State of Vermont Archives: on Social Security


Brenda Siegel: Governor opposing pension bill not good for workers

With the veto of the pension bill, S.286, that is not supporting our workers in our state. His chief complaint is that there isn't an optional defined contribution in the bill. Optional defined contributions have plenty of data that shows that it will actually cost our state and the employees more now and in the long run. The employees, as they retire, will be getting less of a return on investment. So, this really isn't good for our pension system, for our state or for the workers in our state.
Source: VT Digger on 2022 Vermont Gubernatorial race Sep 16, 2022

Jim Douglas: Fully fund teacher retirement fund

HB 764 increases the employee contribution rate for all members of the Teachers Retirement System from 3.54% of compensation to 5%. The legislation requires the state to fund the full actuarial requirement annually, after taking into account the changes made by HB 764 in terms of reduced costs as well as increased employee contributions.
    Summary by Vermont Legislature:This act changes the state teachers' retirement system as follows:
  1. adjusts the duration of service needed before a teacher qualifies for normal retirement
  2. increases the employees' share of the costs
  3. increases the percentage of compensation teachers may be paid in retirement
  4. makes available to retired teachers a health benefit component for their spouses
Legislative record:Bill Passed Assembly, 139-0; Passed Senate, 28-0, March 22, 2010; Signed by Governor on 4/7/2010.
Source: NCSL Pension Report: 2010 Vermont voting records for HB 764 Apr 7, 2010

Phil Scott: Enacted state tax relief on Social Security benefits

Nearly 40,000 Vermonters receiving Social Security benefits will keep more of their income due to an income tax exemption proposed by Gov. Phil Scott and passed by the Legislature. This change creates a personal income tax exemption for Social Security beneficiaries below certain income thresholds. "This relief, coupled with our Working Family Taxpayer Protection Act, provides $30 million in income tax relief for Vermonters," said Scott.
Source: Gubernatorial press release for 2020 Vermont governor race Jul 27, 2018

Esther Charlestin: More people retiring than entering the workforce

Q: So what are the key issues that you feel need to be addressed, not only on the campaign trail, but as governor?

A: The things that come to mind for me is workforce. We have a lot more people retiring than we do entering the workforce. We have towns who are recruiting people to move there and be a part of the community. And that's a problem as we think about where Vermont will be 20 years from now. I also think about climate change, the floods that happened over the summer. It won't be the last time and are we ready? What things do we have in place to make sure we're in a good space? And of course, housing.

Source: WAMC on 2024 Vermont Gubernatorial race Jan 22, 2024

Sue Minter: Fully fund teacher retirement fund

HB 764 increases the employee contribution rate for all members of the Teachers Retirement System from 3.54% of compensation to 5%. The legislation requires the state to fund the full actuarial requirement annually, after taking into account the changes made by HB 764 in terms of reduced costs as well as increased employee contributions.
    Summary by Vermont Legislature:This act changes the state teachers' retirement system as follows:
  1. adjusts the duration of service needed before a teacher qualifies for normal retirement
  2. increases the employees' share of the costs
  3. increases the percentage of compensation teachers may be paid in retirement
  4. makes available to retired teachers a health benefit component for their spouses
Legislative record:Bill Passed Assembly, 139-0; Passed Senate, 28-0, March 22, 2010; Signed by Governor on 4/7/2010. Rep. Minter voted YEA.
Source: NCSL Pension Report: 2010 Vermont voting records for HB 764 Mar 22, 2010

Gerald Malloy: Restore long-term solvency without cutting entitlements

I will act with discipline and fiscal responsibility. We have a $34 trillion debt. The Federal and State budgets have increased 50% since 2019. The budget deficit this year alone has more than doubled. We are on a 100% unsustainable path. I will support balanced budgets and fixing Social Security, Medicare and other entitlements, restoring their long-term solvency, not cutting them. I do not support Government Intervention/Industrial Policy related to drug and healthcare prices. I will support changes to US Government Patent Laws that could dramatically decrease drug prices. I will not support tax increases. I will not support overspending; the trillions of dollars our Congress is overspending is a major contributor to the inflation we
Source: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection on 2024 Vermont Senate race Aug 8, 2024

  • The above quotations are from State of Vermont Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2026 Senate and Gubernatorial contenders on Social Security:
  2026 Senatorial debates:
  -   AK - AL - AR - CO - DE - FL - GA - IA - ID - IL -
  -   KS - KY - LA - MA - ME - MI - MN - MS - MT - NC - NH - NJ - NM -
  -   OH - OK - OR - RI - SC - SD - TN - VA - WV - WY -



2026 Gubernatorial debates:
  -   AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL -
  -   KS - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY -
  -   OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - VA - VT - WI - WY -

Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Oct 18, 2026