BEDFORD--Social Security and the future of the program took center stage in a Senate debate between former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) and current U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley).

In the debate sponsored by the AARP, Sununu said he has offered a plan to make Social Security solvent for future generations, while Shaheen questioned plans to privatize the program in light of the stock market's decline.

"Social Security is not in crisis and those people who are arguing that Social Security is in crisis and we need to do something are people like my opponent John Sununu and George Bush who would like to privatize Social Security," Shaheen said during debate held at C.R. Sparks. "We need to stop borrowing from the Social Security trust fund."

Sununu said he has provided "leadership" on the issue by developing plans to make the program solvent for the future.

"I have co-sponsored legislation that has been evaluated from independent budget authorities that makes Social Security solvent for the long-term," he said.

Sununu added Shaheen is "not willing to put out a plan to make the system solvent as I am. She's not willing to provide leadership on such an important issue."

According to his Senate website, Sununu introduced the "Social Security Personal Savings Guaranty and Prosperity Act of 2004," which "aims to empower younger workers with more control over their financial future and establish long-term solvency for America's retirement security system." Then, in 2005, Sununu introduced the "Social Security Personal Savings Guarantee and Prosperity Act of 2005."

Sununu also said politicians use the word "privatization" as a scare tactic.

"The word privatization is usually used to scare people. I don't belief it's privatization if you maintain a monthly minimum benefit," Sununu said. "I don't belief it's privatization if you give the youngest works an option of setting aside some of their Social Security taxes into an account that they know will be there for them."

Shaheen responded that Sununu was not being honest with voters about his Social Security plans.

"We ought to be scared by what John Sununu is proposing because what he's suggesting, setting-up private accounts, would cost $1 to $2 trillion of the Social Security trust fund," Shaheen said. "Now the assumption he's making is that we can make that back on the stock market. Well, we all saw what happened on the stock market, these last months, when people have lost trillions-of-dollars for their retirement. So John Sununu has not been honest with us."

The candidates also discussed other health care issues, energy and how they would create a bi-partisan atmosphere in Washington, D.C.

The debate was the third AARP has sponsored. The group previously held debates for the 1st and 2nd Congressional District races.

Also see:

-DEBATE DOUBLETALK: IN AARP DEBATE, SUNUNU CLAIMS TO PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS, YET VOTES FOR RECORD LEVELS OF RECKLESS SPENDING IN WASHINGTON