Advocacy Group for Senior Citizens Supports Letting the People Vote
You can view the original media release here and Copy of the release follows:
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: March 1, 2010
Contact: Randy Frost, (256) 237-6741 Phone, Post Office Box 2186, Anniston, AL 36202
Advocacy Group for Senior Citizens Supports Letting the People Vote
(Anniston, AL)
The Alabama Association of Area Agencies on Aging (A4A), announced today support for Senate Bill 380 which is pending in the Alabama Senate. Senate Bill 380 seeks to tax, regulate, and limit electronic bingo in Alabama.
Senator Roger Bedford will offer a substitute bill which will direct a portion of taxes paid by electronic bingo operators to fund senior programs administered by the Alabama Department of Senior Services and aging agencies. A4A is encouraging members of the Alabama Senate to support the legislation irrespective of their personal opinion on the legislation.
According to A4A President, Randy Frost, “Senior citizens are facing cuts to our meals program, the Senior RX program, the waiver program, and others without help from the Legislature. We are aware of no other proposal pending in the Alabama Legislature that will prevent cuts to these programs. If the ‘people’ of Alabama vote to tax the electronic bingo industry we can prevent cuts to seniors and raise over $350 million a year for education and seniors.”
Frost went on to say, “I would remind every state senator you do not have to be personally in favor of this legislation. Our association and seniors across the state were asked by Governor Riley as senators were on AMENDMENT ONE to support letting the people vote on the Governor’s $1.2 billion tax proposal. We are asking you to stand with seniors and again support letting the people decide if they want to tax an industry currently not paying taxes.”
“The reality is without this tax revenue from the electronic bingo industry we will surely have cuts to senior programs this year and next. We have asked every senator who is opposed to letting the people of Alabama vote to offer their suggestions to avoiding cuts to seniors….and to please do so quickly. I’ll say it again, we are aware of no other proposal pending in the legislature that will prevent cuts to seniors as taxing electronic bingo will,” concluded Frost.
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The Alabama Association of Area Agencies on Aging (A4A) membership includes 13 area agencies on aging in Alabama which were established under the Older Americans Act in 1973 to respond to the needs of age 60 and over persons in local communities.
Assistance, Advocacy, Answers on Aging