Issue Position: Seniors

Issue Position

Aging in Place

Seniors should be able to stay in their communities as they age. I will fight to ensure seniors have access to needed services and appropriate housing.

*Access to public transportation.
*Access to senior services and senior centers.
*Affordable accessible housing and tax breaks to allow seniors to stay in their homes.
*Ensuring our communities are safe and livable.

In 2013-2014, we made progress on accomplishing those goals:

Tax relief

*Provided $177 million in direct property tax relief
*Simplified estate tax and increased estate tax exemption
*Repealed gift tax
*Extended disabled veterans property tax benefit for spouses
*For the future: reverse the increased dependence on property tax vs. income tax of the last decade

Quality of Life

*Invested $100 million in affordable housing
*Established statewide stroke ready hospital system
*Allowed designated agents on bank accounts to perform banking tasks (Previously only co-ownership was allowed)
*Made voting easier with the no excuses absentee ballot
*Provided 5% rate increase for home-care workers and nursing home providers
*For the future: Additional rate increases for care providers so good employees can be retained, reducing turnover
*For the future: Increase public transit access in our district
*For the future: Control tuition increases and reduce student debt, so parents don't go into retirement still paying for their children's education

Security

*Modified Power of Attorney forms to prevent financial exploitation
*Improved regulations for wire transfers to prevent fraud

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