Democratic Senate candidate Bob Kerrey says fixing Social Security should involve tax increases and benefit cuts.

Kerrey released a detailed Social Security reform proposal at a news conference in Omaha on Monday that he says would help balance the federal budget.

Kerrey says he wants to offer specific solutions that voters can evaluate before the election.

The former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator says it's not hard to figure out how to fix Social Security but says it's politically daunting to pass reforms.

Kerrey's plan would expand the payroll tax to higher income levels, and it would gradually increase the age of eligibility for benefits.

Republican Senate candidate Deb Fischer says Social Security is on the road to bankruptcy, but she is committed to needed reforms.

Fischer's campaign spokesman Daniel Keylin says the state senator has proposed increasing the retirement age for people younger than 40 and adding a means test for benefits.

And Fischer wants to prevent Congress from being able to use money from the Social Security trust fund for other purposes. But Fischer has signed a pledge not to support any tax increases.