McGinty wants to expand Social Security
As I’ve traveled across Pennsylvania throughout this campaign, I’ve had the privilege of hearing from people from all walks of life. Again and again, though, from Johnstown to Scranton, I’ve heard the same concern: how will we care for our parents and grandparents? How will we care for ourselves when we retire?
I know this conversation well. I remember it from when my own parents retired. They were able to do so with dignity, peace of mind, and access to the care they need because they could count on my dad’s union pension, and on the guarantee of critical programs like Social Security.
But for hardworking Pennsylvanians today, that guarantee is now shaky at best. The cost of living has gone up, but the earned benefits that so many older Americans depend on haven’t kept pace. Here in our commonwealth, we are blessed to have a vast and vibrant senior population, fifth biggest in the country. And two thirds of our senior citizens depend on Social Security for at least half their livelihood. After a lifetime of hard work, I want Pennsylvanians to rest assured that they’ll be able to count on this critical income to help meet their needs.
In the Senate, I will honor the commitment we’ve made to protect our seniors. That’s why this week, I was proud to announce my plan not only to preserve Social Security, and to defend it from cuts and privatization, but to make sure that benefits actually reflect the cost of living for today and tomorrow and to expand it, particularly when it comes to helping those who have lost a spouse or who left the workplace to care for a loved one. These are simple fixes that will improve the lives of so many people in our commonwealth.
To both shore up Social Security for generations to come, and to expand it for those who need it the most, I propose that we adjust the cap on the payroll tax, making sure that millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share into the programs that keep our nation strong.
Of course, there is so much more we can and must do to protect our senior citizens and retirees.
We need to fight off attempts to voucherize Medicare and raise the retirement age. Instead, we should empower Medicare to negotiate with drug companies, saving money for taxpayers and patients alike. We pay more for prescription drugs in America than most other industrialized countries. Finally allowing Medicare to negotiate down these costs could save taxpayers billions of dollars every year.
We also need to make it easier for seniors to have access to high-quality home care if they choose. That’s why, in the Senate, I will work with my colleagues – Democrats and Republicans alike – to pass legislation like the Independence at Home Act and the Credit for Caring Act, two bipartisan proposals to cut the cost of care for seniors and support hardworking family caregivers. I’ll also work to raise wages and invest in training for the home health care workers who do yeoman’s work to make sure our loved ones are safe and healthy.
I will fight to make good on this proposal, because our parents and grandparents deserve to live with dignity and decency, no matter where they live or how much money they have. By making home health care a real option, we can ensure that older Americans can get the care they need, while cutting the cost of care in half for working and middle class families.
Finally, I will join U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., in taking a stand against widespread fraud and abusive scams that target seniors. There is no reason in the world that we should allow predatory individuals to take advantage of our loved ones who worked so hard to give us a bright future.
There’s no expiration on the American Dream. It’s a promise that should extend long past retirement. I know this is possible, because that’s how it worked for my parents. It’s how our system should work for us all, and with your help, I know we can make it work.
A Democrat, Katie McGinty is running for one of Pennsylvania’s seats in the U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Pat Toomey.