State of New Mexico secondary Archives: on Social Security
Allen Weh:
Prioritize cuts to fast-growing entitlements
Weh, CEO of CSI Aviation Inc., an aviation logistics company he founded in 1977, also said he believes financial cuts are needed to bring U.S. government spending in line with its revenues. He touted the fiscal expertise he's gained after more than three
decades in private business, an enterprise he built from the ground up after leaving full-time military service. "I've had a lot of real-life experience," he said. Weh said those management values from business should be carried over to federal
finances. For instance, cash reserves--instead of debt--should be built up, he said. "Why doesn't the government have a little safety net?" he said. "Why doesn't it set aside money and keep it, so that when we have natural disasters like Hurricane
Katrina, we don't have to go borrow money from China?"
Weh said he would prioritize cuts, and they'd include "entitlements overall." Examples include the food stamp program and Social Security disability, which have grown at a fast pace in recent years
Source: Las Cruces Sun-News on 2014 New Mexico Senate race
May 30, 2014
Bob Walsh:
Privatize but Ponzi scheme will fail
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?
A: Support. But this Ponzi scheme must fail eventually, regardless.
Source: OnTheIssues interview for 2020 New Mexico race
May 1, 2020
Bob Walsh:
Transition to a voluntary system as soon as possible
Q: How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?A: No such guarantee is possible.
The Social Security Trust Fund contains only 20% of the amount required to be solvent. It was never planned to have a sound actuarial basis.
Most contributions have been spent on retiree benefits instead of investment in the trust fund for current workers. The system envisions workers supporting retirees forever. It is not possible to guarantee that future generations will continue
this system. We favor a transition to a voluntary system as soon as possible, recognizing that the victims of this scheme may need the help of, once again, voluntary associations of people with a sense of responsibility to their local communities
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Gary Johnson:
Some or all of Social Security should be privatized
Q: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security?Martin Heinrich (D): No. Signed Social Security Protectors Pledge.
Gary Johnson (L): Yes. Some or all of Social Security should be privatized.
Mick Rich (R): No position found.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Gavin Clarkson:
Put the Trust Fund in a lockbox with no government key
Q: How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?A: Put it in a lockbox. The best lockbox to keep Washington bureaucrats from taking away your retirement is one they don't have the key to.
I would also enthusiastically support Senator Rand Paul's Penny Plan budget, which would cut spending by 2% for five years in a row, thus eliminating the federal budget deficit without cutting Social Security benefits.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Martin Heinrich:
Signed Social Security Protectors Pledge
Q: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security?Martin Heinrich (D): No. Signed Social Security Protectors Pledge.
Gary Johnson (L): Yes. Some or all of Social Security should be privatized.
Mick Rich (R): No position found.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Dedicated her life to fighting for seniors
Michelle's plan will cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses invest in renewable energy and upgrade New Mexico's critical infrastructure. She will stand fast to protect and improve Social Security and Medicare to make sure
America never breaks its promise to our citizens.As a young attorney she worked for the Lawyer Referral for the Elderly Program of the State Bar of New Mexico.
Michelle fought to protect seniors from scam artists, safeguard them from abuse and neglect, and helped them to remain in their homes.
Because of her tireless work on behalf of seniors, four-term
Governor Bruce King to appointed her to head the New Mexico State Agency on Aging; she served as the state's first Secretary of Aging and Long Term Services when the department was elevated to a cabinet position.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial incumbents
Nov 1, 2018
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Eliminate taxation of Social Security benefits
I feel the same way about the taxes that are taken out of social security benefits. New Mexico is one of only a few states that taxes social security. I am calling today for that taxation to end. We must unburden the
New Mexicans who rely on social security benefits by cutting their taxes. This is good government, serving the people who have asked us to serve them. New Mexicans deserve it.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 18, 2022
Rebecca Dow:
Sponsored bill to eliminate social security income tax
In just the past two years, Santa Fe progressives raised taxes on small business owners and middle-class working individuals. But this has been a pattern since Democrats have ruled the Roundhouse. Even when New Mexico enjoyed one of the largest
budget surpluses in history, they still raised taxes on our citizens. Rebecca has been a champion for New Mexico taxpayers. This past legislative session, Rebecca was a sponsor for a bill that eliminates social security income tax.
Source: 2021 New Mexico Gubernatorial campaign site DowForNM.com
Sep 13, 2021
Susana Martinez:
Resolved a $12 billion shortfall in state pension funds
We've doubled the size of our state savings account, and we did it all without raising taxes. Republicans and Democrats can be proud of our firm fiscal footing. It is a far cry from where we were just three years ago.We completely overhauled a
near-bankrupt unemployment insurance system. We reformed our state pension funds, resolving a $12 billion shortfall while ensuring that state workers, police officers, teachers, and others will have the retirement support they deserve.
Education spending now exceeds pre-recession levels, with more accountability.
Not only have we not raised taxes on families and businesses, we have cut taxes 19 different times. Less than one year ago, in a display of tremendous bipartisanship,
we passed the most significant tax reform in a generation and sent the loudest message yet that New Mexico is striving to be a business-friendly state.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 21, 2014
Tom Udall:
If you paid into system, you can rely on benefits
One in six New Mexico residents receive Social Security. Nearly 330,000 residents rely on Medicare. America made a promise to our seniors--if you work hard throughout your life, if you pay into the system, then you will be able to rely on
Social Security benefits in retirement. Tom believes that retirement security must be preserved. We need to protect Medicare for our seniors and Medicaid for the most vulnerable among us. Whether it's reimbursement rates through Medicare or closing
the "doughnut hole" that made it harder for seniors to afford life-saving prescriptions, Tom always fights for New Mexico's seniors.
Seniors shouldn't be forced to choose between buying their groceries and buying their medication. They shouldn't have
to worry about affording their mortgage payments and affording their health care. Our seniors have earned their benefits. Tom is committed to making sure those benefit programs remain intact.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Oct 25, 2014
Ben Ray Lujan:
Privatization means gutting the promise our seniors earned
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is facing heavy backlash from Democrats over a remark in which he talked about "a backdoor for privatizing Social Security." Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said Wednesday in a post on
X that Bessent was "saying the quiet part out loud.""That means gutting the promise our seniors earned and dismantling Social Security as we know it."
Source: The Hill, "Backdoor," on 2026 New Mexico Senate race
Jul 31, 2025
Matt Dodson:
Remove the cap on Social Security tax
- Make Social Security solvent forever
- Tax people on all their income, not just income below $176,100
- Pay Social Security tax on Capital Gains over $100,000
Source: 2026 New Mexico Senate campaign website MattDodsonForNM.com
Apr 7, 2026
Gregg Hull:
Protect benefits that have already been earned
First, I support requiring state pension systems to follow transparent, actuarially sound funding plans that steadily reduce long-term liabilities. This kind of discipline strengthens the system, protects benefits that have already been earned,
and prevents sudden budget crises in the future. Strong pension funding is not just good policy, it's basic stewardship. Second, I support protecting retirees from inflation by fixing how cost of living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated.
Source: 2026 New Mexico Gubernatorial campaign website GreggHull.com
May 8, 2026
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
One of the only states where your pension is guaranteed
We fully funded our pensions in 2019, making them solid for decades. In fact, New Mexico is one of the only states in the country where your pension is guaranteed. And we've transformed the
State Investment Council's venture capital approach to create an advanced technology ecosystem--one that's attracting future-focused companies, jobs, and investments that will pay off for generations.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 20, 2026
Page last updated: Oct 18, 2026