There are two types of Republicans in Washington. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks for Republicans who are fundamentally obstructionists, even when their own party controls the White House. Tennessee’s senior senator, Lamar Alexander, prefers compromise toward workable solutions.
Take a look at the Green New Deal – a socioeconomic manifesto sponsored by first-term Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York.
CNN reported Monday that McConnell will call for a quick vote on the fuzzy proposal this week. He wants to put Democrats, especially those running for president or those with tough re-election campaigns in 2020, on record.
“I could not be more glad (sic) that the American people will have the opportunity to learn precisely where each one of their senators stand (sic) on this radical, top-down, socialist makeover of the entire U.S. economy,” McConnell is quoted in CNN Politics.
Meanwhile, Alexander has announced a “New Manhattan Project for Clean Energy.”
His plan would double federal funding for energy research and focus on Ten Grand Challenges for the next five years to create new sources of cheap, clean energy to “raise family incomes at home, strengthen our economy and show the rest of the world how to reduce carbon emissions – because the rest of the world is where the carbon emissions problem has to be solved,” he said in a Senate speech on Monday.
Alexander called the Green New Deal “basically an assault on cars, cows and combustion.” He added, “With nuclear power available, its strategy for fighting climate change with windmills makes as much sense as going to war in sailboats.”
Hotels get new GM
Skip Adams is dual general manager to oversee operations at two downtown hotels: The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel and Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park. Rockbridge Capital purchased the two hotels in January and placed them under management by Aimbridge Hospitality. A $20 million renovation is slated for the Holiday Inn, which will convert to a Marriott.
New head for Hillcrest
Barry Davis is president and CEO of Hillcrest Healthcare Communities. Davis served as vice chair of its board of directors from 2013 to 2018, then held a five-month term as president-elect before his recent promotion. Prior to joining Hillcrest, Davis was chief operating officer for three years at Cherokee Farms Development Corp.
Hillcrest Healthcare operates three skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities in North, South and West Knoxville. With 560 beds and more than 500 employees, it is the largest provider of skilled nursing care in Knoxville. Hillcrest Healthcare is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, providing services to the citizens of Knox and surrounding counties since 1960.
- What is On the Grow? It’s a somewhat goofy name for business news at www.knoxtntoday.com. We’ve even found a real reporter. Stay tuned.
- Leader reveal: We’ll learn at 9:45 a.m. today (3/26) who will replace Mike Edwards as CEO of Knoxville Chamber. The announcement will be made by Terry Turner, board chair, at the Chamber office, 17 Market Square, #201. (We’ll wait for the press release.)