Steve Pearce on Social SecurityRepublican Representative (NM-2) |
Pearce said the big problem with Social Security is that Congress has robbed funds from the program and needs to refund them so the program can remain solvent.
But when Udall charged Pearce had continuously voted for privatization, Pearce challenged him. "Tell me one piece of legislation," Pearce said, later adding, "You're making stuff up. Tell me one vote, one bill." Udall said Pearce was a supporter of Pres. Bush's plan to privatize social security, which ultimately failed.
Pearce said Social Security has a rate of return of about 1% and supports giving retirees the option of having targeted funds like members of Congress have. "We must improve the rates of return, otherwise Social Security will never work," he said.
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.