Franken supports older Iowans

While AARP does not endorse candidates, they do identify the top issues of importance to older citizens. Their list, published in the AARP’s May Bulletin, included prescription drugs, Social Security, Medicare, and caregiving/long-term care.

Admiral Mike Franken’s website, frankenforIowa.com was put together prior to AARP’s May bulletin. He had listed his major issues for older Iowans, such as keeping Social Security solvent for this and future generations (Proposal: Make all earnings subject to the Social Security tax.); expanding Medicare (Proposal: Make Medicare available to everyone and add coverage for vision, hearing, and dental care.); Lowering the cost of prescription drugs (Proposal: Medicare needs to do what the Veterans Affairs does — use its national purchasing power to negotiate prices with drug companies.); improving long-term care services while expanding ways to pay for them (Franken identifies five proposals to address these challenges).

Franken addresses all four of AARP’s issues in-depth and goes further. He suggests we pay for these programs by eliminating the Trump tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Americans and adopt a tax system where all Americans and big corporations pay their fair share.

Sen. Chuck Grassley’s re-election website lists none of these issues as a priority.

Who cares more about and will better serve older Iowans? It’s obvious — Mike Franken will. He has my vote and I hope he will have yours.

Bob Welsh

Coralville