Speaker Kevin McCarthy will drive Republicans toward 2024

Following the November 2022 elections and the January 2023 battle for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the stage is set for the next two years of government at both the federal and state levels.

Representative Jim Cooper is now officially retired, and Davidson County is now represented by three different representatives:

Andrew Ogles of Maury County - Fifth District

John Rose of Cookeville - Sixth District

Dr. Mark Green of Clarksville - Seventh District

(Representative Green represents me and is the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee for the 118th Congress)

Per FiveThirtyEight.com, most Americans did not follow the recent prolonged election for speaker closely.  Expectations for the next two years are low.  In my view, discussions about the budget deficit and national debt would be productive. Neither party has been innocent when it comes to spending beyond our means.

As the top officeholder in his party, Speaker McCarthy, although not thought of as a presidential contender for 2024, will wield big influence on the national debate and dialogue. My view: Republicans cannot nominate Donald Trump in 2024 and expect to win. Trump will be 78 years old when the next election occurs. Because of his age, this is likely his last try at recapturing the White House.

President Joe Biden will be approaching his 82nd birthday when voters head to the polls in November of 2024. It is widely believed that Biden may not be a viable candidate for reelection in '24 due to age.

Here in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee captured 93 of 95 counties in November of 2022 and was sworn in for a second term on January 21. High profile issues are expected to include adequate funding of the Department of Children's Services, road construction, regulation of legal cannabis products, and education. Education is a constant hot-button issue in Tennessee. Additionally, a bill has been filed to reduce the size of councils for metropolitan governments in the state, which would affect Nashville. Trousdale and Moore counties also currently have metropolitan governments. Animosity has surfaced due to the Metro Nashville Council rejecting a bid by the Republican National Committee to hold the national convention in Nashville next year. 

Nashville needs to remember that, even though we are an "It" city and major producer of revenue for our great state, we are merely another municipality under state law. At the end of the day, we answer to the state government.

State representatives for Nashville:

Bill Beck - District 51

Justin Jones - District 52

Jason Powell - District 53

Vincent Dixie - District 54

John Ray Clemmons - District 55

Bob Freeman - District 56

Harold M. Love, Jr. - District 58

Caleb Hemmer - District 59

Darren Jernigan - District 60

State senators for Nashville:

Mark Pody - District 17

Charlane Oliver - District 19

Jeff Yarbro - District 21

James A. Rose

Publisher 

Photo: Associated Press