OnTheIssuesLogo

Jack Reed on Social Security

Democratic Sr Senator (RI)

 


Continue to consider solutions for Notch babies

Q: Notch babies are those individuals who receive lower Social Security benefits because they were born in the years 1917 and immediately thereafter. Do you support Notch Reform?

A: I believe Congress must address the benefit levels of individuals born between 1917 and 1926, and I appreciate the urgency of this issue for members of this age group. One of the major issues facing the nation is ensuring that Social Security can meet its obligations to beneficiaries in light of fiscal pressures that the system will face as the baby boom generation retires. As we continue to consider solutions to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security, it is my hope that Congress will address the Social Security Notch and recognize the plight of those individuals born between 1917 and 1926.

Source: Senior Citizens League Guide to the 2008 US Senate Campaigns , Oct 10, 2008

Take away no more than 25% of a retiree's annual COLA

Q: The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that seniors are currently receiving does not accurately reflect how they must spend their money. Do you support COLA Fairness, based on the consumer price index (CPI) for seniors?

A: I understand how difficult it can be for many Social Security beneficiaries living on fixed incomes, particularly with the rising cost of housing and energy prices as well as skyrocketing health care and prescription drug costs. As such, I have cosponsored the Social Security COLA Protection Act to protect the standard of living of Social Security beneficiaries from dramatically rising Medicare premiums. This legislation will ensure that no more than 25% of a retiree's annual COLA is taken away by increases in Medicare premiums. Although Social Security faces many financial challenges, for over 70 years, Social Security has provided a dependable and predictable stream of income--and I will continue my work to ensure that remains the case.

Source: Senior Citizens League Guide to the 2008 US Senate Campaigns , Oct 10, 2008

Stand-alone private accounts hurt long-term solvency

Q: Do you support Reform or Privatization?

A: I remain committed to ensuring the solvency of Social Security, now and for the future. We must encourage more personal savings for retirement, but stand-alone private accounts that divert money from Social Security would do nothing to improve the program's long-term solvency. I have fought efforts to privatize Social Security, and I will continue the fight to ensure the federal government honors our promise to those who have paid into the system.

Source: Senior Citizens League Guide to the 2008 US Senate Campaigns , Oct 10, 2008

Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record.

Reed scores 100% 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

Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI".

Reed co-sponsored Resolution on CPI

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION expressing the sense of the Congress that the Chained Consumer Price Index (CPI) should not be used to adjust Social Security benefits.