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Protecting Social Security Means Telling the Truth
Matthew Montavon's Record on Raising the Social Security Retirement Age
Social Security is one of the most important issues facing Southwest Florida's seniors, workers, and families.
During an April 24, 2024, candidate forum hosted by the Englewood Democratic Club, Matthew Montavon discussed raising the Social Security retirement age for younger Americans entering the workforce.
Since then, he has publicly stated that he has never supported raising the retirement age.
We believe voters deserve to review the public record for themselves.
Watch the Original Remarks
April 24, 2024 | Englewood Democratic Club Candidate Forum
Key Quotes
"[Raising the eligibility age of] Social Security would not affect the older people. Social Security, if they did raise the age, it would be for people who are 20, 25, you know."
"They may have one extra year of work later on just to fund their Social Security."
"You could say somebody who's just entering the workforce. Somebody at 18, you could raise the retirement age — it'll take a while to kick in, but there are ways."
Full Transcript
THEN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE MATTHEW MONTAVON: I want to go back to Social Security for a minute while I use part of my time.
Social Security would not affect us - would not affect old —
[Raising the eligibility age of] Social Security would not affect the older people. Social Security, if they did raise the age, it would be for people who are 20, 25, you know.
And so, they may have one extra year of work later on just to fund their Social Security.
In terms of pollution and in terms of the climate issue.
I think you have to take the two things separately.
There is pollution and there is climate change, which is primarily caused by the burning of carbon.
In terms of pollution, we definitely need very much stricter rules about the phosphates, how the phosphates are used, how fertilizers are used.
How cattle ranches are managed, how sugar farms are managed.
These, all these things have to be done in terms of, well, the septic tanks.
All these elements have to be under stricter, stricter controls and government programs to — probably federal funding — to improve those.
How that waste gets into our water systems and pollutes —
The same time, we have to think about carbon — the climate change as a separate question, which is the carbon going into the environment, and that requires…
– End of audio
VOTER: I’ll be impacted by any suggested raising of retirement age that's been suggested so far, including myself.
MONTAVON: No, because they don't do it immediately.
They say somebody who's — they — you could say somebody who's just entering the workforce. Somebody at 18, you could raise the retirement age — it'll take a while to kick in.
But there are ways to — I think that one of the things is clear is that — Okay, I know (Montavon laughs) it's a sensitive question. One of the things that's clear is that you are probably going to live a good long life.
When they had Social Security, and it was first put in, people were sadly dying in their 60s, and it was 70s, 80s, and now there’s a chunk of people in their 90s into 100 that are living longer, so we have to think of — it’s not that, it’s not that you’re paying more, you will be contributing an extra year to take you 10 years longer. Think of it that way. It’s not that suddenly you’re being penalized. It’s a security system, and I think that — it’s a — people object to it, people object to it.
I’m just saying, I’m just saying there has to be some things on the table to look at.
– End of audio
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"I remember sitting in the meeting and being stunned at what I was hearing, basically modern medical advances should therefore cause younger Americans to be denied Social Security at 65.
The meeting is genuine, the conversation between Mr. Montavon and Mr. Lopez with the members of the Englewood Democratic Club occurred.
Any accusations that this conversation did not occur or is doctored is an insult to the thirty plus club members who attended that evening."
Peter Imhoff
Former President of Sarasota County Stonewall Democrats & Sarasota-Manatee Young Democrats; 2024 Delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Montavon's More Recent Statements
More recently, Matthew Montavon has publicly stated that he has never supported raising the Social Security retirement age after being confronted by Allen Spence.
Below are examples of those statements in campaign literature and on social media.
Timeline
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Allen Spence's Commitment
Allen Spence believes Americans who have earned Social Security benefits should not have to work longer to receive them.
Allen will
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Protect Social Security benefits,
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Eliminate the Social Security payroll tax wage cap,
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Strengthen Social Security for future generations without raising the retirement age, and
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Lower costs for working families through the Prosperity Agenda.
← Learn more about Allen's plan to save Social Security.
Why This Page Exists
Campaigns should be about honesty and accountability.
We are publishing this page so voters can review Matthew Montavon's own public statements, compare them with his more recent public claims, and make an informed decision.
Sources
Englewood Democratic Club Candidate Forum, April 24, 2024. Video excerpts are presented in chronological order and have been trimmed for length and captioned for accessibility. No spoken words have been altered.
Montavon also proposed a higher retirement age at the Port Charlotte Democratic Candidate Forum on July 7, 2024, and on multiple other occasions in 2024 Democratic primary, according to Your Sun/Venice Gondolier.
We Endorse Allen Spence for Congress!
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