Lawmakers from 15 states meet in Nashville to exchange political ideas and cook meals for hungry families


Repairing roads and bridges, the pandemic’s impact on schools, and criminal justice reform are the issues more than 1,500 lawmakers and legislative staff from 15 southern states are in Nashville to discuss.

Officials are in town for the 75th Southern Legislative Conference, an annual event featuring former and current state officials, lawmakers and industry experts, including former Gov. Bill Haslam. From July 10-14, the event allows southern lawmakers to exchange political ideas and prepare for the next legislative session.

Tennessee lawmakers including House Speaker Cameron Sexton R-Crossville, Republican Senate Caucus Chairman Ken Yager, R-Kingston and Republican House Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison R-Cosby attended the the event. Sexton is currently chairman of the legislative conference.

Divided into committees, participants have access to different sessions on agriculture, rural development, infrastructure construction, education and other issues.

At an infrastructure conference Sunday morning, Janey Camp, associate professor at Vanderbilt University, presented the most recent findings from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The data shows a growing infrastructure investment gap – the gap between the amount needed and the amount funded – nationwide, Camp said. The organization gave America a C- rating in 2021, showing that the country’s infrastructure is almost in jeopardy.

“We’re still only paying about half of our infrastructure bill – and the total investment gap has grown from $ 2.1 trillion over 10 years to almost $ 2.590 billion over 10 years,” according to the group’s 2021 report.

Tennessee also faces infrastructure problems, the group concludes. About 5% of Tennessee’s roads are “in poor condition” and 4.4% of bridges are in need of repair, according to the report.

Rep. Pat Marsh, a Republican from Shelbyville, said a key part of the session is that every state faces similar issues. He said he supported the bipartisan infrastructure plan currently underway in Congress to receive more federal funding.

“We have to constantly spend money on infrastructure,” he said. “I think we are way behind Europe and I don’t know how we can ever catch up.”

The federal plan – a $ 1.2 trillion package that advanced after President Joe Biden’s administration reached a compromise with a bipartisan group of 21 senators – includes $ 579 billion to fund road repairs, bridges, rails, broadband infrastructure and other areas. The funding mechanism does not include an increase in the gasoline tax or an increase in the corporate tax.

But Marsh said he was intrigued by the idea of ​​a gas tax increase with a refund option – something Missouri and South Carolina have passed as laws. However, he said he saw no need to increase the state’s gasoline tax at this time, since the Tennessee legislature implemented a tax on gasoline and diesel fuel in 2017 to finance construction projects.

In Missouri, the bill passed this year would increase the gasoline tax by 17 cents per gallon from 2.5 cents per year through July 2025. But drivers can receive a refund if they submit their receipts. purchase of gasoline from the State. The model was first implemented in South Carolina.

A South Carolina lawmaker attending the session said the individual reimbursement can be as low as $ 12. Drivers may not want to go very far to recoup $ 12, he said, and as a result, the state can earn millions of dollars in revenue.

“I thought it was very smart,” Marsh said. “It’s kind of a trick.”

Beyond the sessions, lawmakers from various states also gathered for the annual “Campaign Against Hunger” event. The program, started by former Tennessee Senator Mark Norris, R-Collierville, in 2011, aims to provide meals to hungry families.

Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton listens to Governor Bill Lee announce a new round of partnerships to fight human trafficking during a press conference at the State Capitol on Thursday, May 13, 2021 in Nashville, Tenn.

Lawmakers prepared 63,000 meals in 20 minutes during Sunday’s event, Sexton said. The donation will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Middle Tennessee.

“What you are seeing is the enthusiasm of the people who are working together no matter what party they belong to to help the community here in Nashville,” Sexton said.

About Mark A. Tomlin

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