Land Between the Lakes Trail Bridge Project Benefits Visitors and Local Economy

Golden Pond, KY – Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area recently completed an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded project to replace 17 trail bridges. The Trail Bridge Demolition and Replacement Project will provide visitors with better access to the great outdoors while stimulating the local economy.

“Replacing these trail bridges has helped restore safe access to five separate trail systems in Kentucky and Tennessee,” stated Bill Ryan, LBL’s OHV and Trails Manager. “The project has also been a huge success in helping bring large special events such as dog sled trials, two national championship adventure races, three mountain bike races, a motorized dual sport ride, and numerous civil war reenactment groups to LBL.” [Read more]

April 18th Filing Deadline Approaching; IRS Offers Tips to Taxpayers

Washington, D.C. – The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers that they have two weeks remaining until the April 18th filing deadline and that they can use IRS Free File to do their taxes or file an extension.

As of March 25th, the IRS has received more than 82 million individual income tax returns, which is 58 percent of the 141 million returns expected this year. The IRS has received about the same number of returns so far this year as it did at this time last year, while processing of returns is up 3 percent from the same time last year.

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TDOT Opens State Route 218 Bypass in Henry County

Recovery Act Funds Used to Build New Section of Paris Bypass

Jackson, TN – Tennessee Department of Transportation officials joined state and local leaders in Henry County today to celebrate the on time completion of the new section of State Route 218 and officially open it to traffic. State Route 218 from State Route 54 to State Route 69 is the first American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project in West Tennessee constructed in an entirely new location to open to traffic.

“Today, we want recognize the on time completion of this important project and also thank the city of Paris and Henry County for partnering with TDOT to construct this important roadway,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “Survey and design of the final section between State Route 69 and US641 is currently underway as we continue this joint venture in making this bypass a reality.” [Read more]

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 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.

U.S. Rep. John Tanner speaks on economic recovery

U.S. Rep. John Tanner said in a district-wide radio address that the current economic crisis is negatively impacting thousands of 8th District families and that Congressional action is necessary to help economic recovery. The House Friday passed the final version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with Congressman Tanner’s support. This is a transcript of his radio broadcast:

This is John Tanner. I wanted to talk to you a minute about this recovery act that was voted on in the House. This is truly a very, very hard vote for me, given my record of financial responsibility, and trying to do what I can with the other Blue Dogs here and others about the financial unsustainability of our federal government. I think this is an economic crisis that I have not seen in my 60+ years. The recession is far deeper and wider than any that I have ever lived through or witnessed, probably since the Great Depression. [Read more]