Phil Bredesen is out with a new ad today claiming that he’s not running against President Trump. That’s not terribly surprising, considering the President won 92 out of Tennessee’s 95 counties in 2016.
Bredesen has made it clear who’s side he would be on when he did not support the recent tax cuts, and it’s not the side that voted for higher wages and bigger paychecks for Tennessee families.
TN Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden said,
“Phil Bredesen can talk about how he would work with President Trump all he wants, but he’s already shown his true colors. President Trump and Republicans in Congress worked together to put more money back into the pockets of Tennesseans while Phil Bredesen said he would have voted against it. Tennessee needs a Senator who will help us grow paychecks, not vote to make them smaller.”
If Phil Bredesen were in the Senate, he would have voted against bonuses, raise, or better benefits for the following Tennessee employers:
Advance Financial (Multiple locations in Tennessee) – Increase in 401(k) match; increase in profit sharing; increase in charitable donations.
Apple (Apple store locations in Nashville, Knoxville, Franklin, Germantown) – $2,500 employee bonuses in the form of restricted stock units; Nationwide, $30 billion in additional capital expenditures; $1 billion increase in capital expenditures.
AT&T – $1,000 bonuses to 5,520 Tennessee employees; Nationwide, $1 billion increase in capital expenditures.
Bank of America (Multiple locations in Tennessee) – Tennessee-based employees of Bank of America will receive $1,000 bonuses.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (Multiple locations in Tennessee) – Bonuses ranging from $250 to $1,000; increased employee benefits; nationally, $50 million investment in existing restaurants.
Cintas Corporation (Multiple locations in Tennessee) – $1,000 bonuses for employees of at least a year, $500 bonuses for employees of less than a year.
Comcast (Multiple locations in Tennessee) – $1,000 bonuses. Nationally, at least $50 billion investment in infrastructure in next five years.
FedEx (Memphis) – commits more than $3.2 billion in wage increases, bonuses, pension funding due to the recent tax cuts. Pay raises, bonus increases, pension plan increases, and at least $1.5 billion in capital expenditures.
First Horizon National Corp. (Memphis) – $1,000 bonuses to 4,000 employees.
HCA (Nashville) – $300 million towards tuition reimbursement and scholarships, expanding family leave, increased capital spending and investments.
Home Depot — 39 locations in Tennessee, bonuses for all hourly employees, up to $1,000.
Lowe’s – 8,000 employees at 60 stores and three distribution centers in Tennessee. Employees will receive bonuses of up to $1,000 based on length of service; expanded benefits and maternity/parental leave; $5,000 of adoption assistance.
Ryder- (Sixteen locations in Tennessee) – Tax reform bonuses for employees.
Spectrum Adhesives, Inc. (Memphis) – $500 bonuses for employees.
Starbucks Coffee Company (Multiple locations in Tennessee) – $500 stock grants for all retail employees, $2,000 stock grants for store managers, and varying plan and support center employee stock grants. Nationally, 8,000 new retail jobs; an additional wage increase this year, totaling approximately $120 million in wage increases, increased sick time benefits and parental leave.
U-Haul (Multiple locations in Tennessee) – $1,200 bonuses for full-time employees, $500 for part-time employees.
Unum (Chattanooga) – base wage raise to $15 a hour, creation of paid parental leave, additional $1 million in charitable contributions:
Wal-Mart – 139 stores in Tennessee. Walmart employees are receiving tax reform bonuses of up to $1,000. Base wage increase for all hourly employees to $11; expanded maternity and parental leave; $5,000 for adoption expenses.
Wells Fargo – 18 locations in Tennessee; raised base wage from $13.50 to $15.00 per hour; Nationally, $400 million in charitable donations for 2018; $100 million increased capital investment over the next three years.
