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BUDGET

Promoting fiscal responsibility. Mike is a businessman who knows how to balance a budget and run an efficient, effective organization. As governor, Mike will make sure state government lives within its means.

Ensuring fiscal transparency. Maintaining public confidence is critical when it comes to budgeting in government. Mike will keep the budget process open and accessible to all Tennesseans.

Opposing the income tax. Over the years, Tennessee has proven that state government can live without an income tax. Mike will preserve the Volunteer State's low-tax climate.

JOBS

Creating new jobs. Mike is the proud owner of a Tennessee-based company that provides good jobs to working families. He knows how to communicate with businesses and industries that are expanding, and as governor, he'll work overtime to bring new jobs to Tennessee.  In order to get people back to work, Mike knows that our state must:

Support small businesses in all 95 counties. As a small business owner himself, Mike knows that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and account for the majority of new jobs created. He'll push for tax relief in the form of jobs tax credits to small business that create full time jobs for Tennesseans.

Develop a skilled workforce. The key to job creation is having a workforce that's trained on new ideas and technologies. Mike will give hard-working Tennesseans the tools they need to compete in the global economy, and he knows that a first-class education system (K-12 and higher education) is the key to our economic future.

Continue to ensure that Tennessee remains one of the nation’s most job-friendly states by holding the line against a state income tax, keeping other taxes low, and continuing the Jobs Cabinet approach by having state agencies and the private sector work closely to support business recruitment and expansion.

Play to our strengths. Mike will build on Tennessee's traditional economic cornerstones, including the automotive and healthcare industries, and move us forward in emerging industries like clean energy technology.

Build on Governor Bredesen’s success in recruiting new large industries to our state by ensuring that we recruit suppliers and other businesses that are needed to support those industries.

Support women-owned and minority-owned business job growth by expanding existing federal, state and local programs that offer technical assistance and professional counsel to entrepreneurs.

Jump start job growth in economically distressed rural counties across our state by expanding the state’s Rural Opportunity Initiative that gives qualified businesses access to micro-loans funded by combined state, federal and private capital.

Work to revitalize Tennessee’s Main Streets by building on our state’s Main Street Program that offers technical and strategic assistance and incentives through public-private partnerships to communities that are trying to encourage business investments in abandoned downtown districts.

EDUCATION

Good education means a well paying job with a future.

Improving public schools. Mike is a father who understands that job growth in Tennessee depends in large part on our having a well educated workforce.

That's why, as Governor, Mike would fully fund the Basic Education Program (BEP) which has helped ensure that educational resources are fairly distributed to our public school statewide.

He also wants to expand the state's voluntary Pre-K program into all of Tennessee's 95 counties. Over the past few months Mike has visited Pre-K classes and seen first-hand how his program fosters a love of learning and how it prepares young children to enter our educational system.

Mike has been a strong proponent of Governor Bredesen's efforts to reform education and applauded his success in securing nearly $500 million in federal funds as part of the Race To The Top initiative. Mike knows that Tennessee has one of the best systems for collecting and tracking student achievement data, and firmly believes it's important for us to use that data to improve student learning. As a businessman, he understands all too well the importance of ensuring our teachers have the resources and training they need to succeed in the classroom.

Mike also strongly opposes any efforts, including those recently raised by some in the state legislature, to publicly elect our school superintendents. He believes the current system allows for a significant amount of accountability.

Demanding greater accountability. In principle, Mike believes we should demand greater accountability from our educational system, and do more to make certain parents know what's going on in our schools. He believes we should consolidate spending so funds go into the classroom and not into waste and duplication.

Promoting higher education. Tennessee's colleges and universities are among the best in the nation. Mike will work hard to hold down tuition by encouraging new approaches to funding that include expanded public-private partnerships, and broader application of remote and distance learning for students. Mike also wants to ensure lottery scholarships are fully funded, that our systems improve degree rates, and that we keep college accessible for any student who has the grades and wants to attend.

AGRICULTURE

Promoting our products. Mike knows that agriculture is a big business and a key part of Tennessee's economy. He will support existing marketing efforts and develop new strategies to encourage consumers to "Pick Tennessee Products."

Investing in success. Since 2005, the Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement Program has provided cost-share funds for long-term investments in the state's livestock and farming operations. As governor, Mike will continue this popular program and look for ways to expand it.

Developing new crops. Tennessee is emerging as a national leader with efforts to bring new biofuels to market. Mike will support public-private partnerships that further accelerate these efforts.

Preserving family farms. Mike grew up in a rural area and knows that farming is a way of life for many Tennesseans. As governor, he will support farmland legacy initiatives and work with farmers to explore preservation options for future generations.

HEALTH CARE

Protecting TennCare. After years of financial struggles, TennCare now is stable and remains one of the most comprehensive state healthcare plans in the U.S. As governor, Mike will keep the state's expanded Medicaid program under control so it can provide care for those who need it most, ensuring continued accountability and enforcement of fraud or abuse of the system.

Working against unfunded federal mandates. Collectively, the nation's governors are a powerful voice in how the new federal health care laws will be administered. As governor, Mike will work closely with our congressional delegation and the National Governors Association to do all he can to keep Tennessee from being saddled with unfunded federal mandates that may result as agencies in Washington develop policies under the new laws.

Promoting healthier living. Tennessee is fighting epidemics like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. As governor, Mike will push for better care- and disease-management practices, and focus on more education, fitness, health-screening and preventive healthcare programs.

Accelerating e-health. Nationally, Tennessee is a leader in electronic medical records, which help hold down costs and improve the quality of care. As governor, Mike will keep working with patients, doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and others to promote better use of health information technology.

ENVIRONMENT

Conserving public lands. Tennessee is blessed with one of the most scenic and best managed state park systems in America, and has extensive holdings of environmentally sensitive lands. As governor, Mike is firmly committed to protecting our parks and preserving Tennessee's public lands for future generations.

Mike supports ongoing efforts to protect funding intended for securing parks and wetlands across the state, and recently supported a proposed ban on "mountaintop removal" for coal mining.

Improving air and water quality. Along with the federal government, the state plays a key role in enforcing regulations dealing with air and water quality. Mike will pursue regulatory and stewardship policies that will protect our health and natural resources without stifling economic growth.

Promoting clean energy. Tennessee is a national leader in clean energy technology, including the development of new energy efficiency and conservation initiatives and renewable energy sources such as solar. As governor, Mike will make clean energy a top economic and environmental priority.