In case you didn’t know it, Tennessee’s official state food is now hot slaw. You can thank your Tennessee representatives for that one. On Feb. 1, the senate passed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Adam Lowe (R-TN) and Kevin Raper (R-TN), designating hot slaw as one of Tennessee’s state foods, you know, instead of doing anything important. 

I get very annoyed when bills like this go through. I feel like creating an official state food that not many people have even heard of might not be the best use of the representative’s time and power. Sure, picking a state food is cute and all, but I just feel there are better things that can be done. 

For those unfamiliar with our new state food, hot slaw is apparently a combination of shredded cabbage and carrots that is cooked in a skillet with a bacon and hot vinegar dressing. I feel like someone just misheard “coleslaw” as “cold slaw” all their life and decided to make hot slaw. I had never heard of this dish until they made it a state food. I mean, Nashville Hot Chicken was right there. It even has Nashville in the name! In 2003, the General Assembly voted to make the tomato the state fruit and last year they voted to make pumpkin pie an official state symbol. Clearly Tennessee is not great at choosing symbols. I mean milk is our state beverage after all. Yes, milk.  

Along with a state food, in February lawmakers are also attempting to pass a bill designating “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee as the official state holiday song. Like we really needed a state holiday song. 

I started looking into bills currently going through the General Assembly after one representative made national news by sponsoring a bill that would prohibit the sale of cold beer in an attempt to combat drunk-driving. The goal is admirable, but the bill itself is laughably stupid. Thinking that someone who intended to drink and drive would be deterred by room temperature alcohol is silly. This also would have impacted stores and gas stations negatively. It was all around just not working. 

This also has me wondering what my representatives are doing. What bills are they sponsoring? Are they actually representing me and my county? There are multiple people unhappy about the chicken houses in Warren County. A County Commissioner suggested these citizens reach out to Janice Bowling and Paul Sherrell to see what can be done. Apparently this issue will have to be resolved at the state, and what better way to get the word to the state then through your state representatives. 

Often, people who get elected don’t represent the interests of the people they are elected to represent. You are elected to make a difference, not sit silently on a committee and make a paycheck. Lawmakers have the power to make real change. It is a shame to waste it. 

There is a bill currently in the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee that would exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax on the annual sales tax holiday, so at least someone is attempting to do something worthwhile.

Standard News Editor Bethany Porter can be contacted at bporter@southernstandard.com