By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Union City, Tenn.–In a wide-ranging Zoom conference call with Obion and Weakley County leaders this morning, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) spoke of how proud she is for the manner Tennessee has handled COVID-19 vaccination distributions.
In an event organized by the Obion County Chamber of Commerce and Joint Economic Development Council, Blackburn conducted a telephonic forum with educators, mayors and city managers, State Rep. Tandy Darby, State Rep. Rusty Grills, and representatives of the TVA, Discovery Park of America, and NW Tennessee Development District. County Mayor Benny McGuire said after the session he was experiencing technical issues and could not log onto the session.
Blackburn opened the discussion by showing specific interest in several areas, including vaccination distribution, how businesses are doing, and employment and unemployment statistics.
“Tennessee is leading the way in coming back” after the year-long COVID pandemic, she said, noting that “working together to meet community needs is a team effort”.
Rep. Grills told Blackburn he would like to see the state of Tennessee open up the vaccine to all, as Mississippi has done. “But I’m proud of how Northwest Tennessee has been getting the vaccine out” to citizens, he said.
Blackburn said when people from other states compare notes about vaccine distribution, she says, “I tell them, ‘You need to have my (county) mayors. Everyone is rolling up their sleeves. Tennessee has really come through. I’m really proud of the way everyone has got it done.”
In response to questions from Blackburn on local education, Obion County Schools Supervisor of Instruction George Leake said the county’s students are back in session five days a week now. “Our (active COVID) numbers are below the threshold and we’ve been able to come back to the schoolroom, which is what is best for the students. Things are really going well.”
Blackburn said one of her priorities is the national debt, noting that “only 9 percent actually is going to COVID relief” of the federal stimulus package. “I support a balanced budget amendment, which is something we need to do for our grandkids. From George Washington to George Bush, we had a debt of 10.6 Trillion. After the Obama administration exited, we had a 22 Trillion debt and now we’re at 25 Trillion.”
She proposed “getting people out of D.C.” and placing federal agencies in areas outside of Washington D.C. so they are more responsive to peoples’ needs.