George Nethercutt on Social Security

Former Republican Rep (WA-5); 2004 former Senate challenger

Save Social Security by decreasing government spending

MURRAY: Social Security is a promise from one generation to the next. It says if you work hard in this country, you will not be living in poverty when you retire. The biggest threat to the security of that system today is the $425 billion deficit that we are running today. Nethercutt just talked about tax cuts. I support targeted tax cuts that bring relief to middle-income families. The massive tax cuts that he has supported-50% goes to people making over $1 million a year-comes right out of that Social Security trust fund. Seniors won't be able to count on that if we continue to raid that Social Security Trust Fund.

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.

Source: [Xref Murray] WA Senate Debate Oct 20, 2004

Modernize Social Security to keep it sustainable

The Social Security system must be moved toward a fiscally sustainable course that can withstand unforeseen economic and demographic changes. Modernization must not change Social Security benefits for current retirees or near retirees. When the government runs a surplus again, a major portion of that surplus must be dedicated to Social Security only. Social Security payroll taxes should not be increased. There must be equity in Social Security benefits and taxes between and within generations. Source: House website, www.house.gov/nethercutt Feb 26, 2004

Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable.

Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act of 2001: Vote to pass a bill that would raise the amount individuals may contribute to traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts and to 401[k] plans and make pensions plans more portable Reference: Bill sponsored by Portman, R-OH; Bill HR 10 ; vote number 2001-96 on May 2, 2001

Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits.

Vote to pass a bill that would reduce the percentage of Social Security benefits that is taxable from 85 to 50 percent for single taxpayers with incomes over $25,000 and married couples with incomes over $32,000. The revenues that would be lost for the Medicare trust fund would be replaced by money from the general fund. Reference: Bill sponsored by Archer, R-TX; Bill HR 4865 ; vote number 2000-450 on Jul 27, 2000

Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox.

Amending the Social Security Lockbox bill to require that any budget surplus cannot be spent until the solvency of Social Security and Medicare is guaranteed. Reference: Motion to Recommit introduced by Rangel, D-NY; Bill HR 1259 ; vote number 1999-163 on May 26, 1999

Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record.

Nethercutt scores 0% 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

Reduce taxes on Social Security earnings.

Nethercutt signed the Contract with America:

[As part of the Contract with America, within 100 days we pledge to bring to the House Floor the following bill]:

The Senior Citizens Fairness Act:
Raise the Social Security earnings limit, which currently forces seniors out of the workforce; repeal the 1993 tax hikes on Social Security; and provide tax incentives for private long-term care insurance to let older Americans keep more of what they have earned over the years.

Source: Contract with America 93-CWA9 on Sep 27, 1994

Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives.

Nethercutt 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

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