House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) today announced an official Congressional field hearing entitled, “Tennessee Job Creation: Do Federal Government Regulations Help or Hinder Tennessee’s Economic Development?”  The hearing will begin at 9:00amCST on Monday, June 18, 2012 at S102 Business and Aerospace Building, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  The hearing, which is open to the public, will feature testimony from state leaders and Tennessee job creators on the effects of state and federal policies and regulations.

“The federal government has yet to grasp the effects of burdensome regulations that obstruct job growth and economic recovery.  During the course of this Administration, regulatory costs have grown for American job creators across the board,” said Chairman Issa. “We’re going to Tennessee to hear directly from those on the ground who are surviving in this stifling regulatory environment because the private sector is not ‘doing fine.’”

“Last year, I embarked on my Tennessee Job Creators Tour in an effort to talk directly with businesses owners here in Tennessee about ways that the federal government was hurting their ability to grow and create jobs,” said Representative DesJarlais. “What I heard from them painted a troubling picture of Washington regulators imposing mountains of job-crushing bureaucratic red tape. I look forward to having Chairman Issa down to Tennessee to hear from our local job-creators on ways that Washington can reduce the barriers to private sector job creation. 

Details for Monday’s hearing in Murfreesboro:

What: Official Congressional Field Hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee “Tennessee Job Creation: Do Federal Government Regulations Help or Hinder Tennessee’s Economic Development?” with Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Scott Desjarlais (R-TN), Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn will join Chairman Issa and Rep. Desjarlais on the dais.

Date/Time: 9:00am CST on Monday, June 18, 2012

Location: S102 Business and Aerospace Building, Middle Tennessee State University, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Witnesses confirmed to testify include:

The Honorable Bill Haslam, Governor, State of Tennessee

The Honorable Bob Corker, United States Senate

The Honorable Lamar Alexander, United States Senate

Mr. William “Bill” F. Hagerty, IV, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Mr. H. Grady Payne, Chief Executive Officer, Conner Industries, Inc.

Mr. Scott Cocanougher, Chief Executive Officer, First Community Bank of Bedford County

Mr. Mark Faulkner, Owner, Vireo Systems, Inc. on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business

Mr. Bob Bedell, Sales Unit Manager, Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated on behalf of the Beverage Association of Tennessee

Press Conference: Between witness panels (around 10:00 CST), Governor Haslam, Senator Corker, Senator Alexander and Commissioner Hagerty will join Chairman Issa, Rep. Desjarlais, Rep. Black and Rep. Blackburn to answer questions from the press.

It is requested that members of the media planning to attend RSVP to Robert.Jameson@mail.house.gov  

For more information, visit Oversight.House.Gov.