Turek Pledges to Protect Social Security, Calls for Scrapping Income Cap

DES MOINES, Iowa — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek is making a direct appeal to Iowa seniors, promising to protect and expand Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid while calling for the elimination of the income cap on Social Security taxes to ensure the program's long-term solvency.

Speaking Wednesday at Scottish Rite Park, a senior living center in Des Moines, Turek was joined by former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O'Malley and Jon Bauman, president of Social Security Works PAC, to outline his commitments to older Iowans. The event highlighted stark contrasts between Turek and his Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, on issues that directly affect retirees.

What is Josh Turek proposing for Social Security?

Turek's central proposal is removing the income cap on Social Security payroll taxes. Currently, earnings above $184,500 are not subject to Social Security taxes, meaning the wealthiest Americans stop paying into the system early each year. Turek called this arrangement “ridiculous.”

“Regular Americans have to pay into Social Security year-round while the country's wealthiest, like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, don't have to pay any more past the $184,500 cap once they've met it, which happens early on each year,” Turek said.

O'Malley said that if the cap were removed, the Social Security Administration's ability to pay out benefits would extend past 2090. Turek also supports capping insulin costs, negotiating drug prices, and taking an “all of the above” approach to lowering costs for long-term care for aging and disabled Iowans.

How does Turek's record compare to Hinson's on senior issues?

The event featured sharp criticism of Hinson's voting record. O'Malley and Bauman said their organizations have scored Hinson's votes on senior issues, with Bauman noting that a scorecard from the Alliance for Retired Americans found she votes against seniors' interests “nine times out of every 10.”

O'Malley cited Hinson's votes for cuts to the Social Security Administration of up to $452 million, as well as support for Medicaid cuts and allowing DOGE to drive out one in five Social Security employees. The group said a Social Security office in Decorah had to close due to staffing shortages, though Hinson's office noted it reopened this summer.

Turek also pointed to the closure of as many as 842 healthcare entities across Iowa since Hinson took national office.

“This is in a state with a healthcare crisis, a mental health crisis, and a cancer crisis. Voting to cut healthcare (means) the downstream effects are ... less services, less supports, less facilities. This is fundamentally wrong,” Turek said. “I give each and every Iowa senior my pledge — I will do everything I can to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and expand it to all of you.”

What does the Hinson campaign say in response?

Hinson's campaign pushed back against the accusations. Communications Director Billy Fuerst said in an email that Hinson has gone on record opposing raising the retirement age and voted in favor of both the Working Families Tax Cuts and the Social Security Fairness Act. Fuerst noted that a July 2024 vote included a 4% decrease to staffing funding at Washington, D.C., and Baltimore Social Security Administration offices, but no cuts to offices interacting with seniors or to benefits.

“Ashley Hinson has never and will never cut a penny from Social Security - she is fighting to protect it for Iowa seniors. That's the truth no matter how desperate Josh Turek gets,” Fuerst said in an emailed statement.

Who is endorsing Turek on senior issues?

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare also endorsed Turek. Max Richtman, the organization's president and CEO, joined the event, noting that more than 12,450 Iowans are members. Former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin gave his “gold standard” recommendation for the endorsement.

Turek framed the race as a choice between protecting working families and giving tax breaks to billionaires.

“Two of the biggest issues we're facing right now in the country (are) wealth divide and tax avoidance, and unfortunately, you've got folks like Ashley Hinson that have been up there and voted for cuts to health care, food assistance, Social Security Administration, just to give more tax breaks to these billionaires,” Turek said. “I want to fight for the people, not the billionaires.”

The Iowa Senate race continues to heat up as both candidates court the state's significant senior population, a key voting bloc in the November election.