Seniors
Seniors worked hard to raise the younger generations, and I am adamant about supporting their needs. This is why I am working hard to strengthen Medicare, protect Social Security, and advocate for other critical resources like nutrition assistance for seniors in Northwest Washington and across the country.
Strengthening Social Security
Social Security must remain a safety net that covers all of our seniors. Washington state seniors have spent a lifetime contributing to Social Security. They are entitled to the benefits they have earned. For that reason, I oppose the privatization of Social Security. While Social Security is fiscally sound for the near future, the retirement of the baby boom generation will strain it. We owe it to future generations to keep Social Security solvent and not take unnecessary risks with it. That is why I support a proposal to make the benefit formula more generous, use a cost-of-living formula that takes into account the expense of seniors’ purchases, and preserve Social Security for the future by scrapping the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes.
Improving Medicare for Seniors
Medicare is one of the cornerstones of our social safety net. I believe that Medicare beneficiaries deserve the best treatments possible. To that end, I supported measures, like closing the Medicare prescription drug donut hole—which has saved Medicare beneficiaries in Washington state $95 million since 2012—and cracking down on Medicare fraud that strengthens Medicare and improves its long-term viability. Uncovering Medicare fraud protects Medicare’s long-term viability and returns taxpayer dollars to their rightful purpose. I also fought for better access to health care for Medicare beneficiaries by supporting free preventative care and maintaining Washington state’s physician reimbursement rate. And I voted to repeal the flawed payment formula that caused uncertainty for seniors about whether they could continue seeing their doctors. I am working hard to ensure that Medicare and Medicaid are protected for future generations.
Accomplishments
- Voted to repeal the flawed Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, which caused uncertainty for seniors and their doctors.
- Voted to keep Medicare a guaranteed benefit, fighting against the Republican proposal to turn Medicare into a voucher system.
- Strongly support the Medicare fraud task force, which gets an 610 percent return on taxpayers’ investment, returning $6.10 for every $1 invested in fraud prevention and recovery.
- Support deficit reduction that limits government spending growth, protects our social safety net for seniors, and expands revenue collection, particularly from the richest Americans and large corporations.
- Fought against proposals to privatize Social Security.
- Support Social Security benefits for same-sex couples, ensuring all Americans have access to the benefits they have earned.
- Support funding for senior nutrition and employment programs to address the rapidly growing aging population.