BY MICHAEL R. WICKLINE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

   Lieutenant governor candidate Bill Halter, a former Social Security acting commissioner, Monday panned his foe, Jim Holt, for what he called Holt’s support for privatization of Social Security, an option Halter said would eliminate about $1 billion in annual benefits for Arkansas’ Social Security recipients beyond what they pay in taxes.
   Holt countered that he wants to protect Social Security and questioned whether Halter improved the solvency of the program.
   “It is we the people’s money in the first place and if we can get a better return on our money with greater security for our Social Security supplemental retirement plan being rock solid, then I’m all for it,” he said.
   Halter, a Democrat from North Little Rock who also served a stint as deputy commissioner for Social Security, said Social Security is not a typical issue in the race for lieutenant governor but that the candidates’ major difference of opinion on this issue is one that voters should understand when casting ballots.
   He said Social Security is a relevant issue in the race because of the program’s financial importance to the state’s elderly.
   He said he wants to be an advocate for the state’s elderly as lieutenant governor.
   Holt, a Republican state senator from Springdale, said he wonders whether Halter knows that he’s running for lieutenant governor, which doesn’t ordinarily deal with Social Security.
   Halter “needs to be focused on real state solutions that will put more money in the hands of Arkansans,” Holt said, saying the state needs to reduce taxes.
   Halter said Holt supports the Constitution Party and that it advocates eliminating Social Security and calls Medicare “socialized medicine.” Halter noted that Holt was the 2003 keynote speaker at the party’s convention in Arkansas and Holt’s former campaign managers have served as the Constitution Party’s chairman in Arkansas.
   Holt said the Constitution Party is mainly Democrats and Republicans who don’t feel adequately represented by their government.
   “We are trying to bring people of Arkansas together, and the diversity of our campaign is proof of that. Of course, my opponents will try to say ridiculous statements when they are trying to win an election,” Holt said.