Donn Janes declares for Tennessee’s Eighth Congressional District

Tipton County resident Donn Janes announces he is officially a candidate for the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District.

BRIGHTON, TN – Monday, June 1st, the following statement was issued by Tipton County resident, Donn Janes:

“Today I am announcing that I am a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District and will seek the Republican nomination in the August 2010 primary.

Janes continued, saying, “I am running for Congress because the people of Tennessee and the 8th District need a representative who will work to solve the problems that Congress has failed to solve. These aren’t new challenges or new problems as they have been languishing for many years. They include social security, prescription drug prices, Medicare, health care costs, insurance, immigration, dependency on foreign oil and education.”

“I am not a lawyer or politician going to Washington to serve my own self interests, goals or ambitions I am your neighbor, your fellow citizen who can no longer stand by and do nothing. We can no longer put the spending of today on our future generations. I am running for this office so that I may help each of you, your children, my children our grand children and first and foremost, the stability and viability of this great country. Thank you.”

Janes will be challenging incumbent Rep. John Tanner, (D), for the 8th Congressional District seat. More information can be found at Donn Janes’ campaign website http://www.donnjanesforcongress.org/.

Governor Identifies 128 Transportation Projects in TDOT’s Region Four for Funding

Projects to be funded through Recovery Act, Bridge Bonding and Traditional Funds

NASHVILLE— Governor Phil Bredesen today released a final list of projects to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Recovery Act), proposed bridge bonds and TDOT’s regular funding mechanisms.The three-tiered program represents more than 450 projects statewide touching every county in Tennessee.Included in the proposal, which has been presented to the Legislature, are 128 highway and bridge projects in TDOT’s Region 4 alone.

“The Recovery Act is fundamentally about creating and retaining jobs during one of the toughest economic times our nation and state have faced since the Great Depression,” said Governor Bredesen.“This three-tiered program represents a record investment in Tennessee’s transportation system. The Recovery Act, along with the bridge bonding and TDOT’s regular program, will put thousands of Tennesseans to work rebuilding and strengthening one of Tennessee’s largest economic drivers, our transportation system.” [Read more]

House Republican Caucus Weekly Wrap

Week of March 23-27,2009

• Budget proposal presented to lawmakers
• Stimulus funds will foot much of the TennCare bill
• Higher Education may dodge a bullet
• Unemployment Insurance
• Testimony on “wine in grocery stores”
• Is the Tennessee Plan constitutional?

After months of uncertainty while the United States Congress wrangled over details of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Governor presented his initial budget proposal Monday night to a Joint Convention of the House and Senate. Because of the unprecedented economic situation facing Tennessee, the Governor is proposing a multi- year approach, and laying out possibilities for the next four years. He explained that much of the ARRA money, which totals approximately $5 billion over two years for Tennessee, comes with strings attached and has essentially already been earmarked by Congress.

According the Administration, about “two-fifths” of the money are “Tennessee” funds—monies that will allow the state some leniency regarding where to use them—while the remainder are “Congressional” funds that have multiple strings attached. [Read more]

House of Representatives Republican Caucus

• Firearm legislation close to a floor vote
• Legislation to prohibit firearm “roster” passes House floor
• House Republicans pursue conservative measures

The House Judiciary Committee once again discussed several pieces of gun legislation, but only one bill was approved by the committee and advanced through the Calendar and Rules Committee to be scheduled for a floor vote. House Bill 959 will exempt the handgun carry permit list from the Open Records Act, but a proposed $2,500 penalty for publishing the list was removed by an amendment. The legislation is expected to be up for a floor vote, possibly next week.

Tennesseans became outraged when the Commercial Appeal, a Memphis-based newspaper, published the handgun carry permit database in an easily searchable format on their website. Republicans criticized the paper, calling the action ‘irresponsible’ and ‘dangerous.’ The House GOP contended that in addition to printing a list that would make it easier for criminals to steal weapons, non-gun owners were also at risk because it would be easy for criminals to use the database to find homes that likely did not have a firearm.

Another bill, House Bill 960, would give cities and counties the authority to allow licensed handgun carry permit holders to carry firearms in local parks. If the communities chose not to “opt in,” firearms would still be prohibited. The committee discussed several issues regarding the legislation at length, and delayed a vote on the bill until next week. Lawmakers agreed, however, that allowing for local control was the best route.

Legislation to prohibit firearm “roster” passes

House Bill 46 passed on the House floor Thursday morning with a vote of 88 to (TDOS) nor an instructor or employee of a department-approved handgun. The bill seeks to clarify that neither the Tennessee Department of Safety safety course is authorized to require an applicant for a handgun carry permit to furnish or reveal identifying information concerning anyhandgun the applicant owns, possesses, or uses during the safety course, including the serial number of the weapon.

The House Judiciary Committee once again discussed several pieces of gun legislation, but only one bill was approved by the committee and advanced through the Calendar and Rules Committee to be scheduled for a floor vote. House Bill 959 will exempt the handgun carry permit list from the Open Records Act, but a proposed $2,500 penalty for publishing the list was removed by an amendment. The legislation is expected to be up for a floor vote, possibly next week.

The Republican-sponsored bill was filed in response to an incident late last year, when TDOS sent letters to all firearms instructors requiring them to complete and return a roster of students and to provide information on each student including the name of the firearm owner, the name of the student using the firearm, and the make, model, and serial number of firearms used. Gun advocates argued the request was the first step toward universal gun registration, but TDOS denied this, claiming a clerical error.

A TDOS spokesman testified in the committee that the department had no concerns with the legislation as proposed.

House Republicans pursue conservative measures

House Republican lawmakers are sponsoring several proposals that will begin to make their way through the committee process. Particular bills of interest are:

House Joint Resolution 3 will clarify that the State Constitution currently prohibits the legislature from levying a tax on income. Because it is a constitutional amendment, the resolution must first pass the 106th General Assembly by a simple majority, and pass the 107th General Assembly by a two-thirds majority, before making it to the ballot for voters to decide.

House Republicans will once again be pursuing Education First (House Bill 210), which requires the legislature to first pass an education budget before considering funding the remaining parts of government. Nevada passed the measure with little fanfare after it was approved in a ballot referendum. Nevada has reported that the transition to the funding change was very smooth. House Republicans feel that this legislation will ensure that education receives the funding it deserves, and will make it a priority in the legislative session.

Another education proposal that Republicans believe will improve the state of education in Tennessee is House Bill 2146, which seeks to expand the opportunity for more children to attend public charter schools. During the 2007-2008 school year, Tennessee had a total of 16 public charter schools across the state. Many states have moved in the direction of allowing more charter schools, or relaxing the very stringent parameters that prevent new charter schools from opening. According to the Center for Education Reform, cities such as Phoenix, Arizona and Washington, D.C. have a large number of charter schools and have seen academic improvement across all public schools. Studies suggest that there is a strong correlation between the strength of the charter school laws and the positive results they produce. Unfortunately, Tennessee’s laws rank 31st out of 41 states with charter school laws. House Republicans would like to see more charter schools open around the state, believing they have a direct effect on educational success.

House Bill 18 passed out of the Public Safety Subcommittee and will now face the full House Transportation Committee. The bill creates a new violation of aggressive driving that includes at least three violations in one continuous episode of the following:

• Overtaking on the right
• Overtaking and passing in no passing zones
• Following too closely
• Failing to yield for emergency vehicles
• Failing to yield to pedestrians
• Failure to signal turn
• Speeding
• Stopping, standing, or parking in prohibited places
• Following fire trucks
• Improper use of HOV lanes

House Bill 804 seeks to allow a parent that has been granted court-ordered visitation with their minor child or children that has been called to active duty military service, to petition the court for the temporary assignment of that parent’s visitation rights to a legal or biological relative or relatives. The petition must state the relative that the parent is requesting to maintain contact with the child during the parent’s absence and shall include a proposed visitation schedule with such relative. The bill will likely be presented on the House floor next week.

A presentation in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee this week revealed where the stimulus money will be directed to repair and replace bridges around the state. Ten counties are expected to receive funds for repair and replacement, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation says the projects should be underway this summer. The counties slated for the funds are: Carroll, Carter, Cocke, Fentress, Gibson, Giles, Hardeman, Hawkins, Macon, and Monroe.

A new website was unveiled this week to assist citizens and businesses with information regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. At tnrecovery.gov, Tennesseans can find information relating to the stimulus bill and what it provides for Tennessee, what grants are available and how to apply, and what areas the money will cover. Tennessee expects about $4.5 billion to come from the plan, with some of the funds going directly to local governments for various programs and uses.

Capitol Hill Week: Firearms “carry” law tops agenda

Pace quickens on Capitol Hill with approval of wide variety of bills. Second Amendment Rights legislation begins to move in Senate Judiciary’s Firearms and Ammunition Subcommittee

NASHVILLE, TN:  The pace quickened on Capitol Hill this week as the State Senate acted on a wide variety of bills, including key environmental legislation and several bills protecting our citizens’ second amendment rights. Meanwhile, the General Assembly awaits details of the governor’s budget, which will be presented to a joint session of the House and Senate on Monday night.

The governor is expected to take a four-year approach to the state budget, which will include his plans for spending over $4.5 billion in federal stimulus money that will flow into Tennessee over the next two years.  The governor plans to cut approximately $1 billion from the budget adopted by the General Assembly last year.  However, his speech Monday will not likely include plans to make the massive layoffs in state employees that were once feared. [Read more]

MOAA lobbies for all military benefits

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a dynamic
lobbyist for all military retirees. Members include veterans — retired
Marines, sailors, Air Force and Coast Guard personnel. MOAA is a
non-profit , veteran’s association dedicated to maintaining a strong
national defense and to preserving the earned entitlements of members
of the uniformed services and their families.  It is vigilant in
safeguarding and extending the benefits of all veterans. When MOAA
speaks to Congress, they listen, and take immediate action.

Today, with a new administration, MOAA is busy developing and
implementing strategies for legislation that benefits veterans ,their
families  and  survivors, in recognition of the sacrifices made.

MOAA’s goal in 2009 is to be an effective organizational voice
shaping relevant government policy and promoting earned benefits.
 Under their guardianship, there will be no retreat or reduction of
retired veterans benefits.

To effectively assist veterans, the MOAA has established the following goals for 2009:

• Sustain defense budget to meet personnel and weapons needs
• Sustain military manpower increase
• Gain additional “wounded warrior” fixes
• Resist shifting health costs to beneficiaries
• Reverse Medicare-TriCare payment cuts
• Repeal SBP/DIC offset
• Work for full concurrent receipt
• Restore military pay comparability
• Secure Guard and Reserve retirement and health upgrades
• Improve military family support

Later in their publication, another goal is added. It’s one that
captured my attention and will improve survivor benefits in a small but
important way in a time of grief. The MOAA is legislating for final
retired pay for survivors. They are suggesting that Congress enact
legislation that:

“…authorizing payment of a full
month of retired pay for a service member’s death. Under current law, a
prorated portion is summarily recouped from the survivor. MOAA believes
it’s wrong to impose such unexpected and insensitive financial
penalties on survivors at what is already the most traumatic time of
their lives.”

As the policy stands, if I die on say, July 10, my survivors would
receive only a ten day pro-rated portion of my pension. Under the new
plan, my survivors would receive the pension for the whole month.

Just a reminder: in the military systems, pensions are suspended upon the demise of the retired veteran.

Go to bed tonight grateful for the MOAA’s vigilance.

Intercity transit coming to rural Tennessee

A monthly column by TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely

A century ago, a trip to Nashville or Memphis might have taken days or even weeks for Tennesseans living in rural areas of the state.

Even today, some of our residents remain isolated from our urban centers despite the advancements made in transportation. Some of these citizens don’t own cars, some may have disabilities that limit their independence, and others may have reached an age that they no longer feel comfortable driving themselves. Unfortunately, a lack of public transportation is limiting their ability to work, receive an education, and stay active in their communities. [Read more]

State launches improved website and invites public comment

In an effort to provide a more user-friendly accessible site, Secretary of State Tre Hargett, has announced the unveiling of a restructured State Department website.  The first phase of the updated website will be available for the public to preview by the close of business on Tuesday, March 3, with final changes scheduled for completion by the end of the month.  The initial update includes a redesigned homepage and redesigned home pages for each State Department division with a web presence.

“I am pleased to announce the unveiling of the State Department’s restructured, updated website,” stated Secretary Hargett. “These changes will offer a much easier way to conduct business with state government and hopefully provide easier access to information and generally a more positive experience in navigating the site.”  [Read more]

GOP Week in Review

Senate State and Local Government Committee approves election integrity bill and legislation honoring Republican Majority on State Election Commission

NASHVILLE, TN: Legislation protecting the integrity of elections in Tennessee overcame its first hurdle towards passage this week with approval by the Senate State and Local Government Committee.   The bill requires voters to provide photo identification to guard against fraud and assure only U.S. citizens vote.

“Unfortunately, we know that voter fraud exists and that there are people who try to be dishonest in an election,” said Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), Chairman of the Committee and sponsor of the bill.  “This bill aims to curtail such abuse by making sure those persons voting are who they say they are.” [Read more]

Nashville named host venue for “Great American Clean-Up”

Tennessee’s capitol will have the chance to showcase its Volunteer spirit and green initiatives this spring for Keep America Beautiful Inc.’s Great American Cleanup.

 

Nashville is one of three U.S. cities selected by KAB to host national spotlight events this year, Mayor Karl Dean and KAB President Matt McKenna announced today.  Held annually from March through May, the Great American CleanupT has become the nation’s largest volunteer coordination effort.

 

“My goal is to make Nashville the greenest city in the Southeast,” Mayor Dean said. “As a national Spotlight City in this year’s Great American Cleanup, we have the opportunity to showcase to the rest of the country our commitment to clean streets and livable communities.” [Read more]

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