Posted on 01/20/2007 9:28:14 PM PST by SmithL
This past week, I have been asked many times why I voted for a new lieutenant governor. How could I vote for someone who is not a member of my own political party?
The answer is very straightforward: I voted my conscience.
The most basic tenet of democracy is that the majority rules. In the Tennessee Senate, Republicans have held the numerical majority for three years. Yet, we were in a peculiar situation where the minority continued to keep the majority in the form of the lieutenant governor. That is not our democracy.
It was time for a change in the structure. The dedication to keeping a status quo was preventing our state from putting real energy and bipartisan effort into solving problems and moving Tennessee forward.
I chose to break the logjam so there can be a vigorous but civil policy discussion over the current and future direction of our state.
We face a host of issues -- from improving education, health care and job creation to new alternative energy proposals and a more open government. We cannot afford gridlock or stagnation if we are to help solve these problems.
It may seem ironic to some, but only now are Democrats and Republicans free to work together on real issues. I voted my conscience.
Now we can work on improving our state's education system -- an issue important to every Tennessean. The future of the children of our state depends upon our ability to inspire high school students to graduate and continue their education. We are currently 48th in high school graduation rates. That must change.
When it comes to higher education, fewer than one in five Tennesseans has a college degree, several points below the national average. We must provide the hope and the tools to help first-generation college students realize their dreams for a better future.
Our health-care system must shift focus to encourage disease prevention and promote individual responsibility so we solve problems before they start. This includes anti-smoking programs and, yes, raising the tax on cigarettes. It is the fourth lowest in the nation.
Open government should also be a part of the legislative agenda. One way to accomplish this would be to allow every voter an equal opportunity to vote for our state's constitutional officers: secretary of state, state treasurer and comptroller. They are currently elected by the members of the General Assembly.
Tennessee is one of very few states where voters are not empowered to make such important decisions on high-ranking government officials. Letting our citizens vote increases accountability and makes sure government is held responsible.
Nationally, Democrats benefited from being in the minority because it forced our party to hone a message that resulted in the tremendous gains of 2006. I believe we can now use this time to communicate a new message to Tennesseans that will emphasize people over party and benefit our state as a whole.
Every member of the Senate is tired of being 49th in so many areas. I intend to work with my fellow Democrats and Republicans, as well as the new lieutenant governor, to create legislation that moves our state forward.
The era of the smoke-filled back room is over, and we are now free to have a healthy public policy debate that can only benefit the citizens of this great state.
Van Hilleary is NOT a former Republican. He's a Republican former U.S. Representative.
If the 'Rats had nominated Kurita for the US Senate rather than Junior, she'd be the new Senator for TN.
Given Hilleary's little stunt in the Senate primary, I consider him a "former" Republican. I wouldn't vote for him for dogcatcher.
In a Kurita vs Corker race I agree she may well have won it.
Don't be in no big rush. The money to build Utopia comes from taxpayers. In most places it's a nice quiet peaceful state to live in. The state isn't in no crisis right now in any area I can think of. Please don't create us one like the last governor did every year. Sometimes 49th isn't bad at all :>}
I see she's pushing more taxes. She wants to raise the cigarette taX.
Gas will be next. And just wait till they start looking for the state part of the funding for the Knoxville Beltway yet to be built. The interstate that no one wanted but a hand full of people in North Knox County who made certain it was not actually built in North Knox County but further north and the obvious land developers.
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