WASHINGTON — The
Concord Coalition today released a brochure called “Key Questions Voters Should Ask
Candidates About the Budget, Social Security and Medicare.” The brochure, which is now available at
www.concordcoalition.org, outlines five questions citizens and members of the media should
ask candidates for federal office. It also
gives background information to provide context and help with follow-up questions on the
budget, Social Security and Medicare.
WASHINGTON — The
Concord Coalition today released a brochure called “Key Questions Voters Should Ask
Candidates About the Budget, Social Security and Medicare.” The brochure, which is now available at
www.concordcoalition.org, outlines five questions citizens and members of the media should
ask candidates for federal office. It also
gives background information to provide context and help with follow-up questions on the
budget, Social Security and Medicare.
“Political campaigns are the ideal time to question candidates. Well-informed voters can use these exchanges to
find out where candidates really stand and to let the candidates know what they think. But many politicians have a tendency to gloss over
tough issues, minimize problems and offer easy-sounding solutions instead of giving
detailed, specific answers. While there is no single correct answer to any of the
questions, these issues need to be debated on the campaign trail. Concord’s key
questions provide a framework for ensuring that candidates address some of the toughest
choices they will face about the budget, Social Security and Medicare if they’re
elected,” said Executive Director Robert Bixby.
The key questions are as follows:
1. Some people in
Washington are predicting that the government will have budget surpluses “as far as
the eye can see.” Do you believe it is
fiscally responsible to enact new spending initiatives or reduce taxes based on the
assumption that these projected surpluses will actually materialize?
2. There has been a lot of
talk about back-to-back budget surpluses in 1998 and 1999, yet the national debt continues
to increase. Is debt reduction a priority for
you and if so, how would you balance debt reduction against your other priorities?
3. Social Security will
begin spending more than it collects in taxes by about 2014. After that, Social Security will run growing
annual cash deficits exceeding $1 trillion a year by the time the baby boomers have
retired in the 2030s. How do you propose to
reduce this financial burden on future taxpayers while at the same time protecting the
retirement security of future beneficiaries?
4. Some people suggest
that the current Social Security system could be improved by allowing, or requiring,
workers to save a portion of their payroll contributions in individually owned retirement
accounts. Do you believe that such accounts
should be part of a comprehensive Social Security reform plan?
5. There is a growing
bipartisan consensus that a prescription drug benefit should be added to Medicare. But Medicare’s costs are already projected to
double over the next 10 years, even before most of the huge baby boom generation qualifies
for benefits. If you agree that a
prescription drug benefit should be added to the program, how do you propose to fund it?
The
Concord Coalition was founded in 1992 by former Senator Warren Rudman (R-N.H.), the late
Paul Tsongas, former Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, and former Secretary of
Commerce Peter Peterson. Former Senator Sam
Nunn (D-Ga.) joined Rudman as co-chair of the organization in 1997. The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grass
roots organization dedicated to balanced federal budgets and generationally responsible
fiscal policy. The organization does not
endorse, support or oppose candidates for public office or political parties.
