Candidates:

John Kline, Republican

Steve Sarvi, Democrat

Questions:

Priorities  Social Security  Enhancing Retirement Security  Making Health Care More Affordable  Long-Term Care 

The candidate was asked to check either the support or oppose boxes.

QUESTION:

What will be your top domestic issue priorities if elected? How will you work to break the gridlock to get things done on these issues? Please list your top three domestic priorities:

AARP RESPONSE:

AARP’s position: Millions of Americans worry about their health and long-term financial security. They fear the future will not be as prosperous for their children and grandchildren. They face competing demands: affording health care, saving for retirement, sending children to college and supporting aging parents. At the same time, soaring health care costs constrain businesses’ ability to grow and compete. Our elected leaders in Washington have become increasingly unable to solve major issues because of partisan gridlock. Americans want results from our elected leaders, not promises without action. It’s time for individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, and government to come together to find solutions. AARP believes that providing quality, affordable health care and improving lifelong financial security for all Americans should be Washington’s top domestic priorities.

John Kline (Republican) RESPONSE:

I agree that Washington is mired in partisan gridlock. In fact, I often refer to Washington as “stuck,” and I believe it will take someone with a record of representing the views and values of Minnesotans while challenging Washington to bring about the real change we need. If re-elected, I will remain focused on continuing my fight for economic security by ending wasteful pork-barrel spending and helping Minnesotans keep more of their hard-earned tax dollars. Another priority is the pursuit of pro-growth policies such as expanding American energy to lower costs for families. I also will continue my long-standing efforts to ensure America’s veterans receive the benefits and respect they deserve.

Steve Sarvi (Democrat) RESPONSE:

Helping change the way Washington works is one of my highest priorities. As a small town mayor I have to work with both parties to get things done. I will do the same in Washington. My priorities: 1. The Economy. We need to cut taxes on middle-class families, help businesses create jobs here at home and invest in infrastructure and alternative energy projects. 2. Healthcare. I believe affordable healthcare is a right. We must spread the cost of insurance, cut out the middle-man, and focus on prevention. 3. Iraq. I served in Iraq during the surge and am convinced we need to bring our troops home. We should let the Iraqis run their own country and invest the money we spend there at home.

QUESTION:

Will you support or oppose a balanced Social Security plan to continue the program’s guaranteed benefits for future generations? Will you support or oppose diverting Social Security payroll taxes to fund individual retirement accounts?

AARP RESPONSE:

Social Security has provided peace of mind for Americans for over 70 years. The program’s guaranteed, inflation adjusted benefit protects families when a worker retires, becomes disabled or dies. We all benefit from the shared responsibility of providing for today’s beneficiaries, with the knowledge that future generations will also share the responsibility for us. AARP believes that a bipartisan plan that balances additional contributions from higher income workers with modest adjustments in future benefits can maintain Social Security’s guaranteed benefits for future generations. AARP supports individual retirement accounts in addition to current guaranteed Social Security benefits, but believes diverting Social Security taxes from the Trust Fund to fund individual retirement accounts instead of Social Security would weaken the program and create a mountain of new federal debt.

John Kline (Republican) RESPONSE:

Social Security provides critical support for millions of Americans. Those already receiving Social Security – and those nearing retirement – should not have to worry that their benefits are in jeopardy. That is why I will not support any program that reduces benefits for current retirees or those about to retire. However, according to the best estimates of Social Security trustees, beginning in 2017, the amount of benefits being paid out will exceed tax collections, exhausting the trust fund by 2041. There is no single solution to these long-term funding problems. A unique combination of ideas and policies will be necessary to protect Social Security for current recipients and strengthen it for future generations.

Steve Sarvi (Democrat) RESPONSE:

The candidate chose not to response by the deadline.

QUESTION:

What options do you support to make saving for retirement easier for American families? Do you support or oppose guaranteeing employees’ access to automatic payroll deductions in the workplace to fund an IRA? Do you support or oppose creating retirement accounts in addition to Social Security?

AARP RESPONSE:

Lifetime financial security is a cornerstone of the American dream, yet this dream is being threatened by the phasing out of many traditional pension plans, and an economic environment where people find it difficult to save. Social Security was never intended to be a worker’s only source of retirement income. AARP supports creating new retirement savings options and expanding existing supplemental retirement accounts that enable workers to accumulate retirement savings in addition to Social Security’s guaranteed benefits. Half of all workers have no organized way to save for retirement such as pensions or 401(k) plans. AARP supports guaranteeing workers access to automatic payroll deductions to an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) in the workplace if their employers do not already provide them a pension or 401(k) plan.

John Kline (Republican) RESPONSE:

Retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and IRAs are critical elements of long-term financial security. Automatic payroll deductions and personal retirement accounts are important complements to the Social Security system and employer-sponsored plans.

Steve Sarvi (Democrat) RESPONSE:

The candidate chose not to response by the deadline.

QUESTION:

What policies would you support to make health care and health insurance more affordable and accessible for everyone? What policies would you support to make Medicare more affordable?

AARP RESPONSE:

We believe affordable, quality health care is a fundamental right for all Americans. Availability of coverage, rising premiums and the prospect of losing coverage altogether have become constant concerns for too many families, including older Americans, because Medicare cost sharing continues to increase as well. Making health care affordable is a shared responsibility among government, business, health care providers and individuals. We need to improve quality, eliminate waste, establish more efficient systems of care, and take individual responsibility to live healthier lives. AARP believes existing programs, both public and private, should be strengthened with incentives and subsidies to encourage greater individual and employer participation. Improving care for chronic diseases like diabetes and expanding preventive care and greater use of research on health outcomes will help reduce costs and improve overall health.

John Kline (Republican) RESPONSE:

All Americans deserve access to affordable, high-quality care. To make this a reality, our current health care system needs to change. Ultimately, we must decide between a system that enables patients and doctors to make decisions about care and the undesirable alternative of a government-run system that provides limited – if any – choice for individuals. I support a health care approach that harnesses the power of the marketplace to provide Americans with more and better health insurance choices and reduce the number of Americans who have been unable to find affordable coverage.

Steve Sarvi (Democrat) RESPONSE:

The candidate chose not to response by the deadline.

QUESTION:

How would you shift long-term care services and financing so that people can afford to stay in their homes and communities as long as appropriate?

AARP RESPONSE:

At some point, most Americans will need supportive services to help with daily activities (such as dressing or bathing). The vast majority strongly prefer receiving care in their homes and communities rather than in more costly nursing homes or other institutions. However, government programs for long-term care are often geared toward institutions, making home and community-based care much harder to receive. The caregiving burden—both physical and economic— is often overwhelming for millions of families. AARP supports shifting long-term care programs to more home and community services to help people stay in their homes and communities as long as appropriate. Consumers should have more choices and improved quality of care across all settings, and the caregiving burden on millions of families should be eased.

John Kline (Republican) RESPONSE:

Long-term care insurance is one way to make retirement costs more affordable, but I do not support requiring individuals to obtain such coverage. I strongly favor proposals that enable individuals and their physicians – rather than the government – to make decisions about the care they are receiving.

Steve Sarvi (Democrat) RESPONSE:

The candidate chose not to response by the deadline.