The filing deadline for candidates planning to run for office in Idaho is looming, and Idahoans will know who to expect on the ballot come May 15, 2012.  What they may not know is where those candidates stand on key issues, such as financial security and other pocketbook concerns. AARP Idaho plans to change that.

As candidates gear up to start hitting the campaign trail, AARP Idaho announced its first-ever statewide effort to help the most powerful voting group in the state, the 50+ and the public learn the candidates’ positions on some key issues before the primary. The effort will be marked with the debut of AARP primary voter guides for every state legislative race as well as the Governor’s and Lt. Governor’s races. This will be the first time the Association has done voter guides for primary elections in the Gem State.

In the 2010 Idaho primary, voters age 50 and older accounted for an astounding 73% of all votes cast – nearly 3 out of every 4 voters were 50+.

For the voter guides, AARP will ask the candidates their positions on critical issues, such as how they will work to help consumers have a stronger voice when utility rate hikes are proposed; what they plan to do to address long-term care and aging issues in Idaho; how they will help the increasing number of Idahoans who struggle to pay for health insurance; and what they will do to help improve the state’s economy to put people back to work.

“AARP will work to engage our members, Idaho’s 50+, and the public this primary season, giving them a new tool to learn where the candidates stand on issues that matter to many voters,” said Angela Cortez, interim State Director for AARP in Idaho.  “Idaho’s 50+ are the strongest voice and voting group in primary elections in Idaho and across the nation, and we want to make sure candidates are addressing their issues.”

AARP will work across the state to engage its members and the public this election season, meeting with members in person, on-line and via phone to discuss the issues and distribute the voter guides.  Starting in early May, the voter guides will be available, to the public.  As part of the efforts, AARP will also work to let voters know about changes in the voting process, such as the new closed Republican primaries and voter identification requirements.

“It’s important that voters have nonpartisan tools and resources to help cut through the rhetoric and noise to get the facts they need on the issues they care about,” said Cortez.

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Utility company projects often mean one thing for consumers: Higher rates.  Yet in most cases, consumers have no idea of the impact the project could have on their monthly bills until it’s too late.   That may soon change in Idaho and consumers could be armed with better information to fight unfair rate hikes.  AARP Idaho announced its support for the move.

A new bill, House Bill 554, introduced at the Idaho statehouse calls for utility companies to disclose the projected costs of major investments up front, so the public would know how much monthly bills could be affected.  The effort to “shine the light” on Idaho electric companies’ expenditures is being sponsored by Representative Marc Gibbs (R-Grace) and could provide consumers with a better glimpse into the murky waters of rate hikes and a stronger chance to fight them.

AARP is supporting the legislation because it would include the projected cost to consumers as a consideration when utilities plan for major expenditures.

“On the heels of recent electric rate hikes across Idaho, consumers, particularly those on limited incomes such as the 50+, are struggling and quite frankly a bit upset that their electric bills keep climbing,” said Angela Cortez, Interim State Director for AARP in Idaho. “Right now it seems utility companies hold all the cards when it comes to information on their projects that’ll cause rates to climb. This changes the game a bit in favor of the consumer and that’s the right move.  AARP commends Rep. Gibbs for moving this issue forward.”

The legislation will require the electric company to fully disclose the anticipated impact of large capital expenditures on rates during the planning process, as opposed to afterwards.  By providing the information upfront, the measure would better allow the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to make informed decisions during the planning process, and give consumers a better opportunity to evaluate projects that could result in future  rate hikes.

“At the end of the day utility issues come down to what effect they’ll have on Idahoans kitchen table economies, and AARP stands in support of efforts to ensure rate hikes are fair and justified,” Cortez said. “AARP will work with other stakeholders on this issue, including the PUC utilities and other customer groups, to ensure this legislation is as strong as it needs to be to level the playing field for all Idaho consumers.”

AARP Idaho also is gearing up for another utility issue fight over the creation of a utility consumer advocate office to represent consumers in utility rate hike and regulatory cases. Idaho is currently the only state in the West (and one of a handful nationwide) lacking such an office.  With more than 40 percent of the state’s 50+ reporting difficulty paying their utility bills, this issue is AARP Idaho’s top legislative priority.

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