AARP Poll Shows Social Security Still An Issue

According to a new survey released today by the American Association of Retired Persons, most of those polled in Tennessee say they are opposed to diverting Social Security taxes into private accounts.

AARP polled its members in June on the issues of Social Security, Medicare spending, and retirement security. The survey also noted the party affiliation of members who were polled, but that factor did not come into play. In fact, most, regardless of party, agreed on all the issues.

Seventy-nine percent say they are against using Social Security taxes to set up private accounts. The Social Security debate largely disappeared last year despite the Bush Administration’s attempt to garner support for the issue. AARP’s Brian McGuire says the Social Security debate will likely resurface this year.

“Social security isn’t broke right but the sooner we address solvency, the easier it’s going to be in terms of the effect on beneficiaries, on future beneficiaries. If we’re talking about increasing the payroll tax for instance, if we’re talking about changing the benefit structure in any way, then we should be doing that gradually. It’ll be much less of an effect on individuals if we do that sooner than later.”

AARP says it doesn’t have a good feel for how the Senate candidates stand on the issue of private Social Security accounts.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press has reported that the Republican candidates, former U.S. Representatives Van Hilleary and Ed Bryant, and former Chattanooga Mayor, Bob Corker, all support the idea of Social security accounts, while Democratic candidate and current U.S. Representative, Harold Ford Jr., opposes the idea.

Download AARP press release and elections survey report

(PDF File)