Frist could boost state's profile

Tennessean ^ | 12/22/02 | Holly Edwards

[hoosierskypilot]

Enhanced national prestige and additional federal funding for transportation, health care, scientific research and the environment are some of the gains Tennessee will reap if Sen. Bill Frist is appointed Senate majority leader, state politicians and pundits say.

Frist has gathered more than enough support for the position, with at least 32 of 51 GOP senators lined up behind him. The Republican senators are expected to hold a conference call tomorrow to appoint Frist majority leader, rather than hold a vote on Jan. 6 as originally planned.

A spokesman for Frist said the senator would not speak publicly about the new position until it was official.

Sen.-elect Lamar Alexander, who was governor of Tennessee when former Sen. Howard Baker served as majority leader from 1981 to 1985, said that having a home state senator as majority leader could do much to boost the state's image and rein in federal dollars for local projects.

[hoosierskypilot]

I dunno. Murfreesboro jerked a 9/11 memorial because it referenced God. Vandy hires some Berkeley piece of racist, ignorant manure. I don't think anything will boost Tenn's image. Unless, maybe, they were to drag all democrats into the streets and...........

[GailA]

Don't forget JUNIOR and his racist daddy (E. Memphis Devil's) are gonna save us all! </sarcasam>

[gundog]

...said that having a home state senator as majority leader could do much to boost the state's image.

They had a State Senator as VP for 8 years. If their image needs boosting, blame Al Gore.