Bills Passed by the 2005 Silver Legislature

On November 17 and 18, 2005, the Silver Legislature met to consider a slate of bills presented to it by the community. As with the State Legislature, some bills made it, some went down to defeat. Decisions had to be made. Funds are, after all, limited, and so not every bill survived the process.

For a list of bills that passed, see: Bills Passed by the 2005 Silver Legislature.

These bills were forwarded to the Hawaii State Legislature and to Governor Lingle for consideration in the 2006 legislative session.

Thanks to a small army of colleagues and friends who made the Silver Legislature successful

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Silver Legislature wishes to thank the following individuals who lent their expertise and experience to the work of creating the 2005 Silver Legislature.

Legislators who helped with the Community Forums: Sen. Robert Bunda, Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, Rep. Kirk Caldwell, Rep. Blake Oshiro, Sen. Brian Kanno, Rep.Brian Schatz, Rep. Tommy Waters, Rep. Joseph Souki, Sen. Gary Hooser and former legislator Andy Levin

For the Silver Legislature itself, we have Lt. Gov. James Aiona. Sen. Robert Bunda, Rep.Calvin Say, Rep. Marcus Oshiro, Rep. Brian Schatz, Sen. Roz Baker, Sen. Carol Fukunaga, Sen. Clayton Hee, Rep. Cynthia Thielen

Co-sponsors: Alu Like, AARP Hawaii, Area Agencies on Aging, Catholic Charities, Elderly Affairs Division of the City and County of Honolulu, Executive Office on Aging,HARA (HI Alliance of Retired Americans), Hawaii Commission on Status of Women, HSTA-Retirees, HI Pacific Gerontological Society, Kokua Council, League of Women Voters, Moiliili Community Center, National Association of Social Workers, UH Center on Aging

Steering Committee: Bruce Botorff, Arlene Ellis, Sharon Ferguson-Quick, Al Hamai, Wes Lum, Laura Manis, Elizabeth Meahl, Harry Mattson, Wendall Tengan, Karen Miyake, Jeanne Ohta, Liana Pang-Tamura, Rebecca Ryan, Patricia Sasaki, Debbie Shimizu, Barbara Stanton, Michael Sumja, Diane Terada, Pat Tompkins, Justin Wong, Carolyn Golojuch, John Tomoso, Alan Parker

Access Room: Robert Watland, Suzanne Marinelli, Virginia Beck

Legislators who provided breakfasts: Rep. Scott Saiki, Rep. Kirk Caldwell, Rep. Scott Nishimoto, Rep. Dennis Arakaki, Rep. Corinne Ching, Sen. Chun Oakland, Sen. Norman Sakamoto, Sen. Brian Taniguchi, Council Member Ann Kobayashi

Folks at the State Capitol: Pat Mau-Shimizu, CJ Leong, Lorna Woo, Jade Villanueva, Kevin Kuroda, Erik Abe, Laura Figueira

Volunteers: Derrick Ariyoshi,Travis Iseri, Camille Chun-Hoon, Paula Matsushima, Jun Colmenares, Anne Holton, Dina Adaro, Michael Markrich, Melanie Aurio, Tara Dosland, Theresa Martinson, Shaleena Thomasson, Anna Burdios, Traci Akimoto, Melanie Quon, Melissa Tashiro, Klinton Kamiya, Toni Souza, Krystal Freitas


The Silver Legislature is grateful to Patricia Sasaki, Director of the Executive Office on Aging. Without the generous assistance of the Executive Office on Aging, the 2005 Silver Legislature could not have been held

Notes From November Meeting: People with Medicare Need to Know

Speaker Pamela Cunningham, Executive Office on Aging

• Everyone with Medicare can get Medicare drug coverage.
• Coverage starts January 1, 2006
• You must join to get coverage
• You can join from November 15, 2005-May 15, 2006.
• If you don’t join by May 15, 2006, you may have to wait until November 15, 2006 and you may pay a penalty.
• There’s extra help for those who need it most.
• Medicare prescription drug coverge covers brand name and generic drugs.
• Compare and join a Medicare prescription drug plan that meets your needs.
• There is a list of plans and their costs in the Medicare & You handbook mailed to you last October.
• Some drugs are excluded: Drugs for weight loss, gain or anorexia; cosmetic purposes/hair growth; symptomatic relief of cough and colds; prescription vitamins & mineral products (except prenatal vitamins and fluoride treatments); Fertility drugs, Barbiturates and benzodiazepines; non-prescription drugs.

Need help? Call Sage Plus Program, 586-7299.