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BARACK OBAMA WOULD PROTECT RETIREMENT SECURITY
Barack Obama wants to strengthen Social Security and block attempts to privatize it. He has fought against cuts in Social Security and Medicare and worked to lower prescription drug prices for seniors.
Obama Says He Will NOT Cut Benefits or Raise Retirement Age. Obama wrote, “I do not want to cut benefi ts or raise the retirement age. I believe there are a number of ways we can make Social Security solvent that do not involve placing these added burdens on our seniors.” (Quad-City Times, 9/21/07)
Obama Opposed Deep Cuts to Social Security Benefits. Obama opposed a Social Security plan that would require deep benefi t cuts or a massive increase in debt. That same year, Obama supported legislation to prioritize Social Security solvency over tax cuts for the wealthy. (S.C.R. 18, Vote 49, 3/15/05; S.Amdt. 144 to S.C.R. 18, Vote 47, 3/15/05)
Obama Proposes Raising the Cutoff on Social Security Tax to Maintain Solvency. “Currently, the Social Security payroll tax applies to only the fi rst $102,000 a worker makes. Obama supports increasing the maximum amount of earnings covered by Social Security” to keep it solvent for the future. ()
Obama Opposed Steep Increases in Seniors’ Medicare Premiums. Obama voted to protect seniors from steep increases in their Medicare Part B premiums, which they faced because Congress increased Medicare payments to physicians but failed to enact savings from Medicare payments to private health plans. (S. 1932, Vote 287, 11/3/05)
Obama: Eliminate Income Taxes for Seniors Earning Less Than $50,000; Seniors Bear Unfair Tax Burden. Obama proposes tax relief for seniors. He wrote, “My plan will eliminate income taxes for about 7 million seniors making less than $50,000 a year…. Th is tax cut is needed especially because since 1993 seniors have been bearing an unfair tax burden.” (Quad-City Times, 9/21/07)
Obama Voted to Allow Medicare to Negotiate Lower Drug Prices for Senior Citizens. Obama voted to allow Medicare to negotiate with the drug makers for lower prices for senior citizens. Republicans fi libustered the bill. (S. 3, Vote 132, 4/18/07)
