Democrats slam Sen. Gardenhire over comment about deleting citizen e-mails

NASHVILLE (WDEF) – Republican state Senator Todd Gardenhire has taken slings and arrows from both sides of the political aisle over the last couple of weeks.

The latest issue comes from a committee hearing on his bill that would prohibit any gas tax funds from being spent on bike lanes or pedestrian projects.

The chairman commented that this bill was filling up his inbox with comments from constituents.

Then Senator Gardenhire replied  “that’s what they make that delete button for.”

He says lawmakers will probably be asked to vote on a gas tax hike next year, and his constituents will want the money to go to roads and bridges, “not for recreational use.”

On Friday, Tennessee State Democratic Party chair Mary Mancini said “Most Tennesseans I know support bike lanes and sidewalks, but more than that, they want ethical, accountable government. It’s disheartening to see an elected representative joke about deleting emails from the people who elected him to serve.” 

Gardenhire has also stirred the wrath of gun rights groups over his vote last week on a gun carry bill.

The say he promised them he would vote for it, but then changed his mind at the last minute and abstained.

That left the committee vote tied 4-4 and stalled the bill for the session.

The bill would have stripped the current gun carry permit rules and allowed just about anyone to carry weapons without applying to the state.

Senator Gardenhire later called it a bad bill.