Dems Take Less Cheery View Than GOP at Session’s End

Tennessee Democrats are bemoaning the legislative session that just ended, using words like “crazy” and “embarrassing” to describe laws passed this spring. It’s a sharp contrast to the glowing review from majority Republicans.

After the session’s end Republicans championed the governor’s civil-service overhaul, as well as cuts to the estate tax. House Speaker Beth Harwell praised lawmakers for setting partisanship aside. Meanwhile top Democrats complain Republicans afforded them no “give and take” late in the budget process, saying if they had it could’ve passed unanimously.

Democrats also pointed to a host of controversial bills from Republicans, like one to rework what’s taught in sex education, and another targeting evolution in science classes. Memphis Democrat Joe Towns says such bills make it harder to recruit businesses.

“Any progressive-minded business know it’s a volatile situation when you’re going into a state with politics as you’ve seen on display of late. When you travel around the country, you’re the butt of jokes when you’re from Tennessee, because we have all this wacko stuff.”

In this fall’s election Democrats face an uphill fight to regain clout at the capitol. The chairman of the state GOP has said his party hopes to expand its legislative majority.