State of Nevada Archives: on Social Security


Harry Reid: What would have happened if Trust Fund were in stock market?

During the primary, she said Social Security and Medicare should be phased out and privatized. Now she only says she wants to personalize Social Security.

But Reid wouldn't let her off the hook: "Now she talks about, and has for years talked about, getting rid of Social Security. For years. Look what would have happened had we put this money in the stock market as was suggested by President Bush. This is an extreme idea, and it will destroy Social Security."

Source: NPR Morning Edition coverage of 2010 Nevada Senate debate Oct 15, 2010

Jacky Rosen: Oppose extreme proposals like privatization or vouchers

Jacky Rosen will fight for every American to have a dignified retirement, and to protect Social Security and Medicare for those retiring today and generations to come. Jacky opposes extreme proposals like privatizing Social Security or turning Medicare into a voucher program. These programs are promises to our seniors, and she'll work to find solutions that allow us to keep that promise without cutting benefits or raising the retirement age.
Source: 2016 Nevada House campaign website RosenForNevada.com Nov 8, 2016

Jacky Rosen: Don't privatize Social Security or VA

Q: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security and/or VA?

Dean Heller (R): Position unclear.

Jacky Rosen (D): Opposes both.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Senate race Oct 9, 2018

James Vandermaas: We paid into Social Security, we are actually entitled to it

We have paid into these programs for our entire working lives and deserve to reap the benefits that we are due. Do not buy the nonsense that these programs are 'entitlements', but rather are programs that we paid in to, and actually are entitled to! Most of the problems with Social Security are because Congress "borrowed" trillions of dollars in IOU's from our Social Security and Medicare, with no apparent plan to pay it back.
Source: 2022 Nevada Senate campaign website VoteVandermaas.com Dec 9, 2021

Ruben Kihuen: Fight any attempt to privatize or voucherize

We must protect and expand Social Security and Medicare to ensure a dignified retirement for our seniors. Republicans like Congressman Cresent Hardy continually attempt to privatize Social Security and voucherize Medicare, efforts that would destroy the retirement safety net we've created and paid into for decades. Republicans would leave our seniors retirement up to the whims of Wall Street. That is unacceptable.
Source: 2016 Nevada House campaign website RubenForCongress.com Nov 8, 2016

Sharron Angle: Personalize Social Security; not privatize

During the primary, she said Social Security and Medicare should be phased out and privatized. Now she only says she wants to personalize Social Security.

But Reid wouldn't let her off the hook: "Now she talks about, and has for years talked about, getting rid of Social Security. For years. Look what would have happened had we put this money in the stock market as was suggested by President Bush. This is an extreme idea, and it will destroy Social Security."

Source: NPR Morning Edition coverage of 2010 Nevada Senate debate Oct 15, 2010

Tom Vilsack: If US gov't were a business, balance sheet looks mismanaged

Q: What are your plans for insuring the finances of Social Security and Medicare?

A: Let's be up front about the magnitude of the problem. If the US government were a corporation and they had to report to the shareholders, and they had to list the unfunded liability of Social Security and Medicare, can you imagine what that would look like on the balance sheet? Well, I'll tell you, the most conservative number is $39 trillion. This has been mismanaged for an extended period of time.

Source: 2007 AFSCME Democratic primary debate in Carson City Nevada Feb 21, 2007

Tom Vilsack: Index by prices instead of wages, to maintain stability

Q: What are your plans for insuring the finances of Social Security?

A: First and foremost, you're going to have to take a look at the way in which Social Security is indexed. Currently, it's indexed based on wages and price. We can index it on price and still maintain the stability of Social Security and maintain the purchasing power of Social Security without necessarily jeopardizing the future of Social Security.

Source: 2007 AFSCME Democratic primary debate in Carson City Nevada Feb 21, 2007

  • The above quotations are from State of Nevada 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)
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Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023