Decatur AARP Members Lobby Legislators At The State Capitol

Thirty-four AARP members from Decatur, Lithonia and Stone Mountain traveled by bus to the state capitol Wednesday to talk to legislators.

According to the state AARP communications office, AARP members spoke out against a reduction in unemployment benefits and urged lawmakers to maintain funding in the state budget for "respite services" for caregivers helping Alzheimer’s patients and other seniors needing long-term care.

According to Kevin Doyle of the state AARP communications office, AARP members urged legislators to:

• Oppose Senate Bill 312, which requires “personal growth” instruction and activities for needy applicants seeking food stamps and other temporary financial assistance from the state.
  
• Support House Bill 290, which would require analysis of tax credits in annual budget reports so that it is easier to assess the effectiveness and impact of such tax breaks.

The trip by members of the two DeKalb AARP chapters was part of Three Weeks at the Capitol, an annual event hosted and organized by the AARP Georgia State Office during the Georgia Assembly’s legislative session.