2012 Maine Senate Debates: on Social Security


Charlie Summers: Remove disability coverage from Social Security

Believes that Social Security has morphed over decades from a program designed to provide a supplement for retirees, into a program that covers a host of disabilities. Quote: "While I think that the issue of disability is an important one, it shouldn't funded through Social Security, it should be funded through Human Services."
Source: Public Broadcasting "Your Vote 2012" Maine Senate debate Sep 1, 2012

Cynthia Dill: Stop raiding Social Security Trust Fund

Believes that Social Security is important and must be saved, by taking a hard look at raising caps on income, and raising the retirement age. Quote: "There are plenty of seniors I know that want to work past the age of 65 or 67 and have the capacity to, and should be able to." Said government must also stop raiding Social Security Trust Fund.
Source: Public Broadcasting "Your Vote 2012" Maine Senate debate Sep 1, 2012

Matt Dunlap: Remove cap on earnings to sustain system

Believes the Social Security trust fund should be off limits to funding other things, such as the war in Iraq. Believes the system should be sustained, and supports removing the cap on earnings subject to social security taxes. Has reservations about raising the retirement age because it would penalize those who are unable to work beyond the age of 66.
Source: Public Broadcasting "Your Vote 2012" Maine Senate debate Sep 1, 2012

Scott D`Amboise: Option to invest in private retirement program

Said those paying into the system should also have the option to invest in private retirement program. Quote: "Social Security was never intended as a retirement program. It's morphed into that and you can't get rid of it, but you can make it better."
Source: Public Broadcasting "Your Vote 2012" Maine Senate debate Sep 1, 2012

  • The above quotations are from 2012 Maine Senate Debate.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Angus King on Social Security.
  • Click here for more quotes by Matt Dunlap on Social Security.
Candidates and political leaders on Social Security:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018