capitolhillconnection

Only three Tennessee Democrats supported the sweeping health care changes that passed the U.S. House of Representatives Sunday night.

Murfreesboro Democrat Bart Gordon is one of the new “yes” votes that White House and Democratic leaders can count on when the healthcare bill comes up for a vote in the House.

Congressional Democrats and Republicans have issued competing plans intended to reign in earmark spending. But it remains to be seen whether the U.S. Senate will be willing to go along with any restrictions.

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a $15 billion jobs bill Thursday. Every Democratic congressman from Tennessee and one Republican voted for it.

Three of Tennessee’s congressional lawmakers attended President Obama’s bipartisan health summit Thursday.

Brentwood Republican Marsha Blackburn accused her colleagues of playing politics at Tuesday’s hearing on Toyota’s safety problems. She chastised committee members for being slow to react.

Legislation to cut green house gases is stalled, but there is bi-partisan support for reducing mercury and other harmful emissions. Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander has introduced a bill to reduce mercury emissions from coal plants by 90 percent. He says it will improve air and water quality throughout the state.

At the top of President Barack Obama’s agenda is job creation. In his first State of the Union address on Wednesday night, the President called on the Senate to pass another stimulus package.

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker has been working for months to get a bipartisan agreement on strengthening financial regulations. He says recent developments give him both hope and pause.