FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012 Naifeh to retire after 38 years in House (Associated Press/Johnson)

Rep. Jimmy Naifeh announced Thursday that he won't seek re-election for his District 81 seat after 38 years in the House of Representatives, saying it's time to "pass the torch to the next generation of leaders." Naifeh, who was given the honorary title of speaker emeritus after holding the top House post for 18 years, made the announcement on the House floor. The Covington Democrat said the late Tennessee Democratic Gov. Ned McW herter, whom Naifeh described as a mentor in politics and life, "always told me when it was time to go home, I'd know it." "After talking with my family and friends, I believe the time has come for me to pass the torch," Naifeh said. He was elected to the House in 1974 after losing his first bid for office in 1972. He was succeeded as House speaker in 2009 by Republican Rep. Kent Williams of Elizabethton, who edged Rep. Jason Mumpower of Bristol on a vote of 50-49 after all 49 Democrats banded together to support W illiams. Naifeh persuaded Williams to seek the speakership and was behind the plan for him to be elected. "During my one term as speaker ... his experience helped me through a very hard two years," Williams said Thursday on the House floor. "Thank you for all you did." http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38752887?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh announces retirement (City Paper/Woods)

House Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh, once one of the most powerful politicians in the state, said Thursday he will not run for reelection in November after 38 years as a lawmaker. With Republicans now dominating the legislature, Naifeh, who is 72, became the fifth Democrat in the House to announce retirements this session. Four Democratic senators have announced they wont seek re-election. Governor McWherter, my mentor, always told me I would know when it was time to go home and I know that time has come for me to step aside for the next generation of leaders, Naifeh said on the House floor. Naifeh was the longest-serving House speaker in Tennessee history, serving in that position from 1991 until 2009. He is perhaps best known across the state as one of the leading advocates for a state income tax in 2002. That effort failed and cost Democrats in later elections. Republicans won a 64-member House majority in 2010. This year during redistricting, they redrew Naifehs district, taking away Democratic-leaning Haywood County and leaving only his home county of Tipton an increasingly Republican Memphis suburb. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/former-house-speaker-jimmy-naifeh-announces-retirement

Jimmy Naifeh, former TN House speaker, to end storied career (Tennessean/Sisk)

Longtime House speaker urges cooperation in retirement address to cheering colleagues State lawmakers celebrated former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh after he announced Thursday that he will not run for re-election this year, ending a career in the state legislature that reached nearly four decades. Naifeh was allowed to preside over the state House of Representatives one final time during a morning session in which he announced his retirement. Telling lawmakers he had decided its time to pass the torch, the West Tennessee Democrat urged members to work together and listen to members of the other party, even as he acknowledged his reputation for partisanship. I certainly played hardball just once or twice but I always maintained relationships on both sides of the aisle, he said. This is a very unique fraternity. We celebrate together, and we mourn together, and we work together for the people of Tennessee. Lawmakers gave him a two-minute standing ovation, and long-serving legislators from both sides of the aisle praised the West Tennessee Democrat as a man who kept his word, listened to opposing points of view and offered honest advice, even as he ruled over the House for a record 18 years beginning in 1991. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/NEWS21/303090086/Jimmy-Naifeh-former-TN-House-speakerend-storied-career?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Former

Tennessee

House

speaker

Jimmy

Naifeh

won't seek

re-election

(CA/Locker)
State Rep. Jimmy Naifeh of Covington, the son of Lebanese emigrants who served as House speaker longer than anyone in Tennessee history, won't run for re-election this year after 38 years in the legislature, he said Thursday. Naifeh, 72, a Democrat, was elected to the House in 1974 and re-elected 18 times. The House elected him its speaker nine times, from 1991 to 2009, when Republicans won a House majority. He's remained a vocal member, trading the podium for a desk at the back of the House chamber from which he has assailed bills that he considered injurious to people. Addressing his colleagues on the House floor Thursday, he said his mentor, the late governor and speaker Ned McW herter, "always told me that when it was time to go home, I'd know it. ... I've given 40 years of my life to public service: 38 in the legislature and two as an infantry officer in the Army. Now I'm looking forward to a little more time for myself and a lot more time with my grandkids." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/08/former-tennessee-house-speaker-jimmy-naifeh-wont-s/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Naifeh Says He Will Retire After End of Current Session (Memphis Flyer)
Jimmy Naifeh, the Covington Democrat who served in the state House of Representatives for 38 years, a record 18 of those years as Speaker, will serve no more after this year. Naifeh, who lost the Speakership in 2009, following the GOP's attaining a majority, took the floor to announce his forthcoming retirement at the end of the current session. The longtime Speaker feared by his enemies, revered by his allies, respected by all won applause from members of both parties after he delivered himself of the following remarks: Madam Speaker, Members, I want to thank you for giving me a few minutes today to come to the well and make some remarks. Ive served in this chamber for 38 years. Thats a long time, over half my adult life actually. This body, this institution is a part of me, its a part of my family and I will always have a special place in my heart for the men and women Ive served with here over the last three decades. http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2012/03/08/naifeh-says-he-will-retire-after-end-of-currentsession

Former Speaker Naifeh Wont Run for Re-Election to House Seat (WPLN-Radio)
Former Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh today announced that after 38 years, he wont run for reelection in his Tipton County district. Jimmy Naifeh, 72, says he wont run for the district he has represented since 1974. Governor McWherter, who was my mentor, always told me that I would know when it was time to go. And I know that time has come for me to step aside for the next generation of leaders. In a ten-minute speech, the long-time speaker of the House urged members to consider the people rather than their party as they do the work they were elected to. I always saw myself as the speaker of this body, not a particular party. Now I dont think its any secret where my loyalties law. And I certainly played hardball, just once or twice. Naifeh ran the House with an iron hand for 18 years, a record, installing Democrats in all important posts. He became the figurehead of the enemy Democratic Party to the statehttp://wpln.org/?p=34870 GOP.

Extenuating Situations Call for Expanding Grants to Businesses: Haslam (TNR)

Gov. Bill Haslam Thursday afternoon explained his reasoning for a push to expand the use of taxpayer-funded cash grants given to businesses through the states FastTrack program. Since 2006 the state has allotted an average of $38.5 million annually to the FastTrack. The governors 2013 fiscal year budget plan outlines development grants that would award up to $70 million through the program. Right now, with cash grants in Tennessee, you can spend them on two things, you can spend them on infrastructure or training, he told TNReport after speaking to the Tennessee Hospital Association in Nashville Thursday. What weve said is in some extenuating situations maybe were going into an area with high unemployment, one of our rural counties with high unemployment we would like to use those grants for other things as well. For employee relocation costs and some things that currently cant be covered by infrastructure or training grants. http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/03/09/extenuating-situations-call-for-expanding-government-grants-to-businesseshaslam/

Haslam health task force to focus on Tenn. obesity (Associated Press)

Reducing Tennessee's obesity rate will be the focus of the Governor's Health and Wellness Task Force. Gov. Bill 2

Haslam noted in a news release Thursday that more than 1.5 million adults or one in three Tennesseans are obese. Haslam said the state must encourage more healthy behavior and improve access to healthy foods and places to exercise. The governor formed the 16-member task force in October. It is chaired by John Lacey, the University of Tennessee's chief medical officer. The task force will work with organizations like the Y, the state's coordinated school health program, the Tennessee Obesity Task Force and local health officials and businesses. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38753859?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Haslam asks Tennessee to confront obesity (Tennessean/Wilemon)

Businesses urged to join fight Gov. Bill Haslam put himself at the center of a campaign to change the way Tennesseans eat and exercise when he announced Thursday that tackling obesity is the priority of his Health and Wellness Task Force. When a third of us are obese and another third are overweight, we have to do something about this, Haslam said. His announcement means that groups already combating obesity have a powerful new ally, one they are counting on to garner other partners, particularly business leaders. Haslam laid the problem out in economic terms, noting that illnesses stemming from obesity, such as diabetes and cancer, eat up health-care dollars and put Tennessee at a disadvantage in attracting new employers. Health-care costs account for almost a third of the states $30-billion-plus budget, he said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/NEWS0201/303090068/Haslam-asks-Tennessee-confrontobesity?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Obama, governors agree on schools (Associated Press/Hefling)

A funny thing is happening between President Barack Obama and many Republican governors when it comes to improving Americas schools: They are mostly getting along. After Obama spoke recently to the nations governors, Louisiana GOP Gov. Bobby Jindal publicly praised the administrations efforts on education, and Virginia Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell said there was a lot of room for common agreement on fixing schools. TennesseeGov. Bill Haslam, another Republican, introduced Obama in September at the White House before the president announced that states could be freed from stringent rules under the No Child Left Behind law if they met certain conditions. GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels freely credits Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan for helping to pave the way for a tectonic shift in education, including comprehensive law changes passed in his home state of Indiana last year that include the rigorous use of teacher evaluations and one of the nations most expansive uses of vouchers to help parents send children to private schools. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120309/NEWS01/303090010/Obama-governors-agree-schools

Haslam Wont Oppose Sidewalk Honoring Former First Lady Conte (TN Report)
Gov. Bill Haslam says he has no problem naming a sidewalk at the bottom of Capitol Hill after his predecessors wife despite red-lighting the move as costly last month. Itll happen. Itll happen, Haslam laughed when asked by reporters about the proposal Tuesday. Well get that paid for, with state money. The Republican governors staff raised objections to the cost of naming the perimeter track of Bicentennial Capitol Mall down the hill from the Capitol Building after former first lady Andrea Conte, wife of Phil Bredesen. Former Democratic Speaker Jimmy Naifeh had brought forward the proposal. http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/03/08/haslam-wont-oppose-sidewalk-honoring-former-first-lady-conte/

Haslam, DesJarlais to meet local GOP (Times-Gazette)

Gov. Bill Haslam will be the keynote speaker for Bedford County Republican Party's 2012 Reagan Day Dinner, to be held Thursday, March 29 at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds. U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais is also scheduled to attend, his first official appearance in Bedford County since it was announced that the county would move from the 6th Congressional District to the 4th in this year's election cycle. DesJarlais represents the 4th district, although all House seats will be up for election this year. State Sen. Jim Tracy and State Rep. Pat Marsh plan to attend as well. Schedule A reception will be held at 5:45 p.m. with the dinner to follow at 6:30. A ticket for both events is $30, and reservations must be made in advance by March 24. Reservations may be made by calling Barbara Frisby at 684-0544. http://www.t-g.com/story/1823718.html

Haslam Awards $565,000 in Parks and Recreation Grants (Clarksville Online)

3

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau today awarded $565,000 in Recreational Trails Program grants to recipients across Tennessee. Montgomery County will receive $120,000 for the Phase II construction of an ADA-accessible boardwalk trail These grants help local governments and organizations enhance or expand community amenities such as trails, greenways and recreational facilities, Haslam said. I am pleased this years grant awards will allow us to help communities across the state make the outdoors more accessible to Tennesseans. The Recreational Trails Program is a federally-funded program established to distribute funding for motorized, non-motorized and diverse recreation trail projects. The funds are available to federal, state and local government agencies, as well as non-profit organizations that have obtained IRS 501(c)(3) status and have a written trail management agreement with the agency that owns the property where the trail project is located. http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2012/03/08/tennessee-governor-bill-haslam-awards-565000-in-parks-andrecreation-grants/

TN Teacher Evals Discussed in WSJ (TN Report)

Two Memphis music teachers and Tennessees top education official are featured in a W all Street Journal story today tracking teacher evaluation efforts across the country. The story looks at the challenge of using tests in evaluating educators when standardized tests dont generally cover social studies or science, focusing instead on reading and math. Theres also the potential for parent revolt, as in the case of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools failed attempt to test every single kindergartner one at a time. Heres the Tennessee connection: Memphis music teacher Jeff Chipman is part of a small group of teachers piloting the new assessment based on student portfolios, and he acknowledges the districts challenges. We are about teaching kids to perform and experience art, and that cannot be measured with a pencil-and-paper test, he said. We want to be evaluated on how we help kids grow, but we dont want to turn the arts program into a testing machine. http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/03/08/tn-teacher-evals-discussed-in-wsj/

Tennessee ranks favorably among other states according to voter survey (CP)
Tennessee ranked the third most favorable state in the U.S., according to results of the latest Public Policy Polling survey. The survey, conducted throughout the country during a four-month period ending last month, asked 700 of 3,300 likely voters how they view each of the 50 states. W hen asked about their impression of Tennessee, voters ranked the state third most favorable. Hawaii and Colorado ranked first and second respectively in the poll. Only five states California, Illinois, New Jersey, Mississippi and Utah were ranked in negative territory. California fared the worst with 27 percent of voters ranking it favorably compared to 44 percent ranking it unfavorably. In addition to the overall ranking, Tennessee was one of only four Southern states ranked favorably among African-Americans polled. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/tennessee-ranksfavorably-among-other-states-according-voter-survey

Tennessee tax revenue exceeds budgeted estimate by $20.3M in February (MBJ)

Tennessee's sales tax collections continued their positive year-over-year growth in February. However, the state warned rising gasoline prices could cut into that growth. Tennessee reported $706.6 million in tax revenue in February, $20.3 million more than had been budgeted, Finance and Administration Commissioner Mark Emkes stated in a release. A general improvement in economic conditions was given credit for the increase, the 23rd consecutive month for a year-over-year increase, the state noted. While we believe the healthy growth rate in sales tax collections for February is indicative of an improving economy in Tennessee, we are concerned that escalating gasoline prices will soon begin to erode the positive growth trend we are now enjoying, Emkes stated in the release. The following are excerpts from the states revenue report: Sales tax collections were $22 million more than the estimate for February. The February growth rate was positive 10.24 percent. The year-to-date growth rate for seven months is positive 6.98 percent. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/03/08/tennessee-tax-revenue-exceeds-budgeted.html

Provisional ballot form sends voters to bank call center (Tennessean/Wilson)

A phone number intended to tell Nashville voters where they could go to get a photo ID so they can cast a provisional ballot sent them instead to a Bank of America call center for servicing delinquent loans. The contact information was listed on a form given to those who cast a provisional ballot because they did not present a photo ID as required under the states new voter identification law. The phone number was printed as the number to contact the state Department of Safetys call center to find the closest place to receive a photo ID. Albert Tieche, the Davidson County administrator of elections, said the local election commission knew about the 4

error but wasnt sure how it happened. Its a fairly small detail, he said. Its kind of laid out there. Weve also handed out thousand of documents that give all the information on where to go. Its been in the newspaper. Its been on TV. Its been everywhere. There was no indication that anyone was denied the right to vote. In addition to the phone number, the instruction form included an Internet address for a website telling voters where to go to receive a photo ID, as well as the phone number for the Davidson County Election Commission. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/NEWS02/303090059/Provisional-ballot-form-sends-voters-bankcall-center?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

State promoting community supported agriculture (Associated Press)

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is promoting community supported agriculture. CSA is a business model through which a non-farmer purchases a share or half-share of a real farmer's harvest often before the crops are even planted. State officials say such arrangements are a national trend. They are popular with farmers because they can pay for the seed, fuel and other expenses to farm for the year. For consumers, they get fresh, local food already paid for. Fees vary. CSAs keep food dollars and the farmlands where they're produced in the community. A spring-summer CSA share typically lasts from late May until early November. Tennessee CSAs are accepting customers now. A directory of CSAs is at www.picktnproducts.org . http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38757847?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

TennCare hospital reimbursements vary widely (Tennessean/W ilemon)

Some Tennessee hospitals are questioning why they should continue paying a self-imposed tax to prop up the states Medicaid program because competitors are getting back much more in reimbursements while they lose money treating TennCare patients. Hospital executives were shocked to learn that insurance contractors for TennCare, the state health-care program for the poor, were paying more than four times as much to some hospitals as to others for outpatient procedures. In some cases, the disparities amounted to millions of dollars enough to make or break a hospitals budget. The tension threatens to fracture a carefully negotiated alliance that keeps the state from losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal matching money. One of the states largest hospitals, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, has left the Tennessee Hospital Association, the organization that came up with the idea for the enhanced coverage fee, a 3.5 percent assessment on patient revenue. Craig Becker, THA president, said a solution is in the works. His organization has asked TennCare to set new guidelines to narrow the disparities in reimbursements. The state agency has agreed to a more equitable payment scale, and a bill is moving through the legislature to do that. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/NEWS07/303090071/TennCare-hospital-reimbursements-varywidely?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

TBI accepting applications for Citizens Academy (Daily News Journal)

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now accepting applications for the 2012 TBI Citizens Academy open to Tennessee residents interested in learning more about the states lead investigative law enforcement agency. The four-week academy is scheduled for May 1-22 at TBI Headquarters in Nashville. It will offer citizens a look at TBIs work, ranging from its investigations of crime scenes, cyber crime, tracking terrorism information and other aspects of criminal activity in Tennessee. Classes will be held for three hours, one night a week. The Academy is designed to develop a better understanding and awareness in the community of TBI through a first hand look at the Bureau and its responsibilities across the state. Due to limited classroom size, the Academy will be limited to 15 citizens. Requirements for applicants are as follows: http://www.dnj.com/article/20120308/NEW S01/120308002/TBI-accepting-applications-Citizens-Academy

Philyaw drops out of General Sessions Court judge race (Times Free-Press/South)
The field of candidates for the General Sessions Court judge election in August now is smaller by one. Rob Philyaw, the part-time city judge in Graysville, Tenn., was one of three candidates who had qualified for the race, according to the Hamilton County Election Commission website. Eight people have picked up applications. But in a statement to supporters and a brief phone conversation with the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Philyaw said he has decided to forgo seeking this seat and will suspend my campaign. Judge David Norton is an excellent choice, and he will serve honorably, Philyaw wrote in his statement. The Hamilton County Commission voted 71 on March 1 to appoint Norton, the Soddy-Daisy city judge, to the post left vacant by the Jan. 26 death of Judge 5

Bob Moon. Philyaw received the only vote not for Norton. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/09/judge-rob-philyaw-drops-out-general-sessions-court/?local

Judiciary reprimands Cocke County judge (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Satterfield)

For the fourth time, a Cocke County judge is getting his hand slapped by a state panel tasked with policing him. The Tennessee Court of the Judiciary late last month issued a public reprimand of Cocke County General Sessions Court Judge John Bell. It is the fourth action against Bell since he took office in 1998. According to a notice by the Court of the Judiciary, Bell confessed guilt in the latest infraction rather than submit to a public accounting of the allegations against him. This is itself a reversal of Bell's prior history of fighting via public hearings claims made against him. Bell agreed to a public reprimand for conduct that occurred in April 2011, while Bell, an Army National Guardsman who served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps handling military legal affairs, was stationed in Germany. Bell agreed that he allowed a lawyer, who had not been previously approved as temporary judge by the state Supreme Court, to stand in his stead as judge. Lawyers tapped as special judges are paid for their services. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/09/judiciary-reprimandscocke-county-judge/

DA: Death penalty out in all but one of four torture slaying suspects (NS/Satterfield)
It's official. Death is no longer a possible fate for three of four defendants in the January 20007 torture slayings of a Knox County couple. Assistant District Attorney General Leland Price has filed notice of an intention to seek the death penalty as punishment in the deaths of Channon Christian, 21, and boyfriend Christopher Newsom, 23, only against alleged ringleader Lemaricus Davidson. Price this month notified attorneys for Davidson's brother, Letalvis Cobbins, and Cobbins' friend, George Thomas, that he will push for a fate in their cases no more than life without possibility of parole. Because Cobbins' girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, was acquitted of a direct role in the deaths, Price hasn't filed a notice of punishment sought in her case. The move comes after a special judge ordered up new trials for all four defendants in the wake of a prescription pill abuse scandal involving the judge who once presided over the case. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/09/da-death-penalty-out-in-all-butone-of-four/

Senate approves Amazon sales-tax agreement (Times Free-Press/Sher)

Legislation requiring Amazon to begin collecting Tennessee sales tax beginning in 2014 passed the Senate this morning. The bill, the result of an agreement between the Internet retailing giant and Gov. Bill Haslam, was approved on a 30-1 vote. Id really like to thank the governors office for working this out, said the bills sponsor, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, who had criticized the original verbal deal struck by former Gov. Phil Bredesen and Amazon. That deal would have let Amazon avoid ever collecting sales taxes in exchange for locating two $139 million distribution centers in Chattanooga and near Cleveland, employing about 4,000 full-time and seasonal workers. Under the agreement, Amazon is building two additional distribution centers, one in Rutherford County and one in Wilson County. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/08/tennessee-senate-approves-amazon-sales-tax-agreeme/? breakingnews

Legislative impasse on ECD, guns and zoning - for now (Nashville Biz Journal)
It was a week of standoffs in the Tennessee General Assembly. A look at three of the biggest business issues on tap in recent days Gov. Bill Haslams economic development package, a pair of controversial gun bills and a flare up over zoning issues reveals some of the most difficult lines lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Legislature are debating over. All three show an ongoing search for compromise, with little new word on where it may come from. Here's the breakdown from my notebook this week: The Republican governor's economic development package remains bogged down as the administration and legislators discuss how to find common ground on what sort of information the state should disclose about companies. But the fate of another bill, which apart from the disclosure issue expands the types of expenses companies can receive FastTrack grants for, is also getting cloudier. Earlier this week, Haslam said he wants that bill to move forward regardless of what happens on the disclosure issue. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, the Republican head of the Senate, signaled that he has separate concerns about expanding the use of grants. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2012/03/ramsey-haslam-ecd-fasttrack-tennessee.html 6

'Boro armory named for 1st Lt. Emmert (Daily News Journal)
Gov. Bill Haslam has signed into law legislation sponsored by Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, naming the National Guard Armory in Murfreesboro the First Lieutenant William Eric Emmert National Guard Armory. Senate Bill 2159 is co-sponsored by Senators Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, Ophelia Ford, D-Memphis, and Eric Stewar, D-Belvidere, and Representatives Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, Mike Sparks, RSmyrna, Barrett Rich, R-Hickory Withe and Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, according to a news release from the state. Lt. Emmert was a shining example of courage and the volunteer spirit for which our state is known, said Sen. Ketron. His name will forever be associated with this Armory as new generations of Tennessee soldiers will know the sacrifices he made for freedom. First Lt. Emmert was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 24, 2009, while serving his country in Mosul, Iraq. He was assigned to the 269th Military Police Company, 117th Military Police Battalion, in the Tennessee Army National Guard. Emmert was a cum laude graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as a counter intelligence agent during tours of duty in Korea, Germany and Cuba http://www.dnj.com/article/20120309/NEW S/303080036

Ramsey questions Governor Bill Haslams FastTrack changes (TFP/Sher)

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey voiced reservations Thursday about Gov. Bill Haslams plan to expand the states FastTrack economic development incentive program into other areas. Ramsey said he likes the FastTrack program as is. The program funnels taxpayer money through local development boards or other local government entities in the form of reimbursements for infrastructure and job-training programs. Haslam has legislation that adds a third leg to FastTrack: It would provide more flexibility to economic development spending, which officials say companies favor. The list includes, but is not limited to, grants or loans for retrofitting, relocating or purchasing equipment; building repairs and improvements; and temporary office space or other temporary equipment related to relocation or expansion. The bill states that such funds would be used in exceptional circumstances when the funds will make a proportionally significant economic impact on the affected community. But Ramsey makes a distinction between the current uses for economic development funds and Haslams proposed additions. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/09/senate-speaker-ron-ramsey-questions-governor-bill-/?local

Ramsey questions using state cash to recruit businesses (N-S/Humphrey)

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey said Thursday he supports the state paying infrastructure costs for businesses expanding in Tennessee but has misgivings about Gov. Bill Haslam's plans to give them cash grants. Ramsey acknowledged to reporters that he had opposed in concept a state payment last year of $97 million in cash to Electrolux Inc. as part of a $188 million state and local government package toward building a plant in Memphis. He went along with legislation to approve the one-time funding, saying legislators should honor a commitment made by former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen even though disapproving of the precedent. "I'm still concerned about that (providing cash grants)," Ramsey said Thursday. The state's so-called FastTrack program for financial help to companies relocating or expanding in the state, he said, should entail "doing for businesses what they can't do for themselves." "By that I mean, if a new company's coming in, we ought to put in the infrastructure. We need to put in the sewer lines. We need to make sure the gas line is there and the utilities," he said. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/08/ramsey-questions-using-state-cash-to-recruit/

Faulk announces he won't seek re-election (Times-News)

Tennessee state Sen. Mike Faulk announced Thursday he wont seek re-election after one term in office. Faulk, R-Church Hill, made the announcement during a video meeting with Surgoinsville Middle School students streamed live via Skpe over the Internet. He had been non-committal about his political future during a similar meeting with students last month. My ailing mother and my business need me more than the Senate needs me, Faulk, an attorney, said of his decision in a prepared release. Most folks understand the need to care for a gravely ill parent. Being at her side is a higher priority of mine than campaigning for reelection for the next eight months." In regard to his law practice, Faulk added: For the past three years, having time to work in my business after first doing my Senate responsibilities has been a struggle. As a solo attorney, I need to work much, much more over the next four years to keep my business going. Faulk also noted his term-limits pledge was a part of his decision. As candidate Faulk, I told folks Id serve a term or two. Ill be keeping that promise by 7

becoming citizen Faulk, Faulk added. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9043439/faulk-announces-he-won39t-seek-re-election

Republican State Senator to Leave, Cites Family Duties (W PLN-Radio Nashville)

A state senator from upper East Tennessee announced Thursday that hell step down after serving only one four-year term. Republican Mike Faulk says his solo-legal practice and his ailing mother are higher priorities than the eight-month-long campaign it would take to retain his seat. The senator made the announcement to a student town hall meeting. For the past three years, having time to work in my business after first doing my Senate responsibilities has been a struggle. As a solo attorney, I need to work much, much more over the next four years to keep my business going. Faulk represents Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties. He narrowly won the seat over the incumbent, who had left the GOP to become an independent. Faulk noted that he believes in term limits for politicians. As Candidate Faulk, I told folks Id serve a term or two, he said. Ill be keeping that promise by becoming Citizen Faulk. http://wpln.org/?p=34876

TN lawmaker says green policies are part of secret U.N. plot (Tennessean/Paine)
A resolution in the state legislature opposes what is depicted as an insidious United Nations scheme to take away citizens property rights through radical environmentalism. The legislation, which refers to Agenda 21, is pending as planners and property rights advocates spar over a series of bills related to how development should be regulated. Several were deferred Wednesday in the House State and Local Government subcommittee. The separate House Joint Resolution 0587, which passed the full committee Tuesday, is expected to go to the House floor for a vote as early as next week. Agenda 21, a nonbinding U.N. plan adopted by at least 178 governments in 1992, talks about the need to work together to find ways to ensure clean water and air and stable food supplies as the planets population grows, along with hunger and poverty. The 20-year-old program is viewed by some as a plot for world dominance. The proposed resolution says that global political control is one of the intentions of the U.N. program and that it is being covertly pushed into local communities through policies that incorporate words like sustainable development, green or regional visioning. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/NEWS0201/303090079/TN-lawmaker-says-green-policies-partsecret-U-N-plot?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Taft Youth Development Centers supporters say facility works (TFP/Benton)

While state lawmakers prepare to pass judgment on Taft Youth Development Center, either sending it to the guillotine or keeping it alive, some voices calling for its rescue come from those who say they know it best. One Hamilton County mother with lupus weeps at the thought that Taft could be shuttered before her son gets his GED and welding certificates that could put his life on the right path. A Davidson County mother praises the turnaround her son saw at Taft, while her son says the center set him on a course for the future. A Lewisburg, Tenn., teen claims Taft helped me accomplish every goal I had and more as he earned his GED and welding certificates and found strength in faith. Since state officials announced a proposal to trim the Department of Childrens Services budget by closing Taft Youth Development Center, lawmakers in the region, Taft workers and juvenile judges have cried foul. But there are others with more intimate knowledge of the 92-year-old facility home to the states toughest juvenile offenders, mostly between 16 and 19 years old and the benefits it can have on its inmates. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/09/taft-youth-development-centers-supporters-say-faci/?local

Occupy Nashville clears camp; 1 protester to defy ban (Tennessean/Sisk)

Demonstrators have until today to leave plaza; after midnight, no sign of arrests; in early morning, noncamping supporters remain on scene at Nashville plaza Early Friday morning only one occupied tent was left at the War Memorial Plaza encampment. Overnight, protesters packed up their tents and cleaned up, and by about 2 a.m. the tents were gone except for one, which was moved to the center of the plaza. That tent was occupied by a lone protester, Christopher Humphrey. Humphrey, of Nashville, said he has been at the campsite since the beginning of the Occupy Nashville protest and has decided to stay to test the law. About 15 Occupy Nashville people, who are not camping, remain on the scene to support Humphrey, despite the cold. Despite moving tents and throwing some camping items into garbage cans as midnight approached, there was no sign of police at War Memorial Plaza. There were about 40 people around the plaza tonight, including at least a dozen journalists. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/NEWS01/303090064/Occupy-Nashville-prepares-to-defy-banplans-for-arrests?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE 8

Occupiers Biding Time Until Eviction (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Its been nearly a week since Governor Bill Haslam signed a law prohibiting unauthorized camping on government property. The measure was aimed squarely at Occupy Nashville protesters. A dedicated few are waiting to test law enforcement. The state posted notices, giving Occupiers like Benjamin Grady a week to leave War Memorial Plaza It could be as early as 12:01 AM Friday morning that they come. We really dont know at this point. W ere kind of just biding time. Grady says he wont be sticking around, but a handful of protesters are making plans to be arrested. The penalties are stiffer than they were in October when more than 50 people were hauled away in handcuffs. The new state law unauthorized camping a Class A misdemeanor, with a maximum fine of $2,500 and a year in jail. According to Occupy Nashvilles official Twitter account, state troopers went around overnight reminding protesters they would have to leave by midnight Thursday. http://wpln.org/?p=34859

Murfreesboro Judge: City camping ordinance Constitutional (Daily News Journal)

Occupy cases could be heading to trial A city court judge decided Thursday that a city ordinance prohibiting camping on Civic Plaza and other public property is constitutional, thus denying a request to dismiss charges against local Occupiers for violating the law. The decision by Murfreesboro City Court Judge Ewing Sellers came after an approximately 90-minute hearing Thursday in the courtroom at Murfreesboro City Hall on Vine Street and means the cases against individual protesters cited by Murfreesboro Police could potentially be heading to trial. During the Thursday hearing, Occupy attorneys Will York and Joan Hill argued unsuccessfully that the citys law was unconstitutional as written because it infringed on the groups First Amendment rights to free speech, symbolic expression and to peaceably assemble. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120309/NEW S/303090028/Murfreesboro-Judge-City-camping-ordinanceConstitutional?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Robertson County unveils economic plan (Tennessean/Marsteller)

4-year effort's goals: new jobs, better marketing Robertson County officials unveiled a $1.275 million plan Thursday night to improve the countys economic base. Called Realizing Robertsons Future, the four-year effort aims to create more than 600 jobs, better market the county to corporate consultants who pick sites, and deepen ties between schools and the local business community, among other goals. The program is modeled after similar economic development plans in Clarksville, Jackson, Murfreesboro and Cleveland, Tenn., as well as their respective counties. With one of the highest out-commute rates in Middle Tennessee, we have a resident workforce ready for high-paying jobs, said Scott Raynes of NorthCrest Medical Center, who is chairman of the efforts fundraising campaign. We just need to proactively market our community and our advantages to companies whose operations will complement our community, Raynes said. Almost 3 of every 4 people in Robertsons workforce commute to other counties for their jobs, said Bill Allen, the efforts project director. About $661,000 has been raised for the effort, which is slated to officially begin July 1. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/BUSINESS01/303090072/Robertson-County-unveils-economicplan?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Local board appeals state decision on landfill (Jackson Sun)

The local solid waste board met once again Thursday morning to fine tune a resolution it will send to the state, urging it to reconsider its decision to approve a landfill in the Denmark community. The Tennessee Solid Waste Disposal Control Board approved landfill owner Bill McMillens appeal for a solid waste permit for his Betty Manley Road landfill on Feb. 27, despite previous urging from the local solid waste board not to do so. The local solid waste board met last Friday to put together the resolution and came together again Thursday to make any amendments to it before sending it to the state board for an appeal. John Newman, chairman of the local board, said that when the state made the previous decision the local solid waste boards plan was not put into evidence. He said the resolution should convince the board to reverse its decision. W hen they hear the resolution, I think they will be convinced that we do not need another landfill, he said. I think we will prevail. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120309/NEWS01/303090014/Local-board-appeals-state-decision-landfill

Fincher gets a bill through the House for the first time (Gannett/Bewley)
First lawmking victory for Tennessee freshman Rep. Stephen Finchers bill aimed at making it easier for smalland medium-sized businesses to go public passed the House on Thursday, marking the first major legislative 9

victory for the first-term Republican from Frog Jump. Finchers bill formed a key piece of a larger jobs package designed to spur the growth of start-ups and help small businesses raise capital. The group of bills passed the House 390-23 in a rare moment of bipartisan agreement. All of Tennessees House members voted for it except Republican Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. of Knoxville, who did not vote. This was a good day, hopefully, for the workers in America, the job creators who can do some positive things for people who are hurting and unemployed, Fincher said after the vote. His measure would reduce regulatory costs for an initial public offering by creating an IPO on-ramp for companies with less than $1 billion in annual revenue, phasing in certain requirements over five years. Those requirements now take effect as soon as or in some cases before a company goes public. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120309/NEWS01/303090022/Fincher-gets-bill-through-House-first-time

Rep. Diane Black's husband buys office building for $8.7M (Tennessean/Allyn)
Property is nearly 80 percent occupied at last report U.S. Rep. Diane Blacks husband, David L. Black, has purchased a three-story office building with a gleaming glass facade for $8.7 million, according to county property records. David Black, who owns the drug-testing laboratory Aegis Sciences Corp., bought the high-rise under the name Ebon Falcon LLC from Embassy Square LLC, the listed seller. Known as the First Image Building, the Class A property was appraised in 2010 for $9.2 million; the building was sold in 2006 for $5.5 million. It was built in 1985. Black bought the office, on 6.2 acres of land, for about $80 per square foot. The property is about 77 percent occupied, and has around 25,000 square feet of available space. By comparison, the average office occupancy rate in MetroCenter was 89.1 percent in last years fourth quarter, according to Cassidy Turleys latest report. Currently, Saint Thomas Hospital and Brown and Caldwell are the buildings only two tenants. They occupy a combined 84,000 square feet. Blacks operation bought the building to prepare for long-term growth and Saint Thomas and Brown and Caldwell will stay in the building until their leases expire, a spokesman said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/BUSINESS01/303090056/Rep-Diane-Black-s-husband-buysoffice-building-8-7M?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

TNGOP: Tight Margins Delaying Exact Delegate Totals (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

It could be a couple weeks before Tennessees Republican party gives an exact count of the delegates each presidential hopeful picked up in Tuesdays primary. The state GOP says thats because some district results were so close they want to wait until the state certifies the election late this month. In upper East Tennessee, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are said to have come within a few votes of each other for one delegate. Meanwhile officials confirmed a separate statewide pool of delegates split with 12 going to Rick Santorum, 9 to Romney and 7 to Gingrich. http://wpln.org/?p=34889

Nursing home backers seek answers to VA funding priority list (TFP/Higgins)

Advocates for a regional veterans' nursing home want to know why projects in Bradley and Montgomery counties lost ground last month on the Veterans Administration funding priority list. Representatives for U.S. Reps. Chuck Fleischman and Scott Dejarles and U.S. Sens. Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander attended the Southeast Tennessee Veterans Nursing Home Council on Thursday. "We are still very much in the running, but we are waiting for an official explanation," said Larry McDaris, Bradley County veterans services director. Since the new list was published in February, supporters have learned of another priority previously unknown: the VA can rank according to need as well as local funding support. Bradley and Montgomery counties were ranked as "limited need" previously, the same as the Virginia projects that jumped ahead this year. But now the three Virginia projects are ranked as "significant need," the highest level. "The question is why they weren't moved ahead of us last year," said Cid Heidel, council co-chairman along with County Commissioner Mark Hall. "Please let us know what happened," Heidel told the federal staff representatives. "We can accept reality." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/09/nursing-home-backers-seek-answers-to-va-list/?local

Fate of ballot measures often depends on the wording (Stateline)

Just a couple of months ago, Dan Pellissier was leading an effort to ask California voters to overhaul the states public retirement system. The ballot initiative campaign looked like it had momentum, with polls showing a majority of Californians in support of pension changes. The stage appeared set for a November showdown between fiscal conservatives and public employee unions. Then, says Pellissier, just as the campaign was 10

gearing up to begin collecting signatures to gain a spot on the ballot, it came to a screeching halt in the office of California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Harris didnt kick the initiative off the ballot or challenge it in court. Instead, her office played a seemingly technical role. In California, the attorney general is responsible for writing the summary that petitioners use when they gather signatures to place an initiative on the ballot. For initiatives that qualify, the attorney general comes up with the words voters see in the voting booth. Pellissier, who heads a group called California Pension Reform, thinks that Harriss ballot summary for the initiative was false, misleading and prejudicial all in under 100 words. The summary says the initiative reduces pension benefits for current and future public employees. http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=637691

Yates Construction opens new Nashville office (Nashville Business Journal)

W.G. Yates & Sons Construction announced today the opening of a new office in Nashville The Mississippibased firm is working on several high-profile projects in Tennessee, including the $84 million Nissan electric vehicle battery plant in Smyrna, the $95 million Electrolux Home Products project in Memphis and the $1.5 billion Wacker Chemie polysilicon plant in Cleveland, Tenn. Yates Vice President Rocky Wooten will lead the Nashville office, which will be located at Lakeview II, Suite 303, 15 Century Blvd. Our goal is to exceed expectations and help clients achieve their vision on time and within budget, W ooten said in a news release. The opening of the Nashville offices will allow us to offer a higher level of attention and service to our projects and clientele in Middle Tennessee. Yates has had a Memphis office since 1993. The Nashville office will be its second in Tennessee. It also operates locations in Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/03/08/yates-construction-opens-new-nashville.html

Music City Center considers solar panels (Tennessean/Cass)

Consultant will explore options for solar panels Nashvilles new convention center, already set to have a green roof, probably will have a solar one, too. The Convention Center Authority has hired a local consulting firm to explore options for solar panels on top of the Music City Center, the $585 million building under construction downtown. An installation on the roof above the ballroom on the buildings north end would make the facility one of the most high-profile in Middle Tennessee to use the alternative energy source. The building is unique enough and obviously prominent enough that it can serve as an example to other property owners, as a testimonial to the long-term value of solar, Mayor Karl Dean said Thursday. I dont want to do a project just to have panels up there. I want a real, tangible benefit for the city. The consulting firm, Energy Source Partners, will look at small, medium and large solar options for the convention center, including costs, energy savings, financing structures and maintenance. Ron Merville, the companys president and CEO, said 50 kilowatts or less is considered small by Tennessee Valley Authority standards, while 200 or more is considered large. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/NEWS0202/303090066/Music-City-Center-considers-solar-panels? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Erlanger at Hutcheson board changes proposed (Times Free-Press/Martin)

Proposed changes for Erlanger at Hutchesons tri-county hospital authority board would increase the number of trustees and change how they are appointed. All three counties Catoosa, Dade and Walker must approve changes. Catoosa County officials call the moves reasonable and necessary, but Dade and Walker officials said Thursday they have not discussed the issue and need more information before acting. The hospital authority the governing board for Hutcheson, which has lost millions of dollars in the last year now has nine members: four from Walker, three from Catoosa and two from Dade. One proposed change would give Walker and Catoosa five trustees and Dade three. The other gives county commissions more power over board appointments. Catoosa County commissioners approved the resolutions Friday at a special meeting, then sent them to the other counties lawyers and to local lawmakers, Catoosa County Attorney Skip Patty said. Hutcheson was taken over by Erlanger Health System last year and has a new CEO, Roger Forgey. When Erlanger assumed management and began lending the hospital money last year, Walker and Catoosa counties pledged $10 million each to back the loans. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/09/erlanger-hutcheson-board-changes-proposed/?local

Nashville schools chief Jesse Register outlines state of schools (Tennessean/Hall)

Metro Nashvilles top school administrator lauded the districts accomplishments Thursday while assuring listeners the lowest-performing schools are getting attention. Jesse Register delivered his annual State of the Schools address to a receptive crowd of district employees, elected officials and others at Metros Martin 11

Professional Development Center, personalizing it with music from a Nashville School for the Arts guitar quartet and a students personal story. Past year's successes He began with a litany of successes in the past year: four students in the 80,000-student district scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT college readiness exam, plus several students graduating high school having already earned associates degrees and others winning international science and math awards. But Register also noted 33 consistently low-performing schools and an agreement with England-based consultants Tribal Education Group aimed at turning them around. Prior to this year, our turnaround strategies werent as focused as we needed, he said. Now they are, and were making great progress. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/NEWS04/303090081/Nashville-schools-chief-Jesse-Registeroutlines-state-schools?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Memphis-Shelby (CA/Kelley)

County

schools

merger

panel

picks

six-regions

model

The unified Memphis and Shelby County school district set to open its doors in the fall of 2013 will be divided into six regions, each with 20 to 30 schools and each led by a regional director, if a plan designed by the Transition Planning Commission is ratified by the unified school board. The structure, which was approved by the TPC Thursday night, would accommodate a strong degree of local autonomy on decisions such as hiring, budgeting, curriculum development, the length of the school day and the school calendar. The "Multiple Achievement Paths" model was approved by the Transition Planning Commission on a vote of 20-0, with one abstention, after a presentation by the Boston Consulting Group's J. Puckett, who assured TPC members that the multi-dimensional structure could accommodate their quest for high-performing schools throughout the district that would be accessible to every student. The model is a combination of two previous versions -- the United model and the Path to Autonomy. Its supporters insist that the structure was not designed to dissuade suburban cities from dodging unification with separate municipal school districts. Decentralization and local autonomy are popular trends in school district administration nationwide. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/09/panel-picks-schools-model/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Planning Commission Approves Schools Structure (Memphis Daily News)

The group drafting the blueprint for the structure of a new consolidated countywide school system approved a structure for that school system Thursday, March 8, that offers multiple options for school autonomy. The proposal the commission approved on a voice vote has what are called multiple achievement paths. It allows for schools with some degree of autonomy which would be operated by the countywide school district as part of the centralized part of the system. Other schools operating separate from that part of the system would come under an innovation office and would include some low performing schools being considered for the state-run Achievement School District. The awarded autonomy would be a more limited autonomy to do things like change the school calendar or change school hours. It could also be extended to include curriculum changes. But the school district would still be the direct authority over the school. And the school would have an attendance zone. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/mar/9/planning-commission-approves-schools-structure/

Feasibility report: Millington must annex, raise taxes to form district (CA/W olff)
The city of Millington learned Thursday that the only way it can create a municipal school district would be to annex the nearby Lucy community, close one of three elementary schools and raise taxes, according to a study that examined the feasibility of creating a school system. Millington is the last of the six suburban cities to receive its school feasibility report from the consulting firm, Southern Educational Strategies. On Thursday evening, aldermen approved on second readings two school-related ordinances: one to create a referendum for citizens to decide if they want a municipal school district, and another, asking voters if they would support a half-cent increase in the local option sales tax rate to help fund schools. City officials didn't discuss the report Thursday, however, because many had just received it. But Alderman Don Lowry said that the key points showed that starting a school system is feasible. "It's going to be a challenge, I know that," Alderman Mike Caruthers said in an interview before the meeting. The north Shelby County city will be required to jump through more hoops than the other suburban cities if it decides to create its own district. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/08/feasibility-report-millington-must-annex-raise-tax/ (SUB)

12

Mississippi: Mississippi Governor's Pardons Are Upheld (Wall Street Journal)

Mississippi's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the more than 200 pardons granted by Haley Barbour as he left the governor's office in January, sparking a spirited debate over clemency powers. The justices ruled 6-to-3 that the 215 pardons and other forms of clemency issued by Mr. Barbour, a two-term Republican, were valid, stating the clemency decisions "may not be set aside or voided by the judicial branch." The pardonsa corrective against overly harsh sentencing granted to governors and the presidentwere decisions that "fell to the governor alone to decide whether the Constitution's publication requirement was met," according to the opinion. The decision follows the death Tuesday of several bills aimed at curbing clemency powers, as measures failed to reach a vote in either the Mississippi House or Senate. Gov. Phil Bryant, who won office in November, has said he wouldn't grant pardons except when there are clear-cut examples of injustice. In a statement, Mr. Barbour said the court decision "has reaffirmed more than a century of settled law in our state." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203961204577269930706253716.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Texas: State Cuts Squeezing the Elderly Poor and Their Doctors (NY Times)
After Dr. Javier Saenz completed his family-medicine residency in 1985, he returned home to the Rio Grande Valley to open a practice in the impoverished town of La Joya. Today, Saenz Medical Center treats up to 150 patients a day. Dr. Saenz is the volunteer physician for the local high schools and their football teams. A middle school is named after him. Despite his success, Dr. Saenz, 56, said he feels nothing like a hero these days. His practice, he said, is hanging by a thread. His troubles reflect a statewide problem for doctors who treat a disproportionately high number of the reported 320,000 low-income Texans who are dually eligible for Medicare, the federal insurer of the elderly, and Medicaid, the joint state-federal health care program for indigent children, disabled people and the very poor. On Jan. 1, the state reduced its share of co-payments for such patients. Physicians who treat them are seeing less revenue. Many, like Dr. Saenz, are not sure they can make enough money to stay in business. The Legislature directed the states Health and Human Services Commission last year to cut the Medicaid budget by $3 billion over two years, including savings of $475 million for this single change. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/us/texas-limits-are-squeezing-the-elderly-poor-and-their-doctors.html? _r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1331294998-+ZuvZ1UA2mzEfoMtZbGnDw

OPINION Times Editorial: Preserving Hope grants (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

Democrats haven't won many battles in the Tennessee General Assembly since Republicans took control of the legislative body, but it seems that they might have prevailed in one important skirmish. Victory isn't assured, but the minority party's convincing argument that there is no need to tighten eligibility rules for the Tennessee Hope Scholarships for college seems to have carried the day, at least for the moment. If that eventually proves the case, the road to higher education and to the training and degrees and the jobs it provides should be easier to navigate for many state students. Republicans had proposed a bill that would have required freshmen entering college in the fall of 2015 and afterwards to earn at least a 3.0 high school GPA and score a 21 or higher on the ACT test to qualify for a full $4,000 per year Hope Scholarship. Current rules allow students to qualify for the scholarship by meeting only one of the two standards. Republicans said that the tougher standards were necessary to close a projected $17 million difference between lottery proceeds and the cost of scholarships. That's a fine sounding argument, but only if it based on the truth. It wasn't. 13

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/09/preserving-hope-grants/?opiniontimes

Editorial: Lottery scholarship eligibility standards need no adjustments (N-S)

Tennessee's legislators apparently have figured out that the Tennessee Lottery is not teetering on the edge of financial collapse after all. A bill that would have slashed lottery-funded HOPE scholarships for many students was revised in the Senate Education Committee this week to keep the current eligibility requirements. The rewritten bill raises the bar for lottery revenues without cutting scholarships, a compromise both parties should support. The original bill would have cut HOPE scholarships in half for students who do not score a 21 on the ACT college entrance exam and earn a 3.0 grade-point average in high school. According to the analysis filed with the bill, more than 5,000 students statewide would have received reduced scholarships in the first year, rising to more than 8,000 the next. Savings were projected at $13 million the first year and $17 million every year afterward. The amendment keeps in place the requirement that students meet either standard. HOPE scholarships provide $4,000 a year to recipients. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/09/editorial-lotteryscholarship-eligibility-need/

Editorial: Megasite counsultant will aid final development (Jackson Sun)

Development of the Haywood County industrial megasite continues to unfold and hold promise for West Tennessees future. The latest development in the years-long process is the hiring of the Canup & Associates consulting firm to assist with final development strategies and marketing of the megasite. In 2009, after several years of work by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, more than 3,800 contiguous acres of land were purchased by the state to create the industrial megasite. That includes the singleuse core of 1,720 acres, plus an additional 2,100 acres in adjoining property. That was the first step in attracting a major industry to rural W est Tennessee. Since that time, additional funds have been allocated to plan and develop the site, install infrastructure and prepare it for use. The megasite was conceived and the land purchased during Gov. Phil Bredesens administration. Gov. Bill Haslam similarly has embraced the project, in which the state now has well over $100 million invested. The project also is supported by Haywood County government, the city of Brownsville, Jackson-Madison County and Memphis-Shelby County governments. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120309/OPINION/303090001/Our-View-Megasite-counsultant-will-aid-finaldevelopment

Editorial: Local communities can plan better than legislature (Tennessean)

Americans have a natural sentiment against other folks telling us what we can do with what we own. So, we wish to thank Tennessee legislators for alerting us to the impending danger of a United Nations conspiracy that originated in 1992 (called Agenda 21) to deprive us of our rights; though we find ourselves insulted that legislators think their attempt to deprive local communities of the ability to propose, discuss, and implement their own zoning regulations is any less of a conspiracy. What is the difference between well-meaning, self-serving bureaucrats from outside the United States trying to tell us in our neighborhoods and local communities how to manage our property planning and the disputes that inevitably arise, and well-meaning, self-serving politicians from some other county trying to dictate what we can and cannot resolve among ourselves? Not much. Land-use planning and zoning are difficult tasks, and often the process and results raise the hackles. Who wants to have the enjoyment of his property limited by a zoning law? No one; that is, until someone wants to build an eyesore on the property next to us. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/OPINION01/303090049/Local-communities-can-plan-better-thanlegislature?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Guest columnist: Resolution twists facts to hinder sustainability (Tennessean)

Tennessee House Joint Resolution 587 is concerned with the destructive and insidious nature of United Nations Agenda 21. This is an alarming statement, principally because it is based on distortions and factual errors. Let us look at the facts. Agenda 21 was adopted by the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development by all 178 governments represented at the conference, including the United States. It is not legally binding, but it has the force of global consensus behind it. Agenda 21 is a program of action for sustainable development. It recognizes that all countries aspire to develop and grow economically. How they choose to do so will determine 14

whether or not that growth is sustainable. Agenda 21 is a blueprint for global action but not global control. It contains 40 chapters that cover social and economic issues, resource management, access to information and transparency and the elements required for implementation, from financing and education to business and industry. Like any blueprint, it needs to be adapted to circumstances. Agenda 21 also underlines the importance of participatory decision-making, certainly a hallmark of democracy. All parts of society are called upon to contribute, including local government authorities and nongovernmental organizations. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120309/OPINION03/303090051/Resolution-twists-facts-hindersustainability?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Pam Strickland: Despite law, ID was not needed to vote (News-Sentinel)

Tuesday was only the third time that I've voted at Sequoyah Hills Elementary School. I moved to the neighborhood in March 2011 simply because some folks at my church had a condo for rent. It was a big change from Old North Knoxville, but one I've come to enjoy for a variety of unexpected reasons, one being that Sequoyah Hills Elementary is always busy on Election Day. My preference is to vote mid-morning, but scheduling wouldn't permit that. Instead, I found myself pulling up to the school around 6:30 p.m. I dug my wallet out of my purse and walked inside, pleased to see parents accompanied by children coming and going. There was a short line. The gentleman in front of me was in dark dress slacks and a white shirt with a tie. His driver's license was on the table, but I don't believe anyone specifically asked to see it. I filled out the piece of paper: Name printed, name signed, address, ZIP code. Then checked that I would vote in the Republican Primary. As I lamented my decision, someone told me it would be OK. I got into a conversation with one of the workers about my reasoning. I moved to the line to sign the book by my name. Not once did anyone ask me to open my wallet and show them my ID, photo or otherwise. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/09/pam-strickland-despite-law-id-was-not-needed-to/

Greg Johnson: GOP conservatives flexed muscles again (News-Sentinel)

Tennessee Republicans stayed true to recent form in presidential primaries on Tuesday, favoring the candidate whose social conservatism shows. Former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum won decisively, earning 37 percent of the vote to 28 percent for Mitt Romney, slowing the former Massachusetts governor's slog to what was once seen as an inevitable nomination. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich was third with 24 percent. Santorum's victory was broad, winning 91 counties. Romney eked out wins in Loudon, Marion, Davidson and Williamson counties. Santorum won by a point in Knox 35 to 34 percent by four in Blount, six in Sevier and four in Anderson. Rural Appalachian counties in Tennessee were solid for Santorum. W hite evangelicals made up 73 percent of the Republican primary electorate, according to CNN exit polls, and they went for Santorum by 42 percent to 24 percent for Romney. Interestingly, Romney, a Mormon, won 35 percent of the 9 percent of Republican voters who said they were Catholic. Santorum, a Catholic, got only 36 percent of Catholic votes. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/09/greg-johnson-gop-conservatives-flexed-muscles/

###

15