Karl Dean in Gubernatorial campaign websites
On Drugs:
Provide treatment for opioids while stepping up prosecution
The number of opioid-related deaths in Tennessee has skyrocketed over the last two decades. More people are now dying in Tennessee of drug overdose than motor vehicle accidents, and 72% of the state's overdose deaths are opioid-related. Karl believes
the government response to opioid use should match the level of public health crisis it has become. To that end, he supports the recent work of the state legislature's opioid task force.Karl knows that opioid addiction is a complex issue and that
more must be done to provide treatment programs while also stepping up prosecution of drug dealers. He also agrees with the state's opioid task force that solutions must address the overuse of legal access to drugs. Tennessee has the second highest rate
of opioid prescriptions in the country with opioid prescriptions in our state outnumbering residents 4 to 1. As governor, Karl will work in partnership with the healthcare community to identify and address the root causes of the state's opioid crisis.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Education:
Expand access to vocational training programs
Most of Tennessee's fastest growing industries and occupations require some type of postsecondary education or training. Karl supports Tennessee's current focus on increasing the number of college graduates.
In fact, as mayor, he created public-private support for free access to community college in Nashville before Tennessee Promise was implemented statewide.
However, Karl also knows that college isn't the right fit for every high school graduate.
As governor, he will work to expand access to vocational training programs across Tennessee, and he will work to align them with the industries and jobs that are growing in our state.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Education:
Increase teacher pay; more resources for schools
Karl has pledged to make public education his top priority as governor. He made the same commitment as Mayor of Nashville and fulfilled it through every operating and capital budget he proposed. During his eight years in the mayor's office, he worked
with the Metro Council to increase funding for Nashville schools by an astounding 37 percent and invested $629 million in school buildings and other capital infrastructure for the school district. The graduation rate increased, the dropout rate
went down and test scores improved.As governor, Karl will do the same for the state. He will make education a funding priority every year he is in office with specific emphasis on:-
increasing teacher pay
- investing in high quality early childhood education
- expanding afterschool program opportunities
- ensuring all school districts get the resources they need
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Education:
Supports charters; opposes vouchers
While Karl believes in school choice, he opposes the use of for-profit charter schools and vouchers. Private school vouchers would allow taxpayer dollars to fund private schools, taking money directly away from Tennessee public schools.
And while many nonprofit charters are among the highest performing schools in the urban school districts of Memphis and Nashville,
Karl believes charters with a profit motive can't focus on doing what's best for their students. Karl believes nonprofit charter schools have a role to play in large urban districts, but they're not a silver bullet.
However, he believes rural areas do not have large enough student populations for charter schools to be an effective tool.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Environment:
Cuts to the EPA are unthinkable
Our environment--including access to clean air and clean water--have a big impact on our health. As Mayor of Nashville, Karl was committed to environmental stewardship, creating a dedicated Office of Sustainability. This office worked to expand the
city's recycling program, conserve open lands by adding 25 percent more park space and reduce the energy use of government buildings with more efficient features. Karl's administration also worked to reduce pollutants in the city's waterways with new
water-sewer infrastructure. Nashville is greener and more environmentally-friendly today because of Karl's leadership.Current proposed federal budget changes call for historic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, a department created to
regulate air and water pollutants. The cuts would bring the department's funding to its lowest levels in 40 years. These cuts are unthinkable, especially in the wake of large environmental disasters like the TVA coal ash spill in 2008.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Health Care:
Expand Medicaid for low-income families
Under the Affordable Care Act, states have the option of expanding Medicaid and receiving additional federal tax dollars to provide health coverage for low-income persons and families. Karl believes our state should act immediately to do this. He
supported Gov. Haslam's Insure Tennessee plan. The plan would expand coverage to those who do not fit in a category to qualify for Medicaid & do not make enough money to afford health insurance.By not expanding Medicaid in Tennessee, the state loses
$2.5 million a day of federal funding. This means billions of our tax dollars are going to other states and more than 300,000 Tennesseans have been left without affordable health insurance. Veterans and those with a mental health diagnosis are among
the vulnerable populations most detrimentally impacted by this, including those in the throes of opioid addiction who need treatment.
By not serving all Tennesseans in need, our state is also at risk of receiving fewer federal dollars for Medicaid.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021