Alaska Longevity Bonus program

Alaska had a program several years ago that had been in effect for a while. It was called the Alaska Longevity Bonus program. In 2003 the then Alaska governor Gov. Murkowski decided that the program was no longer needed and phased it out.

In August, 2003, an estimated 18,000 Alaskan seniors lost between $200 and $250 a month in income that the state had at one time promised them they would always be getting. Many were forced to leave Alaska, which had been their home for many years, because they could no longer afford to stay.

At the time, Governor Murkowski said (paraphrased because I don't remember exact wording) "Who would miss a paltry $200 a month?" - We are talking about men and women that were already making choices between being able to eat a proper meal and buying needed medications. We are talking about 80 year old ladies that were able to have their wood delivered to heat their homes rather than have to go out and cut their wood themselves. WWII Veterans that were already trying to make ends meet after spending a lifetime in the military serving their country.

Alaska's current governor, Governor Palin, has made a promise to reinstate the Alaska Longevity Bonus program. It was one of her campaign promises and I for one hope that she holds true on that promise.