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JULY 9, 2023
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FULL TWO HOURS |
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HOUR 1 |
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HOUR 2 |
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Hour 1: Sheriff Michael L. Johnson |
 Sheriff
Johnson has 29 years of continuous, active
experience in law enforcement. He worked through
the ranks at city and rural county agencies and
served as the City of Anderson Police Chief for
nine years before becoming the 23rd Shasta
County Sheriff-Coroner. Sheriff Johnson holds
all CA POST Certifications, a Bachelor’s Degree
in Wildlife Management, Master’s Degree in
Criminal Justice, and graduated from the FBI
National Academy in Quantico. He is actively
involved in the community service organizations,
including Anderson Rotary, Youth Violence
Prevention Council, Asphalt Cowboys, Children’s
Legacy Center and Community Corrections
Partnerships.
Mission Statement
The members of the Shasta County Sheriff’s
Office are committed to improving the quality of
life, in partnership with the community we
serve, through fair and ethical law enforcement
services.
Service with Pride and Excellence
If you have information/tips regarding illegal
marijuana grows in Shasta County contact the
Marijuana Eradication Team:
shastamet@co.shasta.ca.us
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Hour 2: "Debt vs Spending Reform" with Phil
Kerpen, President of American Commitment
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Comprehensive Survey of
Voters 55 Plus on Key Healthcare Concerns,
Inflation Reduction Act & AARP’s Advocacy
Activities
Released
by American Commitment |
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New Poll Shows
Vast Majority of Seniors and AARP’s Own Members
Disagree with AARP’s Advocacy Activities in View
of IRA’s Impact on Older Americans & AARP’s
Corporate Financial Relationships |
Washington,
D.C. — June 1, 2023 — As part of its
Commitment to Seniors initiative,
American Commitment today released a new
national survey conducted among 1,600 likely
voters who are 55 and older, including nearly
700 identifying AARP members. The
poll was conducted by McLaughlin &
Associates from April 23-30, 2023. The survey
indicated various concerns voters 55 and older
had on healthcare affordability issues, the
impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA),
and AARP’s advocacy initiatives surrounding it
in view of its corporate financial
relationships.
Key findings on health affordability concerns
and impacts of the IRA include:
- Roughly
60% of seniors 55+ and AARP members view
health insurance-related costs as the most
concerning healthcare affordability issues –
above costs for prescription drugs and
long-term care.
- Nearly
85% believe Congress should not divert
any of the IRA’s Medicare drug savings meant
to lower drug costs for seniors to pay for
unrelated spending. (Ex: EV tax credits, new
ACA subsidies)
- Above
90% believe the Inflation Reduction
Act’s (IRA) Medicare drug savings should be
passed on directly to individual seniors in
Medicare.
- Over
80% are concerned the IRA will lead to a
loss in new cutting-edge medicines and cures
to treat chronic and rare diseases.
- Just
14% believe the IRA’s Medicare changes
will decrease seniors’ drug costs, while
over half believe the changes will likely
end up increasing drug costs.
Key findings
on AARP’s advocacy activities and financial
relationships:
- Roughly
85% are concerned that over half of
AARP’s operating revenue ($1 billion) comes
from royalties, the majority of which is
from a single corporation, UnitedHealthcare.
- Nearly
90% believe AARP should not have
supported the IRA after discovering it
diverted some Medicare drug savings to pay
for unrelated spending and tax breaks.
- Close
to 90% are concerned about AARP earning
billions in royalties over several years
from UnitedHealthcare while lobbying on
similar issues like Medicare.
- Almost
80% are concerned about AARP’s status as
a non-partisan entity in view of its events
and petition drives on the IRA and drug
pricing debates almost exclusively being
focused on Democrats.
- Some
74% of 55+ seniors and 63% of AARP members
consider the nearly 5% royalty AARP receives
from AARP-UnitedHealthcare policies a “junk
fee” similar to what many in Congress want
to ban..
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“The total
disconnect between the priorities of AARP and
seniors shows that AARP advocates on behalf of
its corporate partners and its own bottom line,
period,” said Phil Kerpen, President of
American Commitment. “AARP has abused its
reputation to advance public policies seniors
clearly do not support, while ignoring the top
concerns of seniors, because those concerns
implicate AARP's principal revenue source:
UnitedHealth."
"Perhaps the most alarming aspect of this poll
is that AARP's own membership echoes these data
points," said Jim McLaughlin, President and
Partner of McLaughlin & Associates. "It is
more apparent than ever that older Americans,
including AARP members, disagree with the
so-called 'seniors advocacy' organization's
policy positions. The question now becomes
whether AARP will put older Americans'
priorities first by abandoning its corporate
ties with the nation's largest health insurer,
UnitedHealthcare, or continue to advocate for
liberal policies like the Inflation Reduction
Act that seniors and its members are concerned
about."
Poll results can be found
on the website of our Commitment to Seniors
project:
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For a
comprehensive analysis of the financial
relationship between AARP and UnitedHealthcare,
please see this report by Juniper Research: “How
AARP Puts Profits over Patients—And Principles”
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American Commitment is dedicated to
restoring and protecting our nation’s commitment
to free markets, economic growth,
Constitutionally-limited government, property
rights, and individual freedom. American
Commitment engages in critical public policy
fights over the size and intrusiveness of
government through direct advocacy, strategic
policy analysis, and grassroots mobilization.
Visit us online at
www.AmericanCommitment.org .
McLaughlin & Associates is a national
survey research and strategic services company
whose personnel have played a key role in
assisting successful organizations in the United
States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
McLaughlin & Associates specializes in public
opinion research, media planning and buying
services, and strategic consulting services.
More about McLaughlin & Associates can be found
online at
www.mclaughlinonline.com
Here’s the recent piece from The Hill
discussing the survey…
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4030264-poll-shows-80-percent-of-older-voters-concerned-prescription-drug-reform-will-hurt-drug-innovation/ |
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