Aug 16, 2012

Kevin Cramer Sticking With His Bad Agenda for Seniors

Flawed candidate Kevin Cramer just doubled down on his extreme agenda for North Dakota's seniors and middle class, repeating his support for privatizing Social Security.  After first calling for privatizing Social Security in 1998, Cramer said again this week that he'd support the plan to risk seniors' hard-earned retirement benefits on Wall Street as well as raise the retirement age. Cramer also recently revealed his support for the Paul Ryan budget that would end Medicare and force seniors to pay $6,400 more for health care.

"Kevin Cramer has left no doubt he has the wrong priorities for North Dakota’s seniors," said Stephen Carter of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Cramer's plan would end Medicare and make seniors pay more for health care in order to give millionaires tax breaks while privatizing Social Security and risking seniors’ benefits on Wall Street."

BACKGROUND

Cramer Supported Privatizing Social Security This Week. Republican candidate Kevin Cramer said he supports including privatizing Social Security as a reform option for future generations. [Fargo Forum, 8/14/12]

Cramer Supported Privatizing Social Security in 1998. In October 1998, the Bismarck Tribune reported that Cramer called for allowing individuals to invest some Social Security money they contribute into private accounts, instead of all the money being put into the same pot. [Bismarck Tribune, 10/31/98]

Again in 2010, Cramer Supported Creating a “Different Program” to Replace Social Security. According to the Bismarck Tribune, Cramer supported changing Social Security from its current form. He said, “We've got to start somewhere. We've got to find a line that we draw, say 35, maybe 30, and say after that age there's a different program for you rather than putting money into a broken system.” [Bismarck Tribune, 3/14/10]

Cramer Said He Would Consider the Ryan Budget. In a March 2012 interview on the conservative Say Anything Blog, Cramer said of the Republican House budget, “I would certainly like it as a blueprint to start with.” [Say Anything Blog, 3/29/12]

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