3 min read

Matt Dunlap is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

For Mainers right now, everything costs more — groceries, housing, healthcare, heating your home. But politicians in D.C. are ignoring how drastic the cost of living increase has been in recent years. And it’s even worse for seniors and those on fixed incomes. We urgently need to make Maine livable for seniors.

It shouldn’t be this hard just to get by — but right now, for too many Mainers, it is. The burden of the cost of living is particularly stark for Maine’s aging population. Out of all U.S. states, Maine has the greatest share of residents over 65. These Mainers (perhaps you, or your parents, or your grandparents, even) may remember an affordable life; or at least, one where retirement didn’t seem so precarious. Seniors deserve better, and generations to come deserve better, too.

I’m running for Congress in Maine’s 2nd District because the status quo is unacceptable. To fight for affordability in Washington, we need to lift the blanket tariff taxes that cost Maine families around $2,400 a year, end the war driving up gas prices and make billionaires and big corporations finally pay their fair share instead of you. I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves and dig into policies that will directly improve folks’ day-to-day lives. That’s why I have a few promises to make to seniors in particular.

When you’ve paid into Social Security your whole life, you’ve earned it. But my opponent, Paul LePage, insulted Social Security as “welfare, pure and simple,” as if an affordable, quality retirement is negotiable after decades of work.

As governor, LePage slashed senior nutrition assistance like Meals on Wheels, affordable housing programs for seniors and even refused federal funding for dementia and Alzheimer’s programs. He passed tax cuts for the wealthy, paid for by Maine seniors. As your congressman, I’ll remove the cap on Social Security contributions, a bipartisan proposal that will keep Social Security solvent for years to come, ensuring the system works for future generations. 

As part of a broader healthcare agenda, I’m committed to protecting and expanding Medicare for seniors. Paul LePage supported the largest Medicaid cuts in history, refused to expand Medicaid and even, as governor, cut the number of state public health nurses in half and passed other draconian health care cuts.

Healthcare is too expensive, but Paul LePage has spent more time passing tax cuts for billionaires than doing anything to fix it. On the other hand, I’m ready to take on greedy companies that are making millions while seniors struggle to afford lifesaving care.

For all Mainers, I’ll end Medicaid cuts and expand tax credits to make your health insurance premiums more affordable. For seniors in particular, I’m committed to expanding Medicare to include hearing aids and eyeglasses, too, since quality of life is non-negotiable.

I won’t stop there, because it shouldn’t be this hard for our seniors just to get by. Since every senior deserves a safe place to rest their head at night, I’m committed to expanding senior housing funding. Maine can be a hard place to get around, especially in rural areas, so I’ll support expanding transportation options for people who can no longer drive. And more and more Mainers are seeing grandparents take on the burden of childcare, so in Washington, I’ll support universal childcare.

While D.C. politicians recently gutted Medicaid — stripping coverage from more than 40,000 Mainers and pushing our rural hospitals to the brink — LePage celebrated it as “the greatest thing that can happen to the Maine people.”

Seniors: while LePage celebrates with Washington elites, remember this is the same man who vetoed Medicaid expansion six times and insulted the Social Security and Medicare you earned with hard work. And don’t forget: he doesn’t even live here — he pays his taxes in Florida.

To Maine seniors, I answer to you. What’s best for our elders is best for everyone, and I’ll fight every single day to lower your costs and protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.