When I was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 2008 a constant and repeated refrain from Republican Leadership was; “it matters who leads.” In particular it was Senator Ron Ramsey who would often say “it matters who leads” as part of his stump speech as he traveled the state getting Republicans elected. Tennesseans believed him, and rewarded Republicans with not only majorities in the State House and State Senate but expanded those majorities into super-duper-majorities in the Tennessee General Assembly. The liberalism and crony capitalism of the Democrats was rejected by voters across the state. Senator Ramsey became Lt. Governor Ramsey and in the House, Representative Beth Harwell became Speaker Harwell. Unfortunately, it increasingly looks as though it really doesn’t matter who leads after all.
The just-ended Special Session featured Republicans, many of who campaigned against Obamacare just a few short months ago, seeking ways to vote for an expansion of Obamacare in Tennessee. Many of them have not given up their desire to see Obama’s health scheme expanded despite the clear lack of support in the legislature and among their constituents. Talk of “free” federal money, and promises that we would like the plan once we found out what was actually in it, sounded remarkably similar to the pitches that Democrats made when selling Obamacare nationally. It matters who leads?
Common Core has been roundly rejected by Republican governors across the country, governors like Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, Scott Walker, Mary Falin and more. Yet Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is committed to Common Core, and sees it as simply a “name” problem rather than policy disaster. Republicans who rejected Common Core just last year are simply trying to rebrand it, and pretend that it is something entirely new and different. This reminds me of those calling Obamacare the Affordable Care Act once the name Obamacare became a problem. It matters who leads?
Legislation filed recently includes a number of bills that will enable the state government to pick winners and losers in the business marketplace rather than requiring companies to actually compete. Tilting the field in favor of donors and friends, whether it is in banking, the beer industry, buying and selling concert tickets, healthcare, or anything else, is not a Republican way of governing. Remember it is Republicans who are the party of “Free and Fair Markets.” What the Republicans are now doing looks a lot like what the Democrats have always done. “Give me some money and I will pass a bill that helps you and hurts your competition.” It matters who leads?
It is time for our Republican-controlled legislature to remember what it means to be a Republican – to champion limited government, the free market and competition, not the interests of deep-pocketed crony capitalists and monopolists. It “matter who leads,” should be more than another empty campaign slogan, it should be a promise kept. Leadership isn’t about catchy slogans but about the principles that lead us in the right direction. It matters who leads.
Joe Carr