Candidates:

Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat

John Sununu, Republican

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.

Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat) RESPONSE:

In the Senate, my top domestic priorities will be to control health care costs and expand access to affordable health insurance coverage; create a smart energy policy that ends subsidies to the oil and gas industries and instead invests in alternative energy and energy efficiency so we can decrease our dependence on foreign oil and reverse global warming; and strengthen our public education system, including making college affordable for middle class families again. As a Democratic Governor working with a Republican-controlled legislature, I regularly worked across party lines to achieve effective solutions. I know how to put partisan politics aside to reach consensus on solutions to the real problems that people face, and I will bring that experience to Washington.

John Sununu (Republican) RESPONSE:

My top domestic priorities include: (1) supporting NH's small businesses by keeping taxes low and helping them to provide all employees in NH with access to affordable health care coverage; (2) balancing the Federal budget by keeping our economy strong and eliminating wasteful Washington spending; and (3) setting America on a sound energy footing by encouraging conservation, supporting renewable energy technology, and allowing responsible domestic energy production that will reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. I have proven my ability to work across party lines, supporting a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program, joining with Democratic Senator Tom Carper to pass the Internet Tax Freedom Act, and even joining Senator Hillary Clinton to pass a law strengthening automobile safety standards.

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.

Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat) RESPONSE:

The candidate chose not to response by the deadline.

John Sununu (Republican) RESPONSE:

I will insist that Congress keep our commitments to all those retired today or who will retire in the next fifteen years, but today's structure is not sustainable for future generations. We need to be thoughtful and open minded in considering solutions to modernize and strengthen the system for our children and grandchildren. I have been a leader in exploring ways to return Social Security to long-term solvency. This could include a voluntary option for younger workers to create individual retirement accounts, as well as support for other financial products that will supplement Social Security benefits, appreciate in value, and keep retirees on a sound financial footing.

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.

Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat) RESPONSE:

While I support providing tools to aid people in saving for retirement, given the need to balance the budget and preserve Social Security, I cannot commit to new federal spending.

John Sununu (Republican) RESPONSE:

Individual retirement accounts are valuable tools for families to plan and save for a secure retirement, and should be encouraged to the greatest extent possible. By automatically enrolling workers in a savings plan, such as an IRA or 401(k), participation rates and retirement savings will increase. Naturally, those who wish to opt-out may do so, but IRA contributions can be accumulated without imposing costly systems on employers.

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.

Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat) RESPONSE:

I believe that all Americans should have access to quality health care. We need a comprehensive plan to reduce health care costs, including increasing access to preventive care; move to electronic medical recordkeeping; and lowering prescription drug costs by permitting the importation of drugs from Canada and allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices.

John Sununu (Republican) RESPONSE:

As Senator, I have made health care a high priority, and I'm pleased this work has earned national recognition, including the National Association of Community Health Centers' 2008 Superhero Award and the Helen Keller Achievement Award in Advocacy from the American Foundation for the Blind for work to bring vision rehabilitation therapy coverage under Medicare. Today's employer-based system provides health care coverage for millions of families and shouldn't be weakened in the name of "reform." But, we should give individuals more purchasing and decision making power, allowing consumers to purchase health insurance from nationwide providers and receive a full tax deduction for all health care costs. Small businesses must be allowed to band together to improve insurance purchasing power, and be given greater access to health savings accounts. Within our Medicare system, we must encourage the use of information technology and electronic prescribing, and actively promote better chronic disease management.

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.

Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat) RESPONSE:

As Governor, I worked to expand mid-level residential services and the availability of personal care services to give new options to families with long-term care needs.

John Sununu (Republican) RESPONSE:

Working with NH organizations, I will continue my efforts to preserve home and community health service options for all seniors. Every effort should be made to allow long-term care to occur in the home setting, rather than be biased towards institutional care. This promotes higher recovery rates, improves quality of life issues, and lowers costs of care. Furthermore, I am committed to protecting New Hampshire's home health services from Medicare and private insurance cuts. Caregivers should be commended for their tireless work and devotion to loved ones in need, and Congress needs to add new tax and other incentives given the shift to greater family caregiving.