Gallagher Calls Social Security, Not Gay Marriage, the Most Important Issue in the Republican Primary




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Jaqueline Pearce, Yahoo News

July 13, 2004

Tampa, Florida: Doug Gallagher, candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Florida , today called upon Congress to spend less time debating "social" issues, such as the constitutional ban on gay marriages, and more time fixing the most important "social" issue, Social Security.

"There are almost 700,000 Republicans in Florida 65 years and older who wait year after year for Congress to finally do something to secure our nation's Social Security program for the future," Gallagher said.

Doug Gallagher released today a major policy statement on Social Security, which is his first of several key platform policies that he believes the voters in Florida are most concerned about.

Gallagher went on to say, "I have been traveling throughout the state of Florida , discussing the critical day-to-day issues that face the average citizen, such Social Security. And I will tell you, while taking a stand against gay marriage sounds good in a 30-second TV campaign commercial, it doesn't affect our state's senior citizens like the adverse effect of taxing Social Security benefits."

Doug Gallagher released his policy statement while addressing groups at Hillsborough's Sun City Center retirement community as well as at the Legacy retirement community in Lehigh Acres in Lee County .

Below please find Gallagher's Social Security platform:

SENIORS AND SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security must be saved; otherwise, in the next few decades, Congress will have to put this wonderful benefits program on life support. It's time to forge a bipartisan alliance in Congress to tackle the difficult task of making Social Security a viable and strong supporter of our American seniors. To waste another year bickering and finger-pointing in Washington would be shameful.

The political landscape is rife with politicians' promises to save Social Security, yet Congress has yet to do one meaningful thing to keep the program solvent. As baby boomers begin retiring and become eligible for benefits in 2008, be ready for an incredible vacuum unless action is taken soon. In a recent report about Social Security, the forecast was updated to reflect that Social Security will remain solvent until approximately 2052. So, why is there a problem now?

When Social Security was first established in 1935, there were dozens of workers for each potential retiree. Most recently, there are only 3.3 workers for every retiree, and the actuarial forecast is for the situation to continue to worsen in the decades ahead. The forecast is for the number of workers to retirees to plummet to a two-to-one ratio within the next 25 years. The failure of our leaders to suggest meaningful solutions is very unfortunate for all Americans.

Obviously, the most important thing that must be addressed is the long- term viability of the underlying system. The unsoundness is produced by a combination of:

-- The ratio of workers to each retiree;

-- The continuing increase in the life expectancy of Americans, which has

grown so dramatically in the past century;

-- And, the overall high quality of our health care system in the U.S.

It is also unconscionable to allow the U.S. Congress to exclude itself from the very Social Security System that they have failed to restore to soundness for future generations of Americans. Many of our current U.S. Senators have multiple millions of dollars in their congressional retirement accounts, which are completely independent of the same Social Security system that they have conveniently excluded themselves from.

Unfortunately, the same double-dealing and incongruity exists regarding health care benefits for our elected members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. All Members of Congress now receive completely free health care. There are no co-pays, caps, gatekeepers or other inconveniences that most normal Americans have to endure in our own health care plans. This situation as to both the retirement benefits and completely free health care are but two of the many reasons that so many American citizens are ready for some bold new leaders in the U. S. Senate.

Florida is home to millions of seniors, people who depend on the viability of the system to survive. As your United States Senator, I will place Social Security reform on a priority footing until we fix this system that's sorely in need of repair. Let's start by having:

1. Totally Tax Free -- Nothing that the Democrats in Congress have done is as duplicitous as supporting legislation to tax seniors' Social Security benefits. It's time to take Social Security benefits off the table forever as taxable income.

2. Removing Work Penalties -- Seniors suffer unfairly from income limits imposed on them by Social Security. They paid into the fund, and they are entitled to every nickel they receive. Government should not restrict the income they receive from working by penalizing our seniors.

3. Voluntary Investments -- Enable American workers to invest a portion of their Social Security accounts in government-backed securities, such as treasury bills and government bonds. These investments, while very conservative and safe, increase the likelihood Social Security funds would earn much more than the 1% they're now earning. Let me be clear: participation in the investment fund would be strictly voluntary; seniors can opt to stay in the old system if they choose.

4. Optional Contributions -- Much like a 401k or IRA program, people in the new Social Security system would be able to make voluntary contributions to their Social Security investment fund, thus increasing their chances of a much greater return and larger benefits check upon retirement. Those contributions would be theirs and could become part of their estate upon death. There should not be any taxes on the resultant investment income from such optional contributions.

5. Prescription Drugs -- Republicans and Democrats in Congress must also work together to solve our nation's health care crisis and end the blame game of finger-pointing. As your United States Senator, I'll fight for affordable health care for Florida 's working families and seniors by allowing prescription drugs to be made available safely from outside the United States to lower costs without intimidation or threats by our governmental agencies.