It was standing room only for Senator Bob Corker, who addressed a sea of local business owners.
"So many young people that have great ideas and in our community we've attracted that, so anyway I think the best is ahead of us here in Chattanooga. I think the momentum is good, it's really great to be among folks here that really promote a better business environment."
Corker touched on his views concerning sequestration, deep cuts in the federal budget set to go into effect March first if a bi-partisan deal is not brokered.
"We are going to spend 47 trillion dollars of your money over the next ten years and it's almost unfathomable that we can not figure out a way to trim spending by one point two trillion so I don't know exactly how its going to affect things."
The former Chattanooga mayor says he believes the cuts should happen rather than force a deal that will stall a solution to the growing national deficit.
"As it's set up right now, it is ham handed, but as a nation I think we are better off, as ham handed as it is having the sequester take place than to continue to not address the spending issues that we have in this nation which are creating a huge burden for future generations."
Despite what some see as a looming fiscal crisis, Corker says, with the aid of Volkswagen, the scenic city could continue to prosper as overseas investment eyes the area.
"Over this next ten to twenty years, states like Tennessee have tremendous opportunities dealing with Europe and I do hope this free trade agreement that we are embarking, both sides are serious about it. If we can combine our energy prices in this nation with a really good trade agreement, I think it bodes incredibly well for Chattanooga and the state of Tennessee."
Corker also said he's leaning toward voting against Chuck Hagel's nomination to become Secretary of Defense, but added he would not support a fillibuster of the vote.
