Anchorage Daily News

Lynn Cragholm lived 73 years without walking the street in protest, but her lack of experience didn't show Thursday at the corner of Fireweed Lane and A Street.

Facing traffic, her hair swept into a graceful, gray top-knot, she waved a sign that read: "Work Hard, Pay Taxes, Raise a Family, Get Shafted by Rep. Coghill."

Cragholm joined about 60 seniors who demonstrated on all four corners of the intersection in support of SeniorCare, a program that provides $120 a month to low-income people over 65. SeniorCare is set to end June 30, but supporters hope to pressure the Legislature to extend it in a special session that begins here on June 26.

Many directed their ire at Rep. John Coghill of North Pole, who has said he doesn't support the program and is credited with killing attempts to extend it during the regular session. About 7,000 seniors take advantage of SeniorCare. Couples must make less than $21,641 a year to qualify. Single people must make less than $16,133.

"It seems like a small amount of money yet it can make a big difference to the ones who are receiving it," Cragholm said.

Coghill, reached in North Pole, was not surprised by the protest. He's been hearing criticism from many corners.

"Oh man have I taken some heat over this," he said.

The SeniorCare program was created under Gov. Frank Murkowski to help with prescription drug costs until a federal drug assistance program, Medicare Part D, started, he said. The state already has adult public assistance for low-income seniors, and he supports upping what seniors get under that program, rather than having two programs.

"You've got one bureaucracy on one side of the building writing checks to one set of people and another bureaucracy on the other side of the building writing checks to the same people," he said.

It's likely the Legislature will vote to extend SeniorCare during the upcoming special session, then figure out changes to the adult public assistance program during the regular session, he said.

The protest, organized by AARP of Alaska, was set up on the grass outside an office building. White-haired people with walkers and canes poured out of short buses arriving from the Mabel T Caverly Senior Center.

Rita Foy, 92, held a sign under a passel of blowing, bouncing red and white balloons. She has glaucoma, she said from under the brim of her sun bonnet. A lot of seniors use the money to cover food, utilities or medication. All those costs keep going up, while fixed incomes stay the same, she said.

"One of those little bottles of pills costs me $80!"

Several of the signs mentioned the state capital budget, which was packed this year with building projects and favored causes across the state. Ken Osterkamp, state director of the AARP, took the microphone to repeat the message.

"They still managed to find millions of dollars for sports complexes and other things they seem to care more about," he said.

Joyce Hines, 75, stood with Jeannie Smith, 61.

Hines' heating bill keeps climbing, she said. One month in the winter, it was $400.

"I volunteer at the food bank so I have enough groceries," she said.

"When you come right down to it, people need the money," said Smith.

Her sign read: "Coghill, may you live long enough to understand."

Find Julia O'Malley online at adn.com/contact/jomalley or call 257-4591.