Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton says his state is proving that less government and more local decision-making can fuel growth, expand opportunity, and preserve taxpayer dollars.
One focus for Speaker Sexton is cutting government waste and limiting federal entanglements. He cited Tennessee’s school lunch program as an example of how federal rules can lead to absurd outcomes. Lunch staff are barred from sending home leftover food with hungry students unless it’s pre-wrapped and labeled with an expiration date. The result, Sexton said, is about 30% of meals being thrown away. “That’s hundreds of millions of dollars in the trash because of federal red tape,” he said. “If we can pay for it ourselves, we can be more efficient and actually help students.”
Sexton also raised concerns about the strings attached to federal grants, particularly those that require states or contractors to follow Washington-driven mandates. This year, Tennessee implemented a new process requiring legislative approval for grants, giving lawmakers more oversight of what the state commits to. “There’s no such thing as free money,” Sexton warned. “The best day is when states can be financially free from the federal government.”
Tennessee’s approach to taxes and spending underscores that philosophy. With no state income tax and the lowest debt load in the nation, Sexton says Tennessee is thriving because it prioritizes fiscal discipline. Surpluses are spent on one-time projects like road improvements and vocational training centers, rather than on programs that require ongoing funding.
“We’re the least taxed and least debt state in America, and we’re still growing,” Sexton said. “The principle works. When you cut taxes, you get growth.”
Beyond responsible spending, Sexton argues that school choice is one of the biggest wins for Tennessee families in recent years. The push for educational freedom accelerated during the pandemic, when parents raised concerns with school boards over mask mandates, social distancing, and remote learning. “All of a sudden, parents realized they weren’t in charge of their child’s education, and no one seemed to care what they thought,” Sexton explained.
That frustration helped pave the way for Tennessee’s school choice program, which allows families to direct education dollars toward public, private, charter, or homeschool options. Early results show strong demand: more than 20,000 students are already participating, with plans to expand to as many as 50,000. Sexton pointed out that support has grown across party lines, with Democrats, Independents, and Republicans all showing positive approval after the program’s launch.
For Sexton, school choice isn’t just about flexibility; it’s also about accountability. “If parents aren’t happy with the product, they should be able to take their money and decide what’s best for their child,” he said. He added that it also forces public schools to compete and improve making education better in the state of Tennessee.
