State of Mississippi Archives: on Social Security


David Baria: Work hard to protect people's Social Security benefits

It's #OlderAmericansMonth and I'm reminded how important Social Security is to many of our family, friends and neighbors. 1 in 5 Mississippi residents are receiving Social Security benefits. I will do everything in my power to protect this crucial safety net.
Source: Twitter posting on 2018 Mississippi Senate race May 17, 2018

David Baria: Protect Social Security from privatization

Q: Privatization: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security?

David Baria (D): No. Protect Social Security from privatization.

Roger Wicker (R): No current statement found, but some previous support for letting workers invest portion in private accounts.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Mississippi Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Jim Hood: Let public employees run for office & still draw pensions

House Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) predicted that the next attorney general will reverse the official opinion issued by the office of Attorney General Jim Hood saying that retired public school teachers and state employees can serve in the Legislature while drawing their pension. Gunn said the ruling, issued late last year, was flawed.

Some education supporters envisioned that the ruling would result in more pro-education retired teachers running and winning legislative seats.

Of Gunn's prediction that the opinion would be changed, Hood said, "The PERS Board voted overwhelmingly to move forward with adopting regulations effective at the start of the 2020 legislative session that would allow state retirees to serve in the Legislature without forfeiting their hard-earned retirement. This won't change with a new AG. I support everyone's right to run, and I think people who have worked as public servants for the state would make great lawmakers."

Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race Mar 14, 2019

Jim Hood: Encourage more state retirees to run for state legislature

The Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System is on track to update its rules to let retired state government workers collect pension benefits while serving in the Legislature. The new rule would affect people who win legislative seats in this year's round of state elections. For years, the Mississippi retirement system had a rule that state elected officials could not receive salaries and pension benefits at the same time. Attorney General Jim Hood issued a legal opinion contradicting that rule.

The once obscure question of whether retired public employees can collect state pensions while serving in the Mississippi Legislature looms large in some Democrats' electoral hopes for 2019 [by allowing more experienced candidates to run for the state legislature]. Hood accused Republicans of trying to pressure the pension system board to flout his opinion or delay complying until after the March 1 election qualifying deadline. That could cut retired public employees running for office.

Source: US News & World Report on 2019 Mississippi Governor's race Feb 12, 2019

Roger Wicker: Let workers invest portion in private accounts

Q: Privatization: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security?

David Baria (D): No. Protect Social Security from privatization.

Roger Wicker (R): No current statement found, but some previous support for letting workers invest portion in private accounts.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Mississippi Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Vicki Slater: Fight to keep 100% full pensions for retirees

Vicki Slater, Democratic candidate for governor, walked the picket line outside Ocean Springs Hospital and encouraged retirees to keep fighting for their pensions. "You're in the right," she told a crowd of 35. "I applaud your bravery." She said they deserve to know why their pensions are not intact.

The group, undaunted by heat, held signs that said "Fund our pension 100 percent" and "It's time for criminal charges." Slater said she could relate to the loss of a promised pension plan. She said her husband worked for General Motors Co. for 28 years and when he left after a layoff, his pension was reduced by more than 75%. "You do your planning, you live life and follow the rules," she said. "Then you get up one day and your pension's not there. It's not your fault."

"We've been working hard," said one picketing retiree to Slater, "and we needed a little bit of hope. You gave it to us."

"Just her being here speaks volumes," another retiree said. "Any exposure we can get is nice."

Source: Sun-Herald coverage of 2015 Mississippi gubernatorial race Jun 23, 2015

  • The above quotations are from State of Mississippi Politicians: Archives.
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2024 Presidential contenders on Social Security:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026