Seniors
We have an obligation to keep our promises to our seniors. We must ensure the solvency of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. At a critical time when our government is still figuring out how to meet their obligations to our seniors, Congress voted to increase federal spending and add more people to the entitlement rolls. This is financially reckless! Before expanding entitlement programs, the government ought to figure out how to ensure the solvency of the senior programs it has already committed to funding. It's just plain wrong to put our seniors’ health and financial security at risk.
The American people have entered into what I believe is a contract with their government for Social Security benefits. They have paid into the system for many years and deserve the benefits that they planned on as well paid for. To that end, I have not and will not endorse privatizing Social Security because I don’t believe it is the solution to making Social Security solvent.
In addition, I oppose raising the retirement age which Julie Lassa appears to support. It certainly isn’t fair to make seniors and people nearing retirement work longer and pay more to make up for the career politicians who raided the trust fund to spend recklessly on more government programs. I will fight to ensure benefits are preserved and solvency is returned to the system. To ignore the present situation is not being honest with voters. It is critical that we explore the pros, cons and financial ramifications of many proposals and determine the best method to protect this program for future generations.
The health care legislation passed this year cuts Medicare by a half a billion dollars in order to fund the expansion of entitlements. At the same time, Medicare already maintains a $38 trillion unfunded liability; Medicaid which pays for long-term care has trillions more in unmet needs; and Social Security’s surplus has evaporated. Unless we strengthen these programs, government will be forced to either raise payroll taxes by 30 percent, or cut benefits by nearly 25 percent.
It is the job of our leaders to look not just toward their next election, but to look out for the long-term stability of our nation’s finances. Unfortunately, both Republicans and Democrats have failed to do this in the past. As your next representative I will be committed to reforming these programs so we can maintain the benefits our seniors count on, while ensuring that these programs are solvent and available for future generations.
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