial literacy thing. He even thinks financial literacy classes should be required in all high schools before graduation. Not a bad idea, not a bad idea at all.

Think Progress today points out some confusion about Senator McCain’s position on Social Security. While in a Wall Street Journal interview a few weeks ago, McCain reiterated his support of private accounts. According to Think Progress, yesterday Senator Lieberman was out denying McCain’s stance. Hmm? Cloudy, I’d say.

Congress passed an economic stimulus package, but you gotta fill out a tax form. Confused? Check out AARP’s new tool to help with the economic stimulus payment application process. It’s easy and you might even get a few bucks from the feds for doing it.

It’s early, so I will rain on your parade and get it over with. Yesterday, the Social Security and Medicare Trustees report brought us some not very good news. The Cliff Notes version is that Medicare is facing a tough future, one that's not likely to get any easier if we contine to ignore the elephant in the room: skyrocketing heatlh care costs.
And Social Security also faces a tough outlook. It is a reminder that it’s time for our political leaders to get to work on our nation’s problems. Bottom line, the sooner we tackle these problems, the more feasible the solutions.

People say they are ready for the solution – a new survey out this week by the AFL-CIO on health care says it all. According to U.S. News and World Report:

Among those surveyed, 95 percent said health care in America needed fundamental change or a complete overhaul. Seventy-four percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said health care was a very important election issue, as did 80 percent of 50- to 64-year olds.”

Sounds like pretty much everyone is ready for a change.

An update from AARP Arkansas' Pat Jones:

Licensed payday lenders in Arkansas are receiving what some consider their walking papers from Dustin McDaniel, the state’s Attorney General, in the form of a strongly worded letter. That gives AARP Arkansas and other members of a broad-based coalition against payday lending reason to celebrate.

"These businesses have made a lot of money on the backs of Arkansas consumers, mostly the working poor. Charging consumers interest in the range of 300 to 500 percent is unlawful and unconscionable, and it is time that it stops," McDaniel reportedly said during a news conference on March 18th. "It is my hope that they comply with my demand but, if they do not, I stand ready to take them to court."

Calling payday lending a “deceptive and unconscionable trade practice” prohibited by the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTP A), McDaniel’s letter demands tells payday lenders to “cease and desist” payday lending
practices immediately, void all current and past-due obligations of their borrowers, and halt any collection activities related to these type loans.

The AG’s announcement adds fuel to the fire created by two recent, precedent-setting state Supreme Court decisions on payday lending. The court rulings state that two bonding companies are liable for paying bonds to partly cover judgments against payday lenders. The state requires a $50,000 bond for every payday lending store, and the court ruling could cause bonding companies to consider bonding payday lenders too risky. Peggy Matson, executive director of the state agency which regulates payday lenders, told the Democrat-Gazette newspaper, “If they cannot obtain a bond, then we cannot grant them a license.”

The budget process is creeping along in Washington. While this may seem like a snoozer to some, it is pretty important in terms of locking Congress in to spending and/or cutting. To this end, they’ve got to do this thing right. Doing it right means rejecting the deep Medicare and Medicaid cuts proposed by the Administration and moving toward reducing America’s skyrocketing health care bill in both programs.

Bottom line, if Congress is spending our money, they should be spending it on things that matter, like improving health care and financial security for everyone.

A report on AARP’s presence in Maryland from State Director Joe DeMattos:

AARP Maryland put together their annual Lobby Day in Annapolis and it was a huge success! Over 100 AARP volunteers flooded the State House and seven AARP folks testified before various committees on some of our key issues like keeping electricity rates affordable, ensuring quality long term care, and preventing ID theft.

The sponsor of the utilities bill we are supporting, Delegate Brian McHale, addressed the crowd and he had a blast with everyone shouting "price - reliability" his 2 goal posts for electricity. Kinda dorky, I know.

I even had the opportunity to address the entire House of Delegates from the Speaker’s Rostrum, which is a special rare opportunity and honor for non-delegate. Overall, a great day and a big thanks to all of our volunteers and staff who made it happen!

In today’s Wall Street Journal, there are some excerpts from a recent interview with Senator John McCain. Included in the myriad of questions is one about Social Security. While private accounts don’t really address the problem with Social Security, McCain does bring up a key part of getting to a solution. He said:

“The way I would fix Social Security is to sit down with Republicans and Democrats together at a table, voicing my opposition to tax increases, and sitting down and negotiating a fix to Social Security, which is the only way that Social Security is going to be fixed. That's my solution to the Social Security system.”

McCain (as well as the other candidates) have ideas about how to shore up Social Security, but the good news is that he understands that a real solution is going to mean everyone gets together at the table in order to get something done.

The housing crisis has spread like wildfire and for many it can mean losing their homes. It doesn’t end there; the economy is also a victim.

The Senate is gearing up to debate legislation that can help the over half a million people who are facing foreclosure to stay in their homes while they work out a way to pay their loans. The Foreclosure Prevention Act wouldn't let people run off without being responsible. Instead, it would help them to try and save their homes by allowing them to go to court to restructure their loans. Right now, people can restructure loans on vacation homes and yachts - this protection should include a person's home.

Too many people are facing a dire financial situation today. If Congress can give them the opportunity to prevent total disaster, they should. Plain and simple.

Homes are a vital part of retirement security and any opportunity for folks to stay in their homes is an opportunity for a more secure financial future, something we're all trying for.

Yesterday, Senator Barack Obama was out on the stump talking about Social Security. It's about time we started hearing about this issue from the candidates, particularly with people so concerned about their financial futures. Reform is important and yesterday the Senator mentioned just one option when it comes to making sure Social Security is around for future generations - raising the payroll tax. There are lots of other ideas out there and with 80 million Americans likely to retire in the next 20 plus years, it seems like a great time to start looking at the ways to make sure that Social Security is around for the next generation.

Solutions will involve answering difficult questions and making tradeoffs, no doubt about it. Whoever is elected in November will have to lead in finding a solution.

I wrote about it yesterday, but U.S. News and World Report has an interesting Q and A on the Supreme Court’s 401(k) ruling from earlier this week. It gives a little more detail about how this impacts consumers, so get smart and check it out.

The papers were all over it today… the Supreme Court’s ruling that will allow employees to sue their retirement plans. But what does this mean for the average person? It means that if the people who we have entrusted our 401(K) plans to are not responsible stewards of our dough, we now have the recourse to sue them. AARP filed a brief in support of the plaintiff in the case, calling the lack of ability to sue a barrier to retirement savings – I mean, who wants to trust their money to someone that is not really accountable.

Some say it will result in more lawsuits, but clearly it is a win for consumers at the highest level.

AARP today announced it’s 2008 legislative agenda and it includes some important stuff that lawmakers need to work on this year. You can read the whole thing, but I’ll give you the Cliff Notes version. The big thing is modernizing and improving health care and containing costs by supporting things like health IT (including e-prescribing) and greater reliance on evidence-based medicine. Not to be forgotten is strengthening Medicare and Medicaid; expanding health coverage not just for children (SCHIP), but also the 50-64 set; and making prescription drugs more affordable.

Your pocketbook shouldn’t be forgotten either. The focus on the financial side will include getting lawmakers to establish programs in the workplace that help Americans save for retirement, like automatic enrollment in IRA and 401(K) plans and greater use of payroll deduction through the work place. Other things include broader protections for consumers from financial fraud and abuse and improved transportation and housing options for older Americans. On housing issues, protecting funding for federal housing programs and promote more affordable reverse mortgages will take front and center. And don’t forget about working for better utility regulations and more affordable energy.

Phew, that’s a lot of work…

Our colleagues at New Jersey AARP are working hard to curtail predatory lending practices, particularly when it comes to annuities. Instead of me explaining it, check out the video below courtesy of bluejersey.com.

Bill Novelli, AARP’s CEO, issued the following statement after the President signed into law a bipartisan economic stimulus package passed by Congress last week.

“Today is a reminder of how leaders in Washington should work together more often.

“Last month, our elected officials worked across party lines to propose a stimulus plan that focused almost entirely on tax rebates and business incentives. The American people voiced their concern that this plan would be unfair, leaving out approximately 20 million people who depend on Social Security, as well as disabled veterans. In the end, Congress listened and passed a better plan that will give these people a little help in a tough time, as well as a role in turning around our economy.

“Today, the President signed the bill into law and directed the federal government to move quickly on the package.

“All this happened in the span of three weeks – and it only happened because elected officials were willing to move past partisan politics and listen to their constituents.

“The stimulus bill, while not perfect, is a breakthrough in Washington, where partisan gridlock has stalled progress on critical issues like affordable health care and lifetime economic security. We are grateful to Congressional and Administration leaders from both parties for listening to the American people and getting this done. Now let’s keep it up.”

Today, President Bush signed the new economic stimulus rebate program you advocated for into law, but that’s not the end of this story.

As CNNMoney.com reports today, “The decision to add 20 million seniors to the ranks of Americans who'll get rebates as part of the economic stimulus plan was in the end an easy one to make. Getting the rebates in their hands may not be as simple to do.”

The deal is, nearly 12 million low-income older Americans don’t file tax returns because they normally aren’t required to. But in order to receive their tax rebate, many will have to file a 2007 federal tax return this year.

Stay tuned as we expect to hear more this afternoon. AARP is planning a campaign to let you all know what you need to do in order to get your rebate.

In the mean time if you’d like to volunteer, get free assistance with your taxes or learn more, visit AARP Tax-Aide’s website.

Three weeks ago, Congressional and Administration officials introduced an economic stimulus proposal that would have left out approximately 20 million Americans who depend primarily on Social Security and disabled veterans. Tomorrow, the President is scheduled to sign off on a better plan – one that will give these people a little help during a tough time and offers them a role in helping turn our economy around.

What happened to improve the plan? You did.

This story in today’s Politico highlights how AARP’s volunteers and other everyday Americans got fired up and let their elected officials know that any stimulus plan had to be fair. You told them providing support to these people who would otherwise be left out did two things: help those that need it most and give money to people who would put it right back into the economy. You told them it was smart policy and the right thing to do. As the Politico reports, you told them more than 215,000 times in one week alone.

You did well, and you did good. Congratulations and thank you.

AARP CEO Bill Novelli takes the the Hill in support of the plan. Here at a press conference with Senator Max Baucus.

Last night, the Senate addressed something I know concerns all of you – the sluggish economy. It is continually cited as people’s top concern, regardless of party affiliation. They did it by passing an economic stimulus bill that is fair and timely and includes help for those who need it, including the 20 million Americans who receive Social Security. And all of were a part of making it happen. Over 200,000 emails, faxes, and calls came into members of Congress to ask them to do it. Check one off for the people.

It couldn’t have happened without a little bipartisan cooperation. A unusual but welcomed thing in Washington. Maybe a sign of more to come?

I’ve blogged about the stimulus before, but here’s an update… a new poll out today by AARP finds an overwhelming majority of Americans (90%) think the government must ensure that those who rely on Social Security are included in any stimulus rebate package, even if they are divided on whether a rebate plan would effectively stimulate the economy (52% v 48%).

Sounds like the American public is saying if you are going to do this, it should be fair. Who can argue with fair? The proposed Senate plan (Baucus-Grassley) would provide rebates to most Americans, including approximately 20 million Americans that depend primarily on Social Security for retirement income.

We’ll be watching the vote as it unfolds, so stay tuned.

The White House's proposed federal budget came out today and it isn't pretty. Among the ugliness is a proposed $200 billion cut to Medicare and Medicaid over the next ten years that just ignores the real reasons for skyrocketing healthcare costs and instead passes along higher out-of-pocket costs and potentially fewer services. Another painful cut comes in the $570 million slashed from heating and energy assistance, which would leave one million low income households out in the cold.

One ray of sunshine is some additional Social Security Administration funding, which is a needed first step toward eliminating the disability backlogs and improving service. But overall, this thing needs a rehaul. Thankfully, this is the first step in the budget process and Congress has the opportunity to do a better job.

Many positioned tonight's debate as a showdown, but it was more of a discussion then a debate between Senators Clinton and Obama. There was an in-depth discussion of health care tonight and both candidates brought up a vital piece of any health care reform - reigning in skyrocketing costs. Both candidates agreed this is an important issue and both discussed a range of options to try and manage it. Sadly, it took the end of the debate cycle for the candidates to start discussing some of the specifics in the health care discussion. Things like electronic medical records and preventive measures were discussed tonight and are critical to bringing down the cost of health care for everybody.

Financial issues were mentioned, but lacked the details that voters want to hear about. Right now, economic issues are a huge motivator for people at the ballot box. We know that people are concerned not just about the shaky housing market (since homes are such a critical piece of retirement savings), but also how they can afford to retire. It was a lost opportunity for these candidates to overlook these issues tonight.

While tonight's debate was less contentious than last night's, the questions were more focused on personality than substance. Instead of falling into the trap, the candidates chose a route of talking about the issues instead of swiping barbs. This is a good thing and we can only hope this mature tone is part of things to come.

Yes, this is a soapbox. I wrote about it yesterday and the day before and the day before that too – the economic stimulus package. Today, the Senate Finance Committee agreed that Americans need help, including the approximately 20 million Americans who live primarily on Social Security and those who are unemployed and facing a tougher time getting back on the job.

What went down today in the Senate was bipartisan, thankfully, which hopefully will increase the chances of success in the full Senate. And AARP will be watching and reporting to its members how every Senator votes tomorrow. That’s more than 39 million members, in case you didn’t know. And you sent over 75,000 emails, faxes and phone calls to the Senate today, so thanks!

Breaking through the gridlock in the House yesterday was also progress. Hopefully the sentiment will extend to see the stimulus proposal all the way through so Americans can get relief and get it now.

Yes, this is a soapbox. I wrote about it yesterday and the day before and the day before that too – the economic stimulus package. Today, the Senate Finance Committee agreed that Americans need help, including the approximately 20 million Americans who live primarily on Social Security and those who are unemployed and facing a tougher time getting back on the job.

What went down today in the Senate was bipartisan, thankfully, which hopefully will increase the chances of success in the full Senate. And AARP will be watching and reporting to its members how every Senator votes tomorrow. That’s more than 39 million members, in case you didn’t know. And you sent over 75,000 emails, faxes and phone calls to the Senate today, so thanks!

Breaking through the gridlock in the House yesterday was also progress. Hopefully the sentiment will extend to see the stimulus proposal all the way through so Americans can get relief and get it now.

Last night, Floridians went to the ballot box to select their candidates in the primary. Over 60 percent of those who showed up in Florida yesterday were 50 and over, according to CNN’s exit polling.

In the Democratic race, health and financial security mattered. In the CNN exit poll of Democratic voters, 55 percent overall cited the economy as the top issue. Just as interesting: those who supported Senator Clinton, 55 percent cited health care as the top issue.

Financial concerns were important in the Republican race as well. Florida attorney Justin Sayfie, author of the online Florida political bible Sayfie Review said in a recent interview in National Review online, “Economic issues are at the forefront in Florida, as the cost of living in the state has become unaffordable for many, and we have seen our population growth go flat in the past year. Property taxes and high property insurance rates are top of mind for Florida voters.” He wasn’t wrong. In the same CNN exit poll, 45 percent of Republicans cited the economy as the top issue.

I mentioned it last night briefly when talking about the State of the Union, but it looks like chapter one of the tale of the economic stimulus package could unfold later today with an anticipated vote in the House.

In the current environment, with so many people concerned about their finances and the economy, we need relief that is quick and helps those who need it the most. And the Senate plan super sizes what the House has put on the table. It would help approximately 20 million Americans who primarily depend on Social Security for retirement income AND also enhance unemployment insurance, which is critical for 50+ workers who have a more difficult time finding new employment after a job loss.

Word today is that both Democrats and Republicans are getting behind the Senate bill, which is good news. Maybe they can break through the partisan gridlock and actually pass something.

Even though there's been a huge focus on the next occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, tonight the current occupant had some thoughts about the state of things. The focus naturally, as on the campaign trail, was on domestic issues and in particular the economy.

While the calls tonight from the President about ending partisan gridlock are encouraging, action would be nice. It's a good thing that Washington jumped in with the stimulus package and what the Senate Finance Committee is offering up is worth another look. No matter what, quick relief is needed for the economic crisis that many Americans are facing right now and it sounds like the Administration recognizes that.

Today everyone's playing nice. Hopefully tomorrow they still will. It's the only way they can begin developing solutions to our most important domestic problems - ensuring access to affordable health care and lifetime financial security.

Here in the spin room, press are watching the debate attentively. The early focus is on financial security issues, finally. Jim Dau mentioned it yesterday and it looks like the debate moderators are finally paying attention to the issues that families across the country have been talking about. While talking about how the candidates will improve the economy is important, there are many issues that