Third GOP presidential primary debate: on Social Security


Chris Christie: Rich people should not be collecting Social Security

Gov. Chris Christie: The fact is we need to be realistic about this. There are only three things that go into determining whether Social Security can be solvent or not. Retirement age, eligibility for the program in general and taxes. That's it. We are already overtaxed in this country and we should not raise those taxes. But on eligibility also, rich people should not be collecting Social Security.
Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami Nov 8, 2023

Nikki Haley: Limit benefits on the wealthy; increases based on inflation

Any candidate that tells you that they're not going to take on entitlements, is not being serious. Instead of cost of living increases, we should go to increases based on inflation. We should limit benefits on the wealthy. And then expand Medicare Advantage plans. Seniors love that and let's make sure we do that so that they can have more competition. That's how we'll deal with entitlement reform and that's how we'll start to pay down this debt.

Fact Check: COLA definition from SSA.gov: Since 1975, Social Security's general benefit increases have been based on increases in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index [a measure of the rate of inflation]. We call such increases Cost-Of-Living Adjustments, or COLAs. We determined a 3.2% COLA on October 12, 2023.

Fact Check by UsInflationCalculator.com: The annual inflation rate for the US was 3.7% for the previous 12 months, according to Labor Department data published on Oct. 12, 2023.

Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami Nov 8, 2023

  • The above quotations are from NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami, and commentary.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Ron DeSantis on Social Security.
  • Click here for more quotes by Nikki Haley on Social Security.
2016 Presidential contenders on Social Security:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Nov 18, 2023