Balderson ad conflicts with earlier statement

WASHINGTON — State Sen. Troy Balderson has launched a new ad vowing he’d “never do anything to cut Social Security and Medicare” despite telling the Dispatch editorial board last month that he was open to raising the eligibility age for both groups.

In the 30-second ad, an “aggressive buy” that will be airing across the district, Balderson, seated next to his mother who has an oxygen tube, says his parents raised him to “work hard, help others and always tell the truth.”

“I’m Troy Balderson, that’s why I’m running for Congress and why I would never do anything to cut Social Security or Medicare,” he said. “My own mom and dad depend on both.”

Balderson told the editorial board that he was open to considering raising the Medicare and Social Security entitlement age. Balderson later clarified, insisting he would not support raising the eligibility age for current retirees or those who are near retirement. He has not yet defined what “near retirement” means, however, but has said he also supports reforms to fix the system.

The Zanesville Republican is running against Franklin County Recorder Danny O’Connor, a Democrat, in Tuesday’s special election to replace Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township, who left Congress in January. O’Connor has used Balderson’s statements about pushing for retirement age increases in ads against the Republican.