Health care was the hot topic at a meeting of the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans (NARA) at the Grand Sierra Resort on Thursday, with State Assembly Speaker possible Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buckley as the guest.

More specifically, NARA members talked Thursday about how health care reform would affect seniors.

“As Congress debates health care reform, the conversation must include measures that address the growing needs of America’s seniors,” said NARA president Scott Watts. “People like Assemblywoman Buckley help represent all Nevadans, especially seniors.”

The organization passed out fliers with a series of “myth busters” intended to “clear up rumors about health care that have been circulating.”

According to the NARA Web site, health insurance reform is necessary to eliminate wasteful overpayments to private Medicare Advantage plans and improve Medicare benefits and health care for seniors.

“During this legislative session, we were able to fight off some things that would have inhibited Nevada’s progress,” Buckley said Thursday. “(Gov. Jim) Gibbons wanted to cut retirees’ health insurance and cut funding for senior group homes.”

NARA members also discussed the congressional voting record for 2008. The organization tracked senators’ votes on the issues that affect retirees and gave each representative a score. Nevada Sen. Harry Reid received a score of 100 out of 100 and Sen. John Ensign was given a score of 10.

The scores were based on policies regarding Social Security privatization, Medicare improvements and retiree programs funding.

State-level efforts were also a topic Thursday.

“One of the most important pieces of legislation that Assemblywoman Buckley sponsored was the legislation that allowed for the importation of prescription drugs from Canada,” Watts said. “We were the first state in the country to do that, and it really has helped with drug costs.”

Buckley also explained her position on state budget cuts.

“Cutting the state budget in response to revenue shortfalls will damage Nevadans in the long run,” Buckley said.

Buckley currently serves as the Nevada Assembly Speaker and may run for governor in 2010, but has not formally announced her candidacy.

“As I look at my 16 years in the Nevada Assembly, I see how much we’ve accomplished when we’re working together and have learned that there’s nothing we can’t do,” Buckley said.

The Assembly Speaker also dedicated time to condemning Gibbons’ policies.

“Sometimes I see legislation he proposes and think I’m in the Wizard of Oz,” Buckley said. “In the Wizard of Oz, there’s a scarecrow without a brain, a tin man without a heart and a lion who lacks courage. He (Gibbons) encompasses all of those things.”