Richard M. Briggs
Republican | Tennessee
Candidate Profile*
Moderate
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Richard M. Briggs
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 7
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Kentucky, Lexington, MD, 1978
Transylvania University, Lexington, BS, 1974
WORK & MILITARY
Army, Colonel, 38
AFFILIATIONS
East Tennessee Human Resource Agency, Board of Directors, National Rifle Association
Member, Mercy Health System, Board of Directors
Tennessee Medical Association, Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors, Tennessee Right to Life
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Tennessee State Senate, 8
Knox County Tennessee Board of Commissioners, 7
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2021-2022
100%
2021
78%, 80% (cum.)†
2020
43%
2021-2022
|100%
2021
|78%, 80% (cum.)†
2020
|43%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2018
|60%
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)
National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) Federal PAC
Tennessee Right to Life
LIBERAL (2)
Tennessee AFL-CIO
Tennessee Education Association
OTHER (2)
*Tennessee Employees Action Movement PAC
Tennessee Professional Firefighters Association (TPFAA)
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Brian Kelsey (2016)
Diana Harshbarger (2020)
Jim Tracy (2014)
Jimmy Matlock (2017)
Lamar Alexander (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Vote record from Votesmart
Briggs voted against SB0765, Tennessee's new Constitutional Carry legislation.
Briggs was one of two Republicans who voted against SB0187, which prevents state and local government and subdivisions from forcing, requiring or coercing individuals to take a Covid-19 vaccine.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
To save the life of the mother
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
In Tennessee, reduce the tax on food
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
In Tennessee, the budget is balanced every year.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Agree
Tennessee already guarantees two years of post high school education and if a family earns less than $65,000/year, there is no tuition at the University of Tennessee. The state lottery fund pays for this. No taxpayer dollars are used.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Government needs to stay out of the moral and ethical beliefs of private businesses.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Only if subversive activities and foreign influences are using the alleged place of worship to subvert public order and safety (example: a mosque used by radical Islam to plan terrorist activities)
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
Medicare and Tennessee TennCare need to be preserved. Working families without employer provided health insurance need some sort of affordable option. A family should not have to declare bankruptcy due to a medical illness of no fault of their own.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
The military needs to require certain vaccinations for Force Protection, especially if an adversary has biological warfare capabilities.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Continue utilization of aggressive intelligence resources and deploying low intensive interventions when a threat is detected
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Very simple, immigration laws must be enforced and obeyed
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The United States should allow legal immigration for those whose skills benefit our nation but do not place a burden on taxpayers
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Neutral
Strong public districts need public support. Families in failing schools need options and public financial assistance to provide a strong educational foundation for their child.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised in a family where the church was the center of our social life. We were expected to live Christian values every day and not just on Sunday. My wife and I have been married 49 years and take very seriously the vow “till death do you part”. Civilized society centers on the family which consists of a mother and a father active in all aspects of their children’s lives. My family is blessed in that we have an extended, multi-generational family in the immediate area where we live of grandparents, parents, and grandchildren to support each other.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
100% back-up, marked paper ballots
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
We have seen too many attacks on Jewish places of worship as well as attacks on black churches. Christians should not tolerate any attacks on any ethnic group, especially in their places or worship, simply because of their race or beliefs.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
God gave humanity a wonderful and beautiful earth to live on. Soiling and polluting this gift is an insult to what God created. I do not believe that A or B has to be a yes or no answer choice. We can protect the environment and not hurt the economy or jobs. Tennessee is blessed with some of the most beautiful rivers, lakes, and mountains which need protection for future generations.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
We are not fracking to any extent in Tennessee
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
1) To protect liberties 2) do things that individuals cannot do for themselves: national security, public safety, maintain roads, provide education for our children 3) ensure a level playing field through the legal system so everyone and companies “play by the rules and doesn’t cheat”
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Just Google my name
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
My priorities: Provide a business environment in Tennessee so businesses will move here, grow, and provide high paying jobs Fight inflation to preserve our families buying power Illegal immigration must be controlled at the border. Demand that federal and state immigration laws be enforced Law and order is essential so families feel safe in their home and communities Practical Education of our children to prepare them for the jobs we bring to Tennessee
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
The police have a difficult job and need to be respected and honored by the public for their sacrifices. They should be personally immune as long as departmental policy is followed. As in any profession, there are always a few “bad apples”. Inappropriate, illegal behavior should not be tolerated.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Mental health and community programs merit support but not at the expense of law enforcement.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
For gun ownership, very few. For carrying in public, I prefer criminal background checks and a permit.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
