State of Georgia Archives: on Social Security


Allen Buckley: Raise retirement to age 70 to save Social Security

I would try to reform all entitlements. Social Security; if we put in the tax system I propose, all you need to do is move the Medicare retirement age to 70.
Source: The Red & Black on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race Feb 11, 2016

Allen Buckley: Financial Sanity Act: raise age to 70

Q: How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?

A: By enacting the Financial Sanity Act, a bill I drafted that can be found on my campaign website. It gradually moves the normal retirement age for Social Security and the Medicare eligibility age to age 70, and then adjusts it every ten years based on changing life expectancy, so that everyone gets a constant percentage of life expectancy coverage (e.g. 20% of life expectancy). It also slightly modifies the cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) by slightly reducing it, in accordance with the tax laws' COLA. It should be noted that the "trust fund" is a fallacy, as the notes are simply IOUs issued by the Treasury Department to the Social Security Administration. Note: I don't think you'll find another candidate who will even address the issue, let alone provide a bill designed to fix the problems.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate Nov 3, 2020

David Perdue: Reduce $86T retirement deal for federal employees

Q: How would you protect Social Security for today's seniors and strengthen it for future generations?

A: We have a debt that's larger than our economy. It's the No. 1 threat to our national security. That's bad enough, $17 trillion. But we have another $86 to $100 trillion dollars coming at us in future federal unfunded liabilities related to Social Security, Medicare and pension and benefits for federal employees. Perdue's solution is honoring obligations to anyone already receiving Social Security benefits, but changing the benefits for anyone coming into the workforce: "Their deal is going to have to be different". Perdue would make the same changes to Medicare.

Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2014 Georgia Senate race Aug 31, 2014

David Perdue: Return to sensible budgeting to stabilize Social Security

Once we're through the COVID-19 crisis, we are going to have to work hard to save Social Security. We must end constant stopgap legislation we use to fund our government and return to sensible budgeting every year. Once we do that, I'm confident we can continue to fulfill our promises to provide Social Security to our seniors.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2020 Georgia Senate race Oct 8, 2020

Jim Barksdale: No privatized "everyone on their own" scheme

Since Social Security and Medicare were enacted, poverty among seniors has plummeted. Georgia's seniors have worked hard and paid into Social Security and Medicare, and deserve to retire knowing the benefits they've earned will be there for them.

As an investment manager, Jim has heard too many heartbreaking stories of people losing their retirement savings on risky Wall Street bets in the 2008 downturn. The risk of those approaching retirement age and without the opportunity to work long enough to replenish heavy losses in their retirement savings is reason enough to never turn Social Security into a privatized "everyone on their own" scheme.

Jim will protect Georgia's seniors today and future generations by never voting to privatize Social Security or turn Medicare into a voucher program. In the U.S. Senate, Jim will never vote to raise the retirement age or cut benefits earned through years of work.

Source: 2016 Georgia Senate campaign website JimBarksdale.com Aug 8, 2016

Jon Ossoff: A civilized nation cannot abandon its elders to destitution

Our country decided long ago that America's seniors will not be neglected or forgotten. A civilized, prosperous nation cannot abandon its elders to destitution or homelessness, or allow them to go without health care.

Medicare and Social Security are vital programs that reflect our values and our commitment to honor and support seniors. Seniors paid for these benefits throughout their lives. Many still count on these critical programs. We should honor all seniors as if they are our own family.

Source: 2017 Georgia House campaign website, ElectJon.com Apr 21, 2017

Jon Ossoff: Strengthen and protect Social Security benefits

I will oppose any efforts to cut Social Security. I will oppose the efforts to attack the funding mechanism for Social Security. America decided almost a century ago that we would not allow our seniors to be destitute or homeless. These are earned benefits that Americans have paid into over their entire lives, and I will oppose efforts to cut these vital Social Security benefits that so many of our seniors depend upon. I'll work to strengthen and protect those benefits.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2020 Georgia Senate race Oct 8, 2020

Kelly Loeffler: Don't privatize, but address long-term solvency

No matter how we move forward with this program, we will never cut funding for seniors who depend on it. The fact is, our system is in trouble. Career politicians failed us. They treat Social Security like a slush fund, and they spend the money, instead of saving it for seniors. We should not privatize Social Security, but we do need to address the long-term solvency of Social Security in a way that cuts waste, that maximizes efficiencies and guarantees earned benefits for our great seniors.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race Oct 7, 2020

Michelle Nunn: Bipartisan entitlement reform to preserve Social Security

Q: How would you protect Social Security for today's seniors and strengthen it for future generations?

A: Congress needs to confront the issue of mandatory spending programs, including Social Security and Medicare, which take up approximately 60% of the budget. The trustees of the Medicare trust project that the hospital insurance portion of Medicare could be depleted by 2026; and Social Security will be forced to cut benefits by 23% in 2033 if nothing is done. We must undertake bipartisan entitlement reform to preserve Medicare and Social Security for those currently in or near retirement, take action to strengthen these programs for the future.

Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2014 Georgia Senate race Aug 31, 2014

Raphael Warnock: Opposes raising retirement age or privatizing benefits

A budget is not just a fiscal document; it's a moral document. It says something about who we think is important and who's not. In that spirit, I will defend Social Security and Medicare. We've seen those in Washington willing to give trillion-dollar tax cuts to their corporate friends while sacrificing the future of Medicare and Social Security in the process. I'll stand up to that, and I'll stand up against any effort to raise the age for Social Security or to privatize its benefits
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race Oct 7, 2020

Shane Hazel: Taxation is theft; Social Security is a giant Ponzi scheme

Q: How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?

A: Unfortunately Social Security and Medicare were lies, a giant Ponzi scheme. There is no money in either. Entire generations were forced or coerced into paying the government to invest in their future, we must end that lie now. America is broke. America is $26 trillion in debt. It's time people were free to invest in their own future in line with their conscience. America will default on their debt. And the banks will eat that debt that they perpetuated. There isn't a fair solution. But in the end the right solution is to free people and further generations from the slavery of death in taxes. #TaxationIsTheft.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 Georgia Senate race Nov 3, 2020

Stacey Abrams: We must help our most vulnerable citizens

As a state, we must deliver critical services to those who have physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities as well as mental illness. As Minority Leader, Stacey has co-sponsored legislation to support our most vulnerable residents, from kinship care legislation to expanding legal protections for seniors. As Governor, Stacey will continue to advocate for policies and funds to serve these communities.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com Aug 17, 2017

Tom Price: Supports major cutbacks to Social Security

The conservative Georgia doctor has long been a proponent of major cutbacks to Social Security. "So all the kinds of things you know about--whether it's means testing, whether it's increasing the age of eligibility, whether it's providing much greater choices for individuals to voluntarily select the kind of manner in which they believe they ought to be able to invest their working dollars as they go through their lifetime. All those things ought to be on the table and discussed."
Source: Forbes Magazine on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race Mar 10, 2017

Valencia Stovall: Livable wages support social security benefits

Q: How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?

A: Ensure that employees have livable wages so their taxes can be used to support social security benefits and other services. By ensuring each child has access to a quality education from birth to high school to ensure better job opportunities. Monitor federal spending versus income received to decrease debt.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate Nov 3, 2020

Vernon Jones: Fight hard as the Dickens for our seniors

I have a track record of working with seniors and making sure they have access to Medicaid and Medicare. I would [as a senator] make sure they don't have to choose between buying food and prescription medicine. Our seniors have worked hard all their lives and nobody's there for them. I'll fight hard as the Dickens for our seniors.
Source: Georgia 2008 Democratic Senate Primary Debate Jun 30, 2008

  • The above quotations are from State of Georgia Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2016 Presidential contenders on Social Security:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI)
Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023