Presidential Candidate Social Security Reform Pledge

This past week NH CSE issued and mailed by certified letter all presidential candidates its Presidential Candidate Social Security Reform Pledge.

Dear [Mailed to all Presidential Candidates],

Regardless of one’s political or philosophical perspective, there is now consensus that Social Security is in crisis. The demographics of the American workforce will soon provide only two workers for each retiree aged 65 or above, resulting in a staggering unfunded program liability of $11 trillion. This bill begins to come due in just 2018, when Social Security will start paying out more than it collects.

It’s a critical issue that requires immediate action. That’s why New Hampshire Citizens for a Sound Economy (NH CSE) and For Our Grandchildren have partnered in New Hampshire to expand the national debate on Social Security reform. To better ensure the financial stability of Social Security, we support creating voluntary personal retirement accounts that individual workers can own and control.

Working with both Democrats and Republicans, NH CSE and For Our Grandchildren are recruiting volunteers to press Presidential candidates on the issue, asking them to support voluntary personal retirement accounts, or at the very least, to offer their own solution to the on-coming crisis.

As such, I have enclosed, on behalf of the 3,500 members of NH CSE, a copy of our 2004 Presidential Candidate Social Security Reform Pledge for you to sign, date and return.

NH CSE is committed to Social Security reform based on the principles found in the Pledge:

• Guarantees promised benefits for the currently retired and the nearly retired;

• Does not increase Social Security taxes;

• Allows workers to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in Personal Retirement Accounts;

• Ensures that workers would own their own accounts – not the government.

We believe these principles are essential benchmarks for any Social Security reform plan, and are worthy of your support and endorsement.

I appreciate your attention to this critical matter, and look forward to your timely response.

Sincerely,

Chuck McGee

State Director