A cadre of leading national liberal groups are set to unveil Iowa polling Tuesday to pressure Democratic candidates for president — namely Hillary Clinton — to sign on to a plan to expand Social Security benefits.
The Public Policy Polling — commissioned by Democracy For America, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Social Security Works and Credo Action — shows that a majority of Iowa voters support a Social Security benefit increase.
A proposal in Congress would increase Social Security benefits, resulting in a worker at age 75 receiving $452 more in benefits per year and a worker at age 85 receiving $807 more per year. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
Support ………………………………………………….. 52%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 27%
(Asked of 456 Iowa voters – MOE 4.6%)
Right now, wealthy Americans only pay Social Security taxes on the first $113,000 of their income. In order to strengthen Social Security, do you support or oppose scrapping this cap so that wealthy Americans pay the same rate on their income as ordinary Americans?
Support ………………………………………………….. 63%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
(Asked of 964 Iowa voters – MOE 3.2%)
Do you support or oppose the recent White House proposal to cut the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits, resulting in a worker at age 75 receiving $658 less in benefits per year?
Support ………………………………………………….. 14%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 70%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
(Asked of 508 Iowa voters – MOE 4.4%)
Poll conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP) on behalf of Democracy For America (DFA), the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), Credo Action, and Social Security Works (SSW), August 2-4, 2013.
“The road to the presidency starts in Iowa and, with broad popular support like this, any candidate — Democrat or Republican — that is serious about winning a Hawkeye State caucus in 2016 should be looking for an opportunity to join Senator Harkin and come out for Social Security expansion. When red states like Kentucky and Blue States like Massachusetts are standing with Iowans for Social Security expansion, supporting this plan is a ‘no-brainer’ for any politician with national ambitions,” said DFA chairman Jim Dean in a prepared statement.
But PCCC co-founder Adam Green namechecks Hillary Clinton as one of the initiative’s primary targets.
“Progressives are going to insist that presidential candidates like Hillary Clinton get on the record early on core issues like Social Security. When wide majorities of voters in rural states like Iowa and even red states like Kentucky and Texas support expanding Social Security benefits, there is no excuse for Democratic presidential candidates to do anything other than support this position. We will be mobilizing Iowa voters starting now to ensure the Social Security expansion is a top issue in 2014 and 2016,” said Green.
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