Survey of 2006 House campaign websites: on Social Security


Brad Ellsworth: Privatization removes the guarantee and reduces the benefit

I’ll protect Social Security. Social Security is a guaranteed benefit. Privatization removes the guarantee and reduces the benefit. I will work to strengthen Social Security and oppose any plan that threatens it.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, ellsworthforcongress.com Nov 7, 2006

Bruce Braley: Protect Social Security from risky privatization

Republicans have a plan to privatize Social Security if they get the chance--and Bruce’s opponent has been a huge supporter of privatization. Bruce Braley will protect Social Security and people’s retirement. Bruce will stand against risky Social Security privatization schemes that put guaranteed benefits in jeopardy. Privatization is incredibly costly--transition costs would add $4.9 trillion to the federal debt over the first 20 years such a plan would be in effect.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.brucebraley.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

David Loebsack: I will never vote to privatize Social Security

I will never vote to privatize Social Security. The system is in need of significant reform but it is not in crisis. The Bush administration’s attempts to privatize this most vital and successful of social programs are misplaced and threaten the retirement security of millions of Americans. We know that Bush’s proposals will do nothing to remedy the long-term solvency problem and will only reduce benefits for recipients when they reach retirement age.
Source: 2006 House campaign website loebsackforcongress.org “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Ed Perlmutter: No private accounts

We need to provide long-term solvency for Social Security, but I will never advocate privatizing it. Draining funds out of the Social Security Trust Fund in order to pay for so-called “private accounts” as Pres. Bush has called for, will only make the long-term solvency problem worse.

We need to restore a sense of fiscal discipline to the federal government because the huge deficits we are running threaten the Social Security Trust Fund--[we need] pay-as-you-go rules for managing federal spending.

Source: 2006 House campaign website, perlmutter2006.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Harry Mitchell: Serious overhaul like privatization is unneeded

Without question, Social Security is one of our nation’s most successful and important programs. In the years ahead, Social Security will face a challenge. But this challenge is not a crisis. While we do need to take steps to ensure Social Security’s sound financial footing, I do not believe it needs a serious overhaul like privatization. The last thing we need is radical Social Security privatization proposals that will undermine Social Security and cut guaranteed benefits.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, harry2006.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Heath Shuler: No privatizing nor dismantling

This contract between the generations is inarguably the most successful social program ever implemented in the history of the US. Yet the Bush Administration wants to dismantle Social Security by placing large portions of its funds in the hands of Wall Street executives. They want to privatize Social Security and risk the retirement that millions of American seniors have earned and make billions of dollars for themselves while doing it. I will never support these dangerous and expensive giveaways.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.heathshuler.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Jason Altmire: Strongly oppose privatizing Social Security

Jason Altmire will strongly oppose any plan to privatize Social Security, a program that has worked well for more than 70 years.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.jasonaltmire.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Jerry McNerney: $712 billion for private accounts puts future in danger

The future of Social Security is in danger. Just when we thought the Republicans were backing off, we find that the President included $712 billion for ‘private accounts’ in the current budget. Social Security, which keeps half of America’s seniors from falling into poverty, must not be transformed into a risky personal investment scheme. It is the mainstay of our social ‘safety net,’ and its health and security must be a top priority.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, jerrymcnerney.org, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Joe Courtney: Oppose any plan that jeopardizes or privatizes the system

Joe Courtney will make protecting Social Security his top priority. He’ll oppose any plan that jeopardizes the Social Security Trust Fund, or privatizes the system to put seniors’ retirement savings into the unpredictable stock market. Shoring up Social Security now will avoid a crushing burden on our children and grandchildren. Courtney signed the Campaign for America’s Future Pledge to protect Social Security against schemes to place the program at risk through privatization.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.joecourtney.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Joe Donnelly: Opposes any plan that tries to privatize & recklessly gamble

Social security is vital to millions of seniors and should be a guaranteed benefit. I will not support any plan that tries to privatize Social Security. I will not allow any person, political party, or special interest group to recklessly gamble with your Social Security benefits. I will work tirelessly to insure that Social Security remains financially sound and stable so that all of us, young and old, receive the benefits to which we are entitled.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, donnellyforuscongress.com Nov 7, 2006

John Hall: We must preserve Social Security, not dismantle it

Social Security is the most important safety-net program in the United States today. Its time-tested success at keeping millions of American out of poverty proves that we must preserve Social Security, not dismantle it.
Source: 2006 House campaign website johnhallforcongress.com “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

John Yarmuth: I oppose privatizing Social Security

I oppose privatizing Social Security. The privatization plan promoted by George Bush and Anne Northup would add almost $2 trillion to the national debt and it would do nothing to solve whatever cash low problems that may or may not exist in the current system. There is no current need to adjust what has been one of the country’s most successful social insurance programs.
Source: 2006 House campaign website yarmuthforcongress.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Peter Welch: Fight the ideological agenda of privatization

Peter will fight the ideological agenda of privatization to assure every American has a secure retirement. Peter will fight in Congress to preserve Social Security and ensure it remains a critical safety net to retiring Americans. Peter includes Social Security among his three planks for economic security that should be available to every American. Peter argues that the privatization agenda by President Bush and the Republican leaders in Congress is active, is real, and is wrong.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, welchforcongress.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Phil Hare: Total opposition to any type of privatizing

America’s Families have benefited from Social Security for over 70 years. I support a balanced Social Security plan for guaranteed benefits so that we can continue providing for the people who rely on it today and for future generations who will need it. I am also in total opposition to any type of privatizing of Social Security. Private accounts would make building the Social Security system even harder. I believe it is far too risky and could destroy the system all together.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, friendsofphilhare.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Steve Cohen: Oppose the Bush “private accounts” Wall Street windfall

People, especially those with low incomes, are understandably worried about the future stability of Social Security. The biggest threats to Social Security, in addition to Congressional spinelessness, are the massive U.S. debts that have been allowed to undermine the economy in the past six years. I will work to strengthen Social Security. I oppose the Bush “private accounts” designed to create a windfall for Wall Street.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, cohenforcongress.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Tim Mahoney: Preserve Social Security

Source: 2006 House campaign website, timmahoneyforflorida.com Nov 7, 2006

Tim Walberg: Allow younger workers’ personal investment accounts

Tim supports President Bush’s efforts to expand our ownership society by allowing younger workers to voluntarily invest a portion of their payroll taxes and allowing the money to be secured in personal investment accounts.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, walbergforcongress.com “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Ron Klein: No personal accounts, no privatization

Pres. Bush has vowed to revive his attempts next year to “fix” Social Security’s long-term financing, and Democrats are warning against what they call Republican plans to “privatize” the popular program. The issue is of vital concern to South Florida, home to more than 880,000 Social Security recipients. Advocacy groups accused Rep. Shaw of proposing investment accounts that they think would undermine the current system. Klein said, “He’s offering personal accounts, which is a form of privatization, and borrowing billions to pay for it.“ Klein favors modernizing Social Security to trim costs while looking to a bipartisan commission to recommend ways to keep the system solvent. Shaw said he does not intend to cut benefits or scuttle the traditional program. He said that his investment accounts would supplement Social Security, not replace it. ”I don’t privatize it,“ Shaw said. ”I don’t change the existing system. I do add opportunity, which will let workers choose investments.“
Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.ronklein2006.com, “Issues” Sep 27, 2006

  • The above quotations are from Survey of 2006 House campaign websites.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2016 Presidential contenders on Social Security:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Nov 30, 2018