PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
We cannot break the promise we have made to our seniors.
My mother is 95 years-old and lives in an assisted living facility. My parents worked hard for many years paying into Social Security and Medicare all along. Today, thanks to those payments, Medicare and Social Security provide her the income and benefits to live a good quality of life in her waning years. These are benefits she has earned, and we as a nation must protect those benefits.
Balancing our national budget must be done if we are to continue to be the global power we are today, and that means we as a nation will need to make difficult choices. But we must do this the right way, the smart way. Social Security and Medicare are important programs in the fabric of our society and must be protected and strengthened. And both programs have been successful. When Social Security was first introduced in the 1930's nearly 50% of seniors were living at or below the poverty line. Now, less than 10% of seniors live below the poverty line.
I reject the idea that these programs cannot remain strong for generations. There are intelligent ways to reduce the long-term costs of Social Security and Medicare that do not break our promise to our seniors today, and will still provide support for our future seniors tomorrow. I strongly oppose privatizing Social Security and the Congressional Republican budget that proposed ending Medicare as we know it. Clearly some Republicans in Washington do not understand the promise we have made and must keep.
The Issues
Creating 21st Century Jobs
Creating 21st Century Jobs Growing our economy and creating jobs will be my top priority when I get to Congress. There are still far too many people in Hampton Roads out of work, and countless more that are underemployed. As a lifelong businessman, … Read more
Building a 21st Century Education System
Building a 21st Century Education System Education holds the key to America’s future success. For our country to continue to succeed economically, it is imperative that we continue to out-innovate our global competitors. But we can only out-in… Read more
Growing our Small Businesses
Growing our Small Businesses America was built on the backs of small businesses, and today small businesses are still at the heart of the American workforce. In fact, the Kaufman Foundation showed that nearly all net new jobs over the last thirty years we… Read more
Honoring our Veterans
Honoring our Veterans Home to Naval Air Station Oceana, Langley Air Force Base, Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads and Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval station, Hampton Roads is blessed with a community filled with veterans who have honorabl… Read more
Congressional Reform
It’s Time to Change Congress It is time to get serious about reforming Congress. It is time to recognize that real change is requiring Members of Congress to abide by these reforms, not just hoping that they will choose to do the right thing. We nee… Read more
Military
Making sure that our military has the hardware necessary to keep America safe is a national imperative. It is also clear that given the budget deficit issues we face, there is no good rationale for moving any aircraft carrier currently home-ported in Norfo… Read more
Budget Deficit
We must get our deficits under control and begin to reduce our national debt. Our nation has faced the worst economic recession since the Great Depression resulting in staggering job losses, home foreclosures and economic uncertainly for far too many Ameri… Read more
Job Creation
We must create more and higher paying jobs in order to grow our economy and reduce the tremendous negative impacts of unemployment on our families. America's economic success in much of the 20th Century was as based on growing jobs at home. … Read more
Social Security and Medicare
We cannot break the promise we have made to our seniors. I reject the idea that these programs cannot remain strong for generations. There are intelligent ways to reduce the long-term costs of Social Security and Medicare that do not break our promise… Read more