Senate Refuses Support of Gore Statue

The state Senate on Tuesday refused to support a statue honoring Nobel laureate Al Gore. The non-binding resolution would’ve encouraged the project, which would have been paid for with private funds and erected on the capitol grounds.

The measure passed out of the state House two months ago with 95 votes. But it fell two votes short in a 15 to 14 decision in the Senate. Sponsor Andy Berke says partisan bickering was to blame.

“Unfortunately it seems like there was a point to be made that we’re not going to honor these individuals, and I believe that’s an extreme point of view. I certainly want to honor any Tennessean of whatever political stripes if they achieve some kind of award like this.”

Berke noted the resolution would not have spent taxpayer dollars. It would have also honored Cordell Hull, a Tennessean who received the Nobel prize for helping found the United Nations.