FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 25th, 2008

Contact: Dustin Gawrylow, (701) 223-9887

Consistency of Measure 1 Opposition Group Questioned

AARP Claims to Oppose Tax Related Constitutional Amendments on Principle, yet Supported at Least Two Such Measures in Recent Years.

BISMARCK – Recently it was announced that AARP would be taking a leading role in opposing Constitutional Measure #1 on November’s ballot.

In the May 20th, 2008 edition of the Bismarck Tribune reporter Jonathan Rivoli wrote:

“Linda Wurtz of the AARP said her group's opposition to the measures is rooted in the organization's nationwide policy to oppose setting tax policy in a state's constitution. A similar measure in Colorado has had negative consequences on that state, she said.

"You can't predict now what kind of situation your legislators will face in two years or 10 years," Wurtz said.”

(Source: http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2008/05/20/news/local/155983.txt)

Upon researching this assertion, Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota discovered this claim wasn’t completely true.

Last year, the AARP of New Jersey supported a ballot measure to amend the state constitution by dedicating a one-cent sales tax for property tax relief:

“…the New Jersey League of Municipalities and AARP-New Jersey announced the formation of a coalition urging voters to approve Public Question #1, when they go to the polls in November. Approval would amend the State Constitution to dedicate another one-half cent of the sales tax to property tax relief.

[…]

AARP State President Sy Larson said, “We are forging this alliance today because the need for permanent property tax relief is so important that we want to make absolutely sure this ballot question passes.  The dedication of another half-penny share of the sales tax may not sound like a lot to some people, but for individuals with low or fixed incomes, property taxes cut into their food and shelter and undermine their standard of living.”

(Source: http://www.njslom.org/tax_relief101707.html)

Also last year, the AARP of Texas supported a ballot measure addressing property taxes in that state’s constitution:

“As tax reduction proposals go, Proposition 1 is a large drop in the bucket, but it could mean real money to as many as 1.3 million senior citizens and disabled Texans who own their homes.

The constitutional amendment on Saturday's ballot is an epilogue to the property tax cuts ordered by Gov. Rick Perry and the Legislature last year in response to a Texas Supreme Court order for changes in the school finance system.

[…]

"A 'yes' vote for Proposition 1 is a vote for fairness for senior and disabled homeowners. They have waited patiently for this opportunity," said Bob Jackson, state director of AARP-Texas.”

(Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4777654.html)

“It is clear that the AARP here in North Dakota has a slightly skewed view of AARP’s national policies.  Ms. Wurtz’s statement that AARP opposes tax related constitutional amendments is disproven by the fact that they supported two such measures just last year.  Perhaps this opposition should re-examine why they are really opposing Measure 1 before they do something they might later regret,” AFP-ND state policy director Dustin Gawrylow said.