State of Wyoming Archives: on Social Security

Cynthia Lummis: Comprehensive overhaul of both Medicare & Social Security

A: I have been a strong advocate for comprehensive reform to overhaul both our Medicare and Social Security systems to make them viable for the long-term while modernizing the programs to meet the needs of today's retirees. While in the US House of Representatives, I proposed changes to Medicare and Social Security but they would not have impacted anyone currently receiving benefits or those paying into the programs. If we do nothing beneficiaries will see automatic cuts when the trusts run out of money. Or, worse still, the programs will cease to exist--putting current and future generations of retirees at great risk. As a U.S. Senator, I will be a fierce advocate for tackling Medicare and Social Security reform today instead of continuing to kick the can down the road. It's too important to Wyoming seniors and future generations to not fix these critical programs.

Bill Dahlin: Does not want Medicare or Social Security jeopardized

Gary Trauner: Social Security is not an entitlement but an earned benefit

Dave Freudenthal: $48M for state retirement fund, but employees must pay more

But there are some other assumptions that I think need to be evaluated over the next year. One is that ours is a fixed benefit plan, and we have had a habit of taking a fixed benefit plan and inserting cost of living increases. We need to assess whether that makes sense and whether we need to reevaluate the structure of the plan and the role of the employee.

I do not take grave exception with the proposition state employees are going to have to pay more. What I am worried about is we have headed off on a course of action and do not have a strategy.