TANNER CALL'S WAMP COMMENTS "UNFORTUNATE"

TANNER: WAMP’S ‘UNFORTUNATE’ COMMENTS JEOPARDIZE JOB CREATION EFFORTS IN WEST TENNESSEE

UNION CITY, August 21, 2009 – Congressman John Tanner expressed disappointment with comments from Congressman Zach Wamp that Tanner worries could jeopardize industrial recruitment and potential job creation in West Tennessee. Wamp spoke negatively of the Haywood County megasite in a Thursday interview with The Jackson Sun editorial board.

“Congressman Wamp’s untimely and unfortunate remarks may have a major negative impact on the hard work of many to bring jobs to rural West Tennessee,” Congressman Tanner said. “Wamp knows very well how hard Governor Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber work to recruit new industry to our state, and I wish he had talked with them about the site’s potential before criticizing it as ‘isolated.’

“The Haywood County megasite is far from isolated,” Tanner continued. “The site is about two minutes from I-40, 20 minutes from Shelby County, 30 minutes from Jackson’s McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport and 45 minutes from Memphis International Airport, the world’s busiest cargo airport. Almost 700,000 people live within 35 minutes of the Haywood County megasite. More than 1.7 million people live within 60 minutes. It is in a prime location for industrial success.

“Governor Bredesen is working hard to make the Haywood County site a top location for energy development, an important step toward industrial recruitment. Congressman Wamp’s comments while campaigning for Governor show a lack of understanding about our part of the state and how badly we need more private-sector jobs.”

Tanner represents the 8th Congressional District in West and Middle Tennessee.

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