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Seniors Hold Legislative Roundup

by KREX News Room
by Courtney Griffin

Story Created: Aug 22, 2012 at 5:14 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 22, 2012 at 6:40 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Senior citizens came from all over the Western Slope Wednesday to have their voices heard by several policymakers.


More than 60 seniors wanted to discuss health care, transportation and retirement plans. "They can meet as a group and can identity regional and specific issues to that region and be able to address them to the right policymakers," said Dave Norman, director of the Northwest Colorado Area Agency on Aging.

Senior leaders from several surrounding counties say this conference is a great chance to vocalize their opinions. "There's nothing like having face-to-face meetings with them, so they can hear from not only us, but other people who attend the conference," said John Bade.

Senior citizens say other concerns are homestead exemption and folks who still need to work, but can't. "That's a problem, trying to find more work and job opportunities for them," said Bade.

Officials say they would like an idea of what some of the upcoming changes might be under the Affordable Care Act. "The Supreme Court has made its decision. Now the state of Colorado needs to act as to how they're going to be implementing portions of that, and we just need to find out what that indication is so we can prepare our community and our seniors for that," said Norman.

Some representatives will form a panel discussing what they believe are issues coming up in the next legislative session, and how senior citizens can prepare for the changes. "It's been a very successful event because you have the close interaction with the representatives and our seniors, and they're able to walk away with an idea of what the impact is on programs and what the desires of the local constituents are," said Norman.

The next legislative session will be in January of next year.

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