State of Tennessee Archives: on Social Security
Bill Hagerty:
Don't "cut" social programs, make them more efficient
Although the national debt and deficit are immense, Hagerty stressed that it does not necessarily warrant cuts to social programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. "I think 'cut' is not the word I would use," he said. "I want to see if
there is a way to more efficiently deliver those services with an idea of making them sustainable for our nation, long-term. And that's going to require looking at every aspect of our budget--the discretionary part and the non discretionary part."
Source: The Cleveland Banner on 2020 Tennessee Senate race
Jan 11, 2020
Bill Haslam:
TN named the best state in the country to retire in 2013
I don't think it's any accident that Tennessee was named the best state in the country to retire in 2013. And, while lowering the sales tax on food doesn't generate new revenue or investment, I think we can all agree that reducing the amount of taxes
that all Tennesseans pay on their groceries was the right thing to do. Tennessee is America at its best because we employ one of the best tax strategies of all time--common sense.
Source: 2014 State of the State address to Tennessee legislature
Feb 3, 2014
Gordon Ball:
No scare tactics: system is solvent for next 20 years
Too many politicians have been using scare tactics when it comes to Social Security. The problems in Social Security funding are serious, but they are fixable.
Social Security is safe for at least the next 20 years, and if we act quickly, we can make modest changes that will keep the system solvent without cutting back on benefits. We need honesty and political will to move forward.
Social Security is a promise made to our seniors, and it would be a breach of trust not to mention poor economic policy to jeopardize this program with unnecessary cuts or risky privatization schemes.
As Senator, I'll fight for Tennessee's one million seniors to ensure that they receive the respect and care they deserve in their retirement.
Source: 2014 Tennessee Senate campaign website, GordonBallSenate.com
Aug 7, 2014
Larry Crim:
Don't touch Social Security funds
"Social Security was not meant to be an additional revenue for government, but a foundation for our citizen's retirement" said Crim in opposing placing Social Security benefits on the chopping block in fiscal
negotiations. "I reject cuts in social security as a way to fix the budget crisis because the social security retirement trust fund is made up of the contributions of our citizens for their own future retirement."
Source: 2018 Tennessee Senatorial website LarryCrimUSSenate.com
Oct 15, 2017
Gloria Johnson:
We need to keep Social Security intact and solvent
[On retirement planning]: "We need to keep social security intact. We can do that, we can make sure it's solvent, all those things.
We can do that, people rely on that money when they retire. They paid into it. How dare we think about, for even a second, think about taking away the dollars that people have been paying into their entire life."
Source: WBIR News NBC-10-TV on 2024 Tennessee Senate race
Sep 5, 2023
Marsha Blackburn:
Strengthen Social Security by rooting out waste & fraud
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee has proposed the Retirees First Act, which would raise the level of income required for federal taxes to be paid on Social Security. Senator Blackburn said, "The message to seniors is really pretty simple.
We are going to strengthen Social Security. That is our goal. And one of the ways we're doing that is by rooting out waste, fraud, abuse."
Source: Presidential Prayer Team on 2026 Tennessee Senate race
Apr 21, 2025
Misam Abidi:
Oppose full privatization; support modernization
Q: Your opinion on "Privatize Social Security"?A: Oppose full privatization; support modernization. Social Security's financial decline cannot be ignored, but placing every American's basic retirement security entirely into private markets would
replace one danger with another. We should preserve a guaranteed public foundation while reforming its financing, protecting its funds from political misuse, and giving people additional opportunities to build ownership and wealth.
Tennessee should complement Social Security through a professionally managed Tennessee Wealth Fund that converts part of our state's growth and assets into long-term benefits for its people.
The better future is not total dependence on government or total exposure to Wall Street. It is a secure public floor combined with genuine personal and shared wealth-building.
Source: OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Tennessee Governor race
Sep 21, 2026
Robert Vick:
Neutral on privatizing Social Security
Q: Your opinion on "Privatize Social Security"?
A: Neutral. I'd help a discussion on pro/con.
Source: OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Tennessee Governor race
Sep 22, 2026
Robert Jones:
Public guarantee plus retirement investment
Q: Your opinion on "Privatize Social Security"?A: Social Security should remain a public guarantee. The government has a responsibility to protect a baseline level of security for its citizens, including a dependable retirement benefit recognizing a
lifetime of contributions. Private retirement savings and investment should also be encouraged and incentivized, but as a supplement to that public foundation--not as a replacement for it.
Source: OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Tennessee Senate race
Sep 21, 2026
Page last updated: Oct 18, 2026