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Senior Citizen Politics
Congressional Candidates Not Supporting Social
Security Private Accounts
AARP says in 45
Congressional races most candidates oppose idea
 October 24, 2006 – President Bush's plan for
private accounts as part of the Social Security program is a dead issue,
if a recent survey of 45 heated Congressional races is an indicator. It
found only one candidate out of 20 in
10 of the closest Senate races indicated support. It was even worse in
35 of the top House races where only two candidates voiced support for
private accounts. An earlier election poll by AARP found 72 percent of
older American voters also oppose the idea.
An analysis of candidate responses to the 2006 AARP
Voters' Guides in 45 competitive Senate and House races reflects that
candidates are hearing the public's rejection of private accounts.
AARP's 2006 Voters' Guides ask candidates whether
they "support or oppose using Social Security taxes to fund private
accounts." Of the 20 Senate candidates in 10 of the closest races for
which Guides are available, 14 (70 percent) of the candidates checked
the box in opposition; only one (5 percent) candidate expressed support,
while 5 (25 percent) candidates either did not check a box or respond.
Similarly, in 35 of the competitive House races, 43
(60 percent) of the candidates checked the box in opposition. Only two
candidates (3 percent) expressed support, while 26 (37 percent) of the
remaining candidates either did not check a box or respond at all.
The Guides also ask candidates whether they will
"support or oppose a balanced Social Security plan to continue the
program's guaranteed benefits for future generations." Of the 20 Senate
candidates, 15 (75 percent) candidates checked the box in support, one
candidate (5 percent) opposed, and 20 percent did not check a box or
respond. For the House races, a total of 45 (63 percent) candidates
support a balanced plan, only 1 (one percent) oppose, and the remaining
25 (35 percent) candidates either did not check a box or respond.
"It is clear from the responses to our Voters'
Guides that an overwhelming majority of candidates oppose private
accounts and support a balanced Social Security plan to continue this
critical program for future generations," said AARP Director of
Government Relations David Sloane. "These candidates have committed to
strengthening and preserving Social Security, and voters will expect
that they follow through on their promises if elected to office."
For a complete listing of the competitive 45 races
for which we have Voters' Guides, and the candidates' complete responses
to the Social Security questions, including additional comments they may
have made, please visit:
http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/cs/misc/house_voter_guide.pdf
http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/cs/misc/senate_voter_guide.pdf
The recent
AARP survey included boomer+ voters (age 42 and older) and said they
"are strongly opposed to using Social Security taxes to fund private
accounts."
More than seven in ten of those polled (72 percent)
said they oppose private accounts. Less than one in six (16 percent) of
those polled said they support such accounts.
To view all the complete 2006 AARP Voters'
Guides, visit
www.dontvote.com.
The Election Watch survey was commissioned earlier this month as a
national telephone survey of 1,503 individuals age 42 and older. The
survey is the seventh in a series of nine scheduled for release each
week leading up to the mid-term elections. AARP wanted to take the pulse
of the public's opinion on issues that our members have indicated they
want to hear about in the national and state public discourse.
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