Ensuring the security of Social Security
Title: The Truth Matters
Sponsor: Rick O’Donnell for Congress
Message: O’Donnell says that he was wrong when he wrote an essay in February 1995 advocating the elimination of Social Security and that he now promises to keep Social Security. He says his earlier stance was because he was a misguided youth of 24. He says in the commercial that his Democratic opponent, Ed Perlmutter, is wrong today because he has proposed cutting Social Security benefits and increasing taxes for Social Security.
Fact: Perlmutter did fill out a candidate survey by AARP and checked a box that stated he supported a “balanced Social Security plan,” which is AARP’s position. AARP defines a balanced Social Security plan as “a bipartisan plan that balances additional contributions from higher-income workers with modest adjustments in future benefits.” Perlmutter’s campaign says that by checking that box, Perlmutter “committed to fighting for guaranteed benefits for future generations, and he has never called for cutting benefits.” Perlmutter’s campaign says Perlmutter believes there are other ways to protect Social Security other than enacting benefit cuts.
