Candidates:

Jim Risch, Republican

Larry LaRocco, 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.

Jim Risch (Republican) RESPONSE:

I have a long history of creating solutions to problems in Idaho. As Governor, Lt. Governor and member of Senate leadership I reached across the aisle many times to create bi-partisian good public policy. I will do that in Congress.

Larry LaRocco (Democrat) RESPONSE:

Health care must be a top priority for the next Congress and the next Administration. As Senator, I pledge to work across party lines to provide all Americans regardless of employment, age or pre-existing conditions, affordable and accessible health care. Individuals should have the option of keeping their current insurance. Small businesses should be able to pool insurance to reduce costs. Insurance companies and the federal government should provide a menu of health insurance options with guaranteed benefits. Individuals should be responsible for paying a fair portion of their health care costs on a sliding scale based on income. Americans should have access to health insurance equal to Members of Congress, including prescription drug coverage.

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.

Jim Risch (Republican) RESPONSE:

It would depend on the specifics of the legislation to divert payroll taxes

Larry LaRocco (Democrat) RESPONSE:

Social Security has proved to be one of our nation's most successful programs ever established. Social Security has lifted millions of elderly and disabled Americans out of poverty. My mentor and former boss, Senator Frank Church, chaired the Senate Committee on Aging, where he worked to support and expand Social Security benefits. As Senator, I will work hard to follow his example to guarantee benefits for future generations. I will also oppose privatization plans that would divert Social Security taxes to private accounts. I will work to enact a long-term plan to protect Social Security.

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.

Jim Risch (Republican) RESPONSE:

The candidate chose not to response by the deadline.

Larry LaRocco (Democrat) RESPONSE:

As life spans of Americans increase, it is vital that additional sources of retirement funding such as IRAs and 401(k) plans be expanded. My financial services background will help me as a Senator in developing programs to protect and enhance security in retirement. As a 60 year old grandfather, I understand the need to keep the American dream strong for future generations. One of the first priorities in the next Administration and the next Congress must be to sustain economic growth, promote fiscal restraint, return to balanced budgets, and reduce the national debt. Financial literacy is a key to building a strong country.

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.

Jim Risch (Republican) RESPONSE:

The candidate chose not to response by the deadline.

Larry LaRocco (Democrat) RESPONSE:

All Idahoans and all Americans should have access to affordable health insurance. A recent study by Boise State University found that nearly 20% of Idahoans were without health insurance, especially in the rural areas. This problem can be addressed by establishing a health insurance market where all Americans are guaranteed the choice of standardized insurance from both public and private providers. These policies would range from coverage limited to catastrophic illnesses to full prepaid coverage. Prescription drug coverage would be affordable and available. Low income individuals and families would pay on a sliding scale based upon income. Insurers would not be allowed to vary rates based upon age, gender or pre-existing conditions. My health care issues paper is on my campaign website at laroccoforsenate.com

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.

Jim Risch (Republican) RESPONSE:

The candidate chose not to response by the deadline.

Larry LaRocco (Democrat) RESPONSE:

Long-term care issues will become even more critical as Americans live longer. Long-term care should be focused on helping people remain in their homes and communities. A combination of private and government financing should be explored whereby individuals have access to affordable long-term care insurance. National standards should define what insurance policies are required to cover, including long-term care. My health care issues paper is on my campaign web site at laroccoforsenate.com