USA Today: on Social Security


Joe Biden: Protect Social Security & Medicare: "You have my word"

Sen. Elizabeth Warren [introduced the topic with] "Joe Biden has some really good plans--Plans to increase Social Security benefits, cancel billions in student loan debt, and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them."

Biden pointed his finger at the camera when he called Social Security a sacred promise. "If I'm your president, we're going to protect Social Security and Medicare, you have my word," he said.

Source: B.Jansen in USA Today: 2020 Democratic National Convention Aug 21, 2020

Richard Cordray: Develop consumer tools to use with Social Security decisions

"To a consumer, when to start claiming Social Security payments is one of the key decisions they can make about their retirement," said Cordray, director of the CFPB. Because claiming your benefit is a "one-time choice," Cordray said, "it is imperative that consumers can properly weigh their options." "We want consumers to use our tool to know and understand what it means to claim at their full retirement age vs. several years before and several years after," Cordray said.
Source: Jiayue Huang in USA Today on 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race Nov 18, 2015

George W. Bush: Bush commission members all back privatization

Bush named a bipartisan commission today to study Social Security reform and develop a plan to let workers invest some of their payroll taxes in private accounts. The co-chairman will be former New York senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a prominent Democrat who has long urged partial privatization of the government retirement program. The other members of the new commission, all of whom also support privatization, include academics and former lawmakers.

Congressional Democrats immediately complained that the commission is made up only of those who already support Bush’s plan to allow taxpayers to put part of their 12.4% Social Security payroll tax into private retirement accounts. Supporters of the idea say it would allow workers to reap higher returns.

Reforms are needed because the program will go broke by 2037. Opponents call Bush’s plan too risky, especially in light of recent stock market turbulence.

Source: Mimi Hall, USA Today, p. 7A May 2, 2001

Bob Kerrey: Self-investment of Social Security

Kerrey and Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York have proposed allowing individuals to invest a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes on their own.
Source: USA Today Mon Dec 7, 1998, p.18a, col.2 Dec 7, 1998

Rev. Jesse Jackson: Opposes privatizing Social Security

At a news conference last week, [Jackson] announced a liberal coalition, the New Century Alliance for Social Security, to oppose privatization of the federal retirement and disability benefits program.
Source: USA Today Mon Dec 7, 1998, p.18a, col.3 Dec 7, 1998

  • The above quotations are from Columns and news articles in USA Today.
  • 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)
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: Sep 23, 2022