Image Credit: Washington County Republican Party TN / Facebook
Tennessee Conservative News [By Paula Gomes] –
Incumbent Senator Rusty Crowe, who is running for reelection, went head to head with a Republican challenger on Saturday at a Washington County GOP Candidate forum.
During the discussion, Crowe and challenger Dan Pohlgeers mostly talked about government accountability, growth, healthcare, and taxes.
On the topic of the state’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws, Crowe pointed to legislation passed earlier this year that phases out portions of the CON program, expanding competition in healthcare facilities sooner in Tennessee.
While Crowe said he was “proud” to have been part of the legislation’s passage, Pohlgeers stated that the timeline should move faster at the state level.
Ballad Health was also debated along with oversight of the region’s system of healthcare.
Crowe stated that the Tennessee General Assembly has strengthened accountability by moving oversight to the state Attorney General’s Office. Pohlgeers says even more oversight is needed.
Regarding the state’s rapid growth, Pohlgeers said that Tennessee should invest in infrastructure but also protect natural resources including farmland. Policies should be put in place to limit negative consequences of large data centers on local communities.
Crowe agreed with this strategy, and pointed out that he sponsored legislation restricting large data centers. He plans to pursue additional legislation next year to that end.
Both candidates were asked to share their thoughts on the proposed BWXT project in Washington County.
Crowe stated that the state’s regulations for industrial facilities exceed federal requirements in many cases. Public reporting requirements provide transparency, he said, while affirming that the state should play a major role in making sure such facilities are held to high standards for environmental impact and keeping workers safe.
Pohlgeers believes community members should have greater input before projects are allowed to move forward, and that while he supports industrial development, controlled growth is important.
Crowe told those in attendance that he will continue to focus on lowering taxes and having less government in the daily lives of Tennesseans.
Pohlgeers talked about the need to fight special interest groups that “seem to have a lot of power and control in Nashville.”
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
