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Howard Dean on Social Security

Former VT Governor; Former Democratic Candidate for President


Reverse Bush tax cuts to shore up trust fund-don't privatize

Dean strongly opposes any effort to privatize Social Security. He said the government "must return to fiscal discipline and use some of the savings to shore up the Social Security Trust Fund." He said eliminating Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, closing corporate tax loopholes and spending cuts would provide money for the fund.
Source: Editorial, The State (South Carolina) Nov 16, 2003

Considered raising retirement age to 70-now keep it at 67

Q: What is your position on raising the retirement age?

DEAN: We shouldn't do it. You know, Dick Gephardt considered means testing Social Security and Medicare both, something that I have never considered. I considered raising the Social Security age possibly to 70, possibly to 68. I've rejected that. I think Dick has since rejected means testing Social Security. So my view is, we do not need to raise the retirement age above 67. We do not need to means test Social Security or Medicare.

Source: Debate at Pace University in Lower Manhattan Sep 25, 2003

Maintain long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare.

Dean adopted the National Governors Association position paper:

The Issue

With the first federal budget surplus in a generation and estimates of non-Social Security surpluses ranging from $750 billion to $1.9 trillion over the next decade, the issue is whether Congress and the President will agree to dedicate a portion of the projected surplus to tax cuts and, if so, what the impacts on states might be.

NGA’s Position

NGA opposes reductions from current discretionary spending levels or changes that could risk the long-term solvency of the nation’s Social Security and Medicare systems. NGA supports provisions to ensure reduced barriers to state and local capital finance through tax-exempt bonds and to ensure maximum flexibility in setting and maintaining state retirement plans and programs.
Source: National Governors Association "Issues / Positions" 01-NGA16 on Aug 1, 2001

Other candidates on Social Security: Howard Dean on other issues:
George W. Bush
Dick Cheney

Republican Possibilities:
George Allen
Jeb Bush
Bill Frist
Rudy Giuliani
John McCain
Mitt Romney

Democratic Possibilities:
Evan Bayh
Hillary Clinton
Howard Dean
John Edwards
Russ Feingold
Al Gore
John Kerry
Joe Lieberman
Al Sharpton
Mark Warner

Third Party Possibilities:
Ralph Nader
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty
Adv: Avi Green for State Rep Middlesex 26, Somerville & Cambridge Massachusetts