AARP Survey: Don't privatize Security

According to the AARP, 72 percent of Election Watch survey respondents said they oppose private accounts. Less than one in six – 16 percent – indicated that they support such accounts.

The Election Watch survey was commissioned in October as a national telephone survey of 1,503 individuals age 42 year and older.

The candidates’ viewpoints

An analysis of candidate responses to the 2006 AARP Voters’ Guides in 45 competitive Senate and House races reflects that candidates are hearing the public’s rejection of private accounts. AARP’s 2006 Voters’ Guides asked candidates whether they “support or oppose using Social Security taxes to fund private accounts.”

Of the 20 Senate candidates in 10 of the closest races for which guides are available, 14 of the candidates – 70 percent – indicated opposition to privatization. Only one candidate expressed support, and the remaining five did not respond to the question.

Similarly, in 35 of the competitive House races, 60 percent of the candidates checked the box in opposition. Of the remaining candidates, 3 percent expressed support, while 37 percent did not either check a box or respond at all.

The guides also ask candidates whether they will “support or oppose a balanced Social Security plan to continue the program’s guaranteed benefits for future generations.” Of the 20 Senate candidates, 15 checked the box in support, one candidate opposed, and the remainder did not check a box or respond. For the House races, a total of 45 candidates – 63 percent – support a balanced plan, only 1 percent opposed, and the remaining 25 candidates either did not check a box or respond.

Of the candidates that indicated opposition to privatizing Social Security, AARP Director of Government Relations David Sloane said, “Voters will expect that they follow through on their promises if elected to office.”

Complete 2006 AARP Voters’ Guides can be viewed online at www.dontvote.com.