Washington Senate Debate: on Social Security

Joni Ernst: Something like personal savings accounts for younger workers

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee aired a TV ad in August called "Team," saying that Ernst "would privatize Social Security." But that goes too far. Ernst hasn't advocated for a completely privatized program, and she certainly hasn't talked about making changes for seniors currently collecting benefits or those nearing retirement, such as the white-haired man featured in the DSCC's ad.

Joni Ernst: Open to privatizing Social Security, but honor promises

Ernst defended keeping privatization on the table as one option to save Social Security. many options out there. I haven't endorsed one option over another." Braley said privatizing should not be on the table and neither should raising the retirement age.

Dino Rossi: No comment on raising retirement age or other changes, yet

Patty Murray: No comment on raising retirement age or other changes, yet

Dino Rossi: Massive debt could destabilize Social Security

Rossi said it's Murray-backed spending and policies like the recent federal health care legislation that endanger Social Security and other programs He also accused her of "class warfare" for wanting only to extend the tax cut for those earning less than $200,000.

"The biggest threat is going to be the debt--the debt that Sen. Murray has helped amass for this nation," Rossi said. "I don't think her spending is going to help us preserve Social Security for the future."

Christopher Reed: Let younger workers opt out

Reed was confronted by crowd member Robert D. Williams, a 79-year-old Democrat from Indianola, who said poor people were left with nothing before Social Security was created. “The Social Security system, the only way it’s going to be solvent, is that we have none of this talk about or action about people opting out and taking their money and doing something else,“ Williams said.

Harkin also expressed opposition to the idea. ”If privatization is so good, why didn’t it work for all those years before we had Social Security?“ Harkin said. ”The reason we have Social Security was because the private sector wouldn’t do this, couldn’t do it.“

Tom Harkin: Privatization failed before we had Social Security

Reed was confronted by crowd member Robert D. Williams, a 79-year-old Democrat from Indianola, who said poor people were left with nothing before Social Security was created. “The Social Security system, the only way it’s going to be solvent, is that we have none of this talk about or action about people opting out and taking their money and doing something else,“ Williams said.

Harkin also expressed opposition to the idea. ”If privatization is so good, why didn’t it work for all those years before we had Social Security?“ Harkin said. ”The reason we have Social Security was because the private sector wouldn’t do this, couldn’t do it.“

Christopher Reed: Honor promises, but chance to opt out of Social Security

A: Well, I think that is a broken promise to Americans. They were sold a bill of goods when the Social Security came out, that’s a promise this country made people, we have to honor it.

Q: How do you feel about something like means testing, where wealthier Americans don’t get the same Social Security benefit that lower income Americans get?

A:

Christopher Reed: Establishing Social Security was possibly a mistake

Q: So you favor some kind of a private account?

A: I would favor the option. You should be given the option in this country. You shouldn’t have to be given to a socialized system. If you want to opt out of and be in control of your own retirement you should be allowed to in this country. Q: Let’s look to history. Social Security was a Depression era program when the nation didn’t have a retirement system, a lot of people were in poverty. Was it a mistake?

A: I think it was a benevolent idea but when you take the power out of the people’s hands and put it into the government hands that’s not going to solve anything.

Q: So, it was a mistake?

A: Possibly yes.

George Nethercutt: Save Social Security by decreasing government spending

NETHERCUTT: Murray says that I want to privatize Social Security. She is trying to scare people on Social Security. She voted six times for higher taxes on Social Security recipients. Payroll taxes pay for Social Security. If you want to have payroll taxes, you want to have jobs. If you have jobs, you entrust the economy to the small-business economy, not increasing government spending.

Patty Murray: Tax cuts for the millionaires are raiding Social Security

NETHERCUTT: Murray says that I want to privatize Social Security. She is trying to scare people on Social Security. She voted six times for higher taxes on Social Security recipients. Payroll taxes pay for Social Security. If you want to have payroll taxes, you want to have jobs. If you have jobs, you entrust the economy to the small-business economy, not increasing government spending.