Social Security Works Political Action Committee (PAC) is the political arm of Social Security Works. The PAC was created in 2017 and donates to and endorses candidates who support expanding left-of-center welfare programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. 1
Activities
Social Security Works PAC endorsed Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in August 2020. 2 Following the endorsement, Jon Bauman, the president of the Social Security Works PAC, was joined by Jill Biden, actor Louis Gossett Jr., Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Seniors for Biden for a virtual event in support of Biden’s campaign. 3
Social Security Works PAC also endorsed other candidates during the 2018 and 2020 elections such as Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA),4 Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS),5 and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL). 6
Finance
According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports as of October 2020, Social Security Works PAC collected just over $26,000 in receipts during the 2019-2020 election cycle. 7
The PAC reported a handful of $300 contributions to Biden for President during the 2019-2020 election cycle, reporting that the donations were in-kind contributions in the form of fundraising blast emails and phone banking. 8
Leadership
Jon Bauman is the President of Social Security Works PAC. He was also involved with the Senior Votes Count PAC in previous elections. Bauman has worked on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s, former Secretary of State John Kerry’s, and President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. 9
Jonathan Ball serves as the treasurer of the Social Security Works PAC10 and is also the secretary of the Social Security Works board of directors. 11 Ball is the son of the late Robert M. Ball, a former Social Security commissioner who passed away in 2008. 12 Robert served as the commissioner during the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations and was also considered an engineer of Medicare. 13
References
- “Social Security Works PAC.” Social Security Works, August 27, 2020. https://socialsecurityworks.org/social-security-works-pac/.
- “Social Security Works PAC Endorses Joe Biden for President.” Social Security Works, August 13, 2020. Social Security Works. https://socialsecurityworks.org/2020/08/13/social-security-works-pac-endorses-joe-biden-for-president/.
- Biden for President. “Seniors for Biden: Social Security Anniversary Event Hosted by Jill Biden and Louis Gossett Jr.” Advertisement. Mobilize America. Accessed October 13, 2020. https://www.mobilize.us/joebiden/event/298873/.
- Cartwright for Congress. “Matt Cartwright Wins Endorsement of Social Security Works PAC for Record of Fighting to Protect and Strengthen Social Security, Medicare.” News release, September 10, 2020. Cartwright for Congress. Accessed October 13, 2020. https://www.cartwrightcongress.com/press-release-matt-cartwright-wins-endorsement-of-social-security-works-pac-for-record-of-fighting-to-protect-and-strengthen-social-security-medicare/.
- Social Security Works. “Social Security Works PAC Endorses Sharice Davids.” News release, October 24, 2018. Social Security Works. Accessed October 14, 2020. https://socialsecurityworks.org/2018/10/24/social-security-sharice-davids/.
- Lauren Underwood for Congress. “Social Security Works PAC Endorses Congresswoman Lauren Underwood For Reelection.” News release, October 6, 2020. Lauren Underwood for Congress. Accessed October 15, 2020. https://underwoodforcongress.com/100620pr.
- “Social Security Works PAC – Committee Overview.” FEC.gov. Accessed October 13, 2020. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00637504/?tab=summary.
- “Browse Disbursements – Social Security Works PAC.” FEC.gov. Accessed October 15, 2020. https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?committee_id=C00637504.
- “Author: Jon ‘Bowzer’ Bauman.” Social Security Works. Accessed October 15, 2020. https://socialsecurity.news/author/jonbowzerbauman/.
- “Social Security Works PAC – About This Committee.” FEC.gov. Accessed October 14, 2020. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00637504/?tab=about-committee.
- “Board of Directors.” Social Security Works, April 22, 2019. https://socialsecurityworks.org/board/.
- Hevesi, Dennis. “Robert M. Ball Is Dead at 93; Led Social Security.” The New York Times. The New York Times, February 1, 2008. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/us/01ball.html.
- Hevesi, Dennis. “Robert M. Ball Is Dead at 93; Led Social Security.” The New York Times. The New York Times, February 1, 2008. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/us/01ball.html.