Issue Position: Senior Issues

Issue Position

"Social Security and Medicare - including home health care - are promises we've made to senior citizens, and we must keep those promises. We should not privatize these vital programs - period. Our seniors also deserve a meaningful prescription drug benefit as part of Medicare, not the confusing, expensive give-away to the insurance companies that Congress passed last year."- Jim McGovern

Jim's Vision:

Jim McGovern has led the fight to protect Social Security and Medicare since his election in 1996. He opposes the privatization of Social Security, and believes that The government needs to get back to balanced budgets and fiscal discipline as soon as possible in order to ensure that we can protect the Social Security Trust Fund for future retirees. He is advocating for lower drug prices for seniors, primarily through a prescription drug benefit that's part of Medicare, but also through drug reimportation and bulk purchasing.

The Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision negatively affect many residents of the 3rd Congressional District. Jim has cosponsored and advocated for legislative fixes to this flaw in Social Security. Most recently, Jim has joined efforts to try to force the Republican leadership to take this legislation up for consideration.

Jim's Record:

* Opposing Medicare cuts: One of his first votes as a Congressman was a "no" vote against billions of dollars in Medicare cuts included as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA). Jim voted against this bill because it was projected, at that time, to slash $115 billion from Medicare. Ultimately, the BBA cut over $220 billion from Medicare. In response the enactment of these cuts, Jim introduced and cosponsored legislation to, first, repeal the Medicare cuts in the BBA and, second, to reimburse doctors, hospitals, home health agencies and other providers.

* Home Health Care: Jim McGovern has led the charge to protect home health care services in this country. A co-chair of the bipartisan congressional Home Health Working Group, Jim has worked tirelessly to protect home health care services from funding cuts. Since 1998, he has helped restore over $1 billion to these vital services. Jim has been recognized by the American Association for Homecare for his work in this area.

* High drug costs: In attempt to raise awareness on this important issue, Jim has commissioned and released several reports showing how the pharmaceutical industry gauges consumers with high prices, particularly in Central and Southeastern Massachusetts. Jim supports, and has voted for, legislation creating a prescription drug benefit within Medicare.

* Keep FDR on the dime! Franklin Roosevelt is one of Jim's heroes, and he recognizes that FDR is a hero to many seniors. Jim has led the effort to keep FDR's profile on the U.S. dime, and has led the fight against efforts to replace FDR's image with that of Ronald Reagan. Jim believes that President Reagan deserves to be honored in other ways, but that FDR, because of his tremendous work during the Great Depression and World War II, and his connection to the March of Dimes, should not be replaced.

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