Issue Position: Social Security/Medicare

Issue Position

It is shameful that the federal government levies a Social Security tax on hardworking
Americans without guaranteeing it will be there for them when they need it.

The first step to fixing Social Security is to stop raiding the trust fund in order to pay for other government projects through special bonds. As the national debt continues to grow, it will be much harder for future generations to pay off the interest on those bonds, crippling Social Security. We must stop "kicking the can down the road" and leaving our children and
grandchildren in a worse position than our parents left us. Ensuring that Americans nearing retirement will receive Social security benefits that they paid into their whole careers is paramount.

My opponent has voted time and time again against the interests of Social Security. He was 1 of 3 Republicans to vote against H.R.4865: Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2000. This bill would have reduced the percentage of Social Security benefits that is taxable from 85 to 50 percent for single taxpayers with incomes over $25,000 and married couples with incomes over $32,000.

We must reform Medicare in a responsible way, making sure senior citizens don't have to make the choice between putting dinner on the table and refilling their prescriptions. Many members of congress dismiss the importance of this program, when at the end of the day is critical to many seniors. With so many retirees in the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina, this is especially important to me in order to best represent my constituents in Washington.

My opponent, Mark Sanford, was 1 of 10 Republicans to vote against H.R. 4680: Medicare Rx 2000 Act, which would have provided voluntary prescription drug coverage for Medicare
beneficiaries through subsidies to private plans. That vote demonstrates a lack of good
judgment and a total disconnect with the seniors of South Carolina.

Source