Karl Dean (D): Legal. "Between her and her doctor and her family and her faith. Politicians should not insert themselves."
Bill Lee (R): Ban, even for rape and incest. "Any restriction that would limit abortions." Supports "Heartbeat Bill" banning at around six weeks.
Q: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?
Karl Dean (D): Unknown.
Bill Lee (R): Yes. "Our constitution protects an absolute, fundamental right to live your life--at home & in the workplace--according to your values & your faith."
Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion healthcare?
Karl Dean (D): Unclear. Supportive of expanding women's health services.
Bill Lee (R): No. Make sure they don't get another dime of state money.
Karl Dean (D): Would allow counties to increase gas tax to fund local transportation infrastructure.
Bill Lee (R): Recruiting new businesses while "growing Tennessee businesses of all sizes. requires reducing the tax & regulatory burden for everyone."
Karl Dean (D): Legalize medical use. No legalization of recreational marijuana, but possibly decriminalize small amounts.
Bill Lee (R): Opposes legalizing recreational marijuana; says further exploration of medical use is needed.
Karl Dean (D): Yes. Wants to make public education a top priority as governor.
Bill Lee (R): No. Wants to better use existing dollars. Will appoint an inspector general to "seek out waste & abuse in the system."
Q: Education: Support expansion of charter schools or provide vouchers or tax breaks to parents to send their children to private schools with public money?
Karl Dean (D): Opposes vouchers & for-profit charter schools. Believes nonprofit charter schools have a role to play in large urban districts, though "they're not a silver bullet."
Bill Lee (R): Yes. Supports charter schools. "Vouchers are an opportunity to provide another choice. We should certainly pilot voucher programs to see what positive impact they could have."
Karl Dean (D): Yes.
Bill Lee (R): No. "Marriage is between a man & a woman."
Karl Dean (D): No.
Bill Lee (R): No.
Karl Dean (D): Supports 2nd Amendment, but wants to see strong background checks, bans on bump stocks, & continued support for the permit process.
Bill Lee (R): No. "Law abiding citizens should not be punished for the actions of criminals. Adding a new law won't solve the problem. As governor, I'll oppose any attempt to ban an entire (class) of weapons."
Karl Dean (D): Support ACA. Expand Medicaid. "My biggest health care priority would be making sure all Tennesseans have access to quality and affordable health care."
Bill Lee (R): Repeal ACA & oppose Medicaid expansion. "ObamaCare will not expand in Tennessee under my watch."
Karl Dean (D): Yes. Congress should figure out a solution to retain DACA. Favors in-state tuition for DACA recipients: "They grew up here and went to school and church here. They are Tennesseans."
Bill Lee (R): No. "Setting up additional benefits for illegal immigrants is the wrong strategy." Opposes in-state tuition for DACA recipients.
Q: Immigration: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?
Karl Dean (D): Yes. Supports earned path to citizenship.
Bill Lee (R): No.
The cuts and reductions worked. Three years later, Lee says the company was rebuilt, and stronger than before.˙
That led him to become part of the state Higher Education Commission and a governor's task force on sentencing and recidivism. Lee said he developed "a vision for something bigger."
"What if I could make my life better for six and a half million people? That was a compelling thought to me," he said. "That is really what drove me to consider running for governor."
Those experiences helped form his views on education, public safety and correction. He said he developed "a vision for something bigger" and found himself wondering whether he could expand his influence. "What if I could make life better for six and a half million people? That was a compelling thought to me," he said. "That is really what drove me to consider running for governor."
Today, the company--which has offices in Huntsville, Ala.; Cookeville, Tenn.; and Bowling Green, Ky., in addition to its main office in Franklin--employs 1,150 people, mostly plumbers, pipe-fitters and welders, and generates about $225 million in annual revenue. "When I came to that company, I had a vision for it and we've accomplished that vision," Lee said. "Those experiences in life have really caused me to have a vision for Tennessee, so I've decided to pursue this endeavor."
[One analyst] called Lee a top-tier Republican candidate who is not a politician in a traditional sense. "He can and will credibly argue that he is running for office to make a difference," Geer said. "Lee has all the ingredients to be a very successful candidate."
In a race most believe will be Tennessee's most expensive political primary ever, Lee is among multiple candidates who are expected to be in a position to self-finance a portion of their campaigns.
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The above quotations are from 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
Click here for other excerpts from 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Bill Lee. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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