In New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate race, Democratic nominee Chris Pappas has accused Republican John E. Sununu of trying to privatize Social Security while he served in Congress. After winning the Democratic nomination, Pappas said Sununu “went to Washington 30 years ago … and even wrote the plan to privatize Social Security.”
PolitiFact’s Review
PolitiFact chief correspondent Lou Jacobson examined the allegation. He concluded the claim is “largely correct” and assigned it a “Mostly True” rating. Jacobson noted that although Sununu has not made Social Security a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign, his legislative record from two decades ago is a frequent point of attack by Pappas.
Sununu’s Legislative History
During the early 2000s, Congress debated whether to shift a portion of Social Security’s financing into private accounts invested in stocks and bonds. The proposal, championed by President George W. Bush, never gained full congressional support and eventually faded.
Sununu was an early advocate. He introduced legislation in 2000, and later filed related bills in 2001, 2004, and 2005. A 2005 New Hampshire Sunday News story described him as “a key national player in the effort to solve Social Security’s financial problems and enable participants to invest a portion of their Social Security in personal savings accounts.”
Context and Nuance
Jacobson emphasized that Sununu’s proposals were framed as voluntary, not mandatory. This distinction was omitted from Pappas’s criticism. Sununu has since said he would not support the same plans today because the challenges facing Social Security have changed. However, he added that if his proposals had been enacted twenty years ago, the program would be in a better fiscal position now, and he warned that cuts could loom within a few years.
Sununu’s Current Position
In the current campaign, Sununu has clarified that he does not favor the earlier privatization plans under today’s circumstances. He argues that Social Security’s solvency must be addressed, but through solutions that reflect the program’s modern realities.
What This Means for Voters
New Hampshire voters now have a clear record: Sununu did push for private‑account options in the early 2000s, and his proposals were voluntary. While he has moved away from that specific approach, he still acknowledges the need for reform. Pappas’s criticism is fact‑based, though it omits the voluntary nature of the original bills.
As the Senate race heads into the final stretch, both candidates will likely continue to use Social Security reform as a talking point. Voters should weigh Sununu’s past legislative actions against his current stance, and consider how each candidate plans to safeguard the program for future retirees.
Original reporting: WMUR (Hearst) – local news — read the source article.
