Iowa’s Ashley Hinson slams the savings habits of millennials

During a Senate campaign debate in Iowa, Republican candidate Ashley Hinson criticized the savings habits of millennials when discussing Social Security. As the debate unfolded on Wednesday, Hinson, who is running against Democrat state Rep. Josh Turek, mentioned the need for a "serious conversation" about how young people save money.

She specifically pointed out that millennials are the "worst group of savers in the country right now" and have the least amount of savings. Hinson argued that this lack of savings should be part of the broader discussion about Social Security's future.

Hinson faces a competitive race in Iowa against Turek, with voters being highly pessimistic about the economy and their personal finances. Despite this, voters support Social Security while expressing concerns about its future. Hinson stated that she would not support cutting benefits and suggested creating a bipartisan commission to present suggestions to Congress on how to save the program.

When asked about her assertion that "all options should be on the table," Hinson focused on addressing the savings habits of millennials. She recalled a discussion with her father in sixth grade about ensuring a secure financial future. Hinson emphasized the importance of having a conversation about both solutions to maintain Social Security's solvency and encouraging young people to save more money.

Hinson's campaign did not respond to a request for clarification on her comments. In contrast, Turek, when questioned about Social Security, supported removing the payroll tax cap as the best way to keep the program solvent. He advocated for billionaires and large corporations to pay their fair share, arguing that this would make a significant difference in ensuring Social Security's long-term viability. Hinson disagreed, asserting that raising taxes was the only solution she heard from Turek.