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State GOP blasts Bredesen at Statesmen’s Dinner fundraiser

FILE - In May 17, 2017 file photo, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of La., speaks with the media on Capitol Hill in Washington. The congressman shot in June at a baseball practice is returning to work at the Capitol after three months in the hospital and at a rehabilitation facility. That's the word from Rep. Steve Scalise's office. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - In May 17, 2017 file photo, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of La., speaks with the media on Capitol Hill in Washington. The congressman shot in June at a baseball practice is returning to work at the Capitol after three months in the hospital and at a rehabilitation facility. That's the word from Rep. Steve Scalise's office. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) FILE - In May 17, 2017 file photo, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of La., speaks with the media on Capitol Hill in Washington. The congressman shot in June at a baseball practice is returning to work at the Capitol after three months in the hospital and at a rehabilitation facility. That's the word from Rep. Steve Scalise's office. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

By Andy Sher 3 min read

NASHVILLE – U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise told state Republicans Friday night that while he remains “confident” the GOP will retain control of the chamber in November elections, they must boost their control of the U.S. Senate by electing people like Rep. Marsha Blackburn.

Citing the narrow 51-48 Senate approval of President Donald Trump’s $1.5 trillion tax bill, the Louisiana Republican took direct aim at former Democratic Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, who has been critical of the law that made deep and lasting cuts in corporate tax rates while temporarily lowering taxes for individuals.

“He would have voted against the tax bill and he actually used Nancy Pelosi’s language of the ‘crumbs’,” Scalise said, referring to the House minority leader’s referring to the effect the tax cuts would have on many middle- and lower-income Americans. “That’s what’s at stake here.”

Scalise spoke to some 1,800 Republicans gathered at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center for the GOP’s annual Statesmen’s Dinner fundraiser.

With polls showing a tight race so far between Bredesen and Blackburn for the seat now held by retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker, a Chattanoogan, the congresswoman also criticized Bredesen.