“Mr. Haslam’s family business has made a fortune selling gasoline and diesel fuel,” Forrester said. “Is he more worried about the fortune of his Big Oil buddies or the struggles of ordinary people like those affected by the oil spill in the Gulf?

“Tennessee voters need to know where he stands on this very important issue. Our state is blessed to have an abundance of lakes, streams and forests that provide us and our visitors with exceptional recreational opportunities. It’s important to know just how committed the gubernatorial candidates are to protecting our state’s natural resources.”

Forrester pointed out that another Republican gubernatorial candidate, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from coal-mining interests and has refused to allow a vote in the Senate on a bill banning mountain-top-removal mining.

“Mr. Ramsey is more worried about giving the boot to Washington than giving a boot to companies that would rather destroy our beautiful mountains and pollute our streams,” Forrester added.

“Mr. Devaney has once again prematurely disseminated more half-baked logic meant to stir up people’s emotions on controversial issues like health-insurance reform,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said of state GOP Chairman Chris Devaney. “His press releases are doing more collateral damage to his own party than anything else.

“Both Mr. Frist and Mr. Corker have said attempts to repeal the law are useless. Mr. Frist even went further to say he favors health-insurance reform that offers 32 million more Americans coverage.

“Mike McWherter, meanwhile, has in no way endorsed the health insurance reform that is now federal law. But he realizes affordable health insurance for more Tennesseans is a good idea, as does Mr. Frist. No law is perfect, and that is why we need leaders like Mike who will roll up their sleeves and work to make things better,” Forrester added.

“Mr. Devaney’ s premature dissemination is more of the same half-baked logic Republicans across the nation have been using to stir up people’s emotions on controversial issues like immigration,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said of state GOP Chairman Chris Devaney. “Fact is, the federal government controls the nation’s borders.

“Even the Tennessee Republican Party’s anointed gubernatorial candidate, Bill Haslam, agrees immigration is a federal issue. Tennessee lawmakers need to focus more on what they can do to help our citizens get good educations, well-paying jobs and better quality of lives.

“During this past session of the General Assembly, too many Republican lawmakers were more focused on pandering to extreme special interests than on the real issues that affect most Tennesseans,” he added.

Haslam’s referenced remark was made during an interview on WXMX FM 98.1 radio station in Memphis.

Doors for Jackson Day will open at 4:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 5:30 p.m. CDT. Individual ticket prices range from $50 to $500 and are available online at the Tennessee Democratic Party’s website at www.tndp.org or by calling 615-327-9779 for more information. Sponsorships are also available.

“Tennessee Democrats are excited about this year’s event and about the upcoming elections in November,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said. “Our economy is bouncing back from one of the worst recessions this country has seen since the Great Depression, and the policies put in place by this Administration and Congress are helping put Tennesseans back to work.

“Gov. Phil Bredesen and Democrats in the state Legislature have been good stewards of our state’s finances, and Tennessee has weathered the storm better than most states. In the last seven years, for example, Tennessee has seen the creation of more than 184,000 new jobs, $32 billion in capital investment and more than 50 corporate headquarter locations.

“But we have plenty more work to do, and that’s why it is vitally important we motivate Tennessee voters to go to the polls this November and elect more Democrats to Congress and the state Legislature, as well as the governor’s office. This year’s Jackson Day will help us build momentum for the fall elections.”

Jackson Day is an annual event held by the Tennessee Democratic Party honoring President Andrew Jackson, the founder of the modern Democratic Party.

We are not asking for, and will not accept for this event, contributions in excess of the federal limits, or funds from corporations, labor organizations, national banks, federal contractors, registered federal lobbyists, registered foreign agents, federal political action committees, minors under the age of 16, and/or any other federally prohibited sources. Contributions are not tax deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes.

Doors for Jackson Day will open at 4:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 5:30 p.m. CDT. For attendance information, go to the Tennessee Democratic Party’s website at www.tndp.org or call 615-327-9779.

“Tennessee Democrats are excited Vice President Biden will help us kick off this year’s critical mid-term elections with his appearance at Jackson Day,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said.

“Our economy is bouncing back from one of the worst recessions this country has seen since the Great Depression, and the policies put in place by this Administration and Congress are helping put Tennesseans back to work.”

Biden served in the U.S. Senate for 36 years before becoming the nation’s 47th Vice President. As the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations and the Judiciary committees during much of his tenure, the Vice President has helped shape this nation’s foreign policy and its criminal justice system.

“We have plenty more work to do, and that’s why it is vitally important we motivate Tennessee voters to go to the polls this November and elect more Democrats to Congress and the state Legislature,” Forrester added. “Jackson Day will help us build momentum for this fall’s elections.”

Jackson Day is an annual event held by the Tennessee Democratic Party honoring President Andrew Jackson, the founder of the modern Democratic Party.

Republican state Sen. Ron Ramsey, a gubernatorial candidate, continues to air political advertisements promising to give Washington “the boot.” He also sent an email to supporters this week echoing that same sentiment.

“Mr. Ramsey is evidently oblivious to the suffering Middle and West Tennessee experienced in one of the most devastating floods this state has ever seen,” Forrester said. “Tennessee certainly doesn’t need that kind of leadership.

“We need a governor who understands the need to partner with the federal government, as well as with local government, to address the needs of all Tennesseans. Our state is facing some very critical challenges, and we’ll need all the help we can get to meet them.”

Forrester also pointed to the hypocritical rhetoric U.S. Reps. Zach Wamp, another Republican gubernatorial candidate, and Marsha Blackburn have used in the past to denigrate the federal government. Both have embraced state sovereignty issues and the need to lessen the role of the federal government.

Wamp has promised to meet the president at the state line to guard against federal incursions while Blackburn promised “not to cry ‘emergency’ every time we have a Katrina.”

Both Wamp and Blackburn, however, have signed a letter from Tennessee’s congressional delegation requesting more federal aid to help in flood recovery efforts. To date, Tennessee has received more than $28 million in federal disaster assistance for the May 1 and 2 storms that dumped more than 17 inches of rain in parts of the state and killed 23 people.

“I would hope those elected officials would dial down the divisive rhetoric so we can all work together to help those affected by the devastating flooding and damage that recently occurred,” Forrester said. “Times like these demand leadership and responsible governing, not lip service and meaningless criticism.”

Heroic stories like the one above took place from Memphis to Spring Hill and should inspire and remind each of us that the time to live up to our “Volunteer” name is now. I hope each of you will continue to reach out to help friends, neighbors, loved ones, and fellow Tennesseans who face massive challenges as they recover from the damage and suffering the water left behind.

I am asking our staff at the Tennessee Democratic Party to take Friday off to volunteer with organizations assisting with recovery, clean up, and aid to those who need our help. I hope each of you will also reach out in any way you can.

Here are a few ways you can help.

Give Money:

Tennessee Red Cross
Donations are accepted online or by texting REDCROSS to 90999

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN

MidSouth Food Bank

Volunteer:

Tennessee Red Cross

Hands On Nashville

For questions about water advisories, returning home after a flood event, or government status reports you can view that information here:

Tennessee Government Flood Guidance

Sincerely,

Chairman Chip Forrester

His idea was so a-maizing that the Rachel Maddow Show picked up on it and featured Lowden and Bell’s ideas on the April 22 show. Click here to view the priceless clip.

You also can read a brief transcript below of the exchange between Rep. Bell and Rep. Joe Towns (D – Memphis) as Bell explains his proposal:

Bell: They’re [the Mennonites] some of the healthiest people you have ever seen. They pay cash when they go to the doctor. They work out arrangements with the hospitals if their children have to be hospitalized. This is an individual choice that we’re talking about.

Towns: You’re saying they pay cash? For organ transplants and cancer and heart cases, they pay cash?

Bell: I said they pay cash or work out other arrangements. I know for a fact. I know someone in the medical field who has been paid with vegetables from the Mennonite community.

Towns: That’s an anomaly. That’s not how the system works. I can’t take a sack of vegetables down to the utility company and pay my utility bill on my house. Nobody’s going to take vegetables for payment. We can’t run the country on vegetables and horse trading.

We think Tennesseans should take Rep. Bell up on his idea. If he knows of doctors who are willing to trade health care for vegetables, he should let us know! Click here to send him an email, describe your ailments, let him know what you can afford to pay in vegetables, and ask him to find you a doctor willing to accept the arrangement. If he gets back to you, please share his response with us! And if he doesn’t…well, maybe he’s just “full of beans.”

Once you’re done, post this on Facebook, tweet about it, and forward this message to your friends so Rep. Bell can see just how many people would like to take him up on his “solution” for an affordable health care in Tennessee.

Morristown-Hamblen High School East is receiving an interest-free loan to build additional classrooms through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has been credited for generating 2.8 million jobs since its enactment. Roe voted against the Recovery Act.

“It’s more than a little disingenuous for Mr. Roe to show up at the high school and try to take credit for a project whose funding he voted against,” Forrester said. “The congressman should be embarrassed for voting against a measure that is enabling local communities to stretch their dollars, reduce taxes and improve infrastructure.

“Too many elected officials like Congressman Roe are playing partisan politics instead of doing what is right for communities and the people who live and work there. Instead of grandstanding and trying to score cheap political points in Washington, Mr. Roe should focus on problems in his district.”

The President’s Council of Economic Advisers estimates that investments made through the Recovery Act have boosted employment in Tennessee by 56,000 jobs through the 1st quarter of 2010. Nearly $6 billion in federal stimulus money has been committed to Tennessee.

“In times like these, we need to put aside our political differences and solve our problems,” Forrester said. Let’s focus our energy and resources on creating jobs, ensuring our children get top-notch educations and making our communities stronger and safer.

“I hope Congressman Roe will admit he was wrong for voting against the stimulus funding,” he added.

Carr voted against a measure brought to the House floor on Monday (April 12) prohibiting any radioactive waste from being stored or processed in the state unless it was done under the auspices of the federal government.

“The citizens of Rutherford County have already demonstrated they do not want radioactive waste to be stored in their backyards,” Forrester said. “When is Mr. Carr going to understand that his job is to represent the interests of voters in his district?”

Carr also voted against a bill, HB2826, during an April 6 subcommittee hearing prohibiting any radioactive waste from being stored or processed in the state. Current law allows the state to issue permits for disposal of low-level radioactive waste at commercial landfills.

Carr finally relented when state Rep. Kent Coleman of Murfreesboro introduced an amendment on the floor specifically prohibiting radioactive waste from being stored at the Middle Point Landfill in Murfreesboro. Carr voted to approve Coleman’s amendment, which passed.

“There is no justification to store radioactive waste, especially from overseas, in our community landfills,” Forrester said. “It is not safe and could very well be detrimental to our environment.

“Can you imagine the damage that could be done if any of that toxic material leaked into our groundwater? Our streams and our drinking-water supplies could be polluted for years if that were to happen. I do not understand Mr. Carr’s stance on this issue. Is he for or against storing radioactive waste in our landfills?”

The Middle Point Landfill in Murfreesboro had accepted low-level radioactive waste until about three years ago when local citizens unaware of the practice objected and company officials volunteered to stop accepting the material.

At about the same time, Salt Lake City, Utah-based Energy Solutions petitioned the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow the company to import up to 20,000 tons of nuclear waste from Italy and process the material at facilities in Tennessee.

“Rutherford County voters deserve a state representative who will listen to them and not to the special-interest groups that contribute to a lawmaker’s re-election efforts,” Forrester added.