Issue Position: Protecting Seniors

Issue Position

As Attorney General, I created a special senior protection unit to go after scam artists and criminals who prey on Nevada seniors, and cracked down on Medicaid fraud. In the Senate, I will take that fight to Washington to protect Medicare and Social Security from fraud, waste, and abuse.

I will also oppose reckless politicians who want to dismantle the programs and prey on seniors' benefits -- including opposing any proposals that increase the retirement age or threaten the solvency of the trust fund by allowing private investment accounts. These proposals are a mistake, and will only lead to deep cuts in Social Security benefits.

I understand that there needs to be real change in Congress to address funding Social Security, but privatization is not the solution. We need to increase funding, that is one reason why I support passing comprehensive immigration reform. This is a bill that the Social Security Chief Actuary said would increase the Social Security Trust Fund by an estimated $284 Billion by bringing in new revenue from currently undocumented workers who will start to pay into the fund. We could also increase funding by ensuring millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share into the Social Security trust fund, just like ordinary Americans do.

Social Security is a sacred promise we owe our seniors so they can retire with dignity and peace of mind. I will oppose any attempts to cut or privatize Social Security and subject Nevada seniors' retirement security to the whims of the stock market.

I will also oppose reckless budget proposals that turn Medicare into a voucher program and increase seniors' insurance premiums by thousands of dollars a year.

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