Blog: Democrats in Washington Could Learn A lot from the Tennessee General Assembly

Statement

In Washington, the status quo is virtually sacred. All too often, it seems as if there is actually a bias against getting something done, creating negativity among voters towards the political process. I, like many voters, expect a Congress willing to tackle tough problems quickly -- problems like the debt, deficit spending and tax reform. Simply put, I expect Congress to run more like our Republican state legislature did this year.

The 2011 Session of the 107th Tennessee General Assembly was one of the shortest and most productive sessions in recent state history. The sheer amount of landmark legislation that was debated and signed into law was an impressive legislative accomplishment. From education reform to government spending to illegal immigration, our state legislators showed that there was no issue that was too big for them to tackle.

Members of the General Assembly returned home after adjourning five weeks early with a long list of legislative accomplishments that they could show their constituents. Among these was the passage of a common sense, conservative, no-tax budget that reduced spending by over a billion dollars compared to last year. After being a part of the budget process here in Washington, D.C. I truly understand how large of an accomplishment this really is.

Tennessee's General Assembly also passed comprehensive education reform that will allow more students to have access to high quality education options while also reforming tenure to ensure an effective teacher stands in front of every classroom. Through my work in the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I understand how important an educated workforce is for attracting business and creating jobs.

When it comes to jobs, the Tennessee State Legislature has the right approach -- get government out of the way and create a climate for job growth. They understand that government does not create jobs, people do. Business leaders I meet across Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District always tell me the biggest thing standing in their way to creating jobs is the government. I applaud the General Assembly for their steadfast commitment to removing bureaucratic barriers to job creation by passing landmark legislation: a tort reform bill that will help to curtail frivolous lawsuits and make our state more attractive to business.

During these tough economic times and budget shortages, Tennessee state legislators also found a way to responsibly cut back the tax burden on those saving for retirement. People that have worked hard and were responsible enough to save for retirement should not be penalized by excessive taxes. It is important to note that our TN legislators did this while also balancing the budget.

These are just a few examples of some of the great work done by the Tennessee House and Senate during last session. I applaud Governor Haslam, Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell for their ongoing commitment to solving difficult problems by making tough choices. They have shown a willingness to tackle tough issues and transform state government for the better.

My Republican colleagues and I in the U.S. House are also ready and willing to make tough choices and move forward in addressing our nation's problems; much like the General Assembly has already done in Tennessee. I encourage President Obama and Senate Democrats to take a close look at the accomplishments of the Tennessee General Assembly and start working with House Republicans in tackling the tough challenges facing our nation.

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