Gas tax, immigration & education mentioned during Gov. Bill Lee’s local visit

From Local 3 News: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee continued his America 250 Celebration, which includes visiting all 95 counties in the state.

On Wednesday, March 25, Governor Lee made a stop in Meigs and McMinn counties. In Decatur, Tennessee, he visited the Meigs County Courthouse. There he was met with dozens of residents, greeted them and took pictures.

His main message was a simple "thank you" to the community. Especially calling small, rural communities special to him.

"I'm not running for office. I'm not. I don't need anything. I just want to tell you all thank you, because you have created in this community, like many communities across Tennessee," said Gov. Lee, "rural communities are a vital component to what makes Tennessee what it is, and so it's real special to be out here today."

Governor Lee also addressed several bills moving through the state's legislature. Including education, immigration, and a proposed pause on gas tax.

He spoke about the importance of The Education Freedom Scholarship Act and its school vouchers. While also addressing a proposed bill that would require schools and teachers to do background checks on immigrant students, saying the General Assembly is "wrestling with its best strategies."

"...a complicated and difficult problem the General Assembly is wrestling with the best strategies going forward, I know with regard to the specific education, immigration legislation you're talking about. It's changed forms many times since it was first presented, and I don't know what the final form is going to look like," said Gov. Lee.

Another proposal moving through session is providing relief at the pump with a gas tax. This comes just days after Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp, passed a 60-day pause on gas tax in the state. When asked if Tennessee will do something similar, Governor Lee said he's happy to look at proposals.

"...we passed the largest tax cut in the state's history in under our tenure, in part because I really believe that when we reduce taxes on the people and put the money in their pocket, instead of in the government's hands, it's more likely that that money will be spent well, and it'll generate economic activity in the state. So we've always looked at opportunities to cut taxes. I know the general assembly has a number of proposals out there in session right now, and we're happy to look at any of those. I don't know which ones are moving forward, but as they do, we'll look at them. I'm always interested in ways to cut taxes," he said.

Following his visit to Meigs County, Governor Lee stopped by Mayfield Dairy in McMinn County to continue his tour.