Issue Position: Protecting Minnesota's Seniors

Issue Position

1.5 million Baby Boomers live in Minnesota, and many of them will rely on Social Security and Medicare to ensure their economic security in their later years. That's why I oppose any changes that would undercut these programs. We should look for ways to strengthen both programs, instead of using the retirement of millions of Americans as a political football.

We must also do more to protect our seniors from elder abuse. Altogether, the Minnesota Department of Human Services receives nearly 1,000 reports of abuse every week. Too often, those closest to vulnerable adults are the ones taking advantage of them, causing victims to hesitate before pressing charges. As leaders, we must do what we can to empower social workers, caretakers, and seniors themselves to identify, prevent, report, and end this abuse.

Lastly, we must combat the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. One out of four prescription drug users said it was hard to afford their medication. In order to combat the high cost of prescription drugs, we must work to end anti-competitive "pay-for-delay" deals, allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, and allow individuals to import individual supplies of medication from pre-approved pharmacies in Canada.

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