WASHINGTON – Response from Southern legislators has been swift to President Obama’s suggestion that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) could be sold to private enterprise.
Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks (R-District 4) issued this statement:
“Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution grants the federal government control over America’s navigable waterways. The TVA’s principal function is to own and operate locks and dams to both protect Tennessee Valley citizens from floods and ensure that the Tennessee River is navigable for commercial and recreational boat traffic. I know of no circumstance that justifies President Obama forcing the TVA to abandon its flood control and navigable waterway roles that it has performed so admirably for more than seven decades.
“Notwithstanding that the President’s proposal to consider selling TVA comes from left field, and apparently with little or no prior consultation with Congress, I am willing to consider the President’s proposal to sell TVA assets that are unrelated to TVA’s locks, dams, flood control responsibilities and navigable waterway duties providedthe President can make that case to Tennessee Valley citizens that doing so will lower the costs of electricity to TVA consumers and is in America’s interests. Quite frankly, I am skeptical the President can make that case.