Press Release - Governor Baldacci Says He Will Continue to Protect the Elderly

Press Release - Governor Baldacci Says He Will Continue to Protect the Elderly

AUGUSTA — Governor John E. Baldacci told senior citizens from around Maine that he will continue to work for them when it comes to affordable health care, prescription drugs, energy prices and increasing energy independence. He said this at the Blaine House Conference on Aging held at the Augusta Civic Center Thursday morning.

"As we know, the new Federal Medicare Part D program presented many seniors with difficult choices," said Governor Baldacci. "Maine was the first state to implement a system so no seniors fell through the cracks and we made sure that all seniors were able to get their vital medications."

Governor Baldacci told the group that he will continue to work for them and he will also continue to encourage research and development within the biomedical field.

"As you may have heard, yesterday I joined Travis Roy to announce that I will significantly increase funding for biomedical and stem cell research," said the Governor. "This vital research will help us in treating and hopefully eliminating diseases such as Alzheimer's and will improve the quality of life for thousands of other Mainers."

Governor Baldacci recalled stories of his mother and grandmother, saying that the values that were instilled in him made him the person he is today.

"My mother used to tell me to help her with her tax forms and her medicine forms because they were long and confusing," said the Governor. "I would help her and she would say to me, ‘someday you'll get older and you'll need help on this stuff too.' Because of the values she - and the rest of my family - taught me, that's why nursing homes, assisted living, Medicare part D and LIHEAP are important to me."

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