Protecting Social Security & Supporting Our Seniors
Social Security isn’t a gift — it’s a promise that every American who works hard can retire with dignity and security. But that promise is under threat. While billionaires dodge taxes and politicians in Washington talk about cuts, seniors in Texas’s 33rd District are struggling to afford groceries, medicine, and rent. Zeeshan’s plan is simple: expand benefits, protect the system, and ensure every senior can live with the respect they’ve earned. From a $200/month benefit increase to lifting the payroll tax cap and expanding Medicare coverage, this campaign is about keeping our word — and building a system strong enough to support every generation.
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| Issues |  | Julie Johnson | Colin Allred |
|---|---|---|---|
$200/month Social Security benefit increase | Explicitly calls for at least +$200/month. | Does not support increase by $200/mo | Does not support increase by $200/mo |
Lift the payroll tax cap on high earners | Supports ending the payroll tax cap. | Has not advocated for lifting the payroll tax cap on high earners as a mechanism for solvency. | Has not advocated for lifting the payroll tax cap on high earners as a mechanism for solvency. |
Senior housing, aging-in-place, and local supports (non-healthcare) | Explicitly supports housing, transit, nutrition, and community supports on the Seniors page. | No specific policy platform or detailed proposals regarding senior housing or aging-in-place initiatives. | Offers broad support for seniors but lacks a specific legislative package for senior housing, transit, or aging-in-place. |
Expand Benefits. Strengthen the System. Dignity for Every Generation.
Social Security is not a handout — it’s a promise. A promise that if you work hard your whole life, you’ll be able to retire with dignity, security, and peace of mind.
But today, that promise is under attack. Right-wing politicians want to cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or privatize the system — while billionaires and large corporations dodge taxes that should be strengthening Social Security for all of us.
We reject those efforts. We believe in expanding Social Security — not cutting it.
Our Plan: Expand and Strengthen Social Security
- Increase monthly benefits by at least $200/month to help seniors keep up with rising costs of food, housing, and healthcare.
- Scrap the payroll tax cap so that millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share — currently, income above $168,600 isn’t taxed for Social Security at all.
- Extend benefits for surviving spouses, disabled seniors, and low-income retirees, many of whom are living in or near poverty despite a lifetime of work.
- Oppose any effort to raise the retirement age, which would unfairly punish working-class Americans with physically demanding jobs.
Social Security should be a floor of dignity — not a threadbare safety net.
More Than a Check: Full Support for Senior Wellbeing
- Expand Medicare to include dental, vision, hearing, and long-term care.
- Fund senior housing programs and protections against evictions, gentrification, and rising property taxes.
- Increase support for home care services, allowing seniors to age in place safely and with independence.
- Support senior nutrition programs, free transportation, and local community centers that reduce isolation and improve mental health.
No Cuts. No Privatization. No Broken Promises.
- Privatizing Social Security
- Tying benefits to Wall Street investments
- Any 'Grand Bargain' that cuts benefits or raises the retirement age
We stand firmly against:
Instead, we will fight to ensure this program — earned through a lifetime of work — is stronger for the next generation.