State of Louisiana Archives: on Social Security

Bill Cassidy: Strengthen the trust fund and preserve it for the future

A: We must strengthen the Social Security trust fund for those who currently rely on this important program and preserve it for Americans who will need it in the future. We must implement fiscally conservative solutions to not only ensure this program endures, but get our nations spending problem under control. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, working with my colleagues and experts on solutions to protect and strengthen social security has been a top priority.

Foster Campbell: I do not support privatization of Social Security

A: No. I will [work] to protect and maintain Social Security, and I do not support privatization of Social Security.

Thomas Clements: Privatize Social Security at birth for newborns today

A: We could privatize at birth for newborns today.

Jay Dardenne: Merge Elderly Affairs & Veterans Affairs into one department

Currently, the Office of Elderly Affairs is part of the Office of the Governor. It was created in 1956 by the Legislature as the Commission on Aging. The office serves 800,852 Louisiana residents aged 60 and older, or roughly 18% of Louisiana's population.

The Department of Veterans Affairs was created in 2003 to provide health care, education, disability benefits, long care, and burial honors services to Louisiana's 330,000 veterans. "Obviously, not every veteran is elderly, but there are similarities in service needs and health concern shared by both groups," Dardenne said.

John Neely Kennedy: Endorses voluntary private retirement savings accounts

Kennedy continues to broadcast an ad titled “Scary Mary,” a retort to her accusations that Kennedy would cut Social Security because he has endorsed the idea of voluntary private retirement savings accounts. The Republican ad states that “Mary Landrieu voted to allow illegal immigrants into the Social Security system.“ The statement refers to the Senate’s 2006 debate over an immigration bill. The relevant portion deals with what kind of Social Security benefits a legal immigrant might be due for wages the immigrants earned before they established legal residence. Landrieu voted against a Republican amendment that would have prevented immigrants from receiving credit for Social Security taxes paid while their work status was not legal.

Mary Landrieu: Credit immigrants for FICA paid while status was illegal

Kennedy continues to broadcast an ad titled “Scary Mary,” a retort to her accusations that Kennedy would cut Social Security because he has endorsed the idea of voluntary private retirement savings accounts. The Republican ad states that “Mary Landrieu voted to allow illegal immigrants into the Social Security system.“ The statement refers to the Senate’s 2006 debate over an immigration bill. The relevant portion deals with what kind of Social Security benefits a legal immigrant might be due for wages the immigrants earned before they established legal residence. Landrieu voted against a Republican amendment that would have prevented immigrants from receiving credit for Social Security taxes paid while their work status was not legal.