NASHVILLE - Hoping to puncture state Sen. Todd Gardenhire's political tires, Tennessee Democrats are taking the Chattanooga Republican to task over his remarks about deleting angry emails from advocates during discussion this week of his bill restricting use of state fuel taxes to construct bicycle lanes.
After getting a "negative recommendation" in the Senate Finance Subcommittee, Gardenhire's bill wobbled into the full Finance Committee this week. As first reported by the Memphis Flyer, Sen. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, said emailed objections from bicycle enthusiasts have "filled up my inbox."
Gardenhire laughed and replied, "That's what they make that delete button for."
Final consideration of the Senate bill was delayed but the House companion bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, narrowly passed the Transportation Committee and is headed to the House Finance Subcommittee.
State Democrats, who hope to knock off Gardenhire in the November general election, declared their outrage, calling Gardenhire's remark a "flagrant dismissal of constituent concerns."
"Most Tennesseans I know support bike lanes and sidewalks, but more than that, they want ethical, accountable government," Tennessee Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Mancini said in an emailed statement. "It's disheartening to see an elected representative joke about deleting emails from the people who elected him to serve."
During the hearing, Gardenhire said Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, who ran into legislative roadblocks on transportation taxes this session, will likely return next year with a proposed gas tax hike. But Gardenhire said constituents want the money spent on bridges and roads, "not for recreational use."
On Friday, Gardenhire said his remark was meant as a "jovial comment."
"But the Democrats have got to have something to holler about," he added.
The senator said he routinely gets 300 to 400 emails in a day and quipped that Carter, the co-sponsor of the bike-lane bill as well as a controversial de-annexation measure, gets 1,000. Emails on a particular topic flood in, often with the same subject lines and the same message, he said.
"The part about the delete button is just a political ploy," Gardenhire said of Democrats' attack. "The key is, I laughed when I said it. It's just a joke.
"If that's all they [Democrats] got on me, fine," Gardenhire said and laughed.
The lawmaker said he's not sure he'll get the bill through Senate Finance.
"The bicyclers have come out real strong, as if they're entitled to the money. They've made, in my opinion, some really ridiculous remarks."
Gardenhire said the state gas tax is not intended "for recreational purposes.
"The cities have [spent it for that] and its a violation," he said. "If we're going to be asked to do a gas tax increase for roads and bridges, I think it behooves us to go to the voters and say this money should be used for that and not anything else."
"If the voters say we don't mind using gas tax revenues for all these other [projects], fine."
He said an amendment restricts the scope of the original bill.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com, 615-255-0550 or follow via twitter at @AndySher1.