NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Don Sundquist, a Republican who was twice elected governor of Tennessee and likewise served 12 years in Congress, died Sunday. He was 87.
Sundquist died at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis on Sunday morning, in line with a household spokeswoman. He died peacefully, surrounded by relations, following surgical procedure and a brief sickness, in line with a press release Sunday morning from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s workplace.
“He took great pride in bringing people together, regardless of differences, to work together for the common good,” Lee mentioned within the assertion.
Sundquist by no means misplaced an election in eight tries in Tennessee – six for Congress and two for governor – however he emerged as a divisive determine throughout his remaining years in workplace because the state feuded over whether or not to create an revenue tax.
Sundquist was elected to Congress in 1982, representing elements of West and Middle Tennessee.
He saved the seat till operating for governor in 1994 when he turned Tennessee’s forty seventh chief govt. He simply received re-election in 1998.
During his first time period as governor, Sundquist reformed the state’s welfare system by means of a program he known as “Families First.” It was designed to maneuver welfare recipients into jobs by providing them coaching, job search assist, transportation and day care wants.
In return, recipients have been required to spend time every week in job-related actions and have been restricted to 18 months of welfare at a time with a lifetime ceiling of 5 years.
“It’s a highly successful program of preparation for work,” Sundquist mentioned in 1998.
Additionally, he favored privatizing the state’s jail system, however the General Assembly balked.
In his second time period, Sundquist proposed repealing the gross sales tax on groceries, saving every Tennessee household of 4 almost $500 per yr. He additionally really helpful repealing the franchise and excise taxes and changing them with a “fair business tax” that treats all corporations the identical. The levy was 2 1/2 % on earnings and a couple of 1/2 % on salaries for all corporations.
His recognition started to wane, although, as state monetary troubles emerged throughout hovering prices for TennCare, the state’s effort to supply well being take care of the uninsured by increasing Medicaid. He proposed a state revenue tax, an concept often related to Democrats that set off a long-running battle over state funds.
Sundquist was so unpopular amongst Republicans that he prevented almost all public appearances with GOP presidential nominee George W. Bush in 2000. Sundquist stayed out of the limelight for years after he left workplace in 2003, however started to renew showing at celebration occasions after Gov. Bill Haslam was elected in 2010.
In Congress, Sundquist voted in opposition to banning assault weapons, helped write and go a complete ethics code and supported a capital positive factors tax reduce and a balanced price range modification. He opposed the 1990 Civil Rights Act.
In his first race for Congress, he upset Democrat Bob Clement – the son of former Gov. Frank Clement and the inheritor to a well-known title in Tennessee politics.
After successful the seat, he not often had severe opposition for re-election.
The son of a welder, Sundquist was born March 15, 1936, in Moline, Ill.
Before serving in Congress, Sundquist based Graphic Sales of America Corp. of Memphis, a printing and promoting firm. He additionally put collectively buyers to determine a financial institution in Germantown and later joined with others in opening a Memphis-style barbecue restaurant in Arlington, Va.
He was nationwide chairman of the Young Republican National Federation from 1971 to 1973 and spent nearly 20 years doing grassroots work for the GOP.
Sundquist was the primary member of his household to attend faculty, bagging groceries to assist pay for tuition at Augustana College in Illinois.
After graduating from Augustana in 1957, he served two years within the Navy. Upon leaving the Navy, Sundquist went to work for Jostens, Inc., a scholastic merchandise firm in Shelbyville, the place he rose to division supervisor earlier than shifting to grow to be companion and president of Graphic Sales.
He defeated Phil Bredesen, then mayor of Nashville, for governor in 1994. In 1998 he had token opposition, defeating John Jay Hooker Jr. within the normal election.
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