Issue Position: Senior Issues

Issue Position

Bill believes our senior citizens deserve the same protection of rights and benefits that we all hope to enjoy. One of the greatest--and unique--features of America is the promise we make to our citizens, ensuring that after a lifetime of hard work, nobody will be left out in the cold. And even though we sometimes fall short of the mark, we are obligated to continue striving for our best. That's why Bill sees it as our moral obligation to fully fund and support responsible and comprehensive social security, as well as medical insurance and retirement security plans.

Social Security

The Senior Citizens League, one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups, reported that 52% of Seniors Report Lower Social Security Checks, Fifty-two percent of seniors responding to The Senior Citizens League's 2010 Senior Survey say they are receiving lower Social Security checks this year than they did in 2009. With no annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2010, deductions for rising Medicare premiums reduced benefit checks.

Not only are large numbers of seniors reporting lower benefit payments, the reductions are comparatively steep, given the average Social Security benefit in 2010 is only $1,064 per month. Of those getting a reduced check, about one-third say their monthly checks are at least $31 less than they got last year. Seventeen percent said their checks had been reduced by more than $50 a month.

The benefit reductions follow two back-to-back years in which seniors report cutting down on visits to doctors, dentist, opticians, and filling fewer prescriptions. The survey found that in 2009:

- 46% said they cut back on visits to doctor or hospital outpatient services.

- 54% said they cut back on trips to the dentist, optician or hearing specialists, the costs of which are not covered under traditional Medicare.

- 38% said they postponed filing a prescription or took less than prescribed.

- 68% reported real estate taxes went up, (even as home values continued to plummet).

All told, about 29% of the seniors who took our survey said their monthly expenses in 2009 increased from $80 to $119, and another 37% said their monthly expenses increased more than $119.

TSCL recently released the findings to the national media and continues the effort in Congress to enact an emergency COLA for both 2010 and 2011. Says TSCL's Executive Director, Shannon Benton, "Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to the 2010 Senior Survey and those of you who are sending letters to Members of Congress, and letters to the editor of your local papers! The overwhelming response makes a compelling case to Congress for the need to help seniors now."

The government currently calculates the COLA based on the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a slow-rising index which tracks the spending habits of younger workers who don't spend as large a proportion of their income on health expenditures. The government has tracked spending patterns of older Americans with the CPI-E (Elderly Consumers), so by linking the COLA to the CPI-E, seniors could see some much needed relief in their social security checks.

Bill strongly opposes any plan to privatize social security. One look at the market will tell you why. Rather than undermining social security with risky schemes, we should focus on strengthening it, and maintain our promise to American workers. With baby boomers retiring, the only way to maintain the system is to put more money into it or pay less money out. We should not change anything for current or soon-to-be retirees, but in the long run here are some changes to consider.

One way to put more money into it is by raising the cap on the Social Security payroll tax. Right now, only the first $106,800 of income is taxed for social security. This means, whether you make $106,800 or $1,000,000 or $10,000,000, you're paying the same amount. As a percentage of income, poorer Americans are taxed at a higher rate than richer Americans. Raising the cap would bring more revenue into the system, while only affecting the taxes for the top 6% of earners.

No solution will be easy, but given the country's financial condition, Bill is prepared to make tough choices to solve this problem.

Pension Protection

Over the past several years, Americans have experienced no shortage of corporate corruption, and the one constant casualty is employees' pension funds. The American workforce earns these pensions and counts on this income for their retirement plans. Bill will fight for legislation requiring corporations to fulfill their pension promises and make it illegal to use these funds to cover other expenses. Further efforts, including educational resources, should also be made to encourage and help workers invest in Individual Retirement Accounts and provide Americans with tax incentives for providing for their future.

Access to Health Care & Reforming Medicare Part D Program

Among our national priorities must be a commitment to provide Americans access to affordable health care. Bill will only support health care legislation which secures much-needed coverage to all seniors, and he will work to overhaul the deeply flawed Medicare drug program so that seniors can get the drugs they need in a simple, comprehensive, cost-effective program. We must also pursue all efforts to close the doughnut hole in Medicare Part D--the gap in coverage developed as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 meant to limit federal spending--thereby eliminating the oppressive burden on many older Americans, including those dependent on a fixed-income.

Bill supports creating a national prescription drug benefit plan run by Medicare, rather than requiring seniors to join unreliable private plans that are inconsistent in prices and benefits across the country. Bill will work further to reduce the skyrocketing costs of the program by allowing the government to use its massive buying power to negotiate drug prices, as the Active Duty Military and Veterans Administration has successfully done for years.

Working Seniors & Job Security

In the current economic climate, more and more seniors are staying in or returning to the job force. Today, 7.9 million seniors are working, and another half-million are unemployed but looking for work. And in a surprising turn of events, the US Supreme Court recently handed down a ruling in Gross v. FBL Financial, making it easier for employers to discriminate based on age. Luckily, Congress is currently debating legislation, The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, which will give working seniors the safeguards they deserve. Bill strongly supports this legislation and the workplace rights of everyone who contribute to making the American economy strong.

End of Life Care

End of life can be a difficult time for seniors, their family and friends. That's why Bill agrees with President Obama that seniors, their families, and their doctors should discuss these important, but sensitive issues with the most information possible and the least government interference or obstruction. Bill will fight for the sort of health care reform that provides ample financial assistance during this difficult phase, so there is no rationing of care during this vulnerable time.

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