Blackburn, Kustoff speak at Governor’s Luncheon
By Shane Wofford
Senator Marsha Blackburn addresses attendees at the Strawberry Festival’s annual Governor’s Luncheon.
A packed house gathered at the Humboldt Medical Center last Thursday for the annual Governor’s Luncheon, a keystone event of the 87th West Tennessee Strawberry Festival. While Governor Bill Lee was unable to attend this year due to prior commitments, the event did see numerous state and local officials in attendance, with remarks given by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and State Representative David Kustoff.
Rep. David Kustoff took a moment early in his remarks to praise the Strawberry Festival’s turnout, and offered heartfelt praise for the organization of the Governor’s Luncheon each year. Turning to policy, Kustoff emphasized his work on the House Ways and Means Committee, specifically focusing on preserving the provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He warned that without Congressional action, many of those cuts will expire at the end of the year, potentially raising taxes on Tennessee families.
“If we don’t do anything, the average Tennessee family is going to see a tax increase of about 26%,” Kustoff said.
He pledged to help craft what President Donald Trump has dubbed a “big beautiful bill” aimed at locking in tax relief, strengthening border security, and bolstering energy independence, all with the goal of having legislation on the president’s desk by July 4 of this year.
“We’re talking about not only extending some of those provisions or making them permanent, but doing other things so that everybody can be a part of the American dream,” said Kustoff. “That people can keep more of their own money in their own pocket and continue to see an economy like we did during the first four years of President Trump, and make sure that everybody has great opportunities.”
Kustoff also commended Senator Blackburn for her leadership in the Senate. “She’s just a true warrior. She’s up there fighting each and every moment,” he said.
Senator Blackburn echoed Kustoff’s praise for the Strawberry Festival and the region’s strong community ties.
“I absolutely have loved today,” said Blackburn. “I’ve never seen this big of a crowd at the Strawberry Festival. As our lives become more technology focused, what is it we gravitate to? We gravitate to relationships, to community. This is Humboldt. It’s Gibson County. It is us.”
Blackburn spoke at length about recent disaster recovery efforts across the state, including her time on the ground in McNairy County following the recent tornado damage, and stressed the vital role of community-led initiatives in Tennessee and nationwide.
“When you talk to those who’ve been impacted, they weren’t talking about a government agency,” Blackburn explained. “They were talking about how their neighbors and their friends from church stepped up.”
She also touched on the future of regional infrastructure and development.
“When it comes to talking about West Tennessee, what we talk about is a bright future,” she continued. “Blue Oval City, the push that your legislators and I have been making to finish I-69 and to get that at the top of TDOT’s to do list so that you’re connecting Detroit and Memphis. These are items of importance.”
Blackburn continued to emphasize the role that local communities and governments play in regional success, noting that the role of the government is to create the environment where economic growth can thrive. She credited local leaders and private industry for driving development.
“The government doesn’t create jobs, that is something the private sector does,” Blackburn said. “That is something that great industrial development and economic development and great chambers of commerce and working with local elected officials, they do that.”
“So as we gather today and have all this fun and participate in all of these activities, let’s keep in mind that the future is brighter every single day for West Tennessee,” she continued. “And a big part of that celebration is continuing with the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival.”
