Clinton “Enhancing” Social Security
Hillary’s big speech: Light on details, but a generous dollop of progressive themes
SIMON MALOY
MONDAY, JUL 13, 2015
Salon
“Enhancing” Social Security. The hot trend for Democratic presidential candidates is to call for an expansion of Social Security to collect more revenue and provide more generous benefits than the system currently pays out. Both Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley have endorsed adjustments to the payroll tax structure that will bring a bit more fairness to the system, and they both support legislation to boost wages and legalize undocumented immigrants, which would result in more people paying more into Social Security.
Up to this point, Clinton has been cautious when talking about Social Security, saying only that she would “defend” the program against Republican efforts to cut it. In her speech today, though, Hillary said she would “help families look forward to retirement by defending and enhancing Social Security and making it easier to save for the future.”
What does “enhancing Social Security” mean? Well, she didn’t explain. But it’s different than what she’s been saying previously! I’d imagine Hillary’s vision for “enhancing” Social Security probably shares quite a bit with those of Sanders and O’Malley – she also backs higher wages and comprehensive immigration reform. But the tax question is still unresolved. The last time she ran for president, Hillary was firmly against raising additional payroll taxes, and her overall plan for what to do about the Social Security’s long-term health was to appoint a “commission” that would figure something out. Saying she wants to “enhance” the program is vague and will require much more in the way of detail, but hopefully it means she’s moved beyond the passive, hands-off approach to Social Security she took in 2008.
Related:
Clinton's Remarkable Non-Answer Regarding Social Security (Sep 24, 2015)
Hillary Clinton on Social Security Expansion: Words are Wind. A Cold Wind.
Sanders offers Social Security as latest example of ‘many, many differences’ with Clinton
Clinton did not categorically rule out Social Security benefit cuts or raising the retirement age
Say It Ain't So, Hillary Clinton - You're Open to the Idea of Raising the Retirement Age?
A Trojan Horse In Clinton’s Pledge To “Enhance” Social Security?
Why It's Misleading to Swear to Protect the Poor's Social-Security Benefits
