State of Hawaii Archives: on Social Security
Brian Schatz:
Make sure everyone pays into the system equally
By 2040, the number of Hawaii seniors is expected to grow and make up more than 20% of the population. Our seniors deserve to retire with the benefits they have earned. Expanding and enhancing Social Security benefits has been a priority for me
since arriving in the Senate. Last year, I reintroduced the SAFE Social Security Act, which would increase benefits and make sure everyone pays into the system equally.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Senate race
Jun 22, 2022
Charles Djou:
Never renege on our promises & commitment to our seniors
The federal government has an obligation to honor the commitment it has made to our nation's citizens who have been paying into Social Security their whole life and are nearing retirement age. I have never and will never support reneging on our
commitment to our seniors.Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs need to be protected, not abused and exploited. Frequent borrowing from social security to pay for today's "priorities" has bankrupted the program.
We must keep the promises that have been made to our seniors. We cannot let Social Security go bankrupt. Social Security is sound for today's seniors and for those nearing retirement, but it needs to be fixed for our children. We must act soon,
because every year that we wait to fix this problem we will burden future generations.
I support President Obama's suggested reforms for entitlements and believe this should be the basic foundation for fixing Social Security for the next generation.
Source: 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial campaign website, Djou.com
Dec 20, 2013
Daniel Akaka:
Social Security privatization is a risky investment scheme
I oppose Bush’s privatization proposal. It turns a guaranteed benefit into a risky investment scheme. Social Security has served as an important safety net for a long time, and I view the continuation of this program as a top priority. What’s happening
now with the Bush administration privatizing the bill, privatization will not address Social Security-term fiscal challenges, which is a problem. And social security is something that we really need and need to continue to fund over the years.
Source: 2006 HI Senate Debate on PBS Hawaii
Aug 31, 2006
David Ige:
Double the governor's request for Kupuna Care
The Ige Administration will support our growing senior population and their families. By 2030 nearly 25% of Hawai'i's population will be 65 years of age or older. We will seek to help kupuna remain as independent as possible so they can continue to live
in their homes rather than in an institution. This will enable our kupuna to age in place with dignity, and with love and support from their families and communities.The 2014 Legislature provided $9 million for Kupuna Care--double the amount requested
by the Governor--but this does not meet the huge demand for services, like meal delivery, transportation, and respite services for caregivers. Legislation enacted this year expands eligibility for Kupuna Care to Medicaid recipients, although Medicaid
recipients already qualify for similar services, and expanding eligibility makes a small pot of money even smaller. I will propose legislation that ensures Medicaid recipients receive services equivalent to those available through Kupuna Care.
Source: 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial campaign website DavidIge.org
Aug 9, 2014
Ed Case:
Oppose Social Security privatization, lockbox the trust fund
Social Security will become insolvent inside of 10 years, meaning the revenues coming in from Social Security taxes will not be sufficient to cover the expenses going out. We'd be in pretty good shape if we'd only lockboxed the
Social Security trust fund and not diverted all of those moneys into our general fund and spent it as part of that budget decline that I referenced earlier in my remarks. I have opposed his specific privatization proposal as I understand it.
Source: 2006 HI Senate Debate on PBS Hawaii
Aug 31, 2006
John Carroll:
Allow personal retirement accounts
Q: Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
A: Yes
Source: VoteSmart 2012 Hawaii Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Kai Kahele:
Against raising the minimum age for social security benefits
Social Security is a critical source of income for tens of thousands of Hawai'i residents. These benefits are under attack and Hawai'i needs a representative who will fight against efforts to cut away at
Social Security. Kai supports reform in Washington that will lead to the extended solvency, and stability, of the Social Security Trust Fund. Kai is also against raising the minimum age for social security benefits.
Source: 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial campaign website KaiKahele.com
May 12, 2022
Mark Takai:
Keep our promises; raise the payroll tax cap
I will not support any plan that ends Social Security or Medicare as we know it by eliminating guaranteed benefits. Turning Medicare into a voucher system will force people to fight with insurance companies over what treatments may or may not be covered.
This will only result in higher costs for prescription medication and will cost the average senior thousands of dollars more per year, forcing them to make terrible trade-offs over life-saving treatment.
Social Security benefits are a promise the U.S. government made to every American who pays in to the system and needs to be safeguarded for future generations. If you earn less than $117,000, you pay over
10 times the Social Security tax rate of someone who earns $1.2 million a year. By fixing that unfairness, we can shore up the Social Security Trust Fund for many more generations.
Source: 2014 Hawaii House campaign website, MarkTakai.com
Nov 4, 2014
Ron Curtis:
Make Social Security sustainable long into the future
Social Security reform:
Ensure that Social Security is sustainable and tamper-proof long into the future.
Source: 2018 Hawaii Senate campaign website RonCurtis808.com
Aug 8, 2018
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023