Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites: on Social Security
Mike Rounds:
Entitlements insolvent but no changes for current recipients
Entitlement Reform: Mike believes meaningful and appropriate reforms must take place, if the U.S. is to balance its budget. Current entitlement programs are not solvent and federal deficit spending already threatens our national economy.
However, any reforms must also take into consideration current beneficiaries and the long-term economic impact.
Source: 2014 S.D. Senate campaign website, RoundsForSenate.com
Oct 9, 2014
Thomas Ravenel:
Opt out of Medicare without forfeiting Social Security
For Medicare, I believe premiums should be means-tested for seniors based on their lifetime income. There should be less government coercion and more individual freedom in Medicare. For example, if a senior opted out of Medicare that senior would
automatically forfeit all of his or her Social Security benefits! Also, if a doctor were to accept a senior patient who is not a Medicare enrollee, that doctor would automatically forfeit all of his or her Medicare patients. This is patently wrong,
especially in a country that claims to be the "Land of the Free."Seniors should be able to opt out of Medicare and instead receive "means tested" vouchers to purchase private insurance. If they want a more expensive private plan they can always
supplement their vouchers with private funds, just as they do now with Medigap plans.
Medicare vouchers would let the market--not central planners in Washington--determine prices, payment systems, delivery systems, and how to reward quality.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
Randall Batson:
Opt in/opt out of payroll deduction choice
Personal Retirement Saving Plans: What if people were recipients of their own contributions? The idea is payroll deduction choice. Individuals could opt-in, opt-out, and adjust percentage payments anytime. Individual choice requires ownership.
Individuals would be owners of these savings accounts. Funds could be transitioned to existing pensions, 401K's, or savings accounts, IRA's, life insurance policies, CD's, savings accounts, or to spend as they like. We should not tax these investments.
Source: 2014 Kansas Senate campaign website batson4senate.weebly.com
Aug 31, 2014
Randall Batson:
Opt in/opt out of payroll deduction choice
Department of Education: Federal involvement in public schools is unnecessary and has diminished our standing in the world. Private schools should be funded, and parents and students should be free to choose schools.
Teachers should compete for students. Eliminating the DOE is necessary to return states to their proper role in administering education.
Source: 2014 Kansas Senate campaign website batson4senate.weebly.com
Aug 31, 2014
Shenna Bellows:
Scrap the Cap: highest-paid Americans pay their fair share
Social Security is funded by an outdated system that caps taxpayer contributions to a percentage of the first $117,000 they earn. That means millionaires and even billionaires pay the same amount into Social Security as someone who makes $117,000 a year.
Nobody thinks it's fair, everybody knows it has to change--and Congress hasn't done anything about it. I support a solution called "Scrap the Cap" that eliminates the taxable cap and makes sure the highest-paid Americans pay their fair share.
This is the fiscally responsible way to expand Social Security benefits.I am passionate about strengthening and expanding Social Security benefits for our seniors and future generations. I support legislation that would expand Social Security benefits
like the "Strengthening Social Security Act" and the RAISE Act. I strongly oppose privatization of Social Security and proposals like means testing or raising the retirement age that would undermine the fundamental promise of Social Security.
Source: 2014 Maine Senate campaign website BellowsForSenate.com
Aug 31, 2014
Gordon Ball:
No scare tactics: system is solvent for next 20 years
Too many politicians have been using scare tactics when it comes to Social Security. The problems in Social Security funding are serious, but they are fixable.
Social Security is safe for at least the next 20 years, and if we act quickly, we can make modest changes that will keep the system solvent without cutting back on benefits. We need honesty and political will to move forward.
Social Security is a promise made to our seniors, and it would be a breach of trust not to mention poor economic policy to jeopardize this program with unnecessary cuts or risky privatization schemes.
As Senator, I'll fight for Tennessee's one million seniors to ensure that they receive the respect and care they deserve in their retirement.
Source: 2014 Tennessee Senate campaign website, GordonBallSenate.com
Aug 7, 2014
Sam Rankin:
Phase in age increase and more realistic CPI
Social Security- No changes for current retirees but would be phased in over 20 years.
- Gradually increase early and full retirement based on life expectancy.
-
Increase taxable maximum wage to cover 90% of wages by 2050.
- Use a more realistic CPI.
- Require all new hires after 2022 (state-local) to be under Social Security.
Source: 2014 Montana Senate campaign website, SamRankin.com
Jul 27, 2014
Nels Mitchell:
The greatest generation earned their retirement security
My parents were part of America's "greatest generation." I know how hard they--and millions like them--worked to achieve the American dream. Seniors should have the resources and independence to
enjoy the quality of life we as Idahoans and Americans enjoy. Unlike my opponent, I will not waver in my support for Medicare and Social Security benefits.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jul 1, 2014
Brad Hutto:
Opposes any attempt to harm Medicare and Social Security
Brad will fight any attempt to balance the budget on the backs of senior citizens who have already made huge sacrifices for our country.
He will oppose any attempt to harm Medicare and Social Security.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, BradHutto.com
Jun 25, 2014
Connie Johnson:
Don't privatize our country's promises to our seniors
As our U.S. Senator, Connie will strengthen Social Security and Medicare by spending smarter and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse in the system. She'll work to improve coordination between patients, doctors, and hospitals, and she'll also work to allow
Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. We don't privatize our country's promises to our workers and our seniors. We must protect and preserve these pivotal programs for our children and grandchildren.
Source: 2014 Okla. Senate campaign website, cj4ok.com
Jun 25, 2014
Dave Domina:
Defend current retirement age, COLAs, and benefits
A Nation gives its word by passing a law, and allows its people to make choices [based on that law]. This is the essence of democracy. Social Security taxes collected to finance retirement, Medicare taxes financed to pay for health care during
retirement, Veterans benefits earned by time served, are all examples. These are essential government services exchanged for payments to the Government's program. Once the Nation's word is given and people act on that word, the Government cannot pull the
rug out from under its own People.I support, and defend the Social Security System, current COLAs, delivery of promised benefits, and oppose raising the qualification age on terms that would be harmful to innocent victims who are members of
demographic groups for whom there is no expectation of increased longevity like that enjoyed by persons of substantial means, and primarily Caucasians. My opponent takes the opposite view.
Source: 2014 Neb. Senate campaign website, DaveDomina.com
May 15, 2014
David Alameel:
Vows to NEVER cut Social Security and Medicare
Social Security and Medicare are promises to the seniors who worked hard, paid into the system all their lives and made our country what it is today. In the Senate, David Alameel will always honor that promise because he understands that our seniors
have earned a dignified retirement.He vows to NEVER cut Social Security and Medicare and will fight any attempt by Washington politicians like John Cornyn to turn these programs over to Wall Street and privatize them.
Source: 2014 Texas Senate campaign website
May 15, 2014
Joyce Dickerson:
Make sure seniors receive the benefits they have earned
Joyce will fight for America's declining middle class. She is dedicated to helping secure the jobs of the everyday citizen. Joyce is also an advocate of seniors and veterans, making sure they receive the benefits that they have earned.
Joyce believes that individual security promotes personal success, which is the first step to the security of the family, community and nation. She will support education, public safety, social security and national security.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website JoyceDickersonSC.com
May 15, 2014
Monica Wehby:
Put entitlements on a path to being financially secure
Our seniors spent their entire lives paying into those systems and Monica will oppose any change to the benefits that have already been promised to seniors who are at or near retirement. However, these programs are on track to become
insolvent, leaving the next generation of seniors to face the possibility that they will face serious cuts to their benefits. In order to make sure that doesn't happen, we need to enact legislation that puts them on a path to being financially secure.
Source: 2014 Ore. Senate campaign website, www.MonicaForOregon.com
Mar 18, 2014
David Clements:
Keep promises for seniors; significant reforms if younger
We must keep our promises to seniors and not change benefits for those who are currently receiving or soon will receive Social Security or Medicare. Individuals who have paid into these programs for much of their lives have made decisions based on
promised benefits, and those promises should be kept. For younger people, such as those in their 20s, 30s & 40s, these mandatory programs are unsustainable & unreliable. We must begin to phase in significant reforms for the benefit of future generations.
Source: 2014 N.M. Senate campaign website, ClementsForNM.com
Feb 18, 2014
John Walsh:
Fight to protect crucial benefits for Montana's seniors
Our seniors have spent their lifetimes working and paying into Social Security & Medicare. They deserve to have the benefits and services they have earned and are counting on in their retirements.
I will fight to protect these crucial benefits against Washington special interests that seek to balance our budget on the backs of Montana's seniors.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, JohnWalsh2014.com, "Issues"
Feb 10, 2014
Natalie Tennant:
Oppose privatization; support cost-of-living adjustments
West Virginians believe in honoring the wisdom and experience of our senior citizens. They have worked hard and earned the right to respect and dignity as they age.Social Security is an important income security program for Americans, and I oppose
any effort to privatize the program. There are ways to help insure the program's solvency without jeopardizing benefits to those who receive them.
For many of our seniors, including my father, Social Security is a sole source of stable income after retirement. I oppose any attempt to privatize or cut Social Security benefits for any reason.
I support the annual cost-of-living adjustment for
Social Security and I oppose efforts to change the formula, especially formula adjustments that do not take into account the significantly higher health-care and drug costs our seniors pay.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, NatalieTennant.com, "Issues"
Feb 3, 2014
Matt Silverstein:
Medicare & Social Security are sacred promises to seniors
We must protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security. These are sacred promises to our seniors who worked hard their entire lives. Partisan gridlock and career politicians are threatening to jeopardize these programs for our children and
grandchildren. Matt's practical approach to investing wisely when we can afford it and cutting wasteful spending and attacking waste, fraud, and abuse is an important first step in keeping these programs solvent.Instead of protecting and preserving
these vital programs, Jim Inhofe plans to end Medicare as we know it: thousands of Oklahoma's current seniors would see their out of pocket costs increased by nearly $6,000 per year and forced back into the prescription drug "donut hole."
Jim Inhofe believes that in order to avoid cutting benefits in the future, we must cut benefits now. We must balance the budget and get our fiscal house in order but Matt will not support policies that require senior's to foot the bill.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, MattForOklahoma.com, "Issues"
Nov 11, 2013
Rick Weiland:
2002: Served as State Director of AARP
In 2002, Rick took over as the State Director for the AARP. He advocated on behalf of South Dakota seniors and for the protection of Social Security and Medicare. Rick was responsible for 85,000 members,
developed and implemented numerous successful statewide campaigns to increase membership, participation, value to members, awareness and advocacy, including the establishment of a Senior Bill of Rights.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, rickweiland.com, "Priorities"
Oct 9, 2013
Joni Ernst:
Preserve and protect Social Security & Medicare
Protecting Social Security and Medicare: Joni believes strongly that Social Security and Medicare must be preserved and protected for our seniors of today and tomorrow. She opposes any efforts to change the promised benefits for today's
seniors. At the same time she supports reforms that will strengthen both Social Security and Medicare to ensure the long-term health of both programs for generations to come.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, JoniForIowa.com, "Issues"
Sep 9, 2013
Jay Stamper:
Chained CPI a bad idea
Some members of Congress want to reduce benefits for the most vulnerable members of our society by replacing the current Consumer Price Index with one that grows more slowly, the so-called "Chained CPI". I strongly oppose the adoption of the Chained CPI
for two main reasons.First, adopting the Chained CPI is the wrong prescription for our economy. If the proposal is adopted, the total disposable income of millions of Americans will be slashed, reducing the consumer spending that our economy relies on
to create jobs.
Second, implementing the Chained CPI is simply the wrong thing to do. It will hurt retirees, veterans, and those receiving disability or social security who depend on the existing Consumer Price Index to keep up with the rising cost of
healthcare. Under the Chained CPI, these Americans will find it more and more difficult to afford the medical care they need just to survive.
Please join me in calling on the President and members of Congress to take this bad idea off the table.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, jaystamper.blogspot.com
Apr 19, 2013
Murray Sabrin:
Social Security is a Ponzi scheme: Bernie Madoff on steroids
The Social Security program turned 75 years old on August 14th and the political class and their allies in the media, academia and the business world toasted the event extolling the virtues of America's longest and largest chain letter. Make no mistake
about it; Social Security is a chain letter. Think of Social Security as Bernie Madoff on steroids.While Bernie Madoff is in effect serving a life sentence for conducting a $50 billion Ponzi scheme, Social Security's Ponzi scheme is worshiped by
politicians across the political spectrum as a federal program that "works."
Social Security "works" because the federal government has the power to force workers to pay into a system that is unsustainable. Social Security is unsustainable because
it is not invested in real assets--stocks, corporate bonds, real estate, etc. Social Security has invested its surpluses in U. Treasury securities: in other words, Social Security is another way the federal government finances its budget deficits.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.MurraySabrin.com
Aug 16, 2010
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018