Cartwright: Don't mess with Social Security

Aug. 15—SCRANTON — U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright commemorated the 87th anniversary of Social Security on Monday by reiterating his support for protecting the program, telling a group of area seniors it's a great example of something government did right.

On what was billed as the National Social Security Day of Action, Cartwright, D-8, Moosic, spent about 45 minutes talking up the program and fielding questions from a lunchtime crowd at United Neighborhood Centers' Oppenheim Healthy Aging Campus on Jackson Street.

"Let's not mess with a good thing. Social Security is one of the greatest things that our government has done," Cartwright said. "And remember — it's an insurance program that you paid into your whole lives and you're entitled to be secure that you are going to get the payback in your senior years."

The congressman, who said it has been his privilege to defend Social Security as a member of the House since 2013, vowed to stand against Republican bids to privatize the program or even end it.

Although he described a proposal by Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida that would "sunset" both Social Security and Medicare after five years as "crazy," Cartwright said he was not taking anything for granted.

"None of us should," he said.

Cartwright's appearance at the center came as the Democratic National Committee announced an ad campaign in Pennsylvania to call attention to GOP proposals to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits. Targeting seniors, the campaign includes digital video ads on YouTube.

As Democrats are poised to lower prescription drug costs and continue protecting Medicare, Republicans have rallied behind plans that could slash their benefits, DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement.

Cartwright said he is a co-sponsor of new legislation, the Social Security 2100 Act, that would strengthen the senior safety net program by making it more robust and more financially sound.

Among other things, the legislation would provide a benefit bump to current and new beneficiaries to make up for inadequate cost-of-living adjustments that haven't been updated since 1972.

The adjustments seniors get now are immediately eaten up by higher Medicare Part D costs, Cartwright said.

New legislation a 'watershed moment'

On a related issue, the congressman also spoke about the Inflation Reduction Act, the climate and health care bill approved by the House on Friday and now awaiting President Joe Biden's signature.

What he likes most about the legislation, Cartwright said, is that it begins the process of allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.

Although it will involve only a limited number of medications in the beginning, it is a start, he said.

"It's a big watershed moment," he said. "It's kind of a beachhead."

It's never made sense that Medicare was forbidden to negotiate with drug makers about the cost of their products, Cartwright said.

"They can make their money other ways rather than taking it out of the seniors' pockets," he said.

Cartwright, who is seeking a sixth term in the House, faces Hazle Twp. Republican Jim Bognet in the Nov. 8 general election.

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dsingleton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9132.