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Tim Pawlenty on Social Security

Republican MN Governor


No increase in the Social Security tax cap

Q: On Social Security, Obama says he would increase only those withholding taxes for people making more than $200,000 a year.

A: [The cap is currently] $97,000 for an individual or so.

Q: But there would be a lapse between $97,000 and $200,000 or $250,000.

A: Well, but when you look at $97,000 of income, I think that's people who are clearly middle income or upper middle income, but that affects a lot of Americans.

Source: CNN Late Edition: 2008 presidential series with Wolf Blitzer Jun 22, 2008

$97,000 of income is middle class; don't raise withholding

Q: When Pres. Bush took office, the national debt was around $5 trillion. It's now closer to $9 trillion, and it's going up. Sen. Obama says, "We've borrowed billions from countries like China to finance needless tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans." Your response?

Q: Obama is for dramatically increasing taxes. And Sen. McCain doesn't believe that's the way to grow the economy.

Q: But Obama says he wants to do it only for those families making more than $250,000 a year.

A: Well, when you look at his proposals, including lifting the cap on Social Security taxes....

Q: But Obama says increasing Social Security withholding taxes would only go into effect for people making more than $200,000 a year.

A: $97,000 for an individual or so.

Q: But there would be a lapse between $97,000 and $200,000 or $250,000.

A: Well, but when you look at $97,000 of income, I think that's people who are clearly middle income or upper middle income, but that affects a lot of Americans

Source: CNN Late Edition: 2008 presidential series with Wolf Blitzer Jun 22, 2008

Other governors on Social Security: Tim Pawlenty on other issues:
AK Sarah Palin
AL Bob Riley
AR Mike Bebee
AZ Janet Napolitano
CA Arnold Schwarzenegger
CO Bill Ritter
CT Jodi Rell
*DE Ruth Ann Minner
FL Charlie Crist
GA Sonny Perdue
HI Linda Lingle
IA Chet Culver
ID Butch Otter
IL Rod Blagojevich
*IN Mitch Daniels
KS Kathleen Sebelius
KY Steve Beshear
LA Bobby Jindal
MA Deval Patrick
MD Martin O`Malley
ME John Baldacci
MI Jennifer Granholm
MN Tim Pawlenty
*MO Matt Blunt
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*MT Brian Schweitzer
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* indicates election in 2008. See Governor's List for challengers.

Page last updated: Sep 26, 2008