A Voice for Seniors

Roughly 13% of Michigan’s population are senior citizens. Not only do elders provide a wealth of knowledge, but their experience and lifelong contributions have been invaluable to this state; caring for the aging population in Michigan must be a priority. The promise of a fair, dignified retirement is something that every working person looks forward to, and we need to do more to ensure that that dream is an attainable, sustainable reality for all.

Supporting the Elder Abuse Task Force

The exploitation of the elderly is far too prevalent in our state. From Delta County to Macomb County, the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force has filed cases to ensure that elder abuse laws are enforced to the maximum extent. I pledge to work with the Attorney General’s office to eliminate elder abuse in the state of Michigan.

Repealing the Retirement Tax

The promise of a secure retirement should be available for every Michigander. Balancing the budget by taxing public pensions and private retirement income while while giving away $1B in business tax cuts does not align with the values we, as a state, should strive for. We need to continue fighting for a fair retirement, by pushing to exempt public pensions and restore deductions on private retirement income. We must repeal the 2011 pension tax to allow those who have worked their entire lives to retire with dignity.

Prescription Costs for Seniors

While Medicare is an effective system for serving seniors over the age of 65, the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare remains significant. Medicare requires seniors to cover at least 25% of the cost of many necessary drugs until they’ve paid $4,020 out-of-pocket in a single year. This coverage gap is crippling for many seniors, who live on a fixed income with very little room to modify their expenditures. I believe that no senior should ever have to decide between a life-saving drug and their life’s savings, so I support the Health Over Profits for Everyone (HOPE) plan.