House Subcommittee to investigate AARP 'financial conflicts'

House GOP lawmakers are scrutinizing how the AARP's interests may have played into the positions the organization took during the health debate.

The Fiscal Times: AARP Under the Congressional Microscope … Again
The House Ways and Means Committee has launched an investigation into the financial underpinnings of 40-million-member AARP, the largest lobbying organization for older Americans in the nation's capital. ... Rep. Wally Herger, R-Calif., chairman of the health subcommittee, and Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., chairman of the oversight committee, accused AARP of using its lobbying clout to advance the interests of its insurance arm, which sells policies to supplement Medicare coverage. (Goozner, 3/25).

Roll Call: House GOP Probes For Financial Conflicts In AARP's Profits, Lobbying
In an unusually high-profile attack on a powerful lobby, House Republicans are raising questions about whether AARP has financial conflicts which shape its advocacy agenda, including its support of the health care law. Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Wally Herger and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany Jr. are holding an April 1 hearing to probe the organization, management, and financial growth of the group, which represents an estimated 40 million older Americans (Ethridge, 3/25).

National Journal: GOP Puts AARP In Its Sights
"This hearing is about getting to the bottom of how AARP's financial interests affect their self-stated mission of enhancing seniors' quality of life," [Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Wally] Herger said in a written statement. "It is important to better understand how AARP's insurance business overlaps with its advocacy efforts and whether such overlap is appropriate." In 2010, AARP spent $22.05 million on lobbying efforts, according to the Center for Responsive Politics (DoBias 3/25).

Politico: House Ways and Means To Investigate AARP
Oversight subcommittee chairman Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) and health subcommittee chairman Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.), in a joint statement, announced that they plan to investigate the retirement lobby as part of their oversight of Medicare and Medicaid. Central to their interest, according to a committee statement, is that AARP sells insurance products. The hearing is planned for April 1 (Sherman, 3/25).