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Lincoln Chafee on Social Security

Former Republican Senator (RI, 1999-2007)


Don’t put Soc. Sec. benefits at risk

Using Social Security taxes for private accounts
AARPOpposes
Lincoln ChafeeOpposes
Sheldon WhitehouseOpposes
Q: Will you support or oppose using Social Security taxes to fund private accounts?

A: It is estimated that to deliver the full promised Social Security benefits for the next 75 years will cost roughly $4 trillion above what the system currently takes in. This is a significant challenge, and it is prudent to tackle this problem now, rather than putting it off for future generations.

The Social Security program has served this country well for six decades, and has helped keep seniors, disabled people, and families out of poverty. I am committed to ensuring that we maintain those standards as we go forward, and in particular, to not putting Social Security benefits at risk.

Source: AARP Senate candidate questionnaire Sep 29, 2006

Supports privatizing Social Security

Senator Chafee believes that the Social Security and Medicare programs are the bedrock foundation of stability and security for millions of senior citizens across America. While both programs face significant challenges in the coming years, it is clear that we can and we must preserve Social Security and Medicare for current recipients and for future beneficiaries.
Source: Senate web site, “Lockbox” Sep 19, 2000

Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record.

Chafee scores 30% by the ARA on senior issues

The mission of the Alliance for Retired Americans is to ensure social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens so that they may enjoy lives of dignity, personal and family fulfillment and security. The Alliance believes that all older and retired persons have a responsibility to strive to create a society that incorporates these goals and rights and that retirement provides them with opportunities to pursue new and expanded activities with their unions, civic organizations and their communities.

The following ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.

Source: ARA website 03n-ARA on Dec 31, 2003

Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives.

Chafee adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership issue stance:

Congress must address the rapidly approaching disaster of a depleted Social Security system. Within the next ten years "baby boomers" will start retiring. It is estimated that, as a result of this, by 2013 Social Security will be making greater payments to retirees than it will take in from the workforce. By 2032 the Social Security Trust Fund will be completely exhausted. Congress could rewrite this forecast by establishing individual savings accounts, restoring Social Security to permanent actuarial solvency, improving work incentives and/or resolving internal administrative problems.

Source: Republican Main St. Partnership Issue Paper: Fiscal Policy 98-RMSP3 on Sep 9, 1998

Other candidates on Social Security: Lincoln Chafee on other issues:
RI Gubernatorial:
Donald Carcieri
RI Senatorial:
Jack Reed
Sheldon Whitehouse

Newly elected in 2008 & seated in 2009:
AK:Begich (D)
CO:Udall (D)
ID:Risch (R)
MN:Franken (D)
NC:Hagan (D)
NE:Johanns (R)
NH:Shaheen (D)
NM:Udall (D)
OR:Merkley (D)
VA:Warner (D)

Newly appointed in 2009;
special election in 2010:

DE:Kaufman (D)
CO:Bennet (D)
IL:Burris (D)
NY:Gillibrand (D)

Announced retirement as of 2010:
DE:Kaufman (D)
FL:Martinez (R)
KS:Brownback (R)
MO:Bond (R)
OH:Voinovich (R)


Up for 6-year term in 2010:
(13 Democrats; 15 Republicans)
AK:Murkowski (R)
AL:Shelby (R)
AR:Lincoln (D)
AZ:McCain (R)
CA:Boxer (D)
CT:Dodd (D)
GA:Isakson (R)
HI:Inouye (D)
IA:Grassley (R)
ID:Crapo (R)
IN:Bayh (D)
KY:Bunning (R)
LA:Vitter (R)
MD:Mikulski (D)
NC:Burr (R)
ND:Dorgan (D)
NH:Gregg (R)
NV:Reid (D)
NY:Schumer (D)
OK:Coburn (R)
OR:Wyden (D)
PA:Specter (R)
SC:DeMint (R)
SD:Thune (R)
UT:Bennett (R)
VT:Leahy (D)
WA:Murray (D)
WI:Feingold (D)
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Page last updated: Nov 22, 2009