NASHVILLE — Tennessee Republicans began the legislative session by choosing division over addressing the affordability and health care crises facing families across the state. The Tennessee Democratic Party condemned today’s press conference and the misplaced priorities as a distraction rooted in extremism and division, not Tennessee values.

Tennessee Republicans outlined an agenda pushed by Washington, DC swamp monsters Stephen Miller and Senator Marsha Blackburn. Blackburn,who has spent nearly 25 years in Congress without delivering a single meaningful solution to fix our immigration system, and Miller, who has never been elected to public office, seem to be seeking a testing ground for their radical views.

“For almost a quarter century, Marsha Blackburn has had a seat at the table in Washington and has done nothing to fix immigration. Instead, she touted and voted for Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, cutting health care, nutrition programs, and family tax benefits while dramatically expanding immigration detention and enforcement. The result: higher costs, less coverage, and more instability for working families.

Tennesseans deserve better. We deserve leaders who invest in all of us and solve real problems, not extremists who pit neighbor against neighbor to distract from why Tennessee families are struggling while wealthy corporations get handouts and our health care face cuts. We see through these divide-and-conquer tactics, and we refuse to turn against our neighbors.

We will continue to organize, we will speak out, and we will hold our leaders accountable. Tennessee deserves a future where working families come first, where our tax dollars are invested in our communities, and where everyone, regardless of who they are, has the opportunity to build a good life. That’s the Tennessee we’re fighting for,” said Rachel Campbell, Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Under a Republican supermajority, Tennessee continues to rank near the bottom nationally on affordability, public education investment, and quality of life. Today, they clearly signaled that they are still not top of priorities this session. 

“After 15 years of one-party Republican control, these misplaced priorities are also evident here at home. Governor Bill Lee has repeatedly rejected the federal Summer EBT program, turning away resources that would help nearly 700,000 Tennessee children access food while school is out. At a time when families are struggling to afford groceries and make ends meet, Tennessee Republicans chose to let kids go hungry again, while pushing enforcement schemes that do nothing to lower costs or improve quality of life.

Tennessee Republicans’ attacks on immigrant communities also ignore the reality that immigrants are a vital part of Tennessee’s economy. Immigrants contribute approximately $1.4 billion in state and local taxes each year, helping fund schools, infrastructure, and public services that benefit all Tennesseans. As a proud Tennessean and immigrant myself, I know first-hand that immigrant families are working, paying taxes, starting small businesses, and strengthening our communities, yet they are being used as political scapegoats. We won’t let that fly,” said Luis Mata, Communications & Deputy Executive Director of the Tennessee Democratic Party.