Seniors Can’t Afford to Keep Mike Lawler in Congress

Seniors cannot afford to keep Representative Mike Lawler in Congress. His unwavering support for expensive MAGA policies is making it harder for older Americans to afford the basics.

For too many older Americans, the cost of a basic, dignified life has become unbearable since President Trump returned to office. Seniors who spent decades working, paying taxes, and building their communities are now forced to make impossible choices: groceries or prescriptions, rent or a doctor’s visit, heating bills or a needed home repair.

Because of Lawler’s deciding vote on the Big, Beautiful Bill, Social Security COLA adjustments are not keeping up with the real cost-of-living increases.

The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment was 2.8 percent, or about $54 a month for the average retired worker. But the standard Medicare Part B premium rose from $185 in 2025 to $202.90 per month in 2026: an increase of $17.90. The annual Part B deductible also rose from $257 to $283, an increase of $26.

That means that the 2026 Social Security increase was wiped out just by medical insurance expenses alone!

And this is while everyday costs continue to rise. The federal Consumer Price Index reported food prices up 3.1 percent in 2026, and housing costs up 3.2 percent. These are the nonnegotiable expenses that determine whether seniors can remain healthy, safely housed, and independent.

For seniors living on fixed incomes, rising prices mean skipping fresh food, delaying a medical appointment, putting off dental care, cutting pills in half, or living in fear of eviction or foreclosure after.

Utility bills are another growing burden. PowerLines found that nearly one in three Americans struggles to afford energy bills. For older adults, the stakes are especially high. Extreme heat and cold can aggravate heart disease, respiratory illness, and mobility challenges. Many seniors also rely on powered medical equipment, making a utility shutoff not just inconvenient but dangerous.

According to SunHub, renewable energy projects can often be deployed in two to four years, while nuclear projects generally take five to ten years. Lawler’s energy agenda, shaped by his fossil fuel lobbyist background and his support for reopening the Indian Point nuclear plant, results in seniors experiencing higher energy costs.

The Senior Citizens League reports that only one in five older Americans considers themselves financially healthy in retirement. Another 52 percent say they are financially vulnerable, meaning they have enough income to get by for now but doubt they can sustain it. The remaining 28 percent have too little income to cover basic necessities. Financially vulnerable seniors rely on programs such as SNAP and Medicaid both of which have been cut by Lawler.

Seniors also cannot afford the costs of reckless foreign-policy decisions. According to Moody’s Analytics, by late July, the Iran war had cost more than $1,200 per household. For people living on fixed incomes, this represents money that could have gone toward prescriptions, food, or housing costs. Lawler’s poor judgment comes at a real cost to older Americans.

We need leaders who will protect and strengthen Social Security, lower prescription drug and health-care costs, expand affordable housing, reduce utility bills through affordable energy, and strengthen food assistance.

The National Council on Aging studies show that seniors with the fewest financial resources die, on average, nine years earlier than other seniors.

We cannot afford Lawler’s policies. His policies ensure that growing old means growing poor and dying sooner!

Mark A. Lieberman

Yorktown, NY