
Congressman Rick Larsen enjoyed lunch at the Mountlake Terrace Senior Center, then addressed the 50 seniors in attendance about issues ranging from the federal budget to student loan interest rates to Medicare on Friday.
The senior center holds luncheons each Wednesday and Friday in the basement of the Besethda Lutheran Church, located next door to the senior center facility at 5605-235th St. S.W.
First District Representative Larsen paid the $3 tab for his spaghetti lunch, then took the microphone to tell seniors he is working on restoring proposed cuts of federal money to Senior Services of Snohomish County, a non-profit organization that helps subsidize the twice-a-week lunch at the center.
“The issue of sequestration could have an impact on these meals,” Larsen said.
In light of continuing efforts to reduce the growing federal deficit, Larsen also wanted to ease the minds of seniors anxious about the stability of Medicare. “There are some back in Washington D.C. that want to cut Medicare,” he said. “I don’t think that’s the approach to take when dealing with the federal budget.”
Larsen stated he favored a “balance approach” to balancing the federal budget, with some cuts but also some tax increases.
Mike Cooper, Senior Center Executive Director, also addressed the lunch diners, saying “the rumors are true,” and the senior center is nearly finished with a contract to take over management of the Ballinger Clubhouse. Cooper is hoping that some senior programs can move to the facility at 23000 Lakeview Drive in August.
— Story and photos by Doug Petroswski
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