Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson is making waves once again, and this time, she’s calling out Governor Bill Lee for his comments about disaster response.
You might remember Johnson, along with Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, as part of the Tennessee Three who protested gun violence on the state House floor. Now, she’s taking on the governor after his recent remarks about the federal response to California’s wildfires.
After President Joe Biden announced that the federal government would cover 100% of the cost of wildfire measures in Southern California, Governor Lee jumped into the conversation. He responded to Biden’s statement, saying, “What’s happening in California is heartbreaking, and they need this immediate federal response. Appalachia should be treated the same.” He went on to claim that Tennessee had to wait 42 days for a response from the Biden administration after Hurricane Helene.
But Johnson isn’t having it. She quickly called out the governor, saying, “You’re such a liar, you know there is a full record in print, right?” She pointed out that the governor’s request for help was delayed because he waited too long to ask for assistance. “It would’ve been faster if you had made the request when other states did,” she added.
Johnson didn’t stop there. She reminded Lee that when he did finally make the request, the federal government granted it within hours. “When you finally asked, it was granted within hours,” she said, emphasizing the quick response once Lee made the proper request.
It looks like Johnson’s not afraid to stand up for what’s right—even when it means calling out powerful figures.
This back-and-forth highlights the tension between state and federal leadership when it comes to disaster response. What’s clear is that when it comes to the people of Tennessee, Johnson’s ready to keep fighting for what they need.
