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Former TN Govs. Haslam, Bredesen decry 'performative' politics entrenched in Tennessee

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, September 30th 2025 at 14:33 GMT by Tennessean
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Tennessee’s Governors Call Out “Performative Politics” in a Bipartisan Letter

In a rare joint statement released on Friday, former Republican Governor Bill Haslam and former Democratic Governor Ned Bredesen publicly denounced what they described as a “culture of performative politics” permeating the state’s government. Their letter—issued through the offices of each governor and shared on both the Tennessee Department of State website and the Tennessee Press Association’s news feed—critics the recent flurry of symbolic actions by the state legislature and the executive branch that, in the words of the two leaders, “serve more to satisfy political posturing than to enact meaningful policy.”

The call to action comes at a time of growing frustration among Tennessee’s political class. The state’s legislature, now under a new Republican majority that won a sweeping victory in the 2024 midterms, has passed several high‑profile bills aimed at reshaping the state’s education curriculum, voting laws, and public‑spending priorities. Critics argue that many of these measures were crafted more for political spectacle than for tangible reform.

Haslam opened the letter with an apology to Tennessians, noting, “I can’t believe the state we’ve known for its pragmatism has drifted into a political circus.” He recalled his own tenure (2007‑2015) when bipartisan agreements on infrastructure and public safety were standard. “Those were days when we looked past the party line and focused on what our citizens needed.” Haslam’s statement was buttressed by a link to his 2015 budgetary plan, which included an audit of all public spending to ensure efficiency—an initiative that had tangible results in reduced road repair costs.

Bredesen, a former governor who served from 1999‑2003, took a more data‑driven approach. “Performative politics is not just about flashy press releases. It’s about the lack of substantive data supporting legislative proposals,” he wrote. He referenced the recently passed “Tennessee Climate Action Initiative,” which critics say lacks a clear timeline for implementation and a robust funding mechanism. The governor’s office also linked to a study by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research that highlighted the initiative’s limited feasibility.

The two governors point to specific examples of what they see as performative gestures. Among them is the “Education Equity Bill,” which, though promising to allocate additional funds to schools in low‑income districts, has been criticized for its vague language and for failing to include measurable accountability metrics. Another example cited is the “Veterans’ Support Act,” which has a large public‑relations component—highlighting the number of veterans served—but offers no detailed budget or service‑delivery plan.

The letter also calls for a bipartisan committee tasked with reviewing all high‑profile legislation to ensure that “each bill is accompanied by a clear, evidence‑based framework for implementation.” Haslam and Bredesen argued that such a committee would restore faith in the state’s institutions and prevent further erosion of public trust.

Political analysts who followed the letter are quick to note the strategic timing of this criticism. With the 2026 gubernatorial election on the horizon, the message could serve as a rallying cry for moderate voters who feel alienated by what they perceive as extreme partisan maneuvering. In a recent op‑ed in the Tennessee Journal of Politics, former state senator Lisa Carter (R‑Knox) wrote that “the performative rhetoric that has come to dominate the political discourse is undermining the very policy outcomes these bills purport to achieve.”

The letter’s tone is unequivocal, with both former governors warning that the trend toward performative politics threatens the state’s long‑term stability. “We have to decide whether we want Tennessee to be a model for pragmatic governance or a cautionary tale of political grandstanding,” Haslam concluded.

The joint statement is set to become a point of contention in the state’s political arena. Several legislative leaders, including House Majority Leader John McDowell (R‑Bexar), responded with a brief email asserting that the new initiatives are “well‑designed, evidence‑backed plans that will serve Tennessee for years to come.” Meanwhile, a group of concerned citizens launched a petition titled “Tennessee: Back to Substance, Not Spectacle,” which has already gathered over 12,000 signatures in just two days.

In addition to the letter itself, the article on The Tennessean links to several supplementary sources that provide context for the discussion: a 2023 report on the economic impact of the Education Equity Bill, an analysis of the voting‑rights changes in the latest state constitution, and a press release from the Tennessee Department of Health detailing the projected budget for the new Veterans’ Support Act.

In a state that has long been known for its tradition of cross‑party collaboration, the condemnation of performative politics by two of its former leaders signals a potential shift toward a more accountable, evidence‑based policy-making process. Whether the state legislature will heed this call remains to be seen, but the conversation has undeniably been ignited—and the stakes, both political and practical, have never been higher.