U. S. Representative Diane Black says that hard work and accountability are Tennessee values she learned from her parents. Black, a registered nurse, small businesswoman, and former educator, is a candidate in the 2018 gubernatorial election.

Black recently took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for Historic Union County. Below are our questions with her direct and unedited responses.

HUC: Dealing with illegal immigration, you say that as governor you will not allow sanctuary cities in the state of TN. Will there be steps you need to take to ensure that? Additionally, what will your methods be to eliminate illegal immigration in TN? Specifically, what tools will you provide law enforcement, and will there be a protocol to be followed throughout the state?

BLACK: With me as your governor, we will have no sanctuary cities in Tennessee.
Sanctuary cities breed lawlessness, and terrorists who enter our country illegally want to destroy everything our country stands for.
As governor, I will withhold state funds from sanctuary cities, and I will work to form a partnership between state law enforcement and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
I have already urged Governor Haslam to sign the anti-sanctuary cities bill passed by the General Assembly this session.
The last two governors have outsourced refugee resettlement in Tennessee and I think it’s time for our state to take it back.
I will fight for our safety and ensure our law enforcement has the funding and resources they need to enforce our immigration laws.

HUC: You mention you’re A+ rating with the NRA, but other than stating you are pro 2nd Amendment is there a limit to the 2nd Amendment? What about bans on assault rifles? Additionally, you state that it is the mentally impaired that commit school shootings, but how will you keep weapons out of their hands and in the hands of the law abiding citizens? How do you feel about arming school staff?

BLACK: I do have an A+ rating from the NRA, and I have been a lifetime member for decades. I support the second amendment, and I believe the gun laws in our state are right where they should be.
Tennessee is home to hundreds of thousands of law-abiding gun owners. They should not be blamed for the actions of a madman.
Many liberal politicians are calling for firearm bans and are willing to sacrifice our Constitutional rights instead of recognizing the glaring issues all of these tragedies have had in common; mental illness.
Government can’t redeem broken souls, but we can do more to recognize mental illness in young people and prevent them from getting their hands on guns. The sad truth is that there are mentally ill people out there and some will always find a way to do people harm.
I believe we should give more authority to law enforcement when red flags are raised, as they were with the Parkland shooter and the Waffle House shooter. We must empower parents, teachers, counselors and students to wave the red flag when they have concerns. Just like at the airport: “if you see something, say something.”
In addition, I believe we should invest in real security measures for every school in Tennessee. Students and teachers shouldn’t have to worry about a madman coming to their schools.
It’s time to get serious about the mental health issues that prompt these attacks and do all we can to make sure they never happen again.

HUC: There is much debate about healthcare and Obamacare. Unfortunately, many Tennesseans participating in the healthcare exchange are down to one option. You mention bringing healthcare back to health departments for Medicaid patients, but can you tell us what your plans are for those who do not benefit from workplace health benefits or qualify for Medicare or Medicaid? Do you have a plan if Congress gets rid of Obamacare, and do you have a plan if Obamacare remains law?

BLACK: I was proud to author the first bill signed into law that successfully repealed a healthcare provision of Obamacare - which saved taxpayers $13 billion - and I have continued voting to defund and repeal this law in full. I am confident that Congress will fully repeal Obamacare.
We know that Obamacare has failed our state, and expanding Medicaid would be just as big of a disaster and bankrupt our state in the process.
The Democrats, and even some moderate members of my own party, have fallen for this lie that government can provide solutions to every problem.
As governor, I will work with the Trump Administration to get a block grant for Medicaid. Then we can design a system specific to Tennessee. My plan will feature a sliding fee scale for primary care at health departments for those without workplace benefits and who don’t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. This works very well in the states that have tried it, especially for folks on the exchange who cannot afford their deductible.
In addition, I believe there is an economic and community development aspect of the health care debate that often goes overlooked.

High quality jobs and education are as important to healthcare as health policy itself. The more people who can escape from poverty, get jobs that include health benefits or pay well enough to afford insurance and become participants in the commercial market, the less are relying on TennCare.
I believe it is up to the next governor to recruit and retain high quality jobs that provide benefits for Tennesseans.

HUC: Can you talk more about your Veterans Coalition? What is it exactly, and how will it aid our veterans?

BLACK: My Veterans Coalition is made up of veterans from across the state who will advise me on the issues impacting Tennessee veterans, particularly ensuring that they have access to quality health care.
As the daughter, wife and mother of veterans, I am committed to doing everything in my power to support our great veterans and active duty military personnel as Tennessee’s next governor.
These men and women served our country with honor, and they will always have a listening ear with me in the governor’s office. I will fight for our veterans because they fought and sacrificed for us.

HUC: You declare that you want, “No town left behind.” You state that you want to provide local businesses with the incentives that out-of-town businesses enjoy. Can you tell us more about those incentives and how they will benefit small towns without adding to the tax burden?

BLACK: Past administrations have overlooked homegrown Tennessee businesses when it comes to providing incentives. Instead, they have focused on recruiting businesses from outside the state and nation.
My administration will prioritize businesses owned by Tennesseans and encourage them to expand to grow and meet the needs of our state. I will prioritize investments in the infrastructure, which our state’s rural communities need to attract business.
As I’ve traveled the state, one thing I have heard from East to West is the need for good roads and broadband.
I will prioritize the infrastructure needs of rural communities. I will support bringing broadband to all areas across our state as soon as possible, and I will expedite roads, bridges, sewer/water projects and planning assistance in rural communities.

HUC: You say you will be a “decisive” governor who will “defend our culture.” In a country where those wearing police uniforms or a MAGA hat are refused service with no repercussions, while others lose their business by refusing service to those who violate their religious beliefs, what exactly does “defending our culture” look like for you?

BLACK: Our culture really is special here. Tennessee can lose its culture and our traditional values if we are not careful.
Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Once our religious freedoms are gone, they’re never coming back.
Everyone who believes in traditional values is at risk. Even if you don’t believe in traditional moral values, you should be afraid of your constitutional freedoms being taken away.
Under President Obama, businesses and organizations were required to provide contraception - even if they opposed it on moral and religious grounds - like the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Last year, President Trump announced that religious ministries and non-profits would no longer be forced to choose between violating their religious beliefs or violating the law.
I fought alongside the Little Sisters of the Poor. As governor, I will continue to defend our religious freedoms.

HUC: Governor Haslam's disapproval rating is just at 24%. Knoxville’s radio host Hallerin Hilton Hill called Haslam a “rock-star governor.” It can be challenging to follow someone who has had some success. What are some of his policies that you will continue? For example, you mention protecting the value of the Hope Scholarship, but will you also maintain TN Promise and TN Reconnect? Additionally, are there any of Haslam’s policies that you would like to dissolve?

BLACK: As governor, I will maintain the Tennessee Promise and Reconnect. I am committed to completing the Drive to 55.

Black’s concluding statement:
I believe Governor Haslam has done an admirable job in bringing our state from the bottom of the pack in education to the middle, and I will continue that progress until we reach the top.

The Tennessee gubernatorial election will take place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next Governor of Tennessee.