Lloyd, Hoeffel speak to college on campaign

Bill Lloyd, who was running for the United States Senate, and Joe Hoeffel, who was running for a seat in the House of Representatives, spoke to the community on important issues to them, especially Social Security.

by Aimee Somers staff writer

A crusade for the Social Security system and the reformation of healthcare and HMOs were the two main campaign issues addressed by democratic candidates Bill Lloyd and Joe Hoeffel last Friday in the Widener Center lecture hall.

Lloyd was running for the United States Senate against Pennsylvania's long-standing representative Arlen Specter and Hoeffel was campaigning to win a seat in the House of Representatives against Jon Fox in the Montgomery county district, the most influential county in Pennsylvania.

Both candidates teamed up to answer questions posed by the Cabrini community, as well as from those who attended from surrounding neighborhoods.

Lloyd and Hoeffel both agreed that the most pressing issue facing Americans, especially college students, is the need to save the Social Security system. By the year 2032, when individuals of college age will be nearing retirement, Social Security money may not be available •due to overspending.

By the year 2012, America may have to raise the retirement age and reduce the cost of living allowance given every year if Congress does not act on the problem.

Lloyd and Hoefle! propose "maintaining fiscal discipline" in order to help Social Security.

"We want to use the budget surplus," Lloyd said. "The projected surplus is $1.6 trillion. All but $30 billion will come from Social Security. We want to move Social Security off of the budget and use all money raised only for Social Security."

We need to pay back our IOUs out of the surplus and stretch the system over the next 15 years, according to Lloyd.

Otherwise, by the year 2012 we will be paying benefits at the 32 percent level and by 2032, we wants to use the budget surplus, money they have not even accrued yet, for tax cuts, according to the candidates.

Another issue addressed by the candidates was the need for healthcare reform.

''The last Congress was a huge disappointment," Hoeffel said.

"They did little to help the public schools, they did nothing to reform healthcare and HMOs and they did not keep tobacco out of the hands of our children. The only thing they accomplished was naming an airport after Ronald Reagan."

-Bill Lloyd, candidate for United States Senate will be paying at the 75 percent level.

The Republican Congress

Lloyd and Hoeffel both agree that, when it comes to healthcare, doctors should be making the insurance calls and the Healthcare Consumer Bill of Rights needs to be passed.

Over 10 percent of Pennsylvanians have no health insurance at all and those who do have health insurance are struggling to pay for it, according to Hoeffel.

Individuals who are currently in their 20s most likely do not have health insurance or have minimum coverage.

"What young Americans do not realize today," Lloyd said, "is that decisions that are being made directly affect them today and in the future. The problem with Social Security affects their parents, grandparents and themselves. Whether or not the money will be available to them will have a large impact on their lives. As far as healthcare, most jobs that Americans in their 20s hold do not provide health benefits. We need to find ways to make insurance available. Through the Healthcare Consumer Bill of Rights, everyone will be entitled to healthcare."