State of Illinois Archives: on Social Security
Mark Curran:
Face hard truth to properly fund benefit programs
Q: How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?A: I believe in preserving Social Security. However, if we are to maintain this important benefit, we must face a hard truth: to properly fund these
programs we need to balance cutting costs with raising revenue. I am NOT in favor of raising taxes on the middle class to address this shortfall.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Mark Curran:
Local pensions invest the majority of money in the market
We must ensure the future solvency of Medicare and Social Security and the solvency concerns related to these agencies are genuine. The Social Security Administration has been buying United States Treasury Bonds for years.
Local pensions invest the majority of their investors' money in the market. Another problem these agencies face is the declining birth rate in America. Absent immigrants there will be no future work force to grow the economy and help support our seniors.
Source: Chicago Sun Times on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Jan 22, 2020
Anne Stava-Murray:
Our state pension debt is underfunded
Our status quo failed flat tax mandate holds Illinois back. We need to fix our pension debt underfunding via financial best practices.
Additional revenue is absolutely necessary to solve the pension crisis. Short-term solutions like issuing pension obligation bonds are needed alongside longer-term sources.
Source: Chicago Daily Herald on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Oct 22, 2018
Daniel Biss:
Help give retirement security to millions of workers
Daniel has taken the initiative to raise and make progress on issues significant to the future of Illinois that would have otherwise gone unaddressed, like helping giving retirement security to millions of
Illinois workers and addressing the fast-evolving problem of technology and privacy. He combines the discipline and pragmatism of a math professor with the tenacity of an organizer in everything he does.
Source: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign website DanielBiss.com
Apr 30, 2017
Daniel Biss:
Alter public employee pensions to reduce state pension debt
It is questionable whether Biss will enjoy support from organized labor, a traditional Democratic ally.
In 2013 he co-sponsored legislation to alter public employee pensions to reduce the state's massive pension debt. The plan was later struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Source: Chicago Tribune on 2018 Illinois gubernatorial race
Mar 20, 2017
Raja Krishnamoorthi:
Entitlements are under attack on ideological grounds
Social Security and Medicare are two of the most successful programs in our nation's history, moving millions of people out of poverty and enabling them to live their golden years in dignity. Nevertheless, they have been under constant attack by those
who oppose those programs on ideological grounds.Raja believes that Social Security and Medicare are sacred promises that we have made to our senior citizens. He will fight to protect those programs and help secure them for future generations.
Now is not the time to shirk our commitment to America's seniors, but rather to strengthen these programs and make sure they exist for the generations yet to come.
First, Raja supports raising the cap on income subject to Social
Security withholding, which is currently set at $118,500 per year. Raising the cap could greatly extend the solvency of the Social Security trust fund while ensuring that everyone pays their fair share.
Source: 2016 Illinois House campaign website RajaForCongress.com
Nov 8, 2016
Daniel Biss:
Allow old age beneficiaries to also receive unemployment
Senator Biss co-sponsored legislation SB1225: Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act.
Provides that none of the amount received by an individual as primary social security old age and disability retirement benefits shall constitute disqualifying income.
Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2015-2016 Illinois voting record
Mar 27, 2015
Napoleon Harris:
Allow old age beneficiaries to also receive unemployment
Senator Harris co-sponsored legislation SB1225: Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act.
Provides that none of the amount received by an individual as primary social security old age and disability retirement benefits shall constitute disqualifying income.
Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2015-2016 Illinois voting record
Mar 27, 2015
Bruce Rauner:
Move state pensions towards a defined contribution system
Illinois has the worst pension crisis in America. We cannot secure Illinois' economic future without fundamental reforms to our pension system. We must keep our promise to current retirees, but we put all government workers at risk by continuing to
promise a pension no one can afford.The victims here are both the taxpayers who cannot afford to pay for these pensions and the workers who have been misled by union bosses and career politicians into believing these unsustainable pensions will be
there for them.
We have reached a crossroads on the issue. I believe we must choose to address this problem head-on. No tinkering around the edges. We must boldly reform our pension system. To do that, we can:- Ensure pay and benefits do not rise
faster than the rate of inflation.
- Eliminate the ability of government employees to receive massive pay raises before they retire just to increase their pension.
- Cap the current system and move towards a defined contribution system.
Source: 2014 Illinois Gubernatorial campaign website BruceRauner.com
Nov 4, 2014
Mike Bost:
Opposes efforts to privatize, or increase the payroll tax
Those counting on Social Security and Medicare should not have to worry about the promises that were made to them are kept. Mike opposes efforts to privatize, raise the retirement age or increase the payroll tax.
Congress must work together to prevent the financial collapse of these programs by promoting bipartisan efforts to address systemic problems and ensure its longevity for current and future generations.
Source: 2014 Illinois House campaign website, BostForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Richard Durbin:
Simpson-Bowles got it right. put everything on the table
Q: The Democrats want more revenue, Republicans want to deal with the entitlements. Where is there a reason to be hopeful that Congress can get to something meaningful here?DURBIN: This may be heresy, but I think Simpson-Bowles got it right.
Put everything on the table. We know that come ten years from now, Medicare is not sustainable financially. We've got to do something. Why wait ten years to see that reality? We know that Social Security has 20 years or perhaps less.
What are we going to do about it today, in a small way, that will give it this longevity. And I have to say to the Republican side, for goodness' sake, we have a tax code that takes
$1.3 trillion out of the treasury each year and in that, we cannot find some savings, closing some loopholes, quote, raising revenue? Well, of course we can.
Source: Meet the Press 2013 on 2014 Illinois Senate race
Oct 13, 2013
Jim Oberweis:
Voted NO on increasing state employees' pension plans
Oberweis voted Nay on SB 1, "Amends State Employees' Pension Plans". Bill Passed Senate 30-22. Vote Smart's Synopsis: - Establishes the "Optional Cash Balance Plan" which provides to participating Tier I employees an automatic annual increase
in retirement annuity of 3%, or 1/2 of the annual unadjusted percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, of the original granted retirement annuity
- Authorizes Tier I employees from the following retirement systems to opt into the Optional Cash
Balance Plan: Teachers, State Employees, State Universities, Judges, General Assembly.
- Requires Tier I employees to make a decision to opt into the retirement annuity plan by May 31, 2014
- Requires Tier I employees participating in the Optional Cash
Balance Plan to make a contribution to the applicable retirement system at the rate of 2 percent of each payment of salary
- Authorizes a participant in the optional cash balance plan to begin collecting a retirement annuity at age 59 and one-half
Source: VoteSmart synopsis of Illinois 2013-2014 voting records
Mar 20, 2013
Pat Quinn:
Balance budget by reforming our public pension systems
Do we want, in the years to come, a prosperous Illinois where working people continue to have good jobs, where businesses thrive, and where all our children have a world-class education? Or do we want to stop the progress and watch our economic recovery
stall?This is a choice about whether we'll make the tough decisions necessary to balance our budget by reforming our public pension systems, or whether we will let our jobs, our safety, and our schools be squeezed out by skyrocketing pension costs.
We have a tall task ahead of us. This is no small issue. And doing what's hard isn't always what's popular at the moment. But, we must remember that hard is not impossible.
We cannot allow our economic recovery to be held hostage by the pension crisis.
We simply must act. Our vision for our Illinois cannot be fully realized without pension reform. This problem cannot be delayed, deferred, or delegated to the next session, or to the next generation.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Illinois Legislature
Feb 6, 2013
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021