The views of 2024 presidential candidates.
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Joe Biden   Kamala Harris   Robert F. Kennedy Jr.   Chase Oliver   Donald Trump   Jill Stein   Cornel West   Marianne Williamson



Joe Biden

Biden is 81 years old.

Biden favors imposing sanctions on Russia. Send Ukraine humanitarian aid and weaponry.

Biden generally supports the view that protecting foreign democracies is in America's best interest.

Biden favors positions of environmental groups such as the League of Conservation Voters. LCV's top priority is to address climate change.

Biden opposes capital punishment.

Biden opposes prison privatization. Private prisons, also known as for-profit prisons, are run by corporations that have contracts with governments.

Biden believes government has a responsibility to address economic and social problems. That means investing in programs that benefit the people.

Biden believes it is the primarily the role and responsibility of government to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness.

Biden believes voter suppression is a serious election problem. Laws that expand voting access are a good solution.

Biden supports gun control legislation recommended by groups such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Biden supports the pro-choice positions of organizations such as NARAL Pro Choice USA.

Biden takes a more secular approach to governing which would respect the separation of church and state. They would accept differing religious and non-religious perspectives and of new norms including same-sex marriage.

Biden wants government to improve the situation for American workers. Areas of improvement include raising the minimum wage and fulfilling the goals of labor unions such as the AFL-CIO and Afscme.

Biden wants to preserve the basic Social Security program as set up by FDR, but possibly make changes such as raising the earnings ceiling and/or the retirement age, etc.

Biden generally welcomes immigration. My ideal candidate would know that sanctuary cities are safer because they encourage good relationships between undocumented immigrants and law enforcement

Biden favors keeping the Affordable Care Act but would favor adjusting and improving the ACA..

Biden advocates the military defeat of Hamas and the return of hostages to Israel with minimal civilian casualties

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Jason Palmer (endorsed Biden)

Palmer is 52 years old.

Palmer believes government has a responsibility to address economic and social problems. That means investing in programs that benefit the people.

Palmer believes it is the primarily the role and responsibility of government to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness.a

Palmer supports gun control legislation recommended by groups such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Palmer supports the pro-choice positions of organizations such as NARAL Pro Choice USA.

Palmer takes a more secular approach to governing which would respect the separation of church and state. They would accept differing religious and non-religious perspectives and of new norms including same-sex marriage.

Palmer generally welcomes immigration. My ideal candidate would know that sanctuary cities are safer because they encourage good relationships between undocumented immigrants and law enforcement

Palmer favors keeping the Affordable Care Act but would favor adjusting and improving the ACA..

Palmer advocates an immediate halt to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip to end civilian deaths and misery.



Robert F Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy is 70 years old.

Kennedy generally supports an isolationist point of view avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts.

Kennedy believes that American needs to focus on domestic concerns. Ukraine is important, but it can't be a blank check.

Kennedy favors the goals of the National Association of Police Organizations whose issues of importance include increased mental health access for offenders, training for officers who encounter mentally ill offenders, law enforcement access to military surplus equipment, gang deterrence and prevention programs and other issues here.

Kennedy favors the legalization of marijuana for recreational and/or medical use.

In 2008, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. co-authored a comic book that called voter identification "racially rancid." In a 2008 interview, he said a lot of Americans don't have a driver's license, including Black people. But the independent presidential candidate has talked about voter ID differently during his current campaign. A campaign spokesperson said Kennedy favors voter ID if the ID is free to all.

Kennedy opposes gun control legislation, agreeing with groups such as the NRA and the Gun Owners of America. After the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, Kennedy called the National Rifle Association a "terror group." However in 2023, he said on Fox News "I don't consider the NRA a terror group." Kennedy's campaign spokesperson, said Kennedy "has come to understand that the gun owners represented by the NRA have a legitimate viewpoint."

Kennedy believes it is the primarily the role and responsibility of government to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness.

Kennedy supports positions of property rights advocating groups like the American Land Rights Association, which has an often contentious relationship the Environmental Protection Agency and Bureau of Land Management.

Kennedy's abortion rights stance has not been made clear, though statements from the candidate and his running mate Nicole Shanahan imply that the ticket could support some restrictions on abortion access. Abortion rights group Reproductive Freedom for All launched ads in the swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin on Monday that sought to cast doubt on Kennedy's stance on the procedure.

Kennedy takes a more secular approach to governing which would respect the separation of church and state. They would accept differing religious and non-religious perspectives and of new norms including same-sex marriage.

Kennedy wants American citizens to be protected from immigration. My ideal candidate would know that sanctuary cities harbor criminals, creating a dangerous environment for US citizens.

Regarding social security, he says the answer is simple. First is to end the military adventures and regime-change wars, like the one in Ukraine. That's enough to pay off all medical debt, all credit card debt, provide free childcare, feed every hungry child, repair our infrastructure, and make college tuition free — with money left over. That's enough to make social security solvent for another 30 years.

Kennedy wants government to improve the situation for American workers. Areas of improvement include raising the minimum wage and fulfilling the goals of labor unions such as the AFL-CIO and Afscme.

Kennedy favors a Medicare public option, the general proposal that anyone has the option to get healthcare through Medicare.

Kennedy advocates the military defeat of Hamas and the return of hostages to Israel with minimal civilian casualties. Politico reported that Kennedy has become the most dedicated pro-Israel candidate left in the presidential contest. He has not called for a cease-fire and supports unconditional aid to Israel after Oct. 7. In an interview last December, Kennedy said, "You talk about solutions for the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people are arguably the most pampered people by international aid organizations in the history of the world."



Jill Stein

Stein is 73 years old.

Stein believes that American needs to focus on domestic concerns. Ukraine is important, but it can't be a blank check.

Stein generally supports an isolationist point of view avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts.

Stein favors the goals of the National Association of Police Organizations whose issues of importance include increased mental health access for offenders, training for officers who encounter mentally ill offenders, law enforcement access to military surplus equipment, gang deterrence and prevention programs and other issues here.

Stein favors the legalization of marijuana for recreational and/or medical use.

Stein opposes gun control legislation, agreeing with groups such as the NRA and the Gun Owners of America.

Stein believes it is the primarily the role and responsibility of government to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness.

Stein supports positions of property rights advocating groups like the American Land Rights Association, which has an often contentious relationship the Environmental Protection Agency and Bureau of Land Management.

Stein supports the pro-choice positions of organizations such as NARAL Pro Choice USA.

Stein takes a more secular approach to governing which would respect the separation of church and state. They would accept differing religious and non-religious perspectives and of new norms including same-sex marriage.

Stein wants American citizens to be protected from immigration. My ideal candidate would know that sanctuary cities harbor criminals, creating a dangerous environment for US citizens.

Stein wants government to improve the situation for American workers. Areas of improvement include raising the minimum wage and fulfilling the goals of labor unions such as the AFL-CIO and Afscme.

Stein favors a Medicare public option, the general proposal that anyone has the option to get healthcare through Medicare.

Stein advocates the military defeat of Hamas and the return of hostages to Israel with minimal civilian casualties

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Donald Trump

Trump is 77 years old.

Trump says he could resolve the Russian/Ukraine war in 24 hours. He believes that American needs to focus on domestic concerns. Ukraine is important, but it can't be a blank check.

Trump generally supports an isolationist point of view avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts.

Trump favors the agenda of the Christian Coalition, whose agenda includes ending human embryonic stem cell research, defunding planned parenthood, defending traditional marriage, ending religious discrimination against Christians in the military and these agenda items.

Trump opposes any legalization of marijuana.

Trump opposes gun control legislation, agreeing with groups such as the NRA and the Gun Owners of America.

Trump believes in solving the problems of the poor and homeless, government should take a backseat to private and faith-based charities.

Trump believes that the best government is limited government. The Cato Institute and other libertarians have the right idea: Less taxation means more money in the pockets of the people so they can solve their own problems.

Trump believes that the best thing government can do for workers is to butt out. That includes allowing the free market to determine wages and giving workers the right to not join unions.

Trump believes voter fraud is a serious election problem. Laws that restrict voting access are a good solution.

Trump supports positions of property rights advocating groups like the American Land Rights Association, which has an often contentious relationship the Environmental Protection Agency and Bureau of Land Management.

Trump supports the pro-life positions of organizations such as National Right to Life Committee.

Trump wants American citizens to be protected from immigration. My ideal candidate would know that sanctuary cities harbor criminals, creating a dangerous environment for US citizens.

Trump wants to consider other options to Social Security, including privatization and allowing people to invest their own retirement funds.

Trump would repeal & replace Obamacare. There are too many problems with it to fix it. Would also oppose any other government run health care programs.

Trump advocates the military defeat of Hamas and the return of hostages to Israel with minimal civilian casualties

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Cornel West

West is 70 years old.

West generally supports an isolationist point of view avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts.

West favors positions of environmental groups such as the League of Conservation Voters. LCV's top priority is to address climate change.

West favors the legalization of marijuana for recreational and/or medical use.

West opposes capital punishment.

West opposes prison privatization. Private prisons, also known as for-profit prisons, are run by corporations that have contracts with governments.

West believes government has a responsibility to address economic and social problems. That means investing in programs that benefit the people.

West believes it is the primarily the role and responsibility of government to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness.

West supports gun control legislation recommended by groups such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

West supports the pro-choice positions of organizations such as NARAL Pro Choice USA.

West takes a more secular approach to governing which would respect the separation of church and state. They would accept differing religious and non-religious perspectives and of new norms including same-sex marriage.

West wants government to improve the situation for American workers. Areas of improvement include raising the minimum wage and fulfilling the goals of labor unions such as the AFL-CIO and Afscme.

West wants to preserve the basic Social Security program as set up by FDR, but possibly make changes such as raising the earnings ceiling and/or the retirement age, etc.

West favors a Medicare-for-all with which every American is covered by the same, single health plan.

West generally welcomes immigration. My ideal candidate would know that sanctuary cities are safer because they encourage good relationships between undocumented immigrants and law enforcement

West believes that under no circumstances should we enter into another war that would cost thousands of American lives.

West advocates an immediate halt to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip to end civilian deaths and misery.



Marianne Williamson

Williamson is 71 years old.

Williamson favors imposing sanctions on Russia. Send Ukraine humanitarian aid and weaponry.

Williamson generally supports an isolationist point of view avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts.

Williamson favors positions of environmental groups such as the League of Conservation Voters. LCV's top priority is to address climate change.

Williamson favors the legalization of marijuana for recreational and/or medical use.

Williamson opposes capital punishment.

Williamson opposes prison privatization. Private prisons, also known as for-profit prisons, are run by corporations that have contracts with governments.

Williamson believes it is the primarily the role and responsibility of government to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness.

Williamson supports gun control legislation recommended by groups such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Williamson supports the pro-choice positions of organizations such as NARAL Pro Choice USA.

Williamson takes a more secular approach to governing which would respect the separation of church and state. They would accept differing religious and non-religious perspectives and of new norms including same-sex marriage.

Williamson wants government to improve the situation for American workers. Areas of improvement include raising the minimum wage and fulfilling the goals of labor unions such as the AFL-CIO and Afscme.

Williamson wants to preserve the basic Social Security program as set up by FDR, but possibly make changes such as raising the earnings ceiling and/or the retirement age, etc.

Williamson favors a Medicare-for-all with which every American is covered by the same, single health plan.

Williamson generally welcomes immigration. My ideal candidate would know that sanctuary cities are safer because they encourage good relationships between undocumented immigrants and law enforcement

Williamson advocates an immediate halt to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip to end civilian deaths and misery.

Williamson to lesser degree sides with those who say that the best government is limited government. The Cato Institute and other libertarians have the right idea: Less taxation means more money in the pockets of the people so they can solve their own problems.

Williamson to a greater degree sides with those who say government has a responsibility to address economic and social problems. That means investing in programs that benefit the people.

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Chase Oliver

(The following informaton is an abridgement of his platform, here)

Oliver is 38 years old. The Libertarian Party nominee describes himself as "armed and gay".

Reform immigration for the 21st century. There are few better examples of "bad government" than the overly complex current laws and regulations involving immigration. The president needs to take the lead and work with Congress to radically simplify our immigration system so people can come here, work, and become members of our communities without being relegated to the shadows. Immigrants built this country, and they can help keep it growing and prospering for future generations of Americans. It should be simple for those who wish to come here to work and build a better life to appear before immigration officials at an accredited port of entry, be given medical and criminal checks to assess their safety and receive a visa allowing them to immediately find employment. This is a process that should take, at most, days; not months or years.

Empower people through justice reform. End qualified immunity for federal law enforcement so those abused or harmed by law enforcement can have their day in court. End the prosecution of victimless crimes and instead place the focus of law enforcement on investigating and prosecuting crimes of violence, theft, fraud, or coercion. I am an opponent of the death penalty.

End the failed war on drugs indefinitely. As the failed war on drugs drags into its fifth long decade, we can all see that the policies of strict prohibition and prison need to change. Just as with the eighteenth amendment and its prohibition of alcohol, the criminalization of drugs simply has not worked.

Respect and defend your right to privacy and civil liberties. It is often the case that the worst government abuses come disguised as protection from danger and harm. If you feel in danger, it becomes easy for the government to have you trade your liberty for the illusion of security. We have warrantless wiretaps, abuses of the FISA courts, and an overarching patriot act to name a few. As president, I will work with Congress to abolish the patriot act, which has unconstitutionally increased the powers and scope of the police and surveillance state.

End wars & support peace. My entire adult life, our nation has been at war somewhere in the world. End the wars. End the drones. End the policy of constant intervention. Close all overseas bases and immediately return active-duty personnel to domestic bases. The cost savings of doing so will be used as a one-time contribution to discharge the interest on currently outstanding federally guaranteed student loans. End aid being directed to nation-states currently at war. This includes Israel and Ukraine. With this said, I recognize that there are aggressors and victims in war. I would allow private parties, including defense contractors, to voluntarily contribute funds and sell weapons to our friends without fear of violating any federal laws.

Immediately end all tariffs, which serve only to increase the bottom lines of protected industries, shift labor from more efficient industries while creating a net loss of jobs, and raise prices by lowering the number of alternatives for consumers to choose among.

Respect individual choice on tough issues. There are many complex issues in our society which offer no easy solutions. More than a few of these issues involve individuals engaging in activities that may run counter to our personal beliefs. Outside of obvious criminal offenses such as assault, theft, or murder, it is not the role of government in a free society to prohibit such behavior, even when the majority wishes it so. For this reason, activities such as abortion are the province of individual choice and bodily autonomy.

Abortion. I recognize the complexity of this issue and how there can be good faith positions on both sides of the abortion debate. With this said, I will work to encourage states to decriminalize abortions, as these decisions should rest in the hands of individuals and their doctors.

Empower parents & students in education. At the federal level, the best policy on education is to remove the federal government's involvement in education. I support abolishing the department of education and block granting those funds back to states to be returned to taxpayers. I also support getting the government out of the student loan business so market forces can lower the cost of higher education over time.

End the student debt crisis to assist in individual financial and retirement security. I will immediately end the federal backing of student loans by asking Congress to make all current loans interest-free, while simultaneously ending all future government-guaranteed loans.

Champion gun rights for all. I will not support any new gun restrictions and will look to repeal the restrictions that exist today.

Lower the cost of healthcare through market & innovation. Healthcare is too expensive because of government overregulation. We should advocate for market alternatives to heavily regulated employer-provided insurance such as the direct primary care model. We must lower the regulatory burden on the pharmaceutical industry, which imposes huge costs on research and development that both protects favored firms by erecting costly barriers to entry that crowd out smaller firms and increase the costs of end-products to consumers.

Restore prosperity by reducing inflation. Among other factors, this is driven by massive overspending from the government and the printing money from thin air to pay for it. Reduce federal spending to pre-pandemic levels, balancing the budget. Significantly reduce the money supply, which is a necessary supplement to the fiscal consolidation strategy of budget reduction. Supply-side policies don't curb inflation. Decreased demand does. An absence of easy money, results in the reining in of spending by consumers, lowering inflation organically.



Kamala Harris
A Democrat, Harris is the current vice president and a former US senator from California.
Healthcare Issues:
Favors Medicare-for-all.
Source
Republicans who voted to repeal Obamacare: 'You need to lose your job'. Source California's junior U.S. senator told California Democrats on Saturday that they should focus on defeating Republicans in the state's congressional delegation who voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. "If you vote for people to lose their healthcare, then you need to lose your job."
Harris is among a handful of 2020 Democrats who signed on to Sanders’s Medicare for All bill and has said that she would support eliminating private health insurance altogether. Harris has also co-sponsored proposals that would lower the age of Medicare eligibility to 50 and create a Medicaid option on state insurance markets that people currently ineligible for the program could buy into. Source
Employment Issues:
The minimum wage must be a living wage, and families should have tools they need to compete in the workforce – from affordable childcare and early childhood education to paid family leave and truly equal pay.
Government budget Issues:
"A budget is a reflection of our nation's values and it's clear from this proposal, President Trump does not value government's essential functions of public health, public safety, and public education. If you are a child, college student, or senior, live in a rural or urban area, are a worker in need of a safe workplace, or simply want to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and drive on good roads, this budget is a disaster for you and your family. We will not make our country stronger with cuts to meals and jobs programs for seniors, scientific research to cure cancer, financial assistance to students, diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to make our nation safer, support for farmers, or affordable housing."
Business Issues:
Not considered business-friendly
Trade policy Issues:
Harris told the Times that she doesn't support TPP in its current form. She added that trade agreement — which aims to deepen economic ties between 12 countries by reducing tariffs — risks "invalidating California's landmark climate change and environmental laws" and is a threat to U.S. workers.
Immigration Issues:
Harris hopes Trump's talk of cutting federal funds to sanctuary cities and states was just campaign hyperbole, but she is mindful of the possible scenario. "We have to be braced for the fact that, when people say something, we have to hear them and believe them," said Harris. Source
Kamala Harris knows that California and the nation are stronger today because of the generations of Americans who came to this country in search of a better life. She's the daughter of immigrants and knows that embracing our diversity makes the fabric of our society stronger, our economy more innovative, and our community more inclusive. Finally Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Congress has repeatedly refused to pass comprehensive immigration reform that protects our borders and provides a fair and just pathway to citizenship. That failure has hurt our economy, made it harder for our businesses to compete in the global marketplace, and hamstrung local and state governments' ability to meet the needs of their communities. Worse yet, Washington's failure has forced more than 11 million undocumented immigrants to live, work, and raise a family in the shadows of our society. That's unconscionable.
Minority Issues:
"In a friend of the court brief submitted in the Fisher case, California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris asked the Supreme Court to "reaffirm its decision that public colleges and universities may consider race as one factor in admissions decisions." She made it clear that California wanted the option to revisit Proposition 209. There is indeed a move to repeal the measure and Fisher vs. Texas will likely add fuel to that effort." Source
Eliminate Obstacles To Voting: Voting is fundamental to our democratic society, but participation too often has been abysmal. Kamala believes that we must make it easier for everyone to vote, stop voter suppression, and zealously protect access to the ballot box for all Americans. She'll work to strengthen protections against discriminatory laws, modernize voter registration systems, and expand early voting so everyone has ample opportunity to vote. Strengthen The Voting Rights Act: In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted a key section of the Voting Rights Act. In the Senate, Kamala will work to update and reinvigorate the vital protections of the Voting Rights Act and ensure that our fundamental rights are protected throughout the entire country.
International & Security Issues:
"Make no mistake, this is a Muslim ban," Harris said in a statement Friday. "Broad brush discrimination against refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, most of whom are women and children, runs counter to our national security interests, and will likely be used as a terrorist recruitment tool." Source
She's been at the forefront of addressing cyber threats and prosecuting those who try to inflict harm on individuals, businesses, and vital infrastructure. She believes we must do everything we can to protect our nation and our allies from the threats we face around the world – from terrorism to cyber-attacks to inadequately secured nuclear weapons to global climate change and health threats like Ebola.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
It boggles the mind that the governor now wants to take $730 million of the state's precious reserves over two years to move inmates to private prisons and vacant county jail cells in order to deal with the Supreme Court order to reduce overcrowding. Harris ought to be calling him on it — especially since Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has a better plan that's in line with her thinking and would avoid releasing hundreds of prisoners to California's streets, a prospect Brown clearly sees as a potential public safety and political nightmare. Source
Kamala Harris opposes the death penalty Source
Kamala believes that we must maintain a relentless focus on reducing violence and aggressively prosecuting violent criminals. But as a career prosecutor, she has also seen firsthand the devastating effects of mass incarceration and the revolving door of recidivism. We deserve a better return on our investment. Instead of a justice system that responds to all crime as equal, we need a "smart on crime" approach – one that applies innovative, data-driven methods to make our system more efficient and effective. Being smart on crime means that we focus on the most serious and violent offenses at the top of the crime pyramid and avoid treating all offenders the same way.
Poverty Issues:
Expand Pro-Work Tax Credits: Together the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) help keep millions of families from falling into poverty and enable many parents to afford childcare, which allows them to work and provide for their families.
Education Issues:
Favors debt-free public college. Source
Make Public Education More Equitable: Providing our children with a world-class education is the first rung of the ladder of opportunity and the first step to success in life. Unfortunately, too many schools lack the resources needed to meet the needs of each student, and too many children are left behind as a result. Success in school shouldn't be decided by where students live, the color of their skin, their immigration status, or their parents' income.
Cannabis Issues:
Kamala Harris Is Our Greatest Weed Advocate "Let me tell you what California needs, Jeff Sessions. We need support in dealing with transnational criminal organizations and dealing with human trafficking — not going after Grandma's medicinal marijuana." Harris joins a bipartisan list of U.S. senators, including Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York in advocating for further decriminalization of marijuana. Harris has not come out for a specific proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, but said she is generally supportive of the idea, which she suggested is inevitable given the current climate.
Religious & Social Issues:
End Discrimination Against The LGBT Community Nationwide: America has come a long way in recognizing marriage rights for same-sex couples. But in many places across the country, it's still legal for businesses and institutions to discriminate against members of the LGBT community. In fact, in 31 states, a person can be fired or evicted simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Kamala was proud to lead the team that helped bring down California's Proposition 8 at the U.S. Supreme Court and to fight for marriage equality nationwide.
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The California Pro-Life Council Protect A Woman's Right To Choose: Kamala Harris has been a champion for a woman's right to choose and access to comprehensive reproductive health care throughout her entire career. When the U.S. Supreme Court took up important cases on women's health, Kamala fought to require for-profit companies like Hobby Lobby to provide their employees with health insurance that covers contraceptives under the Affordable Care Act and to protect patients' rights to access reproductive health clinics.
Environmental Issues:
As Attorney General, Kamala defended California's landmark climate change law from challenges by the biggest polluters, like Big Oil. She continues to be a leader in fighting to improve air quality across our state and prosecuting polluters who disregard our environmental protections. She's partnered with other attorneys general in the important effort to defend the President's Clean Power Plan.
Retirement Issues:
"The debate in Washington around this issue is totally backwards. For millions of seniors, Social Security is the difference between getting by and living in poverty. Congress must protect and expand Social Security -- not cut benefits for seniors."