Compare the Candidates
on Social Security & Pensions
|
Candidates' Positions and Views |
|
for:
U.S. Senate, Arkansas |
|
November 2004 General Election |
|
|
|
Candidates positions and views on other Issues where information is available: |
|
The report below lists the candidate responses to Social Security & Pensions issue questions. The responses were provided by Jim Holt, Blanche Lambert Lincoln, Gene Mason, Mark Pryor and Glen Schwarz or were obtained from their websites. The candidates select the issues and questions for which they want to provide a response. The first link is a report of all the issues and questions made available to the candidates. Many issues and questions had no responses - links are only provided where we have information. If there are many candidates for this office, you may have to scroll down to compare all responses. |
| Social Security & Pensions |
Jim Holt - R
Website
|
Blanche Lambert Lincoln - D
Website
|
Gene Mason - G
|
| Social Security, a General Statement |
|
I will work to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security. Preserving Social Security for future generations is one of my highest priorities. Unfortunately, the Social Security Trust Fund has been used for the last two decades to help mask the federal budget deficit.
Although the Social Security Trust Fund is presently well funded and will be able to meet current obligations to beneficiaries, demographic changes in our country are looming and require us to act now to ensure the future solvency of this vital program. Many reform proposals have been discussed, and I will continue to work with the President and my colleagues on a plan to make our Social Security system is fiscally sound for future beneficiaries. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Social Security Task Force and the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I am directly involved in such efforts.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
|
| Long Term Viability of Social Security |
|
Preserving Social Security for future generations has been a top priority for me throughout my public service. According to the Social Security Administration, the Social Security Trust fund is presently well funded and will be able to meet its obligations to beneficiaries until 2042. Demographic changes in our country, however, will require us to thoughtfully examine ways to secure the solvency of Social Security for future generations.
I believe in the promise our government made to working Americans -- that if we work hard, Social Security will be there to help us in our golden years. Social Security has made a secure retirement possible for tens of millions of Americans. However, it is important that everyone, especially Baby Boomers, plan for their retirement by supplementing Social Security with personal savings, pensions, and other financial investments.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
|
| Privatizing Social Security |
|
I will not support any plan that will threaten the retirement security of millions of Americans by diverting current payroll taxes to private accounts. Currently, Social Security provides important benefits to women, low-income and disabled workers throughout the country. I have worked with many of my Senate colleagues to develop a fairness checklist to serve as a guideline for members of Congress as we consider legislation to reform Social Security. It is critical that any Social Security proposal pass this fairness checklist before gaining support from Congress:
v Preserve Social Security's guaranteed, lifetime, inflation-protected benefit;
v Protect disabled workers and their families;
v Maintain the system's progressive benefit structure;
v Strengthen the Social Security system, while ensuring that women and other economically-disadvantaged groups are protected as much as possible;
v Aim to further reduce poverty among older women;
v If it includes other retirement savings options, these options would not reduce or replace guaranteed Social Security benefits.
v Maintains fiscal responsibility.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
|
| These are available issue topics for which there were no responses. |
| Social Security Trust Fund |
| Raising the Retirement Age or Reducing Payment Levels |
| Means Testing for Social Security Payments |
| Tax on Social Security Benefits |
| Pensions, a General Statement |
| Pension Reform |
| Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| Corporate Defined Benefit Pension Defaults |
| Key Employee Retention Plans |
| Individual Retirement Accounts |
| 401(k) Plans |
| Savers' Credit |
| Other Retirement Improvements |
| Social Security & Pensions |
Mark Pryor - D
Website
|
Glen Schwarz - L
|
| Social Security, a General Statement |
Ensuring our senior citizens can live their retirement years in dignity is a promise that each new generation of Americans must make to the generation before. We must preserve and protect Social Security. To that end, I am strongly opposed to taking money out of the Social Security trust fund and investing it in the stock market. As the saying goes, when something sounds too good to be true, it probably is and that is certainly the case with this proposal.
We must look for ways to strengthen Social Security without putting it at risk. In Arkansas alone, over 500,000 of our citizens receive Social Security benefits. For many Arkansas seniors, Social Security is the only means they have to put a roof over their heads or food in their mouths. This safety net must be maintained if we are to ensure that our seniors will have a sound income in their golden years.
Source: pryor.senate.gov/issues/defense.cfm (04/21/2008) |
|
| Privatizing Social Security |
I am strongly opposed to taking money out of the Social Security trust fund and investing it in the stock market. As the saying goes, when something sounds too good to be true, it probably is and that is certainly the case with this proposal.
Source: Candidate Website (10/04/2008) |
|
| These are available issue topics for which there were no responses. |
| Long Term Viability of Social Security |
| Social Security Trust Fund |
| Raising the Retirement Age or Reducing Payment Levels |
| Means Testing for Social Security Payments |
| Tax on Social Security Benefits |
| Pensions, a General Statement |
| Pension Reform |
| Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| Corporate Defined Benefit Pension Defaults |
| Key Employee Retention Plans |
| Individual Retirement Accounts |
| 401(k) Plans |
| Savers' Credit |
| Other Retirement Improvements |