Issue Position: Social Security

Issue Position

Social Security is a promise to our seniors that must be kept! Social Security is solvent under the current system until 2036. The Social Security trust fund stood at about $2.6 trillion as of January 1, 2011, according to the 2011 Social Security trust fund report. To extend the solvency well into the future, we simply need to remove the income cap on payroll tax. Currently, that cap is $106,800 on earned income, i.e., wages. The top 3% are paying a much smaller percentage of their income compared to the middle class. I believe that everyone should pay an equal social security tax rate. As your representative in Congress, I will advocate the following to help ensure that social security will remain solvent:

Removal of the Payroll Tax Cap.

Oppose privatizing and benefit cuts to social security.

Raising the retirement age, including the minimum benefit age of 62. An extra year of work will solve about one-third of the program's funding problems. Social Security system should reflect that more of us are working into our 70's.

Reform Social Security's disability system to help protect those who work physically demanding jobs. The percentage of elderly who do manual labor is shrinking. Those who do this work need to be protected.

Increase in contributions and reduction of benefits for high-earners. Social Security is not welfare.

Preserve the defined benefit nature of Social Security. There has been little interest by Americans to take on additional risk with their retirement.

Promote transparency about benefits and structural changes.

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