Limits the cost of living increase for retirement benefits to the lesser of 2% or the average of the annual increases in the consumer price index for each month, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Source: VoteSmart summary: 2014 Colorado Senate voting record
Feb 16, 2010
Andrew Romanoff:
Optional personal retirement accounts, but no privatization
Romanoff characterized the mailer sent out by primary opponent Sen. Michael Bennet as an exercise in selective reporting. The Bennet Flier called Romanoff out on a 2004 vote urging the Colorado Congressional delegation to support what the
Bennet campaign called a "risky privatization plan." Romanoff pointed to legislation he voted on and signed as Speaker of the House in 2005 that called on the congressional delegation to protect Social Security from 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.
Source: Denver Post on 2020 Colorado Senate race
Jul 29, 2010
Andrew Romanoff:
Raise cap on income subject to Social Security tax
Currently, earners stop paying the Social Security taxes after $106,000 in income. Previous bipartisan commissions and studies have said that ceiling will need to be raised in order to keep the fund solvent. "I believe Congress should expose
incomes above $100,000 to the Social Security tax," Romanoff said. Critics of the current ceiling said it makes the system a regressive tax by allowing the highest-income earners to pay a smaller overall percentage of taxes.
Source: Denver Post on 2020 Colorado Senate race
May 18, 2010
Cary Kennedy:
Address long term solvency of the state's pension system
As Treasurer, Cary Kennedy will protect taxpayers' money and serve the long-term economic interest of the state. Cary will:- Provide prudent investment and management of state funds.
- Insist on new, higher standards of transparency and
accountability, including making available a comprehensive yearly financial report for the State of Colorado that is easily readable and provides taxpayers with an overview of the state's finances.
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Be an active and involved member of the PERA board and work to address the long term solvency of the state's pension system in a manner that is fair to both pensioners and taxpayers.
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Be a strong steward of the state's school funds.
- Promote accountability by insisting on the highest standards of ethical conduct and transparency.
Source: 2006 Colorado campaign website KennedyForTreasurer.com
Nov 4, 2006
Cory Gardner:
Social Security one of the most important social safety nets
Q: Your Social Security policy?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.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Colorado Senate race
Sep 30, 2020
Darryl Glenn:
Raise retirement age for those aged under 55 now
Q: Which of the entitlement programs would you look at first to reform or make cuts?A: Social Security reform must be addressed first, because the program payouts exceed its revenue stream.
I would strongly consider supporting a proposal to raise the retirement age to receive Social Security for individuals at least 10 years away from retirement age.
Source: Denver Post Voter Guide on 2016 Colorado Senate race
Jun 7, 2016
John Hickenlooper:
Update constitutional barriers in state's retirement program
We can make state government more effective and realize cost savings by bringing the state's antiquated personnel system into the 21st century. The state Constitution is riddled with personnel rules and administrative procedures that are obsolete and
should be reformed. We are working with state employees on a package of reforms. We are not immediately seeking legislative changes to the state's retirement program; we are mindful of the obligation to ensure that PERA is both stable and sustainable.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2012
John Hickenlooper:
Protect and bolster Social Security, Medicare
It's time to renew our promise to older and younger generations alike that a dignified and stable retirement is the cornerstone of aging in America.
We can do this by protecting Social Security and Medicare, as well as by proactively bolstering these programs so that they remain solvent for years to come.
Source: 2020 Colorado Senate campaign website Hickenlooper.com
Jul 9, 2020
John Hickenlooper:
Protect Social Security; oppose attempts to reduce benefits
Q: Your Social Security policy?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.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Colorado Senate race
Sep 30, 2020
Jon Keyser:
For next generation, use free market reforms
Q: Which of the entitlement programs would you look at first to reform or make cuts?A: We need to make sure that programs like Social Security and Medicare are protected for those citizens who have spent their lives paying into them.
After all, it's their money, and as a United States Senator, I will make sure Coloradans that are at or near retirement will be unaffected by modernizing our entitlement programs.
For those just starting out, I would support reforms that would ensure the government couldn't raid the retirement accounts of hardworking Coloradans. Technology is changing our world
at an amazing pace, people are living significantly longer, and that means raising the retirement age probably makes sense. For the next generation, we need to be focused on innovative reforms that allow the free market to work.
Source: Denver Post Voter Guide on 2016 Colorado Senate race
Jun 7, 2016
Ken Buck:
Give younger workers option to invest in separate retirement
Bennet accused Buck of changing his positions on Social Security and other issues, depending on the audience. Buck denied it, calling that a deliberate distortion. "It's OK to change your mind," Bennet shot back. "But it's important to say the same thing
in the red parts of the state as well as the blue parts."Buck charged that Bennet's television ads were dishonest, taking snippets of Buck's comments to portray him as wanting to privatize Social Security. Buck said he supported redesigning Social
Security so that younger workers in the future would have the option of investing in separate retirement accounts. No one paying into the system would lose benefits, he insisted. "I've never said we should privatize
Social Security," he told Bennet, who made that accusation against Buck in television ads. "You in your commercials take little clips out of context," Buck answered to cheers from his ranks.
Source: Pueblo Chieftan coverage of 2010 Colorado Senate Debate
Oct 8, 2010
Ken Salazar:
Opposes privatization and individual investment accounts
Ensuring the stability of Social Security pensions is more important now than ever. Just as many Americans have lost all or part of their retirement savings because of corporate fraud & precipitous drops in the stock market, privatization proposals would
subject Social Security-the only retirement safety net-to stock market volatility. For too many Americans, privatization will change Social Security from a safety net into a roulette wheel. I will fight against proposals to privatize Social Security.
As Colorado Attorney General, I am familiar with the many kinds of investment fraud schemes that particularly target our elderly. I would, therefore, be very wary of "individual investment accounts."More than half of Americans over 65 years old would
live in poverty if Social Security disappeared. I will push for a return to fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets to maintain a foundation for economic growth, and I will press to make the preservation of Social Security a national priority.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com
Aug 11, 2004
Michael Bennet:
Eliminate income cap for payroll taxes
Q: On Taxes: Increase taxes on corporations and/or high-income individuals to pay for public services?Bennet: Mostly yes. Includes eliminating income cap for payroll taxes supporting Social Security & Medicare.
Glenn: No.
Supports substantial tax decreases, including for the wealthy. Pledged to oppose any tax increases to raise revenue. Allow charities & community programs to do the work of alleviating poverty.[7]
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Colorado Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Michael Bennet:
Optional personal retirement accounts ARE privatization
Andrew Romanoff characterized the latest campaign mailer sent out by primary opponent Sen. Michael Bennet as an exercise in selective reporting. The Bennet flier accused Romanoff of pushing for the privatization of Social Security. The flier called
Romanoff out on a 2004 vote in which he supported what the Bennet campaign called a "risky privatization plan."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."
Source: Denver Post on 2020 Colorado Senate race
Jul 29, 2010
Randy Baumgardner:
Voted NO on increases to public employee retirement benefits
Vote to pass a bill that makes changes to the Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA):