Mark Begich on Social Security Democratic Jr Senator

Treat “Notch babies” equally with all other seniors

A: Yes, Mark Begich believes that all our seniors should be treated equally under Social Security.

Adjust Soc. Sec. cost of living by consumer price index

A: Yes, Mark Begich believes that we must make cost of living adjustments based on the consumer price index so that it adequately supports America’s seniors.

No privatization; no individual investment accounts

A: Begich believes that we must shore up the Social Security Trust Fund so that Social Security is viable far into the future. Begich also strongly opposes privatization of Social Security which could cut benefits to our seniors and skyrocket the national debt. This is a critical safety net for America’s seniors. We cannot jeopardize it by siphoning off funds for individual investment accounts that most seniors will not benefit from.

Elderly are entitled to solvent & reliable Social Security

Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI".

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION expressing the sense of the Congress that the Chained Consumer Price Index (CPI) should not be used to adjust Social Security benefits.

• WHEREAS the Social Security program continues to provide modest benefits--averaging approximately $14,000 per year--to more than 53,000,000 individuals
• WHEREAS the Trust Fund can pay full benefits through 2032;
• WHEREAS the Social Security program is designed to ensure that benefits keep pace with inflation through cost-of-living adjustments based on the CPI which measures prices of goods and services;
• WHEREAS the Chained CPI adjusts for projected changes in consumer behavior resulting from price fluctuations known as the 'substitution effect', which occurs when consumers buy alternative goods and services whose prices are rising more slowly than average;
• Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the Chained CPI should not be used to calculate cost of living adjustments for Social Security benefits.

  Opponent's argument against bill:(Congressional Testimony by Jeffrey Kling, Congressional Budget Office Associate Director for Economic Analysis, April 18, 2013):

  The chained CPI grows more slowly than the trad

  Source: H.CON.RES.34 & S.Con.Res.15 13-SCR15 on Apr 18, 2013

  Rated 94% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance.

  Begich scores 94% Alliance for Retired Americans

  Scoring system for 2014: Ranges from 0% (supports privatization and other market-based reforms) to 100% (supports keeping federal control over Trust Fund and Social Security system).

  About ARA (from their website, www.RetiredAmericans.org):

  The Alliance for Retired Americans is a nationwide organization, founded in May 2001, with now over 4.2 million members working together to make their voices heard in the laws, policies, politics, and institutions that shape our lives. The mission of the Alliance for Retired Americans is to ensure social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens so that they may enjoy lives of dignity, personal and family fulfillment and security.

  • Alliance members visit the polls in record numbers. We use the power of our membership and our Congressional Voting Record to educate and mobilize seniors to elect leaders committed to improving the lives of retirees and older Americans.
  • We are effectively warding off cuts to our most important social programs like Social Security and Medicare. Our Human Chain Against the Chained CPI events in the summer of 2013 took place in more than 50 cities and mobilized support for stopping this cut to earned Social Security benefits.
  • We blocked the privatization of Social Security with our Social Security "Truth Truck" delivering 2.1 million petitions to Members of Congress and other tactics.
  • The Alliance makes its voice heard on the issues that matter not just to current retirees, but to all Americans who hope to retire one day. We were a leading voice in recent debates considering changes to Medicare, like replacing guaranteed benefits with a voucher system, and remain so in 2014.
  Source: ARA lifetime rating on incumbents of 113th Congress 14_ARA on Jan 1, 2013

  Click here for definitions & background information on Social Security. Click here for a Wikipedia profile of Mark Begich. Click here for a Ballotpedia profile of Mark Begich. Click here for SenateMatch quiz answers by Mark Begich. Click here for AmericansElect quiz answers by Mark Begich. Click here for MyOcracy quiz answers by Mark Begich. Click here for Huffington Post quiz answers by Mark Begich. Click here for a summary of Mark Begich's positions on all issues. Click here for issue positions of other AK politicians. Click here for issue statements from AK archives.
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