Compare the Candidates
on Social Security & Pensions
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Candidates' Positions and Views |
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for:
U.S. Senate, Colorado |
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November 2004 General Election |
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Candidates positions and views on other Issues where information is available: |
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The report below lists the candidate responses to Social Security & Pensions issue questions. The responses were provided by Wayne Allard, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Douglas "Dayhorse" Campbell, Pete Coors, Victor Good, Finn Gotaas, John R. "Rob" Harris, Richard Randall and Ken Salazar 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 |
Wayne Allard - R
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Ben Nighthorse Campbell - R
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Douglas "Dayhorse" Campbell - C
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| Social Security, a General Statement |
Since its creation in 1935, Social Security has been an important component of retirement security for our nation's seniors. And while the system is safe for today's retirees, without reform it will not be available for our grandchildren. As the Social Security Trustees stated in their 2005 report, the current system cannot pay future retirees the benefits they are owed. Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system with current workers paying for current retirees' benefits. We have fewer workers paying into the system and more senior citizens receiving benefits with every passing year. This means that fewer people are paying more taxes for more retirees. It is simply unsustainable to continue down this road. We must look at a variety of options to ensure that benefits are protected both now and in the future.
I also support allowing younger workers the option to invest a portion of their money if they choose. Younger workers should have the ability to decide what is the best option for their personal financial future. Social Security is a valuable program, and I will work to make sure that it exists for future generations.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
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| Long Term Viability of Social Security |
As the Social Security Trustees stated in their 2005 report, the current system cannot pay future retirees the benefits they are owed. Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system with current workers paying for current retirees' benefits. We have fewer workers paying into the system and more senior citizens receiving benefits with every passing year. This means that fewer people are paying more taxes for more retirees. It is simply unsustainable to continue down this road. We must look at a variety of options to ensure that benefits are protected both now and in the future.
I also support allowing younger workers the option to invest a portion of their money if they choose. Younger workers should have the ability to decide what is the best option for their personal financial future. Social Security is a valuable program, and I will work to make sure that it exists for future generations.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
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Social Security should be banned.
Source: Candidate Website (10/04/2008) |
| Privatizing Social Security |
I support allowing younger workers the option to invest a portion of their money if they choose. Younger workers should have the ability to decide what is the best option for their personal financial future. Social Security is a valuable program, and I will work to make sure that it exists for future generations.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
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| Pensions, a General Statement |
As the baby boomers near retirement, individuals and families are beginning to focus more on retirement security. Pensions are an important part of retirement planning. Along with Social Security and private savings and investments, pensions can help seniors maintain their standard of living during their retirement years.
Congress is currently considering a number of proposals to change the current structure of employer sponsored pension plans. I want to ensure that employers live up to their promises and that employees' contributions are safe. However, Congress must also be careful not to place so many restrictions and mandates on private pensions that employers simply choose to no longer offer pensions. We must also work to ensure the long term viability of the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
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| Pension Reform |
As the baby boomers near retirement, individuals and families are beginning to focus more on retirement security. Pensions are an important part of retirement planning. Along with Social Security and private savings and investments, pensions can help seniors maintain their standard of living during their retirement years.
Congress is currently considering a number of proposals to change the current structure of employer sponsored pension plans. I want to ensure that employers live up to their promises and that employees' contributions are safe. However, Congress must also be careful not to place so many restrictions and mandates on private pensions that employers simply choose to no longer offer pensions. We must also work to ensure the long term viability of the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
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| Corporate Defined Benefit Pension Defaults |
Congress must be careful not to place so many restrictions and mandates on private pensions that employers simply choose to no longer offer pensions. We must also work to ensure the long term viability of the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
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| 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 |
| Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| Key Employee Retention Plans |
| Individual Retirement Accounts |
| 401(k) Plans |
| Savers' Credit |
| Other Retirement Improvements |
| Social Security & Pensions |
Pete Coors - R
Website
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Victor Good - REF
Website
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Finn Gotaas - U
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| Long Term Viability of Social Security |
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Preserve and enhance Social Security. My plan calls for using this years surplus, approximately 89 million dollars, by giving it to national banks to used for loans and mortgages with a percentage of the profits paid to the fund. This will preserve and enhance the principal and return money to the economy.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
| These are available issue topics for which there were no responses. |
| Social Security, a General Statement |
| Privatizing 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 |
| Social Security & Pensions |
John R. "Rob" Harris - I
Website
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Richard Randall - L
Website
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Ken Salazar - D
Website
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| Social Security, a General Statement |
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My parents' generation has rightly been called the "greatest generation." They survived the Depression, fought and won World War II, and built the American economy into the most powerful economic machine the world has ever known. Along the way, they helped create and fund Social Security and Medicare to protect their own parents. Today, the remaining members of the greatest generation rely on those programs for retirement income and health care.
Many other older Americans, too, who worked and paid their taxes and supported these programs are today nearing retirement or have already retired. They, too, helped defend our nation and build the foundation on which we have thrived and prospered. Because of the sacrifices of those who came before us, we baby-boomers, and our children, have enjoyed greater opportunities and freedoms than any generation in human history.
As a nation, we entered into a compact with those who paved the way for us. As a nation, we promised them that if they worked hard and paid their taxes, there would be Social Security and Medicare benefits available to help support them when it came time to retire. We make that same promise to today's workers, who now pay the taxes that support those who came before. We must honor that promise. With prudent management of these programs and the federal budget, Social Security and Medicare will remain strong through the retirement of America's baby-boomers and for generations to come.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
| Long Term Viability of Social Security |
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The Social Security System should be abolished.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
As a nation, we entered into a compact with those who paved the way for us. As a nation, we promised them that if they worked hard and paid their taxes, there would be Social Security and Medicare benefits available to help support them when it came time to retire. We make that same promise to today's workers, who now pay the taxes that support those who came before. We must honor that promise. With prudent management of these programs and the federal budget, Social Security and Medicare will remain strong through the retirement of America's baby-boomers and for generations to come.
More than half of Americans over 65 years old would live in poverty if Social Security disappeared. I will push for a return to fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets to maintain a foundation for economic growth, and I will press to make the preservation of Social Security a national priority. With these prudent measures, Social Security will remain financially healthy for generations to come.
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
| Privatizing Social Security |
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Ensuring the stability of Social Security pensions is more important now than ever. Just as many Americans have lost all or part of their retirement savings because of corporate fraud and precipitous drops in the stock market, privatization proposals would subject Social Security -- the only retirement safety net -- to the volatility of the stock market. For too many Americans, privatization will change Social Security from a safety net into a roulette wheel. I will fight against proposals to privatize Social Security. As Colorado Attorney General, I am familiar with the many kinds of investment fraud schemes that particularly target our elderly. I would, therefore, be very wary of "individual investment accounts."
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 |