News From Oregon

AARP in Your State

November 2009

Get the facts — A special election on Jan. 26 threatens to unravel the legislature's efforts to balance the state budget equitably during the recession.

Besides making deep budget cuts and using federal stimulus funds, lawmakers raised the $10 minimum corporate income tax for the first time since 1931 and moderately increased taxes on households with annual income exceeding $250,000. Opponents of the tax provisions aim to overturn those measures in a referendum.

As part of the Defend Oregon coalition, AARP supports the tax measures as part of a fair budget and urges members to get the facts. If Oregonians vote no, the coalition says, lawmakers would be forced to make further cuts to education, health care, public safety and in-home services that provide an alternative to nursing home care. To learn more, go to www.aarp.org/or or www.defendoregon.org.

October 2009

Reforms under way — A dramatic expansion in coverage will bring free or lower-cost health care to as many as 80,000 children and 35,000 adults in the state by 2011.

The expansion, which begins this month, is part of a health reform package that Gov. Ted Kulongoski, D, signed into law in August. Besides providing affordable care, the reforms call for establishing quality standards, focusing on prevention and disease management, and containing costs.

The expansion in coverage begins with the rollout of the Healthy Kids program. Free health care is now available to children in families with income up to twice the federal poverty level, or $44,100 for a family of four. To apply, go to www.oregonhealthykids.gov or call 1-877-314-5678 toll-free.

AARP Oregon has long supported these reforms. To learn more, go to www.aarp.org/or.

July-August 2009

Online support — With an unemployment rate that is the second highest in the country, Oregon's economic woes are considerable. To help residents affected by hard times, AARP Oregon this month is launching ECONnect.

This online community network will help Oregonians connect with others who have experienced financial problems, as well as helping residents learn about useful resources and get information on related events happening across the state. ECONnect members can share their experiences and strategies for surviving the tough economy, while helping AARP raise awareness with policy makers.

To join the network, go to www.aarp.org/or and select the AARP Oregon ECONnect link.