Jim Martin in Senior Citizens League Guide

On Corporations: Too many corporations use employee pensions to balance books

On Health Care: Let Medicare negotiate for Rx drugs

A: We must ensure that the Medicare trust fund remains solvent. Cutting costs in a way that does not compromise the care that older Americans receive is the most sensible way to work toward solvency. One easy way to attain cost savings is for Medicare to start negotiating on behalf of the 25 million prescription drug subscribers to lower prescription drug costs.

On Immigration: Totalization deal with Mexico OK, if illegals accounted for

A: Because our economy is now global in nature, there are an increasing number of Americans who spend at least a portion of their working life in another country. This presents a problem for employees as they may become subjected to double taxation. The totalization agreements that the US has signed with other countries are an important measure designed to cure these potential problems. However, while totalization agreements are necessary reality in today’s economy, we must ensure that they are sufficiently clear so as not to protect illegal conduct. I would support efforts to close any loopholes in the US-Mexico Totalization Agreement that allow Social Security benefits to accrue for contributions made while an individual was in the United States illegally.

On Social Security: Notch Reform: equitable benefits to all recipients

A: Since being signed into law in 1935 by President Franklin Roosevelt, the Social Security Act has been the primary method by which we ensure our citizens remain financially secure in their retirement years. The importance of adequately funding the Social Security system cannot be overstated. Current estimates are that nearly 40% of Americans over the age of 65 are kept out of poverty by the Social Security system. Moreover, adequate Social Security benefits are a fundamental right for all Americans who have spent their life working and contributing into the system. As such, Social Security benefits should be administered equitably to all recipients, regardless of their year of birth.

On Social Security: Base COLA increases on actual cost of necessities

A: Social Security benefits are the primary method by which we keep our retired population out of poverty. Because of their critical importance, the Social Security benefits received by individuals must be at a level commensurate with actual cost of living. I support a method of benefit computation that is not based on spending patterns, but rather on the actual cost of necessary goods and services.

On Social Security: Privatization of the system is the wrong answer

A: Presently, and since approximately 1982, Social Security income has exceeded its expenditures--most recently by over $150 billion per year. However, given the anticipated surge in the retirement population that is expected to arise in coming years, expenses will exceed revenues. As a short term solution to this problem, we must ensure that the Social Security trust fund is adequately funded and that surplus revenues are not taken from the fund and used to pay for lawmakers’ pet projects. In the long term, we must work to strengthen our overall economy. By increasing the number of Americans working in high paying jobs, our economic health will be improved and Social Security will be completely viable. I am a strong supporter of the Social Security system and firmly believe that privatization of the system is the wrong answer--both for the solvency of the system, as well as that of its intended beneficiaries.