Bredesen continues to make right moves
When Phil Bredesen was elected Tennessee governor, he inherited a state up to its neck in financial woes. There were also rumblings that much of the state’s budget trouble had to do with closed-door discussions where lawmakers conducted deals free of public and media scrutiny.
To abruptly halt those problems, Bredesen managed to pull off 9 percent, across-the-board state budget cuts that received surprisingly little political backlash. And he did this by opening up all budget meetings so every Tennessean could see first-hand how their tax dollars were being spent.
This year, Bredesen vowed to roll up his sleeves and make a dent in the bottomless money pit known as TennCare. The governor has carved out a group of people who won’t be affected by TennCare cuts, such as pregnant women and children, but declared that “able-bodied” enrollees should prepare to make a sacrifice.
Once again, the governor should be applauded for an excellent decision. And while much reform still awaits TennCare, the prospect of saving some $2.5 billion over the next four years certainly has an appealing ring.
Bredesen’s popularity has been measured in the 70 percent range and the Standard has to agree with that assessment. Our governor has certainly made noteworthy progress for his first year on the job.
During Monday’s annual Legislative Breakfast, much praise was heaped on Bredesen by state Sen. Jerry Cooper and state Reps. Charles Curtiss and Judd Matheny. Cooper lauded the governor for running the state like a business, while Curtiss was even more complimentary.
“I told the governor he would have been a blessing to this state at any time,” said Curtiss. “But he came along at just the right time. He’s thorough and kind-hearted and he gets results.”
In a day when it’s all too easy for politicians to fall into the pockets of special interest groups, Bredesen seems to have only one special interest in mind – the people of Tennessee. Based on a little more than a year in office, Tennesseans are fortunate to have such a top-notch governor with an emphasis on integrity.