State of Pennsylvania secondary Archives: on Social Security
Al Gore:
Keep the ‘security’ in Social Security
“Social Security is a solemn compact. Its basic guarantee of retirement security is based on its guaranteed minimum benefit,” Gore said. “To turn Social Security into a system of winners and losers would jeopardize Social
Security for all Americans,” he said. “Gov. Bush’s plan takes the ‘security’ out of Social Security.”
Source: CNN.com reporting from Pennsylvania
May 15, 2000
Allyson Schwartz:
AdWatch: Trade benefit cuts for balancing budget
The Cooper-LaTourette budget had the backing of an array of Astroturf groups like the Concord Coalition and Fix the Debt, while the center-left Center on Budget on Policy Priorities panned it as "significantly to the right of Simpson-Bowles"--a
framework that progressive lawmakers and activists have broadly rejected for cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits. Yesterday I defended Allyson Schwartz's voting record on Social Security, but it turns out I was wrong as she was one of just
22 House Democrats to vote for Cooper-LaTourette. I reached out to the Schwartz campaign for comment on the vote, but seeing as Allyson Schwartz advertised the Concord Coalition's praise for her vote on her House page, I'm guessing she'd stand by it.
That's three organizations now--Third Way, New Democrats, and Concord Coalition--that Allyson Schwartz is aligned with who sell out progressives by cutting bad deals with Republicans on Social Security, public insurance benefits, and regulatory policy.
Source: KeystonePolitics AdWatch: 2014 Pennsylvania Governor race
Dec 5, 2013
Allyson Schwartz:
No further reductions in the public pension benefits
All four candidates would maintain a defined benefit pension program for public employees and would oppose switching the system to a 401(k)-style plan and further delaying the state's annual pension obligation payments. McCord, McGinty and Schwartz
oppose further reductions in the pension benefits of public employees, while Wolf would not say whether he would support or oppose such reductions. None put forward a specific plan to fully fund the state's pension funds.
Source: Washington Times on 2014 Pennsylvania governor race
May 17, 2014
Brendan Boyle:
Repay the Trust Fund in full
I would take steps to make sure that the Social Security Trust Fund is repaid in full for the funds it has loaned during decades of surpluses. One of the greatest strengths of Social Security is that it is financed
by a dedicated revenue stream and is self-funding. Social Security has not contributed to this nation's deficit and we can't look to the program to solve our budget crisis.
Source: 2014 Pennsylvania House campaign website, VoteBoyle.com
Oct 10, 2014
Ken Krawchuk:
Privatize Social Security
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?
A: Support. (Not a state issue.)
Source: OnTheIssues interview: 2018 Pennsylvania Governor candidate
May 18, 2018
Joe Sestak:
Never raise, never, the age for our seniors to retire
Katie McGinty accused Joe Sestak of supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Sestak said she was distorting his record and relying on negativity.McGinty has cited Sestak's praise for the 2010 Simpson-Bowles plan's broad deficit-reduction
blueprint, an outline that includes cuts to Social Security, to go after him on that issue.
Sestak did not let that stand. "Katie, you're wrong--here's why--you should remember, as I do as a Catholic, the
Eighth Commandment," he said, citing the order to not bear false witness against a neighbor. He said he has publicly advocated that "we should never raise, never, the age for our seniors to retire." Sestak also said he voted 41 times as a congressman
to protect Social Security and Medicare.
Republicans pointed out that McGinty's campaign chairman, former Gov. Ed Rendell, has often praised the courage of lawmakers who have embraced the deficit reduction plan she is now criticizing.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer on 2016 Pennsylvania Senate debate
Apr 6, 2016
Joe Sestak:
Never supported policy to cut Social Security or Medicare
A lawyer representing Sestak's campaign committee wrote to Allentown's WFMZ-TV, one of the stations airing the ad from Women Vote, the independent expenditure arm of Emily's List. His attorney argues that the 30-second spot is "false and misleading"
and should be removed. "Joe Sestak has never introduced, outlined, supported, or voted for any plan, legislation or policy that would make cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits," attorney Bret Binder wrote.
Source: The Morning Call on 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race
Apr 15, 2016
Joe Sestak:
Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement security
Democratic candidate Rep. Joe Sestak staked out social security as a battleground, lambasting Republican opponent Rep. Pat Toomey for supporting privatization and dropping two new attack ads to drive home the message. "Social
Security is the cornerstone of our retirement security," said Sestak in a statewide conference call with seniors Tuesday. "It's outrageous that Congressman Toomey wants to gamble our social security on Wall Street."
Source: Huffington Post on 2010 Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 12, 2010
Katie McGinty:
No further reductions in the public pension benefits
All four candidates would maintain a defined benefit pension program for public employees and would oppose switching the system to a 401(k)-style plan and further delaying the state's annual pension obligation payments. McCord, McGinty and Schwartz
oppose further reductions in the pension benefits of public employees, while Wolf would not say whether he would support or oppose such reductions. None put forward a specific plan to fully fund the state's pension funds.
Source: Washington Times on 2014 Pennsylvania governor race
May 17, 2014
Katie McGinty:
Cuts to Social Security are wrong for working families
Katie McGinty accused Joe Sestak of supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare, citing Sestak's praise for the 2010 Simpson-Bowles plan's broad deficit-reduction blueprint, an outline that includes cuts to Social Security, to go after him on that
issue. "My parents retired on Social Security, we couldn't have made it without it--that's the wrong choice and wrong for working families," she said.
Her campaign noted that in a January speech Sestak cited the plan as a template for raising revenues and addressing "the proper reform of entitlements."Sestak did not let that stand. "Katie, you're wrong," noting that he voted 41 times as a
congressman to protect Social Security and Medicare.
Republicans pointed out that McGinty's campaign chairman, former Gov. Ed Rendell, has often praised the courage of lawmakers who have embraced the deficit reduction plan she is now criticizing.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer on 2016 Pennsylvania Senate debate
Apr 6, 2016
Lou Barletta:
Supports safety net of Social Security and Medicare
Since day one, I have been committed to preserving and protecting Social Security for both current retirees and future generations of Americans. I want it to be there for both my children and grandchildren.
I do not support efforts to privatize Social Security or eliminate Medicare and never have. Both programs provide an important safety net promised to workers who have been paying into the system.
Source: 2018 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial website LouBarletta.com
Lou Barletta:
Explore privatization of Social Security
Q: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security?Lou Barletta (R): Supported 2011 Ryan budget that would have explored privatization.
Bob Casey (D): No.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Rick Saccone:
Closing $60B pension deficit is step in the right direction
Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny/Washington) issued the following statement after the House voted 136-59 to pass a historic pension reform bill which will address Pennsylvania's staggering nearly $60 billion pension deficit:
"Today, the House voted to reform Pennsylvania's pension system--a system that has been bankrupting our state for decades.
The bill we passed today will provide significant savings in the long run, for local property taxpayers and school districts, both of whom are suffering, without impacting current employees and retirees.
While Senate Bill 1071 does not go far enough, it is an important step in the right direction."
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Source: Press release on Pennsylvania voting records for SB1071
Jun 14, 2016
Tom Corbett:
Resolve our pension crisis for state employees, without cuts
The entire system of state pensions has become a mountain of debt, and the avalanche could bury our economic growth, swallow up benefits for our elderly, education for our children, and transportation for our economy.We cannot let that happen.
We cannot allow hard-working teachers and state employees to be threatened by the loss of their pensions. Resolving our pension crisis will be the single most important thing we do.
I will not allow any cuts to any benefits of our retirees.
Let me repeat that: no cuts to any retiree benefits. They earned their retirement. They earned their guaranteed security. Nor will I allow any pension dollars already earned by any current employee to be diminished in any way.
What we need to do, going forward from this time, is to create a new 401(k)-style retirement benefit for our future employees consistent with the retirement packages currently enjoyed almost universally by private sector employees.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Pennsylvania Legislature
Feb 5, 2013
Tom Smith:
Let younger people partially opt out with private accounts
Tom Smith, in March 2012, expressed support for privatizing Social Security. Smith said he supported having "younger people opt-out a portion" of Social Security in order to create private accounts.
At a candidate forum in December 2011, in reference to Social Security Smith said, "in the future people got to be allowed to invest their own if they so wish" in private accounts.
Source: Report on Pennsylvania Leadership Conference
Mar 24, 2012
Tom Wolf:
Maintain defined benefit for public pensions instead of 401k
All four Democratic candidates would maintain a defined benefit pension program for public employees and would oppose switching the system to a 401(k)-style plan and further delaying the state's annual pension obligation payments. McCord, McGinty and
Schwartz oppose further reductions in the pension benefits of public employees, while Wolf would not say whether he would support or oppose such reductions. None put forward a specific plan to fully fund the state's pension funds.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate
May 10, 2014
Tom Wolf:
Stop paying Wall Street millions to manage PA pension fund
We need a new approach--and we need to question the decisions that got us to where we are today. For example, why are we paying Wall Street managers hundreds of millions of dollars to manage our pension fund?
That doesn't help our middle class, it doesn't help our seniors, and it needs to change.So, here's what we are going to do: We are going to stop excessive fees to Wall Street managers. We're going to improve retirement security for state workers.
With these and other improvements, we are going to save taxpayers nearly 1.3 billion dollars over the next five years while creating savings of 10 billion dollars in the unfunded liability.
Individually, these reforms aim to increase efficiency and eliminate wasteful spending. But taken together, they make big strides toward a larger goal: a government that works.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Pennsylvania Legislature
Mar 3, 2015
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023