Part 3: Greg Gianforte criticized working people for retiring and receiving Social Security

As Montana begins an 85-day special election to fill Montana’s open U.S. House seat, the Montana Democratic Party will continue to highlight why failed candidate for governor, New Jersey multi-millionaire Greg Gianforte, is unqualified to hold that seat. 

Each day this week the Montana Democratic Party will show why Montanans rejected Gianforte in 2016 and will reject him again as a candidate for the U.S. House. 

Gianforte gained national attention for his comments demeaning seniors who are “cashing Social Security checks,” saying the concept of retirement is not biblical and that people have “an obligation to work.”

At a speech to the Montana Bible College, Gianforte said the following about retirement:

“There’s nothing in the Bible that talks about retirement. And yet it’s been an accepted concept in our culture today. Nowhere does it say, ‘Well he was a good and faithful servant, so he went to the beach.’ It doesn’t say that anywhere. The example I think of is Noah. How old was Noah when he built the ark? 600. He wasn’t like, cashing Social Security checks , he wasn’t hanging out, he was working. So, I think we have an obligation to work. The role we have in work may change over time, but the concept of retirement is not biblical.” 

With President Trump’s budget director already indicating the Administration is considering future cuts to Social Security which supports thousands of Montanans, Gianforte will need to explain his reckless comments and why he funded D.C. special interest groups that sought to privatize Social Security and raise the retirement age.

Montana seniors have stood up against Gianforte before and will continue to hold him accountable for his irresponsible views and actions against Social Security.