skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week; Kamala Harris joins Oprah Winfrey in emotional campaign event; Report finds poor working conditions in Texas clean energy industry; AI puts on a lab coat, heads to technical schools.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

MI March Primary Nears: Candidates Urged to Speak Up on Social Security

play audio
Play

Tuesday, February 23, 2016   

LANSING, Mich. - Michigan's March primary is right around the corner, and some voters say it's time for the presidential candidates to "Take a Stand" on the future of Social Security.

"Take a Stand" is the name of an AARP campaign encouraging White House contenders to go beyond soundbites and meaningfully discuss their plans for Social Security.

The most recent Social Security Trustees' report shows the program is solvent through 2034, and Lisa Dedden Cooper, manager of advocacy with AARP Michigan, explains without action, retirees' benefits will drop about 25 percent.

"The year 2034 sounds like it's a long ways off, but left on their own, Congress tends to wait until there's immediate crisis to do anything," says Cooper. "In this case, with Social Security, the longer leaders wait, the harder the problem will be to solve, and the less time workers will have to prepare for the future."

Over 2 million Michiganders receive Social Security, with an average yearly benefit of $16,000. Cooper says Social Security lifts more than 500,000 in the state out of poverty.

AARP is tracking information on Social Security plans put forward by the candidates online at 2016takeastand.org.

On the website, Cooper says folks can compare the pros and cons of each proposal and see how far each concept would go toward making Social Security solvent for the long term. She adds that's what AARP members have said they need to know.

"They're concerned about the economic security, not just of themselves, but also of their kids and their grandkids," says Cooper. "AARP's goal is to ensure that people who work hard and pay into the Social Security system will get the Social Security benefits they've earned."

Michigan's presidential primary is March 8, and all candidates on the ballot have set forth a plan for Social Security, with the exception of Donald Trump.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

play sound

This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

play sound

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

play sound

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

play sound

A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

play sound

Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021