why does AARP receive federal subsidies?

[ElFenix]

$83 million a year in federal subsidies goes to an organization that has over $1 billion in assets and counts the wealthiest segment of the population as its membership.

 

[Genx87]

Interesting

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
$83 million a year in federal subsidies goes to an organization that has over $1 billion in assets and counts the wealthiest segment of the population as its membership.

source?

 

[jlmadyson]

Not sure, but what purpose does the subsidies serve? Are we talking about some kind of program they provide or?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: tnitsuj

Originally posted by: ElFenix
$83 million a year in federal subsidies goes to an organization that has over $1 billion in assets and counts the wealthiest segment of the population as its membership.

source?

wall street journal article sent to my inbox, i'm not sure exactly where it would be on the internet (plus the journal is a pay service so, even if i could find it, i'm not sure you all could access it)

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
source?

Is it really that hard to find yourself?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
source?

Is it really that hard to find yourself?

or that

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
$83 million a year in federal subsidies goes to an organization that has over $1 billion in assets and counts the wealthiest segment of the population as its membership.

Why? Because they vote. Consistently, and en masse.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: jlmadyson
Not sure, but what purpose does the subsidies serve? Are we talking about some kind of program they provide or?

Yes we are. From their 2004 Annual Report (Concise version) located here.

9. Federal and Other Grants

AARP administers grants received from federal agencies and private organizations. The
two largest grant programs are described below:

A) Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides subsidized
assignments and job training for persons 55 and older whose income is at or below 125%
of the federal poverty level. The SCSEP project is primarily funded by the U.S.
Department of Labor. The current commitment expires in June 2005.

B) Tax Counseling for the Elderly (Tax-Aide) provides volunteer assistance for federal
income tax preparation to low and moderate income persons, with special attention to
those 60 and older throughout the country. In the 2004 and 2003 tax seasons,
approximately 1,890,000 and 1,900,000 older persons were assisted. The Tax-Aide
project is primarily funded by the Internal Revenue Service. The current commitment
expires in September 2005.

Included in grant revenues from sponsoring agencies are reimbursements for enrollees,
facility costs, office expenses, and other allowable costs.

The continuation of all grant programs for fiscal year 2005 and beyond is subject to
commitment of funds by sponsoring agencies.

Also, since we are talking about federal money going to private organizations.... do you also feel that we should cut off.....ahhhh I will just create another thread for this. There are too many examples of stuff and it would, although relevant, turn into too big of a diversion.

 

[Slick5150]

So they can pressure politicians into enabling older unsafe drivers to continue driving without a need to get rechecked to make sure they aren't legally blind and endanger the rest of us on the roads..

They're a very powerful lobbying group. I didn't know they received federal funding though, that's interesting, and a bit disturbing.

 

[Gibsons]

Powerful lobby = ca$h.

Never fails!

 

[techs]

Basically AARP got paid to perform a service, just like any contractor, for the Federal government.
Don't see any problem with that.

 

[theeedude]

Here we go, another flash in the pan full of innuendo, but with no substance. AARP gets paid by the government for its services.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
$83 million a year in federal subsidies goes to an organization that has over $1 billion in assets and counts the wealthiest segment of the population as its membership.

Has your outrage cooled now that you know the money is for specifc programs?

The amount doesn't seem excessive given the number of people they help with the programs. And it's less than half the cost of a bridge to nowhere

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: Gibsons
Powerful lobby = ca$h.

Never fails!

Of course it never fails. If it did, we'd have cars that got 150 mpg. It is possible to get that mileage, but powerful people with money will never allow that to happen. People will get assasinated first.