Bernie Sanders solidifies appeal to retirees with social security pitch

Democratic presidential hopeful renews calls for expansion of benefits and warns that Republicans will try to undermine Medicare and pensions


Dan Roberts in Washington
@RobertsDan

Thursday 9 July 2015 15.15 EDT
Last modified on Thursday 9 July 2015 15.32 EDT


Bernie Sanders cemented his appeal to older voters on Thursday with renewed calls for an expansion of social security and protection of Medicare from alleged assaults by Republicans.

Bolstering the two welfare programmes – providing pensions, disability and health insurance to millions of Americans – has long been at the heart of his pitch for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016.

But Sanders argued that the political debate was moving in his direction, particularly since many Democrats have distanced themselves from proposals floated by the White House two years ago that would have trimmed social security costs.

And he warned that Republican donors such as the Koch brothers were still seeking ways to undermine social security.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/09/bernie-sanders-older-voters-social-security-expansion