State of Utah Archives: on Social Security


Allen Glines: Ensure solvency of Social Security & Medicare

Source: 2021 Utah Senate campaign website AllenGlines.com Jul 21, 2021

Austin Searle: Maximize benefits, lower retirement age to 52

Maximizing our Social Security benefits and maintaining our current income will be my main priority. Maximizing this will allow us to increase our Social Security benefits each year while maintaining our other earnings, which will not decrease our current SS benefits. The retirement age is currently set to at least 62, but many of us plan to retire by the time we reach our 50's. I believe in decreasing the period of retirement benefits to the age of 52.
Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

Mitt Romney: Bipartisan effort with Mitt Romney to shore up entitlements

Two Utah politicians, Sen. Mitt Romney and Rep. Ben McAdams, are part of a bipartisan effort to keep Social Security and Medicare from running out of money. McAdams said millions of people depend on the benefits they've earned through a lifetime of hard work. "We owe it to them and to future generations to carefully consider the options that will protect and strengthen these vital programs. Republicans and Democrats must keep the promises we've made about aging with dignity in our country," he said.

"It's irresponsible for Congress to keep ignoring a preventable crisis," Romney said. "We must put in place a responsible process now to prevent dramatic cuts to programs like Social Security and Medicare or be forced to enact massive tax hikes down the road, both of which would be devastating to middle class Americans."

Source: KSL Salt Lake City on 2018 Utah Senate race Oct 30, 2019

Craig Bowden: Voluntary phase out for younger generations

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?

A: I believe in a voluntary phase out for younger generations.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

Misty Snow: Remove cap on Social Security withholdings

Social Security provides a very necessary and important safety net for our elderly and disabled citizens, and I want to ensure that this safety net remains strong for a long time to come.

Our Social Security fund currently has enough money to pay full benefits for at least the next 20 years. To extend this safety net far into the future, I support removing the cap on Social Security withholdings which is currently set at $118,500. We should not be giving tax breaks to the very wealthy even though they are the ones that are most able to afford it. Everyone should be required to pay the same rate for Social Security withholding. This will protect Social Security benefits for citizens for many years to come.

Source: 2016 Utah Senate campaign website MistyKSnow.com Aug 8, 2016

Jonathan Swinton: Reduce Social Security taxes on entrepreneurs

Some ideas I plan to address when I reach the Senate:
Source: 2016 Utah Senate campaign website, VoteSwinton.com Oct 9, 2015

Dan Liljenquist: Different deal for those who still have time to adjust

Social Security and Medicare are programs that must be reformed while honoring our commitments to those who have paid into the system for decades and who have planned their future around them. We must keep our promises to our seniors while creating a different deal for those who still have time to adjust.
Source: 2012 Senate campaign website, danforutah.com May 24, 2012

Mike Lee: Raise the retirement age to save Social Security

Granato and Lee disagreed about how to handle illegal immigration, gays in the military, radioactive waste disposal in Utah and how to save Social Security.

On Social Security, Lee said Americans must raise the retirement age to save it. Granato said Social Security must be protected, but without that step.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune coverage of 2010 Utah Senate debate Sep 17, 2010

Sam Granato: Keep the retirement age but protect Social Security

Granato and Lee disagreed about how to handle illegal immigration, gays in the military, radioactive waste disposal in Utah and how to save Social Security.

On Social Security, Lee said Americans must raise the retirement age to save it. Granato said Social Security must be protected, but without that step.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune coverage of 2010 Utah Senate debate Sep 17, 2010

Orrin Hatch: Preserve Social Security fund in “Lockbox” until needed

Among my biggest priorities is ensuring the solvency of Social Security. We need more than the bandaid approach that President Clinton has offered. We need sound reform to keep this program on a secure financial footing; and that is just what we had in mind recently when we passed the Social Security “Lockbox.” This measure sequesters all FICA funds not currently needed and preserves them intact until such time as they are necessary.
Source: Speech to the 12th Annual Utah Seniors Conference May 10, 1999

  • The above quotations are from State of Utah Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Social Security:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021