AARP Releases Voters' Guides for Presidential, Pennsylvania U.S. Senate and Congressional Candidates

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Aug 24, 2012, 10:37 ET

Voters get information, in candidates' own words, on plans for Social Security, Medicare, financial security.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today AARP released the "You've Earned a Say: Vote for Retirement Security" 2012 Voters' Guides at www.earnedasay.org, featuring information from presidential, senatorial and congressional candidates – in their own words – on their plans to strengthen Social Security, Medicare and financial security. The 2012 presidential Voters' Guide will also appear in the next issue of AARP The Magazine, arriving in homes beginning next week.

"For more than 26 years, AARP has worked to make sure that candidates address the issues important to older voters and that these voters had the information they need to make their own choices at the ballot box," said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. "AARP's Voters' Guide brings nonpartisan, straightforward information on important issues from the campaign trail to American kitchen tables."

AARP's federal Voters' Guide poses three questions on Social Security, Medicare, and Financial Security:

How would you protect Social Security for today's seniors and strengthen it for future generations?
How would you put Medicare on stronger financial ground and protect today's seniors and future retirees from the burden of rising health costs?
How would you help Americans build a financial nest egg for their retirement?

The responses, which appear alongside AARP principles on each issue, consist of publicly available information and excerpts from candidates' campaign sources. Voters can enter their address to see responses not only from the presidential candidates, but also from general election candidates in their specific races for seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Visitors to www.earnedasay.org will also be able to contact the presidential campaigns with their comments or questions.

Earlier this month, AARP released a series of surveys on the opinions of voters ages 50 and over, which found that these voters overwhelmingly think the candidates have not done a good job of explaining their plans on Social Security (67%) and Medicare (63%). Voters 50-plus – across party lines – say that getting more information on the candidates' plans on Social Security (72%) and Medicare (70%) will help them determine their vote on Election Day.

"We are doing our part to make sure that voters 50-plus have reliable information from candidates on these important issues," added LeaMond. "We think the candidates would be wise to do more themselves, as well."

The nonpartisan AARP does not support or oppose any political candidates, nor contribute any money to political action committees, campaigns or super PACs. In the coming weeks, AARP will also be releasing Voters' Guides for Pennsylvania state elections addressing a variety of issues including utilities, retirement security, health, and fraud.

About AARP
AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for Americans 50+ and the world's largest-circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for the 50+ audience; AARP VIVA, a bilingual lifestyle multimedia platform addressing the interests and needs of Hispanic Americans; and national television and radio programming including My Generation and Inside E Street. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

CONTACT: Angela Foreshaw, AARP PA
(267) 825-9922 or [email protected]

or

Steve Gardner, AARP PA
(717) 237-6481 or [email protected]

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania