Interviews during 2018-2020: on Social Security


Andrew Yang: Universal Basic Income recipients might lose other benefits

To receive UBI, citizens would have to choose between the $1,000 or any existing welfare benefits--potentially including Social Security, disability insurance, food stamps, and housing assistance. It's unclear whether Yang's UBI would be worth that trade-off for many low-income families. Yang's press secretary could not provide a "full list of programs.but health care is definitely not considered part of someone's current benefits when talking about the Freedom Dividend."
Source: Mother Jones magazine on 2020 Democratic primary Apr 23, 2019

Beto O`Rourke: 2012: Protect retirees, but make changes for the future

O`Rourke campaigned during his 2012 congressional race on a platform that called for possibly changing Social Security, specifically citing means-testing and extending the retirement age.

"The people who paid into Social Security and who are earning their checks back from investment in Social Security, that needs to be protected. That's inviolable. But going forward for future generations, we need to look at things like means testing," O`Rourke said. "We need to look at perhaps a later age at which my kids are going to retire."

On his campaign YouTube page, he said preserving Social Security required future generations "retiring at a later age, paying a greater percentage of their income into Social Security and making other necessary adjustments to make sure that that program is around for all those that work and contribute to the benefit of this country."

Source: CNN KFile on 2020 Democratic primary contenders Mar 19, 2019

Beto O`Rourke: 2012: Maybe raise age; 2019: Against raising age

[In first Congressional campaign, suggested raising retirement age and means testing.] O`Rourke's campaign spokesman, said O`Rourke opposed efforts in Congress to increase the retirement age. "On Social Security, Beto was acknowledging that it's very possible Congress would look at that debate around raising the age in the future. He does not say he supports it or recommends it. Beto was interested in looking at possible ideas for ensuring the solvency of Social Security for future generations," the spokesman said. "He ultimately found a solution that he endorsed and co-sponsored called the Social Security 2100 Act, which extends the solvency of the program without raising the retirement age. While Beto has not taken any action to raise the retirement age, he has opposed efforts to raise the retirement age and voted against measures to privatize Social Security."
Source: CNN KFile on 2020 Democratic primary contenders Mar 19, 2019

Beto O`Rourke: 2012: raise retirement age; apply means-testing

During his first run for Congress O'Rourke did a campaign video to tell people that "we'll have to look at future generations retiring at a later age, paying a greater percentage of their income into Social Security and making other necessary adjustments." And, the Wall Street Journal reports, "in a candidate questionnaire published two days before the May 2012 primary, Mr. O'Rourke called for raising the Social Security eligibility age and means-testing federal entitlements." After becoming a congressman, O'Rourke backtracked and, as Politico reports, "co-sponsored legislation that would increase Social Security benefits--without raising the retirement age."
Source: Common Dreams "Reinventing Beto," on 2020 Democratic primary Mar 1, 2019

  • The above quotations are from Interviews during 2018-2020, interviewing Democratic presidential hopefuls for 2020.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Joe Biden on Social Security.
  • Click here for more quotes by Cory Booker on Social Security.
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: Dec 01, 2021