MEMO: Senator Ted Stevens Record On Social SecurityMEMORANDUM TO: Reporters; interested parties Since Social Security was established nearly 73 years ago, the program has been an entitlement that billions of Americans have counted on. Unfortunately, Stevens has supported an agenda in the Senate that destabilizes Social Security, at the expense of Alaskans approaching retirement. Stevens’ support of privatizing Social Security could skyrocket our national debt and cut benefits to seniors.
Stevens Voted Against A $396 Billion Reserve Fund To Strengthen Social Security. On March 25, 2003, Stevens voted against an amendment offered by Breaux (D-LA) that would create a $396 billion Social Security reserve account to strengthen, protect and reform Social Security over the long term in order to ensure its stability in years to come. The amendment was accepted 51-48, was attached to a bill which passed the senate 56-44. [Roll Call 93, S. Con. Res. 23, March 25, 2003; Roll Call 108, S. Con. Res. 23, March 26, 2003]
Stevens Voted To Increase the Tax Cuts in the Budget Resolution by $145.6 Billion by Repealing the 1993 Social Security Benefits Tax Increase. On March 25, 2003, Stevens voted for an amendment offered by Bunning (R-KY) that would increase tax cuts in the 2003 budget resolution by $145.6 billion by repealing the 1993 Social Security benefits tax increase. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 47-52. [Roll Call, 94, S. Con. Res. 23, March 25, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Reserving $1.2 Trillion To Shore Up Social Security. On March 18, 2003, Stevens voted to table an amendment offered by Conrad (D-ND) to strengthen Social Security by trimming tax cuts to provide $1.2 trillion to the trust fund. The motion to table was passed 57-42. [Roll Call 56, S. Con. Res. 23, March 18, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Preventing Congress Form Using Social Security Funds For Unrelated Purposes. On March 13, 2001, Stevens voted against a Conrad (D-ND) amendment to protect the Social Security and Medicare surplus “lockbox” to prevent Congress from using the funds for unrelated purposes. The motion to waive the amendment passed 53 to 47. [Roll Call 22, S. 420, March 13, 2001]
Stevens Voted Against Prohibiting Congress From Using Social Security Surplus Funds for Tax Cuts. On July 30, 1999, Stevens voted to table a Lautenberg (D-NJ) amendment prohibiting Congress from dipping into the Social Security surplus to fund tax cuts. The motion to table the amendment passed 55 to 45. [Roll Call 236, S. 1429, July 30, 1999]
Stevens Voted Against Idea That Congress Should First Save Social Security Before Increasing Spending Or Reducing Taxes. On March 24, 1999 Stevens voted against a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to an amendment offered by Lautenberg (D-NJ), which would have restricted new congressional spending on programs or new tax cuts until Congress passed legislation to preserve Social Security. The motion failed 45-54. (Roll Call 59, S.Con.Res. 20, March 24, 1999)
Stevens Supports Privatizing Social Security. On April 1, 1998, Stevens voted for a Roth (R-DE) amendment expressing the Senate’s support for establishing private personal retirement accounts. Personal private accounts would weaken Social Security’s guaranteed benefits and replace them with perilous investment accounts. The amendment passed 51 to 49, was attached to S.Con.Res.86, which passed the Senate 57 to 41. [Roll Call 56, S.Con.Res. 86, April 1, 1998] The following day, Stevens voted for Grams (R-MN) amendment using budget surplus to reduce payroll tax and establish private personal retirement accounts. The amendment passed 50 to 48, was attached to S.Con.Res.86, which passed the Senate 57 to 41. [Roll Call 77, S.Con.Res. 86, April 2, 1998]
Stevens Voted Against Protecting Social Security Trust Fund. On February 25, 1997, Stevens voted to table a Reid (D-NV) amendment to protect the Social Security trust fund, by not allowing politicians to spend the funds for other purposes. The motion to table the amendment passed 55 to 44. [Roll Call 14, S.J.RES. 1, February 25, 1997] |
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