Marsha Blackburn

Great roads and strong infrastructure are essential to economic development, and thankfully Tennessee has some of the best assets in the country. One of our greatest assets is we are one of the few states with no road debt, and as governor I will continue that pay-as-you-go conservative practice. As commissioner of Economic and Community Development, I frequently promoted Tennessee’s outstanding infrastructure to new business prospects and it is a critical recruitment tool. Quality roads and safe infrastructure are about more than just transportation — they are about better jobs and properly growing our state. We must commit to a safe and reliable transportation system, and no matter what new technology or changes come, I am focused on ensuring that Tennessee continues that tradition of safe roadways. A solid infrastructure is a critical part of recruiting businesses to relocate to Tennessee and creating an environment where Tennessee businesses can expand and thrive. While every citizen can feel the impact of poor infrastructure in the form of traffic, subpar utilities and unsafe bridges, businesses rely on these things to deliver goods and services to all Tennesseans.

A few years ago, I convened a Rural Task Force that traveled the state to discuss what was needed to boost prosperity in our rural areas. Time and time again, infrastructure came up as a No. 1 concern — roads, utilities and broadband. We have taken action to address our state’s infrastructure over the last few years, but there is more that can be done, especially in the rural parts of our state. We are fortunate not to have any road debt in the state of Tennessee, and we need to ensure we have enough dedicated sources of funding to support these needs across the state. As governor, I will make that a priority. Investing in infrastructure is clearly a need, and it needs to be addressed more quickly. I run a company with hundreds of vehicles, and our company is in the business of maintaining the infrastructure of buildings. Deferring maintenance is a costly, critical mistake. The same obviously applies to government. Neglecting infrastructure ensures more expensive and more painful solutions when we finally do get around to addressing them. In Tennessee, we find ourselves with a growing infrastructure problem, not only because of deferred maintenance, but because of factors like TennCare, where we grew that program to unsustainable levels. As a result, fixed overhead became an anchor on the budget, which meant the state highway fund was raided to pay our bills. We can’t do that again. Infrastructure needs to be part of a bigger conversation around our entire state budget. In the last eight years, inflation has risen 8 percent and our population has grown by 5 percent. However, our state budget appropriations alone have risen by an astounding 32 percent.

Democrat

Karl knows that the right investments in infrastructure are key to economic growth. Access to roads, water lines, broadband service and other infrastructure are essential for businesses looking to grow and create jobs. During his time as mayor of Nashville, Karl made improving the city’s infrastructure a priority, working with the Metro Council to invest $2.3 billion in capital projects in all parts of Davidson County. He also worked with the Metro Council to create a funding stream for new water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure projects. As governor, Karl will bring the same commitment to finding pragmatic solutions to our communities’ problems. He will work with the Tennessee General Assembly and our state’s leaders in Washington, D.C., to ensure all available state and federal resources are put toward our state’s most pressing infrastructure needs. Infrastructure is — and has been — the backbone of Tennessee’s progress in the economic and social arenas. As Gov. Ned Ray McWherter used to say, “Education plus roads equals jobs.” From the first rivers and the movement of goods and people, to the days of our roads being the class of the nation, Tennessee has led the way when it comes to our infrastructure. Unfortunately, we began to lose that mantle in the past few years. The unique makeup of our state in the urban-suburban-rural mix requires different solutions in each type of locale. Local governments must maintain their ability to make decisions in concert with their citizens for the best interests of their communities. While infrastructure is usually thought of as roads and bridges, we must make sure that our water systems are also brought up to standard. No one really thinks of pipes beneath our roads and buildings until they burst. Tennessee’s economy is directly linked to our transportation and infrastructure system, and to maintain our economic competitiveness, we must think strategically about improving our connectivity. While traditionally infrastructure refers to our highway system, broadband is an increasingly important component of connectivity. Internet access is critical to our 21st-century economy. Lack of reliable internet access is not just an inconvenience; it holds Tennesseans back. Without access to reliable internet, children are unable to complete their homework assignments and our small businesses are unable to compete on a larger scale. I am committed to growing our economy and making life easier for Tennessee families. In the U.S. Senate, I will work to increase Tennesseans’ access to broadband and work with the president to restructure the federal government’s infrastructure program. This is too good a rule to just leave to physicians. There are plenty of other areas where it applies as well. One of these is the much-discussed area of public infrastructure, and we have a good example right here in Tennessee. In his recent budget, President Trump proposed selling off a part of the Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA. If politicians sell parts of TVA to a private corporation, here’s what happens: Those politicians will take the proceeds and spend it somewhere quickly. But any private purchaser is going to have to get its investment back, plus interest and a profit. So, Mr. President (and Mr. and Ms. Congress), let’s talk about our real infrastructure needs, but please remember: “First of all do no harm.”