Braley hosts Retirement Security Roundtables with Iowans in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines
Des Moines, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley hosted a pair of Retirement Security Roundtable events in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines today to meet with Iowans and discuss the future of Social Security and Medicare and how to safeguard the programs for current retirees and generations of workers to come.
Braley said, "Social Security and Medicare are a promise that if you work hard, the benefits you've earned will be there for you when you retire. We need to protect Social Security and Medicare and ensure their promise is honored for current and future generations of workers.
"That's why I've fought against schemes to privatize Social Security and end Medicare as we know it, because gambling Social Security on the stock market and giving Medicare vouchers to seniors puts current retirees at risk. We should strengthen these programs, not undermine them."
According to the
Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 530,000 Iowans were enrolled in Medicare in 2012. The
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare calculates that Iowa has more than 584,000 Social Security beneficiaries, with the average senior receiving a monthly benefit of $1,131.
Braley has strongly opposed efforts to privatize Social Security and transform Medicare into a voucher program. Braley has also opposed efforts to reduce future Social Security benefits for retirees if cost-of-living increases were shifted to a so-called "chained CPI" calculation.
Janice Laue of Des Moines said, "Social Security and Medicare ensure a more secure retirement for thousands of Iowa seniors who've worked hard to earn their benefits. We need a Senator who will protect these benefits for current seniors and future generations of retirees. Bruce Braley has long fought to protect Social Security and Medicare for Iowa seniors, and he'll keep fighting to preserve these programs in the Senate."
State Sen. Joni Ernst has called for privatization of Social Security, a position that would undermine benefits for current retirees. Sen. Ernst has also supported plans that would transform Medicare as we know it and pave the way for Medicare vouchers, increasing costs for retirees.
