Tennessee Valley Authority Chairman Craven Crowell met with the 38-member congressional TVA Caucus Tuesday, and all sides described the meeting as more cordial and constructive than the often-unruly ones he has faced since proposing to end TVA's federal appropriations for land management, economic development and other non-power duties.
Crowell appeared more receptive to criticism of how fast TVA, a congressionally chartered utility, was pursuing reforms, a congressional aide said.
Crowell also sought to smooth over relations with members miffed they were not consulted before Crowell's proposal was made in January, the aide said.
"My impression was that it was less heated than expected, and it gave members the opportunity to sound off and ask about programs in their districts" that face abandonment by TVA, a House Democratic aide said.
"Most of the caucus is united around continuing to fund TVA's non-power budget in future years," the aide added.
But aides indicated that TVA's challenges are far from over, including possible fights over how much congressional oversight TVA allows and, most immediately, the level of appropriations for the next fiscal year.
Some members from outside TVA's region want to eliminate spending immediately.
Late Tuesday, Reps. Scott Klug, R-Wis., and Bob Franks, R-N.J., circulated a letter seeking support for legislation to end federal support for TVA's non-power generating activities.
The letter cited testimony from a March appropriations hearing, in which Crowell said "we can end taxpayer funding of TVA ..." Klug and Franks responded in their letter: "OK. Let's help."
NEXT STORY: Babbitt Touts Bases-to-Parks