- Tennessee Democratic Party
-
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester Senate leader Sen. Jim Kyle House leader Rep. Craig Fitzhugh Headquarters 1900 Church Street, Suite 203
Nashville, Tennessee 37203National affiliation Democratic Party Official colors Blue (unofficial) Website www.tndp.org Politics of the United States
Political parties
Elections
Official White House portrait of Andrew Jackson by Sully.
The Tennessee Democratic Party is the organized coalition of Democrats in Tennessee founded in 1826, tracing its philosophical roots to President Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson was born in 1767 in the Carolinas. After fighting in the Revolutionary War he moved to Tennessee in search of opportunity. When he was in his thirties he was elected major general of the Tennessee militia. After the War of 1812 he became a military hero and a potential candidate for president. Andrew Jackson’s most penetrating political insight was that concentrated governmental power always leads to corruption and abuse.[1]
Contents
Current elected officials
The Tennessee Democratic Party holds two of the state's nine U.S. House of Representatives seats.
Members of Congress
U.S. House of Representatives
- Jim Cooper, 5th District
Congressman Jim Cooper. - Steve Cohen, 9th District
Congressman Steve Cohen.
Statewide offices
- None
Legislative leaders
- Senate Minority Leader: Jim Kyle
- House Minority Leader: Craig Fitzhugh
Current leadership
- Chair – Chip Forrester
- Vice Chair – Elisa Parker
- Treasurer – David Garrison
- Secretary – Gale Jones Carson
- Senate Caucus - Lowe Finney
- House Caucus - Mike Turner
Tennessee Delegation of the Democratic National Committee
The Delegation of each state to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) consists of the highest-ranking elected male and female within the state’s Democratic Party. These ranking members for the Tennessee Democratic Party are Chip Forrester and Elisa Parker. As determined by the DNC’s rules Tennessee has been given three additional members. The three additional members are elected, and serve a four-year term by the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee. The elections are held in accordance with the National Party rules. The rules call for elections to be held during the calendar year in which a Democratic National Convention is held. These members of Tennessee’s delegation are expected to represent Tennessee on all matters which come before the committee. [2]
Responsibilities of the National Committee:
- Electing the National Party Chair and all other National Party Officers
- Issuing the call to the National Convention
- Conducting the Party’s Presidential Campaign
- Formulating and disseminating statements of Party policy
- Setting the DNC’s budget and conducting all other business in order to carry out the objectives of the Democratic Party
Children and families
Current issues for Tennessee Democrats on children and families include that of the high rate of infant mortality in Memphis. The city of Memphis has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. During the 111th Congress Congressman Steve Cohen authorized a resolution that passed the House. This resolution urged a stronger national commitment to ending infant mortality. The H.R 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act includes Steve Cohen’s legislation called the Newborn Act. This act would create 15 national pilot programs in cities across the nation like Memphis. The act would also provide resources for more research and educational programs aimed at helping women get the pre-natal care they need during pregnancy and during delivery. Steve Cohen is listed as one of the best U.S. Representatives for Children. He also has a 100% rating on the CDF Congressional Scorecard. [3]
Another issue is the reform of foster care for children. Congressman Jim Cooper serves on the board of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in order to try and improve conditions for foster children. [4]
Health care
Last year Congressman Jim Cooper voted for the Affordable Care Act. Elements of this new law, which encourages better private-market competition, include a pre-existing condition health insurance plan. Under this plan children with asthma can now get coverage and stay on their parents’ health care plan. Jim Cooper has also sponsored the Medicare Information Act. This act makes sure that every tax payer would receive information on their lifetime of Medicare contributions. The Tennessee Democratic party believes in making health care more affordable and accessible to everyone. [5]
Energy and environment
According to the Tennessee Democratic Party the nation’s current energy policies pose economic, national security and environmental threats. They believe our country is too dependent on foreign oil. Congressman Jim Cooper believes that instead of sending money overseas to countries we are unfriendly with, we should consider other options to help power our country. Jim Cooper has one of the strongest environmental records in Congress. Acts he has supported include the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Protection Act, and the Clean Air Act.[6] Other acts which are supported by Congressman Steve Cohen include: The 10 Million Solar Roofs Act, American Clean Energy and Security Act, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Radioactive Import Deterrence Act, Grand Canyon Water Sheds Protection Act, Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, The Safe Markets Development Act, the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance Program Act, and the America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act.[7]
National Security
When it comes to National Security Tennessee Democrats believe in having a strong national defense and supporting having the resources necessary to keep the nation’s military a strong one. Policies that Tennessee Democrats have approved of in the area of national security include, The Panel on Defense and Acquisition Reform, which has investigated why weapons the Pentagon purchases are always over budget. This work helped to orchestrate the passing of the Weapons Acquisition Reform Act of 2009. [8] Another policy supported by the Tennessee Democrats is The National Urban Search and Rescue System Act. This act will combine the authorization of the National Urban Search and Rescue program and put its authority in one section of the Stafford Act. Doing so would help to make sure that the Urban Search and Rescue can efficiently respond to a wide range of national disasters. The bill will also make sure that Urban Search and Rescue Task Force members are secured with uniform workers compensation and tort liability protection under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. [9]
Footnotes
- ^ Merry, Robert W. “American Spectator”. October 2011, Vol. 44 Issue 8, p. 30-39
- ^ Tennessee Democratic Party http://www.tndp.org
- ^ Congressman Steve Cohen http://cohen.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=509&Itemid=131
- ^ Jim Cooper http://cooper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=307&Itemid=94
- ^ Jim Cooper http://cooper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=307&Itemid=94
- ^ Jim Cooper http://cooper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=307&Itemid=94
- ^ Congressman Steve Cohen http://cohen.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=509&Itemid=131
- ^ Jim Cooper http://cooper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=310&Itemid=105
- ^ Steve Cohen http://cohen.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=171&Itemid=90
References
- Lyons, William; Scheb, John M.; Stair, Billy (2001). Government and Politics in Tennessee. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 9781572331419.
External links
- Tennessee Democratic Party
- Congressman Jim Cooper[1]
- Congressman Steve Cohen[2]
Categories:- Democratic Party (United States) by state
- Politics of Tennessee
- United States political party stubs
- Jim Cooper, 5th District
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