John Ragan Can Promote Himself, But Can’t Promote Jobs

Rep. John Ragan keeps having events at public facilities to promote himself, but he can’t find the time to create jobs at public or  private facilities…

For Immediate Release

June 25, 2012

 Contact: TNDP 615-327-7997

  Forrester Demands Ragan Focus on Anderson County Jobs, Not Self-Promotion

Democrats Call Out First-Term Politician for Attacking Teachers, Pushing Ideological Agenda

 LAKE CITY, Tenn. — Chip Forrester, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, called on Rep. John Ragan to put an end to promoting himself and attacking teachers, and instead focus on creating and keeping jobs in Tennessee.

 “John Ragan is abusing the power of his office to promote himself on the taxpayer’s dime, instead of promoting jobs and security for working and middle-class families in Anderson County,” Forrester said.  “He is more worried about increasing the amount he receives in campaign contributions and allowing corporations to buy his vote than he is about the welfare of Tennessee families.  While jobs are leaving Anderson County, Mr. Ragan continues to put on a show for voters because he has nothing to show for his time in office.”

According to Tennessee Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Karla Davis, unemployment has increased in the state in the last month, and in Anderson County specifically there has been a decrease in the number of workers since January 2012.

“While John Ragan is running his promotional road show, the unemployment rate in Tennessee is ticking up, and there are fewer people working today in Anderson County than at the beginning of this year.  These are the consequences of partisan politics- a legislature that is focused on protecting schoolyard bullies instead of putting Tennesseans back to work.”

Ragan also came under fire for his treatment of teachers and the new proposed evaluation system.

“John Ragan stood before a group of current and retired teachers and told them that tenure was, ‘not a property right anymore,’ said Forrester.  “Tennessee teachers wake up every day and educate our children, our most precious resource.  Their dedication comes from the desire to ensure students have the tools and encouragement they need to succeed in the classroom, and take those skills to the workplace.  John Ragan has no idea the commitment it takes to be a teacher, and it is shameful that he would malign our hard-working educators.

“It is time for John Ragan and the politicians in the legislature to stop using public resources to campaign and promote themselves and get to work on promoting job growth for the citizens of Tennessee.  They need to ensure that parents have good jobs, that their children are safe while in school and that the teachers in our classrooms have the respect of our leaders.  In all of the aforementioned instances, John Ragan receives a failing grade.”

 Background

John Ragan cosponsored a bill to increase campaign contribution limits and allow corporations to contribute to candidates [General Assembly, HB 1003]

Tennessee Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Karla Davis admits that unemployment rate increased [Tennessee Government News and Media, 6/14/2012]

Fewer people working in Anderson County today than the beginning of 2012 [Tennessee Labor Force data, April 2012]

1100 TN Jobs Lost in Food Lion Closings. Closures include a distribution plant in Clinton [Knoxvillebiz.com, 1/12/2012]

TN lost 150,000 manufacturing jobs in past decade [Nashville Business Journal, 5/26/2011]

Educators dissatisfied by evaluations, morale.  Rep. John Ragan compares tenure to ‘property rights’ [Oak Ridger, 12/08/2012]

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