State of Oklahoma Archives: on Social Security

James Lankford: Social Security Disability: nest of fraud & little oversight

Chris Powell: Privatize Social Security but accommodate those in system

A: Support - I'm in favor but this will require making provisions for those dependent upon Social Security now.

Joe Maldonado: Opportunity to opt out of Social Security

A: I think you should have the opportunity to opt out of Social Security if you choose to save your own retirement money. No one should make it admonitory to pay in Social Security.

Mike Workman: Don't transition pensions into privately managed accounts

Mike Workman: No

Q: Should physically and mentally capable adults on welfare be required to work?

Mike Workman: Yes

Mary Fallin: 401k-style plan for OK Public Employees Retirement System

1. We should begin offering targeted salary increases to some state employees paid below market value.
2. We should reform our current pay system to one that rewards performance over time-served Doing so will encourage better productivity and services.
3. And finally, new hires within the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System should be moved from an outdated, mid-20th century pension system and to the more portable and flexible 401k-style benefits used in the private sector. Businesses made this change a long time ago, recognizing that the old pension model didn't appeal to a today's more mobile workforce. It's time for state government to stop playing catch-up. Moving to a defined contribution model helps us to modernize; allows flexibility for future public employees to take the money they have accrued with them if they change careers; and stabilizes the system for current public employees and retirees. Source: 2014 State of the State address to Oklahoma legislature Feb 3, 2014

   Matt Silverstein: Medicare & Social Security are sacred promises to seniors

   We must protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security. These are sacred promises to our seniors who worked hard their entire lives. Partisan gridlock and career politicians are threatening to jeopardize these programs for our children and grandchildren. Matt's practical approach to investing wisely when we can afford it and cutting wasteful spending and attacking waste, fraud, and abuse is an important first step in keeping these programs solvent.

   Instead of protecting and preserving these vital programs, Jim Inhofe plans to end Medicare as we know it: thousands of Oklahoma's current seniors would see their out of pocket costs increased by nearly $6,000 per year and forced back into the prescription drug "donut hole." Jim Inhofe believes that in order to avoid cutting benefits in the future, we must cut benefits now. We must balance the budget and get our fiscal house in order but Matt will not support policies that require senior's to foot the bill.

   Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, MattForOklahoma.com, "Issues" Nov 11, 2013

   Joe Dorman: NO on public employee choice of contributions vs. benefits

   Dorman voted NAY on HB 2077, Establishes a Defined Contribution Plan for New Public Employees , Concurrence Vote Passed House (72-20):
   • The Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System shall establish an optional defined contribution system for those persons who first become employed by July 1, 2014.
   • A member shall have a period of 90 days to choose be tween participation in the defined benefit plan or to participate in the defined contribution retirement system.
   • The election shall be irrevocable and shall govern the participation of the member for all years of service performed.
   • If a member fails to make the election within the time prescribed, the member shall become a participant in the defined contribution system.
   Source: Vote Smart's Synopsis of Oklahoma 2013-2014 voting records May 7, 2013

   Scott Inman: NO on public employee choice of contributions vs. benefits

   Inman voted NAY on HB 2077, Establishes a Defined Contribution Plan for New Public Employees , Concurrence Vote Passed House (72-20):
   • The Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System shall establish an optional defined contribution system for those persons who first become employed by July 1, 2014.
   • A member shall have a period of 90 days to choose be tween participation in the defined benefit plan or to participate in the defined contribution retirement system.
   • The election shall be irrevocable and shall govern the participation of the member for all years of service performed.
   • If a member fails to make the election within the time prescribed, the member shall become a participant in the defined contribution system.
   Source: Vote Smart's Synopsis of Oklahoma Legislative voting records May 7, 2013

   Jim Bridenstine: Give younger people option of personal retirement accounts

   Q: Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?

   A: Yes. The Social Security system is on an unsustainable financial trajectory. Funds people have paid into the Social Security "trust fund" have be raided to support government spending and replaced by IOUs. For people 55 and older the current social security system should be preserved and deliver the benefits people were promised and planned to receive. However, younger people should have the option of opting out of the social security system and assuming the risk of diverting social security taxes (up to 100%) into personal retirement accounts.

   Source: Oklahoma Congressional 2012 Political Courage Test Oct 30, 2012

   Andrew Rice: I support Social Security Notch reform

   Q: The Senior Citizens League members are to a large extent Notch babies--those individuals who receive lower Social Security benefits because they were born in the years 1917 and immediately thereafter. Do you support Notch Reform?

   A: This arbitrary formula has deprived seniors born during this period of the full earned benefit. I support Social Security Notch reform.

   Source: Senior Citizens League Guide to 2008 Oklahoma Senate Debate Oct 10, 2008

   Andrew Rice: I support CPI-E for COLA Fairness

   Q: We strongly believe that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that seniors are currently receiving does not accurately reflect how they must spend their money. Do you support COLA Fairness, based on the consumer price index (CPI) for seniors?

   A: Yes, I support CPI-E.

   Source: Senior Citizens League Guide to 2008 Oklahoma Senate Debate Oct 10, 2008

   Andrew Rice: I do not support privatization in any form

   Q: Do you support Social Security Reform or Privatization?

   A: I support a bipartisan, responsible and comprehensive adjustment to Social Security to ensure its long-term stability, but will not support privatization in any form.

   Source: Senior Citizens League Guide to 2008 Oklahoma Senate Debate Oct 10, 2008

   The above quotations are from State of Oklahoma Politicians: Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
   2020 Presidential contenders on Social Security:
   	Democrats running for President: Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO) V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE) Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC) Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ) Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Rep.John Delaney (D-MD) Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA) Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA) Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Marianne Williamson (D-CA) CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY) 2020 Third Party Candidates: Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI) CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Howie Hawkins (G-NY) Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM) Howard Schultz(I-WA) Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)	Republicans running for President: Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX) Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD) Gov.John Kasich(R-OH) V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC) Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY) Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL) Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY) 2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates: Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA) Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC) Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK) Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA) Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL) Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX) Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA) Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA) Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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   Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021