by Marsha Blackburn
Affordability is the biggest concern I hear from Tennesseans.
Families are working hard, but too often they are finding that their paychecks do not go as far as they once did. Young Tennesseans are wondering whether they will ever be able to afford a home of their own. Seniors who spent decades working, saving and building a life in Tennessee are worried about whether they can afford to stay in the homes they worked so hard to purchase.
As Governor, I will make affordability a top priority.
I have made sure Tennesseans can keep more of their hard-earned money. I fought against the state income tax proposal and ensured that Tennessee families and businesses keep their hard-earned money. Tennessee is better off because we stood firm against efforts to impose a state income tax, and I will continue that fight as Governor.
In the United States Senate, I have continued fighting to put more money back into the pockets of Tennesseans and deliver tax relief for working families and seniors.
I voted for the Housing Affordability Bill in the U.S. Senate because expanding access to housing requires more than simply talking about affordability. We need to remove barriers that make it harder for families to find a home they can afford.
The work is far from over.
For our seniors, homeownership should not become a financial burden after a lifetime of hard work. A Tennessee senior who has worked, paid taxes and saved for retirement should not be taxed out of the home they worked their entire life to own.
For younger Tennesseans and first-time homebuyers, we need to make the dream of homeownership attainable again.
Too many hardworking Tennesseans are doing everything right but still cannot afford to buy a home. The cost of construction, restrictive zoning, burdensome regulations and lengthy permitting processes can all drive up the price of a house before a family ever gets the keys. We need to cut through that red tape by pursuing permitting and zoning reforms that make it easier to build, easier to buy, and easier for a young family to put down roots in Tennessee.
That is why as governor, I will work with local and state elected officials to secure property tax relief for our seniors and first time home buyers.
At the same time, we cannot allow liberal mayors to make Tennessee less affordable by raising property taxes on hardworking families. While some local leaders continue looking for ways to take more of your money, I believe government should live within its means and let Tennesseans keep more of what they earn.
This is about more than taxes or regulations. It is about whether a Tennessee family can afford to stay in the community where they grew up. It is about whether a young couple can buy their first home. It is about whether a senior can remain in the home where they raised their family.
Tennessee has a strong economy and a strong fiscal foundation because we have made the right choices. We should build on that success, not allow rising costs and higher taxes to push families out.
I have delivered results for Tennesseans, and I am ready to deliver even more as your Governor.
From cutting taxes for working families and seniors to fighting for policies that make homeownership more attainable, my goal is simple: put more money back in the pockets of Tennesseans and make sure the American Dream remains within reach.
For Tennessee families, seniors and first-time homebuyers, help is on the way.
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Marsha Blackburn represents Tennessee in the U.S. Senate and is the Republican nominee for governor.
Photos by Marsha Blackburn.
