State of Montana Archives: on Social Security


Matt Rosendale: Protect Social Security & Medicare for Montana seniors

Matt will always fight to preserve and protect Medicare and Social Security benefits for Montana seniors. These benefits were earned and promised to our seniors--and Matt won't let Washington politicians from either party cut or take away any of these benefits. Matt will always honor our commitment to Montana seniors. Both of Matt's parents received these benefits and he knows countless Montanans who depend on this safety net to make ends meet.
Source: 2020 Montana Senate campaign website MattForMontana.com May 17, 2020

Steve Bullock: Tax cut would have benefitted high-income seniors

Sponsored by Sen. David Howard, R-Park City, SB 217 would have lowered the tax burden on Montana seniors by letting them exempt a greater share of their Social Security benefits from state income taxes. In his veto memo, Bullock points to the cost of the tax cut, $36 million over the next two years, and argues the cut would "disproportionately benefit seniors with higher incomes," despite it having been pitched as a way to help retirees living on fixed incomes.
Source: Glendive Ranger Review on Montana voting record SB 217 May 30, 2019

Steve Bullock: Vetoed state tax exemption for Social Security income

Bullock vetoed Senate Bill 217, a proposal that would exempt from taxes the first $30,000 in Social Security income for a single person and $60,000 for a couple. He said SB 217 "would have an immediate $3 million negative impact in Fiscal Year 2019, increasing to more than a $36 million during the 2021-2022 biennium. "A negative impact of this magnitude would jeopardize critical services that Montanans of all ages rely on, including low-income seniors," he wrote.
Source: Great Falls Tribune on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race Apr 19, 2019

Jon Tester: Opposes any plan to privatize

Q: Social Security: Consider partial or full privatization options?

Matt Rosendale (R): Yes. Let younger Americans invest privately instead of paying in.

Jon Tester (D): No. Opposes any plan to privatize.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Matt Rosendale: Let younger Americans invest privately instead of paying in

Q: Social Security: Consider partial or full privatization options?

Matt Rosendale (R): Yes. Let younger Americans invest privately instead of paying in.

Jon Tester (D): No. Opposes any plan to privatize.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Greg Gianforte: Noah in the Bible was still working at age 600

In a talk at the Montana Bible College about how to find "godly purpose" in work, Gianforte explained why retirement isn't consistent with biblical teachings: "There's nothing in the Bible that talks about retirement. And yet it's been an accepted concept in our culture today," he said. "Nowhere does it say, 'Well, he was a good and faithful servant, so he went to the beach.' It doesn't say that anywhere."

"The example I think of is Noah," he continued. "How old was Noah when he built the ark? 600. He wasn't like, cashing Social Security checks, he wasn't hanging out, he was working. So, I think we have an obligation to work. The role we have in work may change over time, but the concept of retirement is not biblical."

[A supporter explained] that Gianforte was speaking "to the idea that we should all be good stewards of the unique gifts and talents we each have been given."

Source: HuffingtonPost.com on 2016 Montana gubernatorial race Jun 10, 2015

Amanda Curtis: Against privatizing Medicare and Social Security

In this time of elections being won by those with the largest bankrolls, it is a relief to have a candidate who indeed is "one of us" and who understands what day-to-day life is like for the vast majority of Montanans. Curtis stands for transparency and accountability in government, evidenced by her daily YouTube posts as a state legislator from Butte during the 2013 Montana legislative session. We knew on a daily basis what Curtis was doing and, most important, what she was thinking.

Curtis will work to ensure that Montana's public schools remain high quality and that financial accessibility to post-secondary education is attainable. She is for keeping our public lands public. She supported and voted for Medicaid expansion. She will work to ensure that women are free to make their own health care decisions. She is against privatizing Medicare and Social Security. She is a determined advocate for workers' rights.

Source: The Missoulian OpEd on 2014 Montana Senate race Sep 2, 2014

Sam Rankin: Phase in age increase and more realistic CPI

Source: 2014 Montana Senate campaign website, SamRankin.com Jul 27, 2014

Steve Daines: AdWatch: Accuses opponent of considering privatization

Turning the tables on a traditionally Democratic attack line, a new ad from Steve Daines accuses John Walsh of wanting to privatize Social Security. The Daines ad features a 67-year-old woman claiming that "Walsh also believes that privatizing Social Security should be on the table," a proposal she considers "just too risky." On screen, we see the quote, "Privatize Social Security, Walsh Says."

Here's the Q&A from April 17 that Daines refers to:

Reporter: Do you think there would ever be a circumstance where the privatization of Social Security would make sense?

Walsh: You know, I'd have to take a look at all the options--but not for those that are currently in Social Security right now. I can see, you know, maybe if there may be an option where they look at it for new employees coming into the workforce--that they may look at that--but it's not something that I'm going to support with those that are currently on the program or currently working in the program.

Source: FactCheck.org AdWatch on 2014 Montana Senate race Jul 11, 2014

John Edward Walsh: Consider privatization for new employees entering workforce

Turning the tables on a traditionally Democratic attack line, a new ad from Steve Daines accuses John Walsh of wanting to privatize Social Security. The Daines ad features a 67-year-old woman claiming that "Walsh also believes that privatizing Social Security should be on the table," a proposal she considers "just too risky." On screen, we see the quote, "Privatize Social Security, Walsh Says."

Here's the Q&A from April 17 that Daines refers to:

Reporter: Do you think there would ever be a circumstance where the privatization of Social Security would make sense?

Walsh: You know, I'd have to take a look at all the options--but not for those that are currently in Social Security right now. I can see, you know, maybe if there may be an option where they look at it for new employees coming into the workforce--that they may look at that--but it's not something that I'm going to support with those that are currently on the program or currently working in the program.

Source: FactCheck.org AdWatch on 2014 Montana Senate race Apr 17, 2014

Bill McChesney: Increase contributions to U-System's Retirement Program

Bill McChesney was bill HB 253's Primary Sponsor; bill Died in Standing Committee 4/24/2013.Title: Increase contributions to the U-System's Optional Retirement Program.