Senators oppose Trump plan to sell TVA assets

The Associated Press
 
Senators oppose Trump plan to sell TVA assets
 
The Associated Press
 
Senators from Tennessee and Mississippi are opposing part of President Donald Trump’s reorganization plan that revisits possibly selling the transmission assets of the nation’s largest public utility.
 
Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander called the proposed Tennessee Valley Authority sell-off a “looney idea” Thursday.
 
In April, Alexander opposed Trump’s budget proposal idea of possibly selling TVA assets.
 
He denounced then-President Barack Obama’s similar, failed 2013 plan, saying it undermined TVA’s credit, raised interest rates on its debt and threatened to increase electric bills for 9 million customers in seven Southern states.
 
Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker said TVA should be left alone.
 
“TVA’s exemplary service and efficiency should not be targeted,” he said. “Throughout its history, TVA has been enormously successful in improving the standard of living in Mississippi, and its positive impact on Americans throughout the South continues to this day.”
 
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Wicker’s colleague from the Magnolia State, said, “I fully support the TVA’s role as an independent entity that provides reliable energy and economic development.”
 
Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said any sale would harm the region and remains a very unlikely outcome.
 
Leading candidates to replace Corker also oppose it.
 
Democratic ex-Gov. Phil Bredesen called it a terrible idea.
 
Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn said she’s against it, saying TVA runs a vital service.
 
Rep. Trent Kelly, who represents the First Congressional District in Mississippi was on National Guard duty on unavailable for comment.
 
Daily Journal reporter Dennis Seid contributed to this story.