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John Hickenlooper on Social Security

Democratic Presidential Challenger (withdrew, Aug. 2019); CO Governor

 


Social Security benefits are not 'government waste'

Both of Colorado's senators joined 27 other Democratic members of the senate to introduce the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act. "Coloradans' Social Security benefits are not 'government waste,'" said Sen. John Hickenlooper in a news release. "This admin's reckless cuts have shut down field offices, impacted wait times for services and risk the reliable retirement that so many people worked their whole lives to secure."
Source: Colorado Times Recorder on 2026 Colorado Senate race , Sep 17, 2025

Protect Social Security; oppose attempts to reduce benefits

Q: Your Social Security policy?

Hickenlooper: I will fight to protect Social Security, oppose any attempt to reduce benefits and work to ensure that every senior can retire with dignity. Social Security is essential to our nation's safety net. The rising costs of food, housing and transportation means that those dollars need to go even further. Social Security is an intergenerational promise between Americans that we will care for each other as we age. We cannot balance the budget on the backs of seniors.

Gardner: I'm going to continue to protect Social Security. It's one of the most important social safety nets that we have. Medicare and Social Security are two of the key things that we have for generations of Americans who have paid into them. We have to make sure that they are safeguarded so they can continue to pay out to those people who have invested all of their lives. We need to make sure that people stop borrowing against the Social Security trust fund.

Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Colorado Senate race , Sep 30, 2020

Protect and bolster Social Security, Medicare

It's time to renew our promise to older and younger generations alike that a dignified and stable retirement is the cornerstone of aging in America. We can do this by protecting Social Security and Medicare, as well as by proactively bolstering these programs so that they remain solvent for years to come.
Source: 2020 Colorado Senate campaign website Hickenlooper.com , Jul 9, 2020

Update constitutional barriers in state's retirement program

We can make state government more effective and realize cost savings by bringing the state's antiquated personnel system into the 21st century. The state Constitution is riddled with personnel rules and administrative procedures that are obsolete and should be reformed. We are working with state employees on a package of reforms. We are not immediately seeking legislative changes to the state's retirement program; we are mindful of the obligation to ensure that PERA is both stable and sustainable.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address , Jan 12, 2012

Other candidates on Social Security: John Hickenlooper on other issues:
CO Gubernatorial:
Greg Lopez
Heidi Ganahl
Jared Polis
Michael Bennet
Phil Weiser
CO Senatorial:
Eli Bremer
Janak Joshi
Joe O`Dea
Julie Gonzales
Mark Baisley
Michael Bennet
Ron Hanks

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