Raising the retirement age can't be S. Security solution

In the fields of southwest Iowa, my parents and grandparents worked and sacrificed. Like so many Iowans, the American Dream for them was never about wealth or fame. Their dream was to leave their children and grandchildren a better life, with greater opportunity, than their own.

Because of their work and sacrifice, I have had opportunities they could never dream for themselves. Everything I have, I owe to them. So when we talk about keeping the promise of Social Security and Medicare, for me it's personal.

Our Midwestern roots and Iowa values have always meant that we take care of our family, our neighbors, and our community, and we don't break our word. That's why I will always protect Social Security and Medicare, and will never support any effort that takes away or limits benefits for seniors in any way.

My own parents rely on Social Security and Medicare, like my grandparents once did. I know firsthand how important these programs are to making ends meet each month.

I will fight equally as hard to protect the future of these programs for our children and grandchildren. To do that, we have to put politics aside and have an honest conversation about the challenges both programs are facing.

The undeniable fact is that if we do nothing, Social Security and Medicare will be insolvent before even Americans my age retire.

According to both the Social Security trustees and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the Social Security retirement trust fund will be exhausted in less than 20 years. That means a 25 percent cut in scheduled benefits.

Yes, if we do nothing to strengthen Social Security, future retirees will face a 25 percent cut in benefits. Even more pressing is the fact that the disability trust fund within Social Security, a program that helps 11 million people, is scheduled to run out of money in just 2 years. This is not a problem we can kick down the road any longer.

In terms of solutions, I believe almost everything should be on the table. Almost. One thing I would not, and will never, consider is raising the retirement age for seniors. It is not fair and not necessary.

Unfortunately, my opponent, Congressman Bruce Braley disagrees. He previously told the Cedar Rapids Gazette that raising the retirement age "might be necessary."

I could not disagree more. Forcing America's seniors to work for an extra year, five years or even a decade longer is simply not the answer. On top of that, Congressman Braley is the only candidate in this race who voted to cut Medicare by $700 billion. That is a fact.

This should not be a partisan issue. In fact, I agree with Alice Rivlin, President Clinton's budget chief, who said that "fixing Social Security now would not only reassure future retirees, it would build confidence both at home and abroad that our political system can still function to solve important problems."

This is going to take a serious bipartisan effort that puts aside the typical partisan politics and stale attacks that have poisoned Washington for far too long. As your next United States senator, I promise you that I am ready to take on that challenge.

THE AUTHOR:

JONI ERNST of Red Oak is the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. She is a current member of the Iowa Senate and the Iowa National Guard.