Candidates Address Social Security, Medicare, and Health Care Affordability Concerns
TL/DR –
The Post asked various candidates running in the Aug. 4 primary election about their plans regarding the future of Social Security and Medicare and the issue of healthcare affordability. Candidates proposed various measures, such as implementing universal healthcare, removing the cap on Social Security contributions for the wealthy, and allowing Medicare to negotiate more drug prices. Not all the candidates provided the Post with a response, and the responses of those who did varied widely.
Johnson County Candidates Address Social Security and Healthcare
Residents of Johnson County have voiced a desire to hear primary election candidates’ perspectives on pressing issues. As a result, a five-item questionnaire has been developed, addressing the issues most important to local residents.
This week, we are sharing candidates’ responses to one question daily. Previously published responses include views on the cost of living, immigration, and elections.
Today’s question focuses on the concerns surrounding Social Security, Medicare, and healthcare affordability:
“What is your concrete plan to keep Social Security and Medicare solvent and to also address health care affordability?”
Candidates’ responses to this question are as follows:
Pond Naramore (Republican)
Did not provide a response.
Roger Marshall (Republican, incumbent)
Did not provide a response.
Kevin Latz (Democratic)
Kevin Latz argues for universal healthcare and believes that ending the $162k threshold for payroll taxes is essential for social security. He also emphasizes the need for the federal government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs.
Erik Murray (Democratic)
Erik Murray advocates for Medicare For All and believes the key to healthcare affordability and keeping Medicare solvent is reprioritizing budgeting, ending expensive wars, and revising the tax code to make it fairer.
Anne Parelkar (Democratic)
Anne Parelkar recommends universal healthcare, removing the cap on social security contributions for the wealthy, and addressing government contract corruption to ensure the survival of social security and Medicare.
Noah Taylor (Democratic)
Noah Taylor stresses the importance of taking care of the elderly, eliminating the payroll tax cap, and making healthcare affordable by reducing monthly costs, improving prescription price caps, and protecting patients from surprise medical bills.
Christy Davis (Democratic)
Christy Davis believes in universal healthcare and advocates for removing the Social Security wage cap to keep the program solvent. She intends to take on Big Pharma and the insurance industry to prioritize patients over profits.
Adam Hamilton (Democratic)
Adam Hamilton supports lifting the payroll tax cap for social security and enabling Medicare to negotiate more drug prices. He also suggests reversing some policies in Kansas to lower healthcare costs.
Jason Hart (Democratic)
Jason Hart proposes removing the cap on taxable earnings for social security and supports universal healthcare, at least for children and seniors. He also urges corporations that rely on contract employees to pay into social security.
Sandy Spidel Neumann (Democratic), Damon Anderson (Democratic), Patrick C. Schmidt (Democratic), and Michael Soetaert (Democratic)
These candidates did not provide a response.
Coming up:
Tomorrow, we will publish candidates’ responses to the following question:
“To whom do you owe your vote when your constituents and your party disagree? Will you commit to regular, in-person town halls in Kansas throughout your term?”
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