NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is set to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday courtesy of U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., who invited the new governor to attend as his personal guest.
“I guess this will be his first State of the Union,” Fleischmann told the Times Free Press on Thursday. “I only get one ticket, so it’s not the kind of thing I can take other people with me.”
The Ooltewah congressman, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he “thought it was very important” for Lee “to actually get up there and get on the Hill and meet with me, obviously, as Tennessee’s appropriator in the House.”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivers his inaugural address after taking the oath of office in War Memorial Auditorium Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
He said “the governor made it very clear to me – and I think it’s very positive – that he’s very interested in the appropriations process, how we are going to be getting federal dollars to the state, where they are coming.”
About 37 percent of Tennessee’s current $37.8 billion budget comes from the federal government in areas ranging from TennCare to clean water grants.
It’s “all new” to Lee, Fleischmann said, but he noted the governor is “very solicitous of my help, and I think getting him up there and meeting the key decision members in the House and the Senate and actually hearing the president’s plan is a good thing. I think it’s a good thing for anyone new to public office, but particularly for our state’s executive.”
Lee said in a statement that he is “looking forward to coming to Washington and hearing the President’s State of the Union in person.” He thanked the congressman “for his kind invitation and look[s] forward to spending some time with the Tennessee Congressional Delegation as well.”
Lee also has been invited to a reception with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
Fleischmann, who attended Lee’s Jan. 19 inauguration, described the governor as “very excited” about the entire event.
Fleischmann said he also wants Lee to get better acquainted with Trump. After his election, Lee joined other governors to meet with Trump. Fleischmann said the president told him he liked Lee.
The president’s State of the Union address was delayed this year amid the partial federal government shutdown over $5.7 billion for new construction of a U.S. border wall. During the standoff, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to grant Trump permission to hold the address, which is traditionally given in the House chamber.
After Trump agreed last week to end the shutdown for several weeks to give Congress a shot at resolving U.S. southern border security issues, Democrats and Republicans on the respective House and Senate Appropriations committees are meeting in an effort to iron out their differences.
Fleischmann is among appropriators who participated Wednesday in the first conference committee. Democrats, who now control the House while the Senate remains in GOP hands, unveiled a proposal to secure the border that includes no physical barriers.
Still, Democrats are hinting they’re open to a deal.
“We will expand on the $1.6 billion for border security-related programs that House Democrats have already passed,” House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) said at a conference committee meeting, The Hill reported.
“Remember,” said Fleischmann, who described himself as “optimistic” appropriators can reach agreement, “that is [Democrats] starting position. We’re starting at $5.7 billion. You got zero [from Democrats] and $5.7 billion” from Republicans.
He said he remains hopeful that appropriators, known for their ability to cut deals, will be able to reach one.
Trump has often talked about a “wall” but has more recently stressed “barriers” on the border while returning to the “wall” in tweets. Democrats have said no wall but some have stated barriers in some instances are practical.
“You’re getting sadly into a semantic game,” Fleischmann said, “but the American people are wise, the American people are watching.”
But the congressman called Democrats’ position that the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement beds for immigrant detainees “untenable.”
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.