Rob Bresnahan: Ensuring the future of Social Security and Medicare for Northeast Pennsylvania

Northeastern Pennsylvania is home to hardworking men and women who diligently work to put food on their families’ tables and pay into a system that guarantees they will have Social Security and Medicare benefits when they finish working and start their retirement. Nearly 200,000 senior citizens living in the Eighth Congressional District of Pennsylvania depend on Social Security and Medicare to help pay their medical bills, prescription costs, and hospital visits. For many, these programs, which have been earned through decades of hard work, are the difference between living in poverty and thriving in retirement. This is especially true during a time when inflation is soaring, and the cost of everyday necessities continues to spiral out of control.

Unfortunately, the issue of cutting these benefits has become a political football brought up every election cycle. Our Congress needs to be united in its mission to guard and save these benefits. However, it is impossible to have a reasonable conversation about the future of Social Security and Medicare if one side is concerned only with scare tactics and untrue attacks on their opponents.

As our campaign progresses, I am sure my opponents will try to lump me in with any other Member of Congress in the country who has called for changes to Social Security and Medicare. These cheap, low-rent attacks are trying to play the people of Northeast Pennsylvania as fools. They are also emblematic of the silly partisan politics we see from career politicians in Washington, DC. They think everything is an either-or issue, which is why nothing seems to get done anymore. That is why if I am elected to Congress, I will make it a point to work with both Democrats and Republicans to do what is best for all of my constituents.

I want my position to be clear. I am committed to strengthening and protecting Social Security and Medicare into the future, but cutting benefits or raising the retirement age is a non-starter with me. But we must not bury our heads in the sand as it relates to the very real crisis of the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund, which is projected to be depleted by 2033. If the politicians in Washington allow this to happen, it will lead to a mandatory 21 percent cut. 

What we need to do is get our economy back on track. In 1940, there were nearly 42 workers per retiree, but today that number has dropped a staggering 92.8 percent to three workers per retiree. What we need to do is get more workers into the workforce. We don’t do that by incentivizing the opposite. We do it by incentivizing job creation in the United States instead of outsourcing jobs overseas to places like China. 

These vital programs must honor the promises made to our seniors. Additionally, I will never propose nor support any measures to raise the retirement age. It is important for our seniors to have the ability to retire with financial security, and I will advocate for policies that provide retirement security for Pennsylvania seniors. I am committed to ensuring the security and stability of these programs for current and future generations.

Members of Congress have a responsibility to defend Social Security for workers and retirees who paid into the system throughout their lives. Our retired Americans have worked diligently and paid into the system for decades. They have played by the rules, and anything but the best services and programs for our seniors is unacceptable.

We must support our senior citizens to enable them to live with dignity and without fear of poverty. They have paid into Social Security and Medicare over a lifetime of hard work and deserve to retire with the benefits they’ve earned. Again, I will never propose nor support any measures to raise the retirement age or cut the Social Security and Medicare benefits our seniors rely on.

Rob Bresnahan is a dedicated advocate for the people of Northeast Pennsylvania. As a candidate for Congress in PA-08, Rob is committed to fighting for policies that support economic growth, job creation, and the protection of essential programs like Social Security and Medicare. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Rob understands the values and needs of his constituents and is dedicated to ensuring a bright future for all residents of Northeast PA.

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One thought on “Rob Bresnahan: Ensuring the future of Social Security and Medicare for Northeast Pennsylvania”

  1. Tell me through email what you are going to do for the seniors in PA. Not only about social security. What help are you going to provide for people who are struggling with home repairs. I am one who was able to get my house roof done but can’t afford to repair my garage. We need help!!!

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