The Real Truth About AARP
Lately, allegations have been made against AARP
that are inaccurate. By accessing the highlighted topic in the
List of Topics below you will know the real truth about AARP.
List of Topics
Last year the AARP received federal grants totalling
approximately $80 million to implement federal programs
mandated by Congress to assist older persons. Some of these
programs include TaxAide, Senior Environmental Community
Service Employment Program and the Senior Community
Service Employment Program. AARP is one of a number of
nonprofit organizations that receive these contracts.
The grant money benefits people and communities; it is not
used for lobbying.
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In l978, an IRS audit of AARP and the National Retired
Teachers Association concluded that neither group had
taxable income. In the l980s, the IRS began a massive
review of many tax-exempt organiztions, including AARP.
In 1994, AARP did pay the IRS $l35 million in lieu of
taxes for the years l985 through l993. It was not a fine
and it wasn't for back taxes. AARP and the IRS agreed
to disagree about whether the Associaiton received taxable
income during the nine years in question. AARP's Board of
Directors agreed to the settlement because it felt it was
in the members best interest to put those years behind.
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Members of the AARP's Board of Directors all serve in a
volunteer capacity without compensation of any kind.
In the early, pre-Medicare days of AARP, health insurance
was virtually unavailable for retirees. An insurance
company was found to offer policies to AARP members.
After a series of legal battles, AARP succeeded in
severing its relationship with the insurance company
and the Association opened the insurance business to
bids from other firms. Since the early l980s, health
insurance has been provided by Prudential which provides
high quality service at competitive rates.
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The AARP is the nation's leading supporter of a strong
Social Security program, both now and for the future.
We believe that the Soci8al Security Trust Funds
should be treated separately and not used to cover up
problems in the rest of the federal budget.
The AARP supports deficit reduction and maintains that
Congress and the President already have the power and
the responsibility to balance the budget. Those who
wanted to amend the Constitution failed to specify how
the budget would be balanced-that is, whose benefits
would be cut and whose taxes would be raised.
The Association has always believed that a balanced
budget amendment would have severe economic consequences
for the nation's older population. Although we maintain
that an amendment would result in cuts in programs serving
older Americans-Social Security and Medicare in particular
as well as a reduction on the government's ability to
respond effectively to fluctuations in the economy. It
would also impede efforts to handle national emergencies
and limit investments in education, roadways and
national parks etc. The AARP supports a program of
spending restraint and increased revenue to achieve true
deficit reduction over the long term.
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All of AARP's endeavors are undertaken with a view toward
promoting independence, dignity and purpose for older
Americans. AARP's vision is to serve all generations
through education, advocacy and community service. AARP
is strictly a nonpartisan organization and does not have
a political action committee nor do we contribute
financially to any candidates for public office or
speciric political parties. Virtually all of AARP's
resources are dedicated to national and community-based
programs, advocacy efforts at the state and national
levels, Modern Maturity magazine and the Bulletin
newspaper and our extensive education and information
programs.
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In the 1994 national health care debate, AARP was accused
of opposing the "single payer" approach to health care
reform because it would lose money from its medigap policies
provided by Prudential. AARP's Board of Directors and its
Executive Director, Horace Deets, responded by saying
AARP was willing to give up every dime it received from
Prudential if Congress passed and the President signed
comprehensive health care reform legislation.
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Residents of Alaska,Idaho,Oregon and Eastern Washington, may call
toll free to the Seattle office at 1-800-992-8716 for more information
about AARP. In Seattle, Washington call (206) 526-7918
For more accurate information about AARP available on the Web, contact
the National AARP Web Site.
Return to the
Portland, Oregon AARP Chapter #158 Web Site.
Return to the
Senior Citizen Web Pointer.
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