26 June 2024
AUGUSTA, Maine — Social Security and Medicare have been frequent topics of debate in Maine’s aging 2nd Congressional District over the past decade, and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden’s Republican challenger is leaning into them early in his general election race.
In an online campaign video released Monday, state Rep. Austin Theriault, a former NASCAR driver from Fort Kent, vowed to “protect your Social Security and Medicare” alongside mentions of border security and easing high costs as top priorities if he is elected in November over Golden, a third-term Democrat from Lewiston in one of the nation’s most competitive districts.
It is a nod to the population in the oldest of the two congressional districts in Maine, the nation’s oldest state by median age. Theriault will face questions over the issue as the campaign goes on, since many House Republicans have long called for raising the Social Security retirement age and reshaping Medicare to shave down ballooning costs.
“In Congress, he’ll oppose any effort, bill, or budget that cuts Social Security or Medicare, even if that means standing up to members of his own party,” Theriault campaign manager Shawn Roderick said in a statement.
Theriault’s language is similar to that used in recent years by former President Donald Trump, who endorsed the Maine Republican ahead of his easy win in this month’s primary. But a House Republican Select Committee budget plan calls for “modest adjustments” to Social Security to account for rising life expectancy. It would turn Medicare into a “premium support model” that would give beneficiaries subsidies to use on preferred private policies.
The proposals come amid projections showing Medicare will become insolvent in 2028 and Social Security in 2033. For those born in 1960 or later, limited Social Security retirement benefits can start as early as age 62 before full benefits kick in at age 67. Medicare is the federal health care program chiefly for those 65 and older.
Golden, who voted against President Joe Biden more than any other House Democrat in 2023, responded in a Tuesday statement by accusing Theriault of “talking out of both sides of his mouth.”
He noted the Republican has criticized Golden’s support of the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin at $35 for Medicare patients, capped out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 for older Americans and let Medicare negotiate drug prices. Criticism of that vote from Theriault and Republicans has focused mostly on environmental provisions.
“If we already know he can’t be trusted to help keep seniors’ Medicare prescription drug prices down, why should Mainers trust anything he says about protecting our Social Security?” Golden said of Theriault.
Social Security and Medicare have been wedge issues in past 2nd District campaigns. Former Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican ousted by Golden in 2018, always emphasized he would never vote to reduce benefits for those already or soon to be in the system. But he was open to raising the retirement age and generally supported his party’s budget plans.
That is how House Republicans continue to discuss the issue. The Select Committee plan would also phase out additional benefits for high-income recipients and “not cut or delay retirement benefits for any senior in or near retirement.”
The budget document did not give more specifics on the “modest adjustments” to the Social Security age. Republicans, particularly former House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, have also put forward but failed to pass similar Medicare overhauls for years while rejecting tax increases or transfers to pay for them.