For Our Elderly

 To the Elderly of our Nation and the 6th District:

Thank you.

We can’t say that often enough. You are the embodiment of the spirit of America. You built our country, you worked hard, you raised your families, you took care of us who follow, and you contributed to the growth, wealth and democracy of our great country. You paid your taxes, you contributed to social security, and you did all that without the hope or promise of reward.

I feel great compassion for those of you now suffering the inevitable effects of age. I fought hard in my law practice to help the elderly find suitable housing when the need arose, to protect property you fought your whole lives to build, and have been proud to provide pro bono legal services to you for more than 26years. I frankly don’t know how you can survive on the meager income afforded to you by the current precarious social security programs, and it has been my sincere pleasure to help you on a deep and personal level.

I respect your moral commitment to pay your bills, watching you cut back on the necessities of life rather than be late on a payment. You still have zest for life, and you can teach this generation and those that follow a thing or two about honesty, morality, and responsibility. I want to give you that opportunity as part of a re-awakening and re-education of our people, young and old alike.

But let me ask you something — has your current Representative in Congress really done anything to help you during these past 16years? Can you measure the quality of your life, your income versus the ever-increasing bills, the massive tax load you now have to carry, and honestly tell yourself that he has been there fighting for you? I don’t mean political rhetoric; I mean real, personal, one-on-one help of any kind. Frankly, I have met too many of you in senior citizens centers and elderly housing in this District to believe that he has.

This health care law your congressman was instrumental in forcing on you will now cut over $500 Billion from Medicare and virtually eliminate the Medicare Advantage programs.  This will result in rationing as even more doctors now refuse to take Medicare patients just to stay in business. Social Security, Medicar and Medicaid now contain $107 Trillion in unfunded liabilities; programs you depend on the most are in danger of collapse.

You deserve a representative in Congress who knows and understands the realities of aging, and believes in the same moral commitments as you.

I fully intend to sponsor bold new initiatives in Congress to provide real help to our seniors who can no longer help themselves. I will fight to lessen government regulation to reduce the cost of living. These initiatives will help protect you, make you feel more secure in your homes, and provide you with the dignity and assistance you need and deserve.