AARP to Tour NY This Summer & Fall, ID Successes, Failures of '14 Legislative Session

ALBANY, N.Y., June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What did elected officials do to advance AARP priorities and other issues to help New Yorkers 50 and older during the 2014 state legislative session? AARP announced today that it will tour the state this summer and fall to inform its members about the successes and failures of this year's session for New York's largest voting demographic: the 50+.

The Association intends to inform AARP members through community events, in-person briefings, publications, and tele-town halls that typically reach 10,000 members at a time by phone on how their elected officials acted on matters of importance to Baby Boomers and older New Yorkers.

AARP also plans to highlight future association priorities and hear what its members want from their elected officials.

With the 2014 state legislative session scheduled to end this week, AARP is calling on Senate Co-Leader Dean Skelos and his conference to agree to a vote on S4550B, which would give New York's overburdened utility consumers an independent advocate to fight unfair rate hikes.

AARP has also advocated for family caregivers and is urging the Assembly to pass A7189B, which would strengthen the rights of non-grandparent relatives raising children whose own parents are unable to.

"Affording the basic necessity of energy, caring for our frail elderly and giving our children a solid foundation are critical issues for the 50+," said Beth Finkel, State Director for AARP in New York State. "We plan to let our members know exactly what their elected officials did – or didn't – do this year on those and other key matters."

New Yorkers 50 and older accounted for 47 percent of all voters statewide in the 2012 presidential election, 51 percent of the turnout in the 2009 New York City mayor's race and 54 percent of New York City's turnout in the 2010 statewide elections.

Follow us on Twitter:  @AARPNY and Facebook: AARP New York

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity of AARP that is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. 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.

SOURCE AARP New York State