Essay by Jessica Bowers (LHS Class of 2012)The primaries are over; now the race for Tennessee's next governor is on. Running for this office are Mike McWherter, the Democratic candidate and son of former Tennessee governor Ned Ray McWherter, and Bill Haslam, the Republican candidate.
With Tennessee's poor economy and high unemployment rates, it is important for voters to make "informed" decisions rather than "political party" decisions. Here is a synopsis of where each candidate stands regarding three key issues: Jobs, Education, and Health Care.
Jobs:
Believes small business is the backbone of Tennessee's economy
Will push for tax relief by giving job tax credits
Maintaining no state income tax
Will build on the automotive and healthcare industries, move forward on clean energy technology
Supports women-owned and minority-owned businesses and will seek to expand programs that offer technical assistance to these groups
Expand Rural Opportunity Initiatives, which gives qualified business owners access to micro-loans
Education:
Would fully fund the Basic Education Program (BEP)
Expand Pre-K program to all 95 counties
Ensure teachers have resources and training they need to be successful in the classroom
Oppose legislature to elect school superintendents
Demand greater accountability from the educational system
Promote higher education, keeping college accessible for qualified students to attend
Health Care:
Will protect Tenn-Care by ensuring accountability and enforcement of fraud or abuse
Will work against unfunded federal mandates
Will promote healthier living by pushing for better care- and disease-management practices, and focusing on education, fitness, health-screenings and protective healthcare programs.
Jobs:
Top priority is to make Tennessee the #1 state in the southeast for high quality jobs
Will help people rejoin the workforce through industry recruitment
Will create regional economic development strategies that focus on each region's assets
Will focus on small business growth
Will improve education
Will manage conservatively
Will foster a business-friendly environment by removing burdensome regulations
Will keep taxes low
Will ensure Tennessee remains a state with an income tax
Education:
Will focus on three key areas: state's public K-12 education system; school choice and parental involvement; workforce development
Believes making sure parents are involved in the education process and given a choice and control over their child's education is important because parents understand their child better than government.
Wants to increase the number of high quality charter schools
Goal is to ensure every student graduates high school prepared for college or a good career
Health Care:
Vows to fight unfunded federal mandates
Will look for wars to introduce personal responsibility and emphasize preventive medicine
Will work to stamp out Tenn-Care fraud and abuse
Election Day is November 2nd, but early voting begins Wednesday, October 13th and ends October 28th.
Questions for Further Writing:
Based on the information that Jessica presented, what candidate do you feel is best for Tennessee? What are some of the specific issues/ideas that set on man over another?
Generally speaking, are you looking for in a political candidate? What sets one candidate over another?
Summarize the platforms of McWherter and Haslam in a paragraph of no more than 100 words, synthesizing their ideas, strengths, and weaknesses.
Will help people rejoin the workforce through industry recruitment
Will create regional economic development strategies that focus on each region's assets
Will focus on small business growth
Will improve education
Will manage conservatively
Will foster a business-friendly environment by removing burdensome regulations
Will keep taxes low
Will ensure Tennessee remains a state with an income tax
Education:
Will focus on three key areas: state's public K-12 education system; school choice and parental involvement; workforce development
Believes making sure parents are involved in the education process and given a choice and control over their child's education is important because parents understand their child better than government.
Wants to increase the number of high quality charter schools
Goal is to ensure every student graduates high school prepared for college or a good career
Health Care:
Vows to fight unfunded federal mandates
Will look for wars to introduce personal responsibility and emphasize preventive medicine
Will work to stamp out Tenn-Care fraud and abuse
Election Day is November 2nd, but early voting begins Wednesday, October 13th and ends October 28th.
Questions for Further Writing:
Based on the information that Jessica presented, what candidate do you feel is best for Tennessee? What are some of the specific issues/ideas that set on man over another?
Generally speaking, are you looking for in a political candidate? What sets one candidate over another?
Summarize the platforms of McWherter and Haslam in a paragraph of no more than 100 words, synthesizing their ideas, strengths, and weaknesses.
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