Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee faced backlash immediately after wishing his beloved state "a blessed Labor Day" on Monday.
The GOP leader wrote via X: "Happy Labor Day, Tennessee! Many thanks to the hardworking men & women across our state who keep our communities & economy thriving. @MariaLeeTN & I wish all Tennesseans a safe & blessed Labor Day."
Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones called out the governor, writing, "Bro, sit this one out."
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Jones — who state House Republicans failed to expel last year after he and two other Democratic members staged a gun reform protest in the state's capitol building — sharing a screenshot of an April 2024 Washington Post report titled, "Governors of six Southern states warn workers against joining UAW union".
The newspaper used a photo of Lee for the article, as he was one of the six governor warning "residents that joining the United Auto Workers would threaten jobs and 'the values we live by.'"
Per the Post, "An economist who has closely studied unionization in the South called the statement 'unprecedented and shocking' and said it discouraged workers from exercising their legal right to organize."