AARP members from Social Circle and Covington traveled the Georgia's Capitol Wednesday to speak up about state's upcoming bills.

"The proposed budget restores funding for ‘respite services' for caregivers providing assistance to Alzheimer's patients and other seniors needing long-term care. We applaud Gov. Nathan Deal for restoring funding that had been stripped from past years' budgets, and we urge our legislators to support that funding," said Sharon Baker, president of the AARP Social Circle Chapter. She added: "We can't afford to do otherwise."

Baker and nine other AARP members from Covington and Social Circle traveled to the state capitol Wednesday to speak with state Sen. Frank Ginn (Danielsville) and state Rep. Terry England (Auburn).
Members of the delegation also urged their lawmakers to:
• Oppose Senate Bill 312, which requires "personal growth" instruction and activities for needy applicants seeking food stamps and temporary assistance.
• Support House Bill 290, which would require analysis of tax credits in annual budget reports so that it is easier to assess the effectiveness and impact of such tax breaks.
• Oppose Senate Bill 447, which would reduce already low unemployment benefits by 25-50 percent. Georgia currently provides on average fewer weeks of unemployment coverage than any other state.