Florida voters over the age of 50 made up 40% of the state’s electorate in 2012. That’s according to the American Association of Retired Persons, or AARP. A new study by the Association, used to craft their legislative agenda, shows the elderly are more up to date, and opinionated, on current issues than they used to be.
Nearly 90% of Floridians over the age of 50 support legislation against driving and texting, the AARP survey shows. More than a third of older Floridians support a 6% online sales tax, while nearly the same amount stand oppose. AARP Florida State Director, Jeff Johnson, said he isn’t surprised by these findings.
"On many of these things, what we see today, really aren't that new. Its not that their views have changed that considerably, it’s that the environment around them has changed and they've learned things that they didn't know before" Johnson said.
Almost half of older Floridians strongly oppose the upcoming legislation requiring utility customers to pay upfront and increased rates for the planning and construction of nuclear power plants. According to the study seniors also overwhelmingly approve the enforcement of quality care standards in nursing homes.