Maine: Pension, consumer issues on tap

Maine: Pension, consumer issues on tap

	Published : Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:57 By : Agencies Print this Story

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Wearing a bright red T-shirt emblazoned with the words 'Divided We Fail,' Keith Gove made his way down a State House hallway Monday after getting a pep talk with other seniors on how to get the attention of their legislators. The Hampden retiree had a clear mission in mind.

'We have got to get our health care (laws) better and make sure we keep our pensions,' said Gove, who was among nearly 300 people who made the trip from all over the state to lobby on bills relating to Social Security 'offsets,' consumer protections and other issues.

They were brought by the busload to Augusta by AARP, which claims 220,000 members in Maine and is organizing similar events in other states. Leaders say AARP chose the 'Divided We Fail' slogan to emphasize that without a united front by seniors, they stand to lose on issues important to their personal and financial health.

In neighboring New Hampshire, retirees plan a rally in Concord on Wednesday to ask Republican Sens. John Sununu and Judd Gregg to support federal legislation directing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies. The House passed a bill to that effect in January.

In Maine, seniors have waged campaigns to protect drug benefits as the Medicare Part D program took effect, and to defeat the Taxpayer Bill of Rights referendum proposal on last November's ballot.

Maine seniors are now focused on at least three bills in the State House. A proposal in the Labor Committee seeks to eliminate a pension 'offset' against unemployment benefits for people who receive Social Security.

AARP says Maine is one of only eight states that reduce older workers' unemployment benefits by 50 percent for each dollar paid in Social Security. The seniors' group considers that age discrimination and wants the Legislature to get rid of it.

A bill that has seniors' support and is scheduled for a hearing Tuesday before the Insurance and Financial Services Committee seeks to add protections for seniors when financial transactions are made on their behalf.

The bill allows banks and credit unions to disclose financial records to the Department of Health and Human Services when they believe an incapacitated or dependent adult is at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

'Increasingly, Maine seniors are finding themselves the target of financial exploitation because they have liquid assets and good credit,' said Attorney General Steven Rowe, who supports the bill.

The sponsor, Rep. John Brautigam, D-Falmouth, gave an example of when the law would apply: 'If a banker has a customer who comes in by themselves every week for years to withdraw $250, then starts showing up with an unknown person and withdrawing $10,000 a week, this bill would allow that banker to disclose financial information to authorities without fear of criminal liability.'

Brautigam said banking associations and the DHHS support the bill.

Seniors also have their eye on legislation to prevent predatory lending, which is often carried out in refinances, and by nonbank lenders. In general it involves actions to conceal the true extent of the loan obligation, and packs on fees that far exceed justified amounts.

AARP has expressed support for the idea behind the bill, which has bipartisan sponsorship but is still is drafting. Chief sponsors are House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, and Sen. Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro.