Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton stopped in Lexington to meet with voters in the final days before Tuesday's election, as part of a statewide tour built around what he called the American dream.
The pitch to voters
Sexton told WBBJ-TV the purpose of the tour was to connect with voters and encourage them to turn out. "We're traveling around the state, meeting a lot of different voters, talking about the American dream lives in Tennessee," he said, adding that he wants people to "get their friends and family to turn out for election on Tuesday."
He said it is important for families to pass stories of success down to the next generation, and he laid out three pillars for his message: expanding educational opportunities, protecting communities from crime and keeping taxes low. As an example of the first, he pointed to state investments in K-12 and vocational education intended to help Tennesseans build successful futures.
A grocery tax proposal
Sexton also previewed a policy idea for the next legislative session, which begins in January. He said he wants lawmakers to consider eliminating the sales tax on essential grocery staples, including milk, eggs, bread and fresh produce.
By his estimate, the change would cost about $300 million in lost revenue. Sexton said Tennessee's projected budget surplus and steady economic growth could offset that loss while saving taxpayers money.
The proposal is only an idea for lawmakers to consider. It would need to be introduced, debated and passed by the General Assembly before any change took effect, and WBBJ's report did not describe a specific bill.
The stop in Lexington, in Henderson County, was one of several Sexton has made around the state as Election Day approaches.
Sources: WBBJ-TV