The combination of rising health care costs and increasing numbers of senior citizens has simply made Medicare more expensive. In Washington state we have a particularly troubling situation because far too many of our hospitals and doctors are not participating in Medicare anymore. Congress needs to address the inequities that plague the Medicare system as well as the overall increasing cost. I support changing some of the funding formulas so that our state's seniors are no longer punished for the efficiencies we made to our health care system a decade ago, and so that they have the same benefits as seniors in Florida or New York. Furthermore, Medicare needs some funding increases across-the-board. Our nation has made it a priority to provide some health care security to our seniors, and we must be willing to pay for that health care.

I am an author of the MediFAIR legislation, which would make the reimbursement rates fairer for Washington state. I also support a common sense approach to adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

One of the most important things we can do for the future of Social Security is to stop using its surpluses for other programs. If we don't, we are setting ourselves up for a train wreck in future years when we have to come up with that money. I am open to reforms of the Social Security system that would affect future generations, but I strongly believe the overall structure of the system as a safety net must be maintained.

I strongly support initiatives to encourage individuals to save and create wealth outside the Social Security system to improve retirement security. Last year, I supported the increased IRA limits and 401 (k) limits. I support making long-term care insurance tax deductible. We should give people the tools to take responsibility for themselves and to have a stake in their retirement security.