U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) Wednesday released the following statement on President Obama’s plan to have the federal government consider selling the Tennessee Valley Authority.

“This is one more bad idea in a budget full of bad ideas,” Alexander said. “There is today no federal taxpayer subsidy for TVA, period. There is by law no federal taxpayer liability for TVA debt. And after deducting its debt, selling TVA would probably cost taxpayers money.” 

Alexander continued, “Finally, there is no assurance that selling TVA to a profit-making entity would reduce electric bills in the TN valley – which should be the overriding objective – and it could lead to higher electricity rates. While TVA management prefers a flexible debt cap, it has assured me that it can live within the current debt limit if necessary.”

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander
Jim Jefferies from Sen. Alexander's office