FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2011

To interview ASA CEO Phil Kent contact, (404) 226-3549, philkent@philkent.com, www.americanseniors.org 

AMERICAN SENIORS ASSN. ENDORSES IRS PROBE OF AARP
“Left-wing group abusing tax-exempt status”

ATLANTA— “It is appropriate and overdue that the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee is probing how the tax-exempt AARP stands to reap a billion dollar reward over the next decade as Obamacare destroys the competition to the products it endorses,” says Phil Kent, the CEO of the American Seniors Association (ASA) representing millions of members nationwide.

“Reps. Wally Herger, R-Ca., and Dave Reichert, R-Wash., oversaw and issued an extensive report on AARP operations that asks the Internal Revenue Service to assess whether the AARP abused its tax-exempt status because it is motivated by politics and not for the benefit of its members. The report raises tough questions regarding the separateness of federal grant cash and lobbying activities between AARP’s 501c(3) charitable organizations and 501c(4) advocacy organization,” Kent said. “And it is a disgrace that the AARP has withheld documents from Congress in this regard.”

“ASA long warned that the AARP lobbied hard to pass Obamacare simply so it could sell insurance and reap profits. The AARP fought to gut Medicare Advantage which helps millions of seniors, because if that program goes away the AARP stands to gain millions of dollars in additional royalties,” Kent notes. “Expensive Obamacare-- replete with its heavy hand of government control and heathcare rationing— has always been opposed by ASA.”

“The AARP’s shameless lobbying for Obamacare is now thoroughly exposed by a congressional committee. That’s why we endorse the call for an IRS investigation of the AARP’s tax-exempt status, and remain gratifed that more and more of its members continue to defect to ASA,” Kent said.

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