2018 Tennessee Senate race: debates and news coverage

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Marsha Blackburn: Ban abortion; ban public funds for Planned Parenthood.     Phil Bredesen: Keep abortion legal, but not high priority.

Budget & Economy     Marsha Blackburn: Across-the-board federal spending cuts.     Bob Corker: Adding $2T to deficit was fiscally irresponsible.     James Mackler: Investment in infrastructure means jobs.

Civil Rights     Marsha Blackburn: Let people of faith withhold services to gay couples.     Phil Bredesen: Disallow withholding services to same-sex couples.     James Mackler: Fight for LGBT rights.

Corporations     Phil Bredesen: Pay for corporate tax cuts by closing loopholes.     Phil Bredesen: As mayor, enticed the NFL's Oilers to relocate to Nashville.

Drugs     Marsha Blackburn: Stiffer penalties for deceptively trafficking in fentanyl.     Marsha Blackburn: Don't loosen federal regulations marijuana.     Phil Bredesen: Let states decide on marijuana legalization.     Phil Bredesen: Get tough on opioid prescriptions from pain clinics.

Education     Marsha Blackburn: Supports vouchers for private schools.     Marsha Blackburn: Don't lower student loan interest.     Phil Bredesen: Supports charter schools but "not wild about vouchers.     Phil Bredesen: Free community college tuition; lower student loan interest.     Larry Crim: Children should have quality education minus crushing debt.     Larry Crim: Children should have quality education minus crushing debt.     James Mackler: Against vouchers, for accountability.

Energy & Oil     Marsha Blackburn: Climate change isn't settled; withdraw from Paris Accord.     Phil Bredesen: Green energy will be of vast importance and growth.

Environment     Marsha Blackburn: Cut budget of Environmental Protection Administration.     Phil Bredesen: Supports environmental regulation by government.

Foreign Policy     Bob Corker: Russia a bad actor, not moral equivalent to US.

Free Trade     Marsha Blackburn: Trump's tariifs are a bad deal for Tennesseans.     Phil Bredesen: Trump's tariifs are same as a new tax on Tennesseans.     James Mackler: Renegotiate NAFTA; it hurts American workers.     Bob Corker: Supports free trade, but anomalies need to be addressed.

Government Reform     Marsha Blackburn: Require presidential candidates to show birth certificates.

Gun Control     Marsha Blackburn: Get background checks working, but no other gun regulations.     Phil Bredesen: Close gun show loophole & ban bump stocks.

Health Care     Marsha Blackburn: Health savings accounts instead of ObamaCare.     Phil Bredesen: Support ObamaCare, with fixes, and some Medicare-for-All.     Larry Crim: Constituents should have a seat at the table on health care.     Larry Crim: Constituents should have a seat at the table on health care.     James Mackler: Healthcare is a right.

Homeland Security     Marsha Blackburn: Supported military spending bills in Congress.     Larry Crim: We honor our veterans by keeping their care a priority.     Larry Crim: We honor our veterans by keeping their care a priority.     James Mackler: Against privatization of VA.     Larry Crim: Provides spiritual counseling to help America's Veterans.

Immigration     Marsha Blackburn: No amnesty for DREAMers; it makes illegal immigration surge.     Phil Bredesen: Deporting DREAMers would be un-American.     James Mackler: Don't separate kids from parents crossing border illegally.

Jobs     Marsha Blackburn: Minimum wage is a federal mandate; let competition decide.     Phil Bredesen: Minimum wage should keep pace with inflation.

Principles & Values     James Mackler: Wife is a rabbi at Congregation Ohabai Sholom.     Phil Bredesen: 1960s scholarship to Harvard; millionaire businessman at 43.

Social Security     Larry Crim: Don't touch Social Security funds.

Tax Reform     Marsha Blackburn: Support President Trump's tax cuts.     Larry Crim: Lower tax rates; close loopholes.

Technology     Marsha Blackburn: Opposes Net Neutrality; it's government-controlled internet.     Phil Bredesen: Empower TVA to bring rural broadband internet access.     Phil Bredesen: Supports Net Neutrality: equal access for everyone.     Larry Crim: Our interstates and highways need our tax dollars now.     Larry Crim: Our interstates and highways need our tax dollars now.

War & Peace     Marsha Blackburn: Iran nuke deal puts future security in jeopardy.     Larry Crim: Oppose President Obama's disastrous Iran Deal.     Bob Corker: Countries must pony up for NATO; alliance is important.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Bob Corker Republican Jr Senator Tennessee James Mackler Democratic candidate for Tennessee Senator Tennessee Larry Crim Republican candidate for Tennessee U.S. Senator Tennessee Marsha Blackburn Republican Challenger for TN Senator Tennessee Phil Bredesen Tennessee Former Democrat Governor (2002-2010)