State Democrats want to end the grocery tax, expand health coverage, raise minimum wage and more, as Tennessee families continue to face economic pressure.
These ideas come from Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) in a prebuttal video to Gov. Bill Lee’s State of the State speech. Lee is set to give his final address on Monday, February 2.
“Before the governor steps to the podium, I want to talk about the real state of our state — not from a spreadsheet or a press release, but from kitchen tables across Tennessee,” Akbari said in the video. “Kitchen tables like yours and mine.”
She acknowledged that several families in the state are in a repetitive cycle of making ends meet. With housing and grocery costs skyrocketing, many Tennesseans can’t afford the basic cost of living.
In December, a poll from Vanderbilt University showed that while a majority of Tennesseans had a positive outlook on the state’s economy, anxiety over inflation and cost-of-living increased significantly.
The poll showed that 87 percent of participants viewed their cost of living as “very” or “somewhat expensive.”
“Inflation is a serious concern for Tennesseans across the state, even among MAGA Republicans,” said John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll.
Akbari went on to say that while Tennessee is known as a “low-tax state,” only the wealthy and large corporations see it as such.
She also criticized lawmakers for their priorities in the legislative session.
“Your public dollars flow to private schools through vouchers,” Akbari said. “Corporate giveaways are measured in the billions. Public schools are underfunded. Rural hospitals are closing. Roads and bridges are failing behind.”
Akbari urged the state to end the cycle and focus on relief and stability for families. She stated that Democrats plan to do so by forging a path with no grocery tax, expanded health coverage, affordable childcare and early education, increased minimum wage, and investment in public schools, infrastructure, and thriving business.
Democrats hope to enact these possible “not because [they’re] radical, but because “it’s reasonable. They said they’re ready to cut costs, raise wages, and “rebuild a strong and thriving middle class.”
Akbari’s address can be found here.