Tennessee Democratic Party

The Tennessee Democratic Party is the branch of the US Democratic Party in Tennessee. It was founded in 1826. TDP traces its roots to President Andrew Jackson's populist philosophy that government should belong to the "common man". In the 1960s, the Democratic Party in the South turned away from its post-Civil War support of the Jim Crow system and toward civil rights for all. In the twenty-first century it asserts that government should be run by and for citizens of every race, age, gender, religion and condition.

Tennessee Democratic Party
ChairpersonMary Mancini
Senate leaderJeff Yarbro
House leaderKaren Camper
Founded1826
HeadquartersNashville, Tennessee
IdeologyLiberalism
Centrism
Social liberalism
Political positionCenter to center-left
National affiliationDemocratic Party
ColorsBlue
Seats in the Upper House
7 / 33
Seats in the Lower House
28 / 99
Website
www.tndp.org
President Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
President James K. Polk (1845-1849)
President Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)

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 persons within the state's Democratic Party. In 2018 these were Mary Mancini and John Litz. As determined by DNC rules, Tennessee was allowed three additional members, elected by the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee for a four-year term. National party rules call for elections to be held during the calendar year in which a Democratic National Convention is held. The Tennessee delegation is expected to represent Tennessee on all matters before the committee.[1]

Responsibilities of the National Committee
  • Electing the National Party Chair and 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

Issues

Children and families

Political issues include infant mortality in Memphis, which sports one of the country's highest rates. 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. H.R 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act includes the Newborn Act. This act would create 15 national pilot programs in cities across the nation like Memphis. The act would provide resources for more research and educational programs aimed at helping women get prenatal care during pregnancy and delivery.[2] x

Another issue is the reform of foster care. Congressman Jim Cooper serves on the board of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in order to try to improve conditions for foster children.[3]

Health care

In 2009 the Affordable Care Act was enacted by unanimous vote of Democrats, including Tennessee Democrats. Tennessee Democrats sponsored the Medicare Information Act. This act makes sure that every taxpayer receives information on their Medicare contributions.[3]

Energy and environment

TDP asserts that US energy policies pose economic, national security and environmental threats. It believes that the US is too dependent on foreign oil. Cooper claimed that instead of sending money overseas to countries we are unfriendly with, we should consider other options. Tennessee Democrats supported the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Protection Act and the Clean Air Act.[3] Others 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.[2]

National security

Tennessee Democrats believe in a strong national defense supported by necessary resources. National security policies that Tennessee Democrats have approved of include, the Panel on Defense and Acquisition Reform, which has investigated budget overruns in weapons procurement. This work helped to enact the Weapons Acquisition Reform Act of 2009.[3] Tennessee Democrats support the National Urban Search and Rescue System Act. This act combines 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 Urban Search and Rescue can efficiently respond to a wide range of national disasters. The bill provides Urban Search and Rescue Task Force members with uniform workers compensation and tort liability protection under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.[2]

Transportation

Tennessee Democrats supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Others include the American Coastal Waters and Shorelines Protection Act, which would ban foreign vessels from oil drilling activities in American coastal waters. The Critical Infrastructure Earthquake Preparedness Act directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create a grant program that will improve the ability of trauma center hospitals and airports to withstand earthquakes.[2]

Education

Since the end of World War II, education has been a top priority for Tennessee state government. Education is typically the highest priority of candidates in legislative races. Decisions on education at the state level affect more people, create more emotion, and have greater long term political consequences. Education in Tennessee (including pension and health care benefits) is the largest segment of the state budget.[4]

Officials
Congressman Jim Cooper
Congressman Steve Cohen

Members of Congress

The Tennessee Democratic Party holds two of the state's nine U.S. House of Representatives seats.

Statewide offices
  • None

Legislative leaders

Party leadership
  • Chair – Mary Mancini
  • Vice Chair – Bob Cowan
  • Treasurer – Geeta McMillan
  • Secretary – Deborah Reed
  • Senate Caucus - Raumesh Akbari
  • House Caucus - Mike Stewart

Footnotes
  1. Tennessee Democratic Party
  2. "Congressman Steve Cohen". Congressman Steve Cohen. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
  3. "Congressman Jim Cooper". Congressman Jim Cooper. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
  4. Lyons, William; Scheb, John M.; Stair, Billy (2001). Government and Politics in Tennessee. Univ. of Tennessee Press. ISBN 9781572331419.
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