NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Don Sundquist, a Republican who used to be two times elected governor of Tennessee and likewise served 12 years in Congress, died Sunday. He used to be 87.
Sundquist died at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis on Sunday morning, consistent with a circle of relatives spokeswoman. He died peacefully, surrounded by way of members of the family, following surgical operation and a brief sickness, consistent with a commentary 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 stated within the commentary.
Sundquist by no means misplaced an election in 8 tries in Tennessee — six for Congress and two for governor — however he emerged as a divisive determine all over his ultimate years in workplace because the state feuded over whether or not to create an source of revenue tax.
Sundquist used to be elected to Congress in 1982, representing portions of West and Middle Tennessee.
He saved the seat till working for governor in 1994 when he changed into Tennessee’s forty seventh leader govt. He simply gained re-election in 1998.
During his first time period as governor, Sundquist reformed the state’s welfare machine via a program he referred to as “Families First.” It used to be designed to transport welfare recipients into jobs by way of providing them coaching, activity seek assist, transportation and day care wishes.
(*87*) go back, 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 life-time ceiling of 5 years.
“It’s a highly successful program of preparation for work,” Sundquist stated in 1998.
Additionally, he liked privatizing the state’s jail machine, however the General Assembly balked.
(*87*) his 2nd time period, Sundquist proposed repealing the gross sales tax on groceries, saving every Tennessee circle of relatives of 4 just about $500 in step with 12 months. He additionally advisable repealing the franchise and excise taxes and changing them with a “fair business tax” that treats all firms the similar. The levy used to be 2 1/2 p.c on income and a pair of 1/2 p.c on salaries for all firms.
His recognition started to wane, despite the fact that, as state monetary troubles emerged all over hovering prices for TennCare, the state’s effort to offer well being take care of the uninsured by way of increasing Medicaid. He proposed a state source of revenue tax, an concept most often related to Democrats that prompt a long-running combat over state price range.
Sundquist used to be so unpopular amongst Republicans that he have shyed away from just about 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 birthday celebration occasions after Gov. Bill Haslam used to be elected in 2010.
(*87*) Congress, Sundquist voted in opposition to banning attack guns, helped write and cross a complete ethics code and supported a capital good points tax minimize and a balanced funds modification. He adversarial the 1990 Civil Rights Act.
(*87*) his first race for Congress, he disillusioned Democrat Bob Clement — the son of former Gov. Frank Clement and the inheritor to a well-known identify in Tennessee politics.
After profitable the seat, he hardly had severe opposition for re-election.
The son of a welder, Sundquist used to be born March 15, 1936, in Moline, Ill.
Before serving in Congress, Sundquist based Graphic Sales of America Corp. of Memphis, a printing and promoting corporate. He additionally put in combination buyers to ascertain a financial institution in Germantown and later joined with others in opening a Memphis-style barbeque eating place in Arlington, Va.
He used to be nationwide chairman of the Young Republican National Federation from 1971 to 1973 and spent virtually twenty years doing grassroots paintings for the GOP.
Sundquist used to be the primary member of his circle of relatives to wait school, 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 paintings for Jostens, Inc., a scholastic merchandise corporate in Shelbyville, the place he rose to department supervisor sooner than transferring to change into spouse and president of Graphic Sales.
He defeated Phil Bredesen, then mayor of Nashville, for governor in 1994. (*87*) 1998 he had token opposition, defeating John Jay Hooker Jr. within the basic election.