2020 CO Senatorial race: on Social Security

Cory Gardner: Social Security one of the most important social safety nets

Gardner: I'm going to continue to protect Social Security. It's one of the most important social safety nets that we have as a country. Medicare and Social Security are two of the key things that we have for generations of Americans who have paid into them. We have to make sure that they are safeguarded so they can continue to pay out to those people who have invested all of their lives into these programs. We need to make sure that people stop borrowing against the Social Security trust fund.

Q: Your senior healthcare policy?

Gardner: I've worked hard to promote $10 billion for nursing homes, with additional dollars going toward their relief during COVID-19 so that they will be in place long-term. I've also worked hard to fight for reimbursement for telemedicine, telehealth visits through Medicare and other programs. Seniors who are able to receive care at home without having to go to the doctor will result in better care.

John Hickenlooper: Protect Social Security; oppose attempts to reduce benefits

Hickenlooper: I will fight to protect Social Security, oppose any attempt to reduce benefits and work to ensure that every senior can retire with dignity. Social Security is essential to our nation's safety net. The rising costs of food, housing and transportation means that those dollars need to go even further. Social Security is an intergenerational promise between Americans that we will care for each other as we age. We cannot balance the budget on the backs of seniors.

Gardner: I'm going to continue to protect Social Security. It's one of the most important social safety nets that we have. Medicare and Social Security are two of the key things that we have for generations of Americans who have paid into them. We have to make sure that they are safeguarded so they can continue to pay out to those people who have invested all of their lives. We need to make sure that people stop borrowing against the Social Security trust fund.

John Hickenlooper: Protect and bolster Social Security, Medicare

Andrew Romanoff: Optional personal retirement accounts, but no privatization

Romanoff told reporters to look at the facts. Senate Joint Resolution 28 signed by Romanoff in 2004 resolved to "support optional personal retirement accounts and not support increases in payroll taxes and cuts to Social Security benefits."

The resolution pushed optional savings accounts as a way to provide younger workers the opportunity to net greater savings by retirement age. Romanoff said that any money generated through the program would come on top of money already paid into social security.

Michael Bennet: Optional personal retirement accounts ARE privatization

Romanoff responded that the 2004 Senate Joint Resolution "does not say that it will divert money out of Social Security. I wouldn't have voted for it if it did."

The Bennet camp followed the flier with a new press release: "Romanoff surrounds himself with seniors in a shameful attempt to show his support. What he isn't telling them is that Speaker Romanoff voted to privatize Social Security. A move that would have stripped many seniors from their only source of income."

SJR 28 in 2004 resolved to "support optional personal retirement accounts and not support increases in payroll taxes and cuts to Social Security benefits."

Andrew Romanoff: Raise cap on income subject to Social Security tax