AARP Florida: information, advocacy, and benefits for people age 50 and over.

For immediate release May 21, 2008

Joint Divided We Fail-AARP Statement on Sen. Barack Obama appearance St. Petersburg Times Forum St. Petersburg, FL
Contact:

Carmel Perez Snyder Divided We Fail Communications Coordinator AARP Florida cpsnyder@aarp.org 727-592-8020 727-482-0993 (cell)

Dave Bruns Communication Manager AARP Florida dbruns@aarp.org 850-577-5161 850-228-2759 cell

Divided We Fail Florida, AARP welcome Sen. Obama’s call for bipartisan consensus on health care, lifetime financial security

ST. PETERSBURG - AARP Florida State Director Lori K. Parham and Divided We Fail Florida campaign manager Jeff Johnson issued the following joint statement on Sen. Barack Obama’s comments Wednesday before an audience of about 20,000 at the St. Petersburg Times Forum in St. Petersburg, Florida:

“Divided We Fail Florida and AARP welcome Sen. Barack Obama’s call Wednesday for a strong bipartisan consensus on improving access to health care and giving Americans the tools to achieve lifetime financial security."

"These issues are especially critical in Florida, which ranks dead last in the nation in the proportion of residents ages 18 to 64 with health coverage and also dead last in the nation in the proportion of employees covered by employer-sponsored pension plans."

"As Sen. Obama noted, today’s faltering economy has created even greater stress on millions of American families, blocking their access to quality, affordable health care and undermining their efforts to provide for a secure financial future.”

“We believe America urgently needs a broad national consensus for action on health and financial security. Divided We Fail can be the crucible in which that consensus is forged."

"We urge all of our elected leaders to work across party lines to build support for national action on health and financial security.”

AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, http://www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Divided We Fail
It's time we ensure health and long-term financial security for all. That's why AARP, Business Roundtable, the Service Employees International Union and the National Federation of Independent Business, are leading Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security – the most pressing domestic issues faction our nation. Common sense solutions are needed, and everyone – individuals, businesses and government – has a role and a responsibility in ensuring health and financial security for all. Go to www.dividedwefail.org to learn more.

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