Couture: Schweikert’s votes put our Social Security, Medicare in jeopardy

Time is ticking as we head into the last few days before another government shutdown. Fountain Hills resident and our Representative David Schweikert continues to align with the legislators who claim we need cuts in Social Security and Medicare; he has also joined MAGA extremists and voted against a bipartisan bill to keep the federal government open. 

Representative Schweikert has voted in favor of: Making it harder for approximately 1,543,000 Arizonans who rely on Social Security to access their benefits. This would deeply affect Arizonans that rely on Social Security for their daily expenses. Not only that, he voted to degrade Medicare services that would cut funds for the administration of the Medicare program, which would force roughly 1,446,000 seniors and people with disabilities in Arizona to endure longer wait times. This is ridiculous, due to the fact that our senior population is more than a third in our state. This would devastate their livelihoods and our economy.

David Schweikert has been claiming to be fiscally aware while sending out email newsletters. He states that, “We must begin to have adult conversations about stabilizing our debt to save our republic for our children and grandchildren.” However, quite frankly, putting the Social Security of Arizonans in jeopardy is not a real adult decision. Raising the cap on Social Security deductions for wealthy Americans would quickly solve the funding problem – that would be an adult decision.

Representative Schweikert, you need to seek ways to continue to fund the Social Security and Medicare we seniors paid into all our lives. Don’t vote for cuts that will put our, or our children’s, Social Security and Medicare in jeopardy.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.