State of Indiana Archives: on Social Security
Andrew Straw:
Too many people rely on SSA to risk losses
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?
A: Strongly oppose. Too many people rely on this for their sole income to risk losses. SSA should have the ability to invest the trust funds in very safe investments, such as certain government bonds that pay a certain amount of interest.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Indiana Senate candidate
Feb 28, 2018
Brad Ellsworth:
Don't raise the retirement age; put people to work instead
Coats said Social Security needs to be "saved from itself" and suggested increasing the retirement age and looking at other options to fix the program. Ellsworth said now isn't the time to raise the retirement age and that putting more people back to
work would put more money into the system. Raising the retirement age would be fine for those who work at desks but "it's not fine for somebody who's on the end of a jackhammer," he said.
Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 Indiana Senate debate
Oct 25, 2010
Daniel Coats:
Save Social Security from itself; increase age & more
Coats said Social Security needs to be "saved from itself" and suggested increasing the retirement age and looking at other options to fix the program. Ellsworth said now isn't the time to raise the retirement age and that putting more people back to
work would put more money into the system. Raising the retirement age would be fine for those who work at desks but "it's not fine for somebody who's on the end of a jackhammer," he said.
Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 Indiana Senate debate
Oct 25, 2010
Eric Holcomb:
No mandates to offer retirement plans, but voluntary IRAs ok
Q: What would you do to reverse the trend of under saving for retirement?Eric J. Holcomb: Everyone should save for retirement and should be encouraged to do so. However, my administration cannot impose additional burdens upon private industry in the
form of mandates to offer retirement plans. Nevertheless, I would encourage employers to offer direct deposit to individual retirement accounts as a way for those without employer-sponsored plans to save. Moreover, my Economic Development Plan is
designed to foster better paying jobs that should facilitate a greater amount of disposable income to save for retirement.
John R. Gregg: It has to be easier for people to save.
We should provide incentivizes to employers, and saving for retirement should always be an opt-out, not opt-in, system. I also pledge to always advocate federally to protect and strengthen our Social Security system.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 31, 2016
Evan Bayh:
Raise Social Security age
Q: On Social Security: Support full or partial Social Security privatization?Bayh: No, although earlier supported raising Social Security age.
Young: Yes. Strong support for privatization.
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Indiana Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
John Gregg:
Pledge to always protect & strengthen Social Security system
Q: What would you do to reverse the trend of under saving for retirement?John R. Gregg: It has to be easier for people to save. We should provide incentivizes to employers, and saving for retirement should always be an opt-out, not opt-in, system.
I will explore policies like AARP's proposed HERO legislation that give employers and employees better access to retirement savings opportunities through a state run portal. Creating employee saving opportunities aren't easy for small businesses who
employ a majority of Hoosiers. We need to explore fiscally responsible ways to help them provide those benefits. I also pledge to always advocate federally to protect and strengthen our Social Security system.
Eric J. Holcomb: My administration cannot impose additional burdens upon private industry in the form of mandates to offer retirement plans. I would encourage employers to offer direct deposit to individual retirement accounts.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 31, 2016
Luke Messer:
Let retirees earn more
We're working on legislation that would double the allowance for those who happen to receive Social Security. Essentially, if you take Social Security and you hit the earnings imitations, then you're taxed on that.
Right now, we have a workforce shortage, we need to encourage people to stay in the workforce as long as they want to. To me, it's a commonsense way to help grow the economy and to encourage people to stay active.
Source: The Star Press on 2018 Indiana Senate race
Sep 21, 2017
Luke Messer:
Use Social Security to restrict aid to illegal immigrants
Billions of dollars in refundable tax credits are paid to immigrants through a loophole. Child Tax Credits can be claimed without a Social Security Number by using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which is issued to individuals regardless
of immigration status. To close this senseless loophole and protect U.S. taxpayers, I filed legislation that would require individuals to have a Social Security Number valid for employment before they can claim the Child Tax Credit.
Source: The Star Press on 2018 Indiana Senatorial race
Oct 28, 2017
Matthew Whitaker:
No hope that Social Security will be there for future
Matt Whitaker, a Des Moines lawyer who played tight end for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes football team, got kudos from the audience for his statements about cutting spending."Let's be clear about this," Whitaker said, "my generation,
my children that are here tonight, Social Security is a tax. Medicare is a tax. There is no hope that Social Security as it currently exists will be there be for me . or for anyone of our generation."
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2014 Iowa Senate race
Oct 24, 2013
Mike Pence:
Personal investment for Social Security retirement
"Conservatives want to see personal retirement accounts that have immediate relevance to younger Americans, that they can see the value, and that will require that they be big and that they be implemented in the final bill without delay," said Rep. Mike
Pence. Pence said Republicans have come to agreement on principles for fiscal discipline and Social Security, and are prepared to be the conservative balance trying to give the president the backing to pursue the boldest possible plans on both issues.
Source: Washington Times on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jul 14, 2016
Richard Mourdock:
Raise the retirement age
When it came to financial issues here at home, including social security reform,
Mourdock spoke from experience on both the state and local level saying the retirement age needs to be raised. Lugar agreed saying the program needs to be reformed.
Source: 14 News WFIE Evansville on 2012 Indiana Senate debate
Apr 11, 2012
Richard Mourdock:
Constitution mentions neither Social Security nor Medicare
Mourdock, answering a question about the proper role of government, accused Donnelly of misstating his views on Social Security and Medicare. Mourdock said the constitution does not mention either, but
Donnelly has used that in an ad "to make it sound like I believe the idea of Social Security is unconstitutional and, Joe, you know I've never said that."Donnelly fired back, saying: "You know, I may have been born at night, but
I wasn't born last night. When you meet with the Madison Tea Party and you say to them 'you show me where in the constitution it allows
Medicare and you show me where in the constitution it allows Social Security,' we're not that dumb. We know what you were implying and we know what you were driving at."
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2012 Indiana Senate debate
Oct 15, 2012
Todd Young:
Strong support for privatization
Q: On Social Security: Support full or partial Social Security privatization?Bayh: No, although earlier supported raising Social Security age.
Young: Yes. Strong support for privatization.
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Indiana Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Jim Banks:
Use debt ceiling debate to cut spending, not Social Security
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), chairman of the influential Republican Study Committee, said at a CBS News event that the debt ceiling could be used to call
for spending caps, balanced budgets, or to cut discretionary spending--actions that would not include Social Security and Medicare.
Source: TBD on 2024 Indiana Senate race
Oct 31, 2022
Curtis Hill:
Eliminate the state income tax on retirement benefits
Like younger workers, seniors are also fleeing Indiana at historic rates. We can combat this by eliminating the state income tax on retirement benefits income for seniors over the age of 65. This will encourage seniors to remain in Indiana and
encourage seniors in neighboring, high-taxed states like Illinois to move to the state. I am also proposing a flat sales tax rate of 3% for residents over the age of 65 to assist with their transition into retirement.
Source: 2024 Indiana Gubernatorial campaign website CurtisHill.com
Dec 19, 2023
Jennifer McCormick:
Important retirees have the fiscal means to be successful
McCormick: It's incredibly important that our retirees have the fiscal means to be successful. Also, it's unfortunate that 48% of our Hoosiers do not have access to a pension or a private plan. As your governor, I will make sure we can change that.
We can start programs such as the work and save programs to make sure that our retirees have what they need. It's also incredibly important that you have the revenue and access to revenue and securities in order to be successful.
Source: AARP on 2024 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 14, 2024
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026