Seven Days, Why Seniors Support a Change

Jennifer — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:29:51 +0000

Protecting Social Security and Medicare are the top reasons older voters support my election. Older citizens want to trust the Congress won’t turn its back on them. And, they know the voting record of my opponent.

In Washington, I will support a plan that calls on those making more than $250,000 a year to contribute 2-4% to shore up the fund. I will support efforts to improve retirement savings and protect seniors by voting for legislation that will allow seniors earning less than $50,000 to pay no income taxes. And, I will work to improve the prescription drug law with simpler instructions and better prices.

The challenge for the next Congress is to show the courage to secure Social Security now. The process needs to be clear and concise. It should not rely on some faceless bureaucrat to write the regulations for implementation, but rather it should be understood by the House, Senate and public when it is voted upon.

My opponent is not a fan of the current system and has voted to undercut its solvency and efficiency when given the chance.

The 16-year incumbent has voted to cut Social Security and Medicare programs and payments, including his recent “mistaken” vote this summer to cut Medicare reimbursements to physicians. He supported President Bush’s efforts to privatize Social Security. He now supports a plan to allow younger people to re-direct 1/3 of their current contributions away from Social Security and put them into private retirement accounts.

Social Security

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:04:52 +0000

Social Security is the greatest social program in our nation’s history and I will vote to protect our seniors in retirement and those who are entitled to disability and survivor benefits including about 3 million children.

We need to keep the promises made and secure Social Security for future generations, avoid raids on the trust fund and fix what is broken. We do not need to panic, but we have to make changes to the system.

Changes should combine phased changes to the contributions for people under age 40, guaranteed protection for seniors making less than $40,000 annually, and lifting the cap for individuals on wages subject to contributions. I do not support changes for those currently receiving benefits.

Social Security needs to remain predictable, stable and risk-free. It must be designed to provide adequate benefits for retirees, the disabled and survivors by making annual inflation adjustments.

Social Security must be universal – there should be no ability to “opt out” because it drains the ability to pay benefits now, passing on unacceptable debt to the next generation. I am not in favor of people managing their own Social Security asset allocation – this should be guaranteed income. Let them play with their own IRA and 401K. Enron is a good example. People take risks they don’t even know they are taking.