Martin O’Malley has Coffee and Commonsense chat with Iowans

The former Social Security Commissioner spoke with seniors on affordability and rising costs  

Today, former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley spoke to a group of older Iowans about the affordability crisis many are facing. 

Costs continue to rise due to Republican policies including tariffs and disastrous cuts to vital programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Iowa seniors living on a fixed income are especially concerned about rising prices that their cost of living increase does not keep up with. 

“A lot of what I’m hearing from the folks here today is that there’s a lack of confidence in any sort of stability,” O’Malley said. “Groceries, housing, energy and health care, everything is costing more and more. Those that are living on Social Security have a very limited budget and the small increase folks get every year isn’t going to be enough.” 

Many attendees were also concerned about Medicaid cuts and  health tax credits that help thousands of Iowans afford health care through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Losing them would threaten coverage for 110,000 Iowans. Iowa retirees know the consequences will be so widespread that rural hospitals could close, impacting where all Iowans get care, and slowing access to prescriptions and treatments they rely on.

O’Malley also recently had a conversation with Peter Rose, a retired Iowan in Des Moines, on similar issues. Rose is featured in Fairness for Iowa’s new ads as part of their seven-figure ad campaign targeting Rep. Nunn on his support of tariffs.