John Neely Kennedy on Social Security

2004 former Democratic Senate Challenger (LA)

Restore benefits to 800,000 low and middle-income retirees

John Kennedy announced that if elected one of his first priorities will be to introduce legislation to amend provisions that greatly reduces the Social Security benefits of low and middle-income government retirees and their spouses. "Our seniors already face the high cost of living on a limited income," said Kennedy. "They may have prepared for the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs, medical bills and other expenses, but most are not ready for reduced Social Security benefits." Source: Campaign press release, "Restore Benefits" Mar 18, 2004

Preserve retirement security for state workers

As time goes on, it is very likely we will hear more news about the challenges of funding the Social Security system. It is important that our national leaders find and implement real solutions to fix the solvency problems surrounding Social Security, since many Americans look to it for at least part of their retirement security. However, those "fixes" should not be done at the cost of undermining our states' many public pension funds.

To mandate what would amount to "forced abandonment" of these systems for a quick infusion of funds into the Social Security system would be unconscionable. The proposals mandating Social Security coverage for public employees calculate that such action would only reduce Social Security's financial shortfall by about 10 percent. To better put that in prospective, it means that Social Security's solvency would be extended by only two years!

Source: Treasurer's Opinion Columns, "Preserve Retirement Security" Jan 1, 2001

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*Other candidates on Social Security:*		*John Neely Kennedy on other issues:*
*LA Gubernatorial:* Bobby Jindal Kathleen Blanco Mike Foster *LA Senatorial:* Mary Landrieu *2008 Senate retirements:* Wayne Allard(R,CO) Larry Craig(R,ID) Pete Domenici(R,NM) Chuck Hagel(R,NE) Trent Lott(R,MS) Craig Thomas(R,WY) John Warner(R,VA) *2008 Presidential Contenders:* Rep.Bob Barr(L) Sen.Hillary Clinton(D) Sen.Mike Gravel(L) Alan Keyes(C) Sen.John McCain(R) Rep.Cynthia McKinney(G) Ralph Nader(I) Sen.Barack Obama(D) Rep.Ron Paul(R)	*2008 Senate Races:* AK:Stevens(R) vs.Knowles(D) AL:Sessions(R) vs.Figures(D) AR:Pryor(D) vs.Formicola(R) CO:Schaffer(R) vs.Udall(D) DE:Biden(D) GA:Chambliss(R) vs.Cardwell(D) IA:Harkin(D) vs.Rathje(R) ID:Risch(R) vs.LaRocco(D) IL:Durbin(D) vs.Sauerberg(R) vs.Stafford(L) KS:Roberts(R) vs.Jones(D) vs.Slattery(D) KY:McConnell(R) vs.Fischer(D) LA:Landrieu(D) vs.Kennedy(R) MA:Kerry(D) vs.O`Reilly(D) vs.Ogonowski(R) ME:Collins(R) vs.Allen(D) MI:Levin(D) vs.Baron(R) MN:Coleman(R) vs.Franken(D) vs.Cavlan(G) MS4:Wicker(R) vs.Musgrove(D) MS6:Cochran(R) vs.Fleming(D) MT:Baucus(D) vs.Bushman(R) NC:Dole(R) vs.Hagan(D) vs.Neal(D) NE:Johanns(R) vs.Kleeb(D) NH:Sununu(R) vs.Shaheen(D) NJ:Lautenberg(D) vs.Pennacchio(R) NM:Wilson(R) vs.Pearce(R) vs.Udall(D) OR:Smith(R) vs.Merkley(D) OK:Inhofe(R) vs.Rice(D) RI:Reed(D) SC:Graham(R) vs.Cone(D) SD:Johnson(D) vs.Kephart(R) TN:Alexander(R) vs.Lugo(D) TX:Cornyn(R) vs.Noriega(D) vs.Jameson(L) VA:Gilmore(R) vs.Warner(D) WV:Rockefeller(D) vs.Raese(R) WY4:Barrasso(R) vs.Carter(D) vs.Goodenough(D) WY6:Enzi(R)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare Other Senators House of Representatives SenateMatch (matching quiz) Senate Votes (analysis) House Votes Bill Sponsorships Affiliations Policy Reports Group Ratings

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