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 Governor, Mayors and Pundits: 
 
 
 
  
Matt Dunne on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger: 
    Click here for Matt Dunne on other issues.
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Christine Hallquist on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic candidate for governor of Vermont: 
    Click here for Christine Hallquist on other issues.
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Rebecca Holcombe on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic candidate for governor: 
    Click here for Rebecca Holcombe on other issues.
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Sue Minter on Social Security  
 
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    Democratic Gubernatorial candidate: 
    Click here for the full quote
     OR click here for Sue Minter on other issues.
    
    - Fully fund teacher retirement fund. (Mar 2010)
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Phil Scott on Social Security  
 
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    Republican challenger for Governor: 
    Click here for the full quote
     OR click here for Phil Scott on other issues.
    
    - Enacted state tax relief on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2018)
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Shap Smith on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger: 
    Click here for Shap Smith on other issues.
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Keith Stern on Social Security  
 
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    | Republican candidate for governor of Vermont: 
    Click here for Keith Stern on other issues.
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David Zuckerman on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger : 
    Click here for David Zuckerman on other issues.
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 Senate: 
 
VT 2022: 2022 VT Governor's race
 
 
 
  
Al Giordano on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic Senate challenger (withdrew): 
    Click here for Al Giordano on other issues.
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John MacGovern on Social Security  
 
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    Democratic Challenger for VT Senator: 
    Click here for the full quote
     OR click here for John MacGovern on other issues.
    
    - Serious and courageous reforms of Social Security. (Aug 2012)
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Scott Milne on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic Challenger for VT Senator: 
    Click here for Scott Milne on other issues.
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Brooke Paige on Social Security  
 
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    | Republican Senate Challenger: 
    Click here for Brooke Paige on other issues.
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Bernie Sanders on Social Security  
 
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    Democratic primary challenger; Independent VT Senator; previously Representative (VT-At-Large): 
    Click here for 26 full quotes
     OR click here for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
    
    - Incremental adjustments ok, but no Social Security cuts. (Mar 2020)
    
 - Apply payroll-tax to income over $250,000. (Jul 2019)
    
 - I helped create the Social Security Caucus. (Nov 2016)
    
 - We have to do better on both SSDI and elder poverty. (Nov 2016)
    
 - Lift cap on wealthy: at $250,000 program lasts 58 years. (Feb 2016)
    
 - Criminal to not have COLA increases for seniors. (Oct 2015)
    
 - Defend against chained CPI, and expand Social Security. (Oct 2015)
    
 - No cuts; no privatization; even to deal with deficit. (Sep 2015)
    
 - Raise the Social Security cap on taxable income. (Aug 2015)
    
 - Strengthen the social safety net, instead of weakening it. (Mar 2015)
    
 - We must strengthen the social safety net, not weaken it. (Jan 2015)
    
 - Chairman of the Defend Social Security Caucus. (Jun 2012)
    
 - Payroll tax holiday diverts revenue from Trust Fund. (Dec 2010)
    
 - Most successful Federal program in history of our country. (Dec 2010)
    
 - Despite GOP rhetoric, Social Security is NOT going bankrupt. (Sep 2006)
    
 - It's regressive to increase taxable Social Security income. (Jun 1997)
    
 - Voted NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)
    
 - Voted NO on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
    
 - Voted NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
    
 - Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
    
 - Changing Social Security disproportionately affects women. (May 2001)
    
 - Reject proposals for private saving accounts. (May 2002)
    
 - Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
    
 - Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age. (Aug 2010)
    
 - Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI". (Apr 2013)
    
 - Rated 100% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance. (Jan 2013)
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Lawrence Zupan on Social Security  
 
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    | Republican Challenger: 
    Click here for Lawrence Zupan on other issues.
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 House: 
 
 
 
  
Peter Welch on Social Security  
 
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    Democrat: 
    Click here for 3 full quotes
     OR click here for Peter Welch on other issues.
    
    - Fight the ideological agenda of privatization. (Nov 2006)
    
 - Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI". (Apr 2013)
    
 - Rated 97% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance. (Jan 2013)
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 Former candidates & officeholders: 
 
 
 
  
Howard Dean-Gov on Social Security  
 
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    | Former Democratic Governor (2005-2008); pres. candidate 2004: 
    Click here for Howard Dean-Gov on other issues.
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Jim Douglas on Social Security  
 
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    Republican VT Governor: 
    Click here for the full quote
     OR click here for Jim Douglas on other issues.
    
    - Fully fund teacher retirement fund. (Apr 2010)
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Bruce Lisman on Social Security  
 
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    | Republican 2016 Gubernatorial candidate: 
    Click here for Bruce Lisman on other issues.
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Peter Shumlin on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic Governor (retiring 2016): 
    Click here for Peter Shumlin on other issues.
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Jim Jeffords on Social Security  
 
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    Independent Jr Senator (VT, retiring 2006): 
    Click here for 6 full quotes
     OR click here for Jim Jeffords on other issues.
    
    - Raise FICA on rich; support lock-box. (Jul 2000)
    
 - Voted YES on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
    
 - Voted YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998)
    
 - Voted NO on allowing personal retirement accounts. (Apr 1998)
    
 - Voted YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. (May 1996)
    
 - Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives. (Sep 1998)
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Jack McMullen on Social Security  
 
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    | 2004 former Republican challenger: 
    Click here for Jack McMullen on other issues.
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Len Britton on Social Security  
 
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    | 2010 Republican Challenger: 
    Click here for Len Britton on other issues.
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Larry Drown on Social Security  
 
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    | Democratic challenger: 
    Click here for Larry Drown on other issues.
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Daniel Freilich on Social Security  
 
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    2010 Independent Challenger: 
    Click here for the full quote
     OR click here for Daniel Freilich on other issues.
    
    - Don't privatize Social Security. (Mar 2010)
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Greg Parke on Social Security  
 
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    Republican challenger: 
    Click here for the full quote
     OR click here for Greg Parke on other issues.
    
    - System is broken and we have to fix it by providing choice. (Jan 2006)
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Richard Tarrant on Social Security  
 
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    Republican Challenger: 
    Click here for the full quote
     OR click here for Richard Tarrant on other issues.
    
    - There is no Social Security Trust Fund. (Sep 2006)
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Patrick Leahy on Social Security  
 
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    Democratic Sr Senator (VT): 
    Click here for 8 full quotes
     OR click here for Patrick Leahy on other issues.
    
    - Voted NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)
    
 - Voted NO on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
    
 - Voted NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998)
    
 - Voted NO on allowing personal retirement accounts. (Apr 1998)
    
 - Voted NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. (May 1996)
    
 - Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
    
 - Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI". (Jun 2013)
    
 - Rated 98% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance. (Jan 2013)
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Bernie Sanders on Social Security  
 
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    Democratic primary challenger; Independent VT Senator; previously Representative (VT-At-Large): 
    Click here for 26 full quotes
     OR click here for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
    
    - Incremental adjustments ok, but no Social Security cuts. (Mar 2020)
    
 - Apply payroll-tax to income over $250,000. (Jul 2019)
    
 - I helped create the Social Security Caucus. (Nov 2016)
    
 - We have to do better on both SSDI and elder poverty. (Nov 2016)
    
 - Lift cap on wealthy: at $250,000 program lasts 58 years. (Feb 2016)
    
 - Criminal to not have COLA increases for seniors. (Oct 2015)
    
 - Defend against chained CPI, and expand Social Security. (Oct 2015)
    
 - No cuts; no privatization; even to deal with deficit. (Sep 2015)
    
 - Raise the Social Security cap on taxable income. (Aug 2015)
    
 - Strengthen the social safety net, instead of weakening it. (Mar 2015)
    
 - We must strengthen the social safety net, not weaken it. (Jan 2015)
    
 - Chairman of the Defend Social Security Caucus. (Jun 2012)
    
 - Payroll tax holiday diverts revenue from Trust Fund. (Dec 2010)
    
 - Most successful Federal program in history of our country. (Dec 2010)
    
 - Despite GOP rhetoric, Social Security is NOT going bankrupt. (Sep 2006)
    
 - It's regressive to increase taxable Social Security income. (Jun 1997)
    
 - Voted NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)
    
 - Voted NO on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
    
 - Voted NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
    
 - Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
    
 - Changing Social Security disproportionately affects women. (May 2001)
    
 - Reject proposals for private saving accounts. (May 2002)
    
 - Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
    
 - Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age. (Aug 2010)
    
 - Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI". (Apr 2013)
    
 - Rated 100% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance. (Jan 2013)
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