Secure Retirement
Maria believes we have a responsibility to our seniors to protect Social Security and Medicare, and to stand up to special interests to get health care costs under control. Maria also believes that businesses have a responsibility to honor the pensions they have promised employees after years of service. We should not reward executive greed at the expense of a secure retirement for the rest of us.
Protecting Social Security
Maria opposes Social Security privatization because she believes this critical program must serve its original purpose as a safety net for seniors. Her innovative legislation, the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act, would base Social Security cost of living increases on a more realistic assessment of how much elderly Americans need to get by each month. By taking into account the rising cost of health care and its unique impact on seniors, Maria's plan would make a real difference for retirees.
Holding Business and Government Accountable
Maria believes that executives in the boardroom must be held accountable for the promises they have made to their employees. That's why Maria cosponsored the "Pension Fairness and Full Disclosure Act of 2005" to help prevent executives from keeping their own retirement packages while cutting or canceling pensions for others. This legislation also requires companies to disclose in more detail how much they compensate top executives, so regular employees and shareholders won't be kept it the dark. Maria has also fought to make sure that Hanford cleanup workers get the pensions and benefits they deserve.
Protecting Our Pensions
Maria believes it is wrong for companies to raid their own pension funds. Far too often during bankruptcy proceedings, corporate executives award themselves large payoffs while cutting pensions for average workers. Maria supports legislation to stop this Enron-style behavior and give priority to worker wages and benefits.
Fighting to Make Prescription Drugs Affordable
Maria believes the government should use its bulk buying power to lower prescription drug costs. She also believes that the President's Medicare prescription drug plan is inadequate and leaves too many of our seniors behind. Maria has worked hard to pass a more effective plan, and continues to call for changes to ensure that seniors can take advantage of the program at the lowest prices possible. She supports efforts to extend the deadline for seniors to enroll through the end of 2006.