State Rep. Bronna Kahle was named Legislator of the Year by LeadingAge Michigan at the group’s annual conference in Lansing on Tuesday evening.

LeadingAge is a non-profit advocacy group that works to enhance the lives of seniors, change public perception of seniors and give them a voice in the issues that affect them the most.

Each year, the group selects a Michigan legislator who is “slugging it out” for seniors and vulnerable adults across the state and presents them with an inscribed Louisville Slugger as an award.

“Supporting older adults and their families and empowering them in every way possible to be heard and to age and live well has long been a passion of mine,” said Kahle, who previously served as director of the Adrian Senior Center. “Because of that, it is certainly a very proud moment and humbling experience to be selected to receive this award.”

Kahle chairs the House Health Policy Committee and has used her platform to advance several pieces of legislation to improve the quality of life for Michigan seniors. The House recently approved her plan to improve the ways that residents are cared for in nursing homes. Her plan would improve the state’s regulatory process to ensure Michigan nursing home care providers are evaluated and regulated in a fair, accurate, and timely manner, and with the same equality as those in other states.

The legislator also helped approve a plan to lower prescription costs in Michigan. The plan blocks prescription middlemen and health insurer contracts that prohibit pharmacies from sharing information with patients about lower cost alternatives for their medications.

Kahle also recently voted to reduce state taxes for seniors living on fixed incomes. Residents age 67 and older who may currently deduct $20,000 of income individually or $40,000 jointly would be eligible for an increase of $1,800 or $3,600, respectively, with future increases automatically adjusted for inflation.

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