Does the TVA actually require federal support? I was under the impression that it was self-funding at this point.
It's got a load of liability from the coal ash disaster a few years back and a number of its coal-fired plants will be needing to be either replaced or upgraded soon. Its rates need a significant increase if it is to be able to deal with those issues itself without drawing upon the Federal fisc and that's not politically palatable.
That's unsurprising. I'm inclined to agree with Bedstuy (and would even if the Authority were truly self-sufficient), but whatever the case, floating the idea seems like a savvy political move that forces a lot of the White House's opponents into an uncomfortable and ideologically incoherent position.
It is funny to see Republicans stand up for the TVA. They love socialism when it could help their constituents. For those keeping score at home:
Socialism: Government helping women, urban dwellers, immigrants, darkies, young people, children, universities, schools, workers, Hollywood Jews/homos, Native Americans, Mexicans and poor people.
Not socialism: Government helping the big business, polluters, old people, white southern bumpkin real American types, family farmers (AKA ADM and Monsanto), rich people, the military industrial complex and the prison industrial complex.
