3. Protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Working Families
Core Promise: I will protect and strengthen Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security so seniors, people with disabilities and working families can afford healthcare, prescription drugs, and a secure retirement without fear of cuts or privatization.
For decades, Americans have been told that Social Security is “running out of money,” and Medicare/Medicare benefits are being “fraudulently used by undocumented immigrants.” These claims are used by some politicians as an excuse to:
Cut benefits
Raise the retirement age
Privatize Social Security
Restrict Medicare
Slash Medicaid and disability programs
None of those “solutions” solve the actual problem.
Meanwhile:
Prescription drug prices are among the highest in the world
Mental health access still falls far short of the need
Medicaid bureaucracy in many states leaves families stranded
Disability applicants wait months or years for decisions
Seniors live on fixed incomes while costs of living climb
The federal minimum wage is still $7.25
Long-term care costs devastate families
America needs a healthcare and retirement system that serves people — not special interests, not corporations, and not the wealthy who avoid contributing fairly.
HOW I’LL WORK TO FIX IT:
Protect Social Security benefits and vote against raising the retirement age (wage cap currently set at $176,100)
Press for Social Security solvency by lifting/ending the payroll tax cap so high earners contribute fairly
Streamline SSI & SSDI processing, staffing, and case support so people aren’t waiting months/years
Expand Medicaid access and improve mental-health coverage (including telehealth)
Expand Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices so seniors and working families pay less at the pharmacy counter
Push the country toward a universal healthcare (single-payer) system with real benchmarks
MD-05 FOCUS POINT:
I will prioritize and fund health care centers/clinics, especially those located in rural areas
I will support continuing to offer matching state funds to states that willingly participate in Medicare expansion
