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Contributed commentary by Charles Uffelman, political director of the Tennessee Legislative Democratic Caucus.
In his retirement statement, Congressman Mark Green lists passing immigration reform legislation and holding Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas accountable as his main promises going into the current Congress. He touts no laws passed during his tenure and no programs launched. After six years in Congress, our representative boasts a law passed by the House that is most likely dead on arrival in the Senate. This, after Mitch McConnell and Speaker Mike Johnson declined to take up the bipartisan immigration reform plan negotiated by the Senate means no immigration bills will become law under this Congress. Rep. Green’s lone other achievement, the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, which passed the House by just one vote, with bipartisan opposition to the move, will undoubtedly result in an acquittal by the Senate.
Rep. Green is a talented politician fresh off an education in the back rooms of Congress, but his failure to deliver any meaningful laws for Tennessee should not be forgotten. There will be an election in November; it’s time we consider principled leadership that can bring home real results.
Charles Uffelman