sat., april 28 news summary

8/2/2019 Sat., April 28 News Summary

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SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012

Haslam Cash Grants Plan Passes Senate 29-1 (Associated Press)Gov. Bill Haslam's plan to increase the amount of cash grants available to companies looking to investTennessee has passed the Senate. The measure carried by Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Colliervwas approved 29-1 on Thursday. The companion bill passed the House 96-0 last month. The legislation woallow the state to provide Fast Track grants for retrofitting, relocation, office upgrades or temporary space companies investing in Tennessee. The current Fast Track program is limited to jobs training and infrastructimprovements. The state has appropriated $217 million to the program over the last three budget years aHaslam has proposed pouring another $80 million for the current and upcoming budget year.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/haslam-cash-grants-plan-passes-senate-29-1/

Governors Tax Bills Headed to His Desk (WPLN-Radio Nashville)The state Senate passed two tax bil ls lowering the sales tax on food and raising the exemption on tinheritance tax and sent them to the governor, who proposed them in the first place. The inheritance exemption, SB 3762 Norris/ HB 3760 McCormick, phases out the so-called death tax paid by those who inhproperties worth more than $1.25 million. The food sales tax bill, SB 3763 Norris/ HB 3761 McCormick, lowthe tax on grocery items by a quarter of one percent. At m idday there were about 40 additional bills that were sin a position to be passed.http://wpln.org/?p=366 72

Inheritance, sales tax on food cuts go to Gov. Bill Haslam (Times Free-Press/SheA bill phasing out the states inheritance tax by 2016 is on its way to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam after G

lawmakers tabled a Democratic critics effort to limit the levy to estates valued at $5 million and above. Senatalso voted 32-0 to reduce the states sales tax on food a quarter cent, sending that measure to the governorwell. Haslam included provided for both proposals in his budget amendment. Senate Majority Leader MNorris, R-Collierville, referred to the inheritance measure as the Family Farm Preservation Act, saying it wohelp farmers hold on to their property and encourage wealthy Tennesseans to remain or relocate to the staBy this measure, by 2016, the death tax in Tennessee w ill be dead, Norris said of the bill, which beginning J1 boosts the existing exemption of the first $1 million of an estate to $1.25 million at a cost of $14.2 millannually.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/27/inheritance-sales-tax-food-cuts-go-gov-bill-has lam/?local

Prescription drug bill, tax cuts go to governor (Knoxville New

Sentinel/Humphrey)The House joined the Senate Friday in giving unanimous approval to legislation aimed at reducing abuseprescription drugs, sending it to Gov. Bill Haslam for his assured signature. The governor had made SB2253 pof his legislative "anti-crime" package for this year, c iting statistics that show illicit trafficking in pain medicatiois a m ajor problem within Tennessee. The bill requires doctors, or someone acting under their direction, to chethe state's Controlled Substance Monitoring Database w hen initially prescribing some types of medication andmake follow-up checks at least every six months thereafter. Pharmacists are required to collect information frpatients when filling a prescription for the designated drugs those involving opioid or benzodiazepine aprovide it to the database within seven days. The bill also enhances penalties for doctor shopping from a Clasmisdemeanor offense to a C lass E Felony when it involves 250 or more pills.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/27/legislative-notebook-prescription-dru g-bill-tax/
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/haslam-cash-grants-plan-passes-senate-29-1/http://wpln.org/?p=36672http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/27/inheritance-sales-tax-food-cuts-go-gov-bill-haslam/?localhttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/27/legislative-notebook-prescription-drug-bill-tax/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/haslam-cash-grants-plan-passes-senate-29-1/http://wpln.org/?p=36672http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/27/inheritance-sales-tax-food-cuts-go-gov-bill-haslam/?localhttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/27/legislative-notebook-prescription-drug-bill-tax/


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Inheritance tax phaseout, sales tax cut on food en route to governor (CA/Locker)The state inheritance tax -- now levied on estates greater than $1 million -- will be phased out by 2016, and state sales tax on food will be cut by a quarter of a percentage point July 1. The s tate Senate gave both tax cfinal legislative approval Friday and sent them to Gov. Bill Haslam, who proposed smaller cuts and negotiatwith Republican legislative leaders for the final versions. GOP leaders pushed for total repeal of the inheritantax, which Haslam initially resisted. The state sales tax on grocery food, now 5.5 percent, will drop to 5.

percent. The governor said he hopes to drop it to 5 percent over the next couple of years. Most Tennesseanow pay 7.75 to 8.25 percent on grocery food after local sales taxes are added. Tennessee is one of onldozen states that still tax grocery food, and taxes it with the highest rates in the country. Tennessee's inheritantax currently exempts the first $1 million value of an estate. After that, the next $40,000 of taxable value is taxat 5.5 percent, the next $40,000 to $240,000 at 6.5 percent, the next $240,000 to $440,000 at 7.5 percent, a$440,000 and over at 9.5 percent, after the $1 m illion exemption.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/27/inheritance-tax-phaseout-sales-tax-cut-grocery-foo/(SUB)

TN legislators pass tax cuts, unemployment reform (Nashville Business Journal)The Tennessee General Assembly this week passed a pair of tax cuts and the central component of a maunemployment insurance overhaul. Senators followed the House this week in passing a repeal of Tennesseinheritance tax by 2016. Legislators also gave the nod to an increased cut in the food tax and passed

unemployment insurance reform that increases enforcement on behalf of employers on a range of fronts. Tbusiness lobby praised the tax cuts, and has also been behind the unemployment reform initiated largely by Gov. Ron Ramsey, the Republican speaker of the Senate. "Tennessee is a great state in which to do busineand today's action only solidifies our reputation," Jim Brown, Tennessee state director of the National Federatof Independent Business, said in a statement. The NFIB and other business lobbies were a major force behthe inheritance tax repeal, while Democrats created pressure for the food tax cut that Republicans ultimatheeded.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/04/27/tennessee-death-tax-nfib-unemployment.html

Plan to expand FastTrack program heads to Gov. Haslam's desk (M. Biz Journal)Gov. Bill Haslam's plan to increase the amount of cash grants available to businesses relocating to aexpanding in Tennessee was approved in the Senate by a vote of 29-1 Thursday. Under the legislation, t

state's FastTrack grant program would be expanded to include money for activities beyond traditional job trainand infrastructure needs The plan allows loans and grants to be given to com panies first filtered through loeconomic development agencies for things like retrofitting, relocating equipment, repairing buildings or findtemporary office space. The com panion bill passed the House 96-0 last month.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/04/27/plan-to-expand-fasttrack-program-heads.html

Tornado hits Chester Co. (Jackson Sun)At least 10 buildings damaged Thursday This small unincorporated community in Chester County was rattThursday night as a short-lived EF-2 tornado blew through the area, damaging at least 10 structures. NatioWeather Service meteorologist Ryan Husted said at the time of the storm the county was under a sevethunderstorm warning but not a tornado warning. It wasnt a classic day for tornadoes, and it didnt look likebig outbreak day, he said. It was a strong storm w ith baseball-sized hail. Husted said it was the only confirm

tornado in the area. An EF-2 can have wind speeds of up to 135 mph. Evidence of the storms path is clear aloTenn. 225 and Silerton Road, where debris littered the yards of the homes. There were snapped trees avehicles with their windows shattered. On Friday afternoon, vehicles slowed to make room for a large, flat-btow truck that carried a mud-splatted sedan past the hom e of Mike and Sandra Lott. Their lives were spared, their home wasnt as fortunate.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304280011/Tornado-hits-Chester-Co-

Unemployment Drops in Most Tennessee Counties (WPLN-Radio Nashville)Unemployment dropped in 89 Tennessee counties in March. Several in Middle Tennessee have the lowunemployment. New figures from the state Department of Labor show Davidson, Wilson, Rutherford, Sumnand Williamson counties in the top ten for low unemployment. Williamson has the states lowest jobless rate
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/27/inheritance-tax-phaseout-sales-tax-cut-grocery-foo/http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/04/27/tennessee-death-tax-nfib-unemployment.htmlhttp://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/04/27/plan-to-expand-fasttrack-program-heads.htmlhttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304280011/Tornado-hits-Chester-Co-http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304280011/Tornado-hits-Chester-Co-http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304280011/Tornado-hits-Chester-Co-http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/27/inheritance-tax-phaseout-sales-tax-cut-grocery-foo/http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/04/27/tennessee-death-tax-nfib-unemployment.htmlhttp://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/04/27/plan-to-expand-fasttrack-program-heads.htmlhttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304280011/Tornado-hits-Chester-Co-http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304280011/Tornado-hits-Chester-Co-


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5.2 percent. In Davidson County, the unemployment rate in March was 6.6 percent-almost two points lower ththe same m onth last year. Although most Tennessee counties reported a drop in joblessness, unemploymenseveral counties is well above state and national rates. Scott County, on the C umberland Plateau, has the stathighest rateat mo re than 17 percent. Read more about Marchs unemployment numbers here.http://wpln.org/?p=366 57

Tennessee sees increase in hate crimes (Tennessean/Humbles)Hate crimes in the state increased nearly 51 percent last year, according to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigatreport released Friday. There were 261 hate crimes in 2011, up from 173 in 2010, according to the TBI. Hcrimes are defined as bias motivated offenses. The majority of hate crime victims knew their attackers. Abone-third of hate crimes last year were racially motivated. The TBI also has released statistics that showed a percent decrease in the number of Tennessee law enforcement officers who were killed or assaulted last year2011 there were 1,810 incidents of officers assaulted or killed in Tennessee, compared to 1,854 in 2010.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280040/Tennessee-sees-increase-hate-crimes?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Hate crimes spike in Tennessee (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Harrison)After a steady decline, hate crimes in Tennessee spiked in 2011, according to the Tennessee BureauInvestigation's analysis of state crime statistics. "Bias motivated" offenses -- TBI's term for hate crimes -- jumpnearly 51 percent to 261 offenses reported in 2011, compared with 173 in 2010, according to the study. "really difficult for us to pinpoint the 'why' when we're just looking at statistical data," said TBI spokeswomKristin Helm about the increase. "It's too early to say what m ay have contributed to it. Sometimes it's justanomaly." Before 2011, a three-year analysis of hate offenses showed a decline every year between 2008 a2010, Helm said. The statistics have been compiled in the report "Tennessee Hate Crime 2011," which is bason required monthly reports from local law enforcement agencies statewide. An offense is classified as a hcrime if law enforcement can show the perpetrator committed the crime because of a bias against race, religigender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability or other such traits.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/hate-crimes-spike-in-tennessee/?local

Tennessee hate crime rate relatively low, TBI says (Com mercial Appeal/Smith)They're often cases of vandalism, a "certain word spray-painted on the side of the wall," says Tennessee Bureof Investigation spokeswoman Kristen Helm. Or it could be a crime committed because of racial or sexual biHate crimes are on the r ise in Tennessee. They jumped about 51 percent in 2011 over the year befoaccording to TBI figures released Friday. There were 261 hate crimes last year, up from a five-year low of 1732010. "It is still such a very small amount of crime in Tennessee that could be considered a hate crime at asaid Helm. "But to the victim of those crimes, one offense is one too many." Hate crimes declined the past fyears, from 426 in 2008, to 243 in 2009. Helm said it's difficult to pinpoint dips and spikes in hate crimes fryear to year. "It might be happening more often, or law enforcement might be more sensitive to it," she saThere were 71 cases of vandalism last year.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/28/tennessee-hate-crime-rate-relatively-low/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Students Release Endangered Sturgeon into the Cumberland (WPLN-Radio NashState wildlife officials say theyre getting closer to a day when anglers could reel in a huge lake sturgeon. Theytrying to restore a population of the giant fish, which hasnt been found naturally in Tennessee since 1960.This morning home school students from M t. Juliet released 30 baby sturgeon already three-feet long into Cumberland River. Since 2000, 48,000 fish have been released into Tennessee rivers. But biologists dotheyre self-sustaining at this point. Anna George directs the research arm of the Tennessee Aquarium. Parwhy this is a long term program is we dont know if theyre reproducing yet because theyre not old enoughreproduce yet. Sturgeon can live to be 100 years old, so they dont begin mating until theyre 20. Its illegal fishermen to keep sturgeon, but w ildlife officials say they do want to know whenever one is accidentally caughhttp://wpln.org/?p=366 67
http://wpln.org/?p=36657http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280040/Tennessee-sees-increase-hate-crimes?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280040/Tennessee-sees-increase-hate-crimes?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/hate-crimes-spike-in-tennessee/?localhttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/28/tennessee-hate-crime-rate-relatively-low/http://wpln.org/?p=36667http://wpln.org/?p=36657http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280040/Tennessee-sees-increase-hate-crimes?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280040/Tennessee-sees-increase-hate-crimes?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/hate-crimes-spike-in-tennessee/?localhttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/28/tennessee-hate-crime-rate-relatively-low/http://wpln.org/?p=36667


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Senate Votes 32-1 to Pass $31B Spending Plan (Associated Press)The Tennessee Senate has passed its version of Gov. Bill Haslams more than $31 billion spending plan, maknearly $60 million in cuts to a number of programs. The chamber voted 32-1 Friday to pass the bill that wsponsored by Senate M ajority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville. The House passed its version 66-30 ThursdThe two chambers will have to reconcile differences on projects before the measure can head for Haslamsignature. The largest cut in the Senate proposal is more than $12 million to the Memphis Regional Megas

The proposal also closes the Taft Youth Development Center in Bledsoe County, which is the case in the Houversion. Haslam in January presented his spending proposal that called for raises for state employees, mspending on construction on college campuses and tax cuts on food and estates.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/senate-votes-32-1-to-pass-31b-spending-plan/

A W eekend of Work for State Lawmakers (WPLN-Radio Nashville)A small group of state lawmakers chosen to work out discrepancies between budgets passed in the House aSenate plan to start work Friday night. The House spending plan cut money that the Senate had approved what are considered local projects. The Senate sent the House a budget with proposed cuts to Radnor Lathe Nashville Folk Festival and Meharry Medical College. As the General Assembly attempts to wrap up its wfor the year, the House is scheduled to reconvene Sunday night.http://wpln.org/?p=366 93

TN lawmakers back down from Radnor, Meharry cuts (Tennessean/Sisk)Day of high-stakes haggling ends with $31B budget deal Negotiators for the Senate and House Representatives backed off threats to slash funding for Meharry Medical College, Radnor Lake and m ore thadozen other projects after a day of brinksmanship over the $31 billion state budget. A conference commitappointed to resolve a dispute between the Senate and House over pet projects recommended resetting budget to its form before the two chambers, both controlled by Republicans, began warring. The final replisted a cut to one Middle Tennessee program $75,000 that was to go to the Education Equal OpportunGroup in Nashville. Earlier on Friday, lawmakers were weighing far more draconian cuts when the Senate uppthe stakes in a battle over spending in the 2012-13 state budget. The Senate proposed more than $20 millioncuts, mainly to projects in Middle and West Tennessee, an apparent dig at House Minority Leader CraFitzhugh, D-Ripley, and House Democratic Caucus C hairman Mike Turner, D-Old H ickory.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280015/TN-lawmakers-back-down-from-RadnorMeharry-cuts?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Tennessee budget set to pass Monday (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sher)House and Senate leaders met in a budget conference committee Friday night where they fought over cuts respective chambers had made on $30.8 million worth of earmarks for projects or programs in the propos$31.1 billion state budget. After 90 minutes of occasional confusion and wrangling, majority Republicans finareconciled their differences, declared success and cleared the way, they hope, for the expected passage of states $31 billion budget on Monday. Minority Democrats on the panel, however, cried foul over a handfuprojects still slated for cuts as well as initiatives they sought to insert into the conference committee repoAmong them was an effort involving the Senates $1 million earmark for Roane State Community College, whwas originally cut by the House. It made it through the conference committee. Democrats agreed it should funded but also pressed for similar grants of $1 million grants each for four other community colleges includChattanooga State.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/tennessee-budget-set-pass-monday/?local

With House Passage, Budget Action Moves to Senate (TN Report)The Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday passed a $31.4 billion state spending blueprint, settthe stage for a possible standoff between the two General Assembly chambers. Both the House and the Senare dominated by R epublicans, however in the past couple days rifts have emerged over how many pork barprojects ought to be funded in the next fiscal year and whether the projects in question are local or in faostensibly serve regional or statewide interests. Almost a ll the Democrats in the House voted against the budpackage, saying it didnt take into account the upward trajectory of Tennessee tax-revenue growth, which thassert justifies greater spending on education, job training and medical care for low income Tennesseaamong other areas. The House Democratic Caucus, led by Craig Fitzhugh of Ripley, has been arguing for
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/senate-votes-32-1-to-pass-31b-spending-plan/http://wpln.org/?p=36693http://wpln.org/?p=36693http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280015/TN-lawmakers-back-down-from-Radnor-Meharry-cuts?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280015/TN-lawmakers-back-down-from-Radnor-Meharry-cuts?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/tennessee-budget-set-pass-monday/?localhttp://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/senate-votes-32-1-to-pass-31b-spending-plan/http://wpln.org/?p=36693http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280015/TN-lawmakers-back-down-from-Radnor-Meharry-cuts?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280015/TN-lawmakers-back-down-from-Radnor-Meharry-cuts?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/tennessee-budget-set-pass-monday/?local


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past week that the state isnt really accounting for at least $200 million and as much as $400 million in revenuthatll be funneled into government tax-collection coffers as the economy improves.http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/04/27/with-house-passage-budget-action-moves-to -senate/

Republicans resolve earmark war in special committee (NS/Humphrey)House and Senate Republican leaders settled their differences over earmarks in a $31 billion state budget dura special conference committee meeting Friday night, leaving the two chambers to meet in full session Mond

and sign off on a deal that would end the 107th General Assembly. Democrats vowed to file an alternative pto the Republican agreement proposing more money to community colleges. The House-Senate conferencommittee was set up late Friday after the Senate on Friday morning passed a budget plan in substantial conwith the House version adopted Thursday. The House had cut about $1.8 million in earmarked special projethat had been approved by the Senate Finance Committee. In retaliation, the Senate voted to cut another $million in House-approved earmarks the largest being $12 million to complete a West Tennessee Megasite.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/28/republicans-resolve-house-senate-earmark-war-in/

Budget Stalls as Senate Volleys Back to the House (WPLN-Radio Nashville)The House and Senate cant seem to agree on the states $31 billion budget and will likely form a smaller groto work out the differences. The upper chamber passed a spending plan for next year before noon and withinminutes, the lower chamber voted not to go along. Thursday the House passed a version of the budget that

out $1.7 million of mostly local projects that had been in the Senate plan. Friday the Senate sent back optiosays Bo Watson of Chattanooga. Weve given them our original agreement that we had, going into the budgprocess, and weve given them some additional cuts that they might want to look at. The biggest differencethat the Senates plan has a $12 million reduction for the Memphis Regional Megasite. The two chambers shave to reconcile difference likely in a conference committee before the measure heads to the governors deWhen the two chambers reach agreement on the budget, the General Assembly is free to adjourn for the yearhttp://wpln.org/?p=366 70

Tennessee House passes municipal school referendum bill (C. Appeal/Locker)The state House Friday approved the bill allowing the Memphis suburbs to hold referendums this year creating new city school districts, and if approved, to elect school board mem bers later this year. The Senate wact on the bill early next week, probably Monday, before the legislature adjourns for the year. But the House v

was the critical one, because the Senate has approved virtually the same measure and is certain to approve new version and send it to the governor. The bill, HB 1105, is the more important of the two municipal schodistrict bills affecting Shelby County. The S enate on Friday sent the other, SB 2908, to the governor. SenMajority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said that bill only lifts the ban on new municipal districts at the satime as last year's Public Chapter 1 -- in August 2013 -- but it does so in a separate section of the law. "It doeschange any deadlines. It doesn't accelerate anything," he said. But HB 1105 lets the suburban cities creferendums and school board elections this year, in advance of starting new school systems as soon as 2013-14 school year.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/27/tennessee-house-passes-municipal-school-referendum/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Municipal Schools Referendum Bill Clears House (Memphis Daily News)

The Tennessee State Senate will vote Monday, A pril 30, on the bill that would permit suburban towns and citin Shelby County to hold referendums this year on forming their own municipal school districts. The am ended permitting suburban leaders to hold the referendums before the August 2013 merger of Shelby Countys tpublic school systems was approved Friday, April 27, by the Tennessee House. Without the change in state lthe suburban leaders would have to wait until the merger date to beg in any moves toward separate public schsystems from the consolidated school system. The final version of the bill that cleared the House applies onlyShelby County because it is drafted to apply only in counties that have a schools consolidation transitiplanning commission in place and working. The planning commission is drafting the blueprint for consolidated school system. The bill in its final form also specifies that municipal school districts could not sclasses before the m erged school system starts its school year, but could start in the same time frame betweAug. 1 and Labor Day.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/municipal-schools-referendum-billclears-house/
http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/04/27/with-house-passage-budget-action-moves-to-senate/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/28/republicans-resolve-house-senate-earmark-war-in/http://wpln.org/?p=36670http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/27/tennessee-house-passes-municipal-school-referendum/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/municipal-schools-referendum-bill-clears-house/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/municipal-schools-referendum-bill-clears-house/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/municipal-schools-referendum-bill-clears-house/http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/04/27/with-house-passage-budget-action-moves-to-senate/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/28/republicans-resolve-house-senate-earmark-war-in/http://wpln.org/?p=36670http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/27/tennessee-house-passes-municipal-school-referendum/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/municipal-schools-referendum-bill-clears-house/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/30/municipal-schools-referendum-bill-clears-house/


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'Gateway sexual activity' bill heads to Gov. Haslam (Tennessean/Wilson)Legislation banning teachers from promoting or condoning gateway sexual activity is headed to the governodesk after approval by the state House of Representatives on Friday. The bill, which passed the full Senaearlier this month, would require all state sexual education classes to exclusively and emphatically promabstinence while banning teachers from promoting any form of gateway sexual activity. The latter term, whhas garnered national media attention and been lampooned by comedian Stephen Colbert, is not specific

defined in the bill. The vote was 68-23, with all but one Republican for it. Democrats who opposed it ssufficient provisions were already in place in the curriculum and cited a 2007 federal study that said abstinenonly education was not effective in reducing teen pregnancies. Other dissenters said the bills definitionsgateway sexual activity are too vague and could force teachers to define when students hold hands or kiss undthreat of lawsuits from parents. It seems like a totally new requirement for teachers and its a totally new wthat teachers can now be subject to discipline, said Rep. M ike Stewart, D-Nashville.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280042/-Gateway-sexual-activity-bill-heads-Haslam?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Sex-Ed Guidelines Approved by Legislature (WPLN-Radio Nashville)New guidelines for how sex should be taught in school are on their way to the governor for his signature. T

sex-ed overhaul came forward this spring as an alternative to a bill known as Dont Say Gay that sparkprotests last year. Some lawmakers snickered about the nine-page measure, which is heavy on abstinence, awas recently skewered by Comedy Centrals Stephen Colbert. But Memphis Democrat John DeBerry defended the bill, saying it addresses a problem the state cant ignore. DeBerry told colleagues teen pregnanis widespread in his distr ict. And because of this, we have a whole state department that takes caresomebody elses mess. And then we want to come and sit on this floor, and be arrogant, and be aloof, be nabe in denial The measure passed the House 68 to 23, having already cleared the Senate. Part of the bill lparents sue sex-education instructors if they condone gateway sexual activity to students. Some lawmakeargued school districts contract with outside groups to teach sex ed. The provision lets parents sue suinstructors for $500, if they dont follow the new rules.http://wpln.org/?p=366 77

Vanderbilt's Christian groups divided over bias policy (Tennessean/Smietana)

Conflict over bias, beliefs drives some off campus After a year of conflict over Vanderbilts nondiscriminatipolicy, the universitys 30 Christian groups are going their separate ways. Seventeen decided to com ply with policy, which bans groups from requiring their leaders to hold specific beliefs. Two Catholic organizations wbecome off-campus groups rather than comply but will continue to hold Mass on campus. Eleven conservatgroups remain in limbo. They didnt appear on a list of approved groups released by the university nearly tweeks ago, but they havent been told their applications were rejected. We are still waiting on the universitsaid Peter Valk, a member of the Navigators, one of the groups in limbo. Professor rebukes 2 groups The dividresponse has prompted at least one public rebuke. Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain, the adviser of Vanderbilt Christian Legal Society, alleged on Twitter and in a Christian magazine that the Baptist CollegiaMinistry and the Reformed University Fellowship betrayed their faith by complying with the university. If thhadnt caved in, she said, Vanderbilt might have backed down.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS04/304280047/Vanderbilt-s-Christian-groups-divided-overbias-policy?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Maturity, not age, key for kindergarten, experts say (Com merc

Appeal/Garlington)When it comes to entering kindergarten, do weeks or months matter in terms of age? Is a 51/2 -year-old betprepared than an almost 5-year-old? Some Tennessee legislators think so. Earlier this week the state legislatbumped up the age on when children can attend kindergarten in public schools. It now goes to Gov. Bill Haslwho is expected to sign the m easure. If it becomes law, it would mean that almost 10,000 children turning 5 afAug. 31, 2013 would sit out a year before entering a public kindergarten in the 2013-14 school year. The bisponsors say they sought the change because kindergarten teachers complained that the youngest childrentheir classes often aren't ready for school. But early childhood educators say age doesn't matter as much a
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280042/-Gateway-sexual-activity-bill-heads-Haslam?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280042/-Gateway-sexual-activity-bill-heads-Haslam?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://wpln.org/?p=36677http://wpln.org/?p=36677http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS04/304280047/Vanderbilt-s-Christian-groups-divided-over-bias-policy?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS04/304280047/Vanderbilt-s-Christian-groups-divided-over-bias-policy?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280042/-Gateway-sexual-activity-bill-heads-Haslam?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS0201/304280042/-Gateway-sexual-activity-bill-heads-Haslam?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://wpln.org/?p=36677http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS04/304280047/Vanderbilt-s-Christian-groups-divided-over-bias-policy?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS04/304280047/Vanderbilt-s-Christian-groups-divided-over-bias-policy?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cp


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child's development. "There are some 51/2 -year-olds who are going to struggle. There are other 41/2 -year-owho are going to be fine," said Dr. John Johnston, a former kindergarten teacher and now director of the eachildhood education program at the University of Memphis. "A child's development is not so cut and drieadded Dr. Kyle Snow, director of the Center for Applied Research for the National Association for the Educatof Young Children. "Simply waiting a year doesn't mean a child is ready. It is what the child experiences durthat year that is important. It puts school readiness on the child and the family."http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/28/maturity-key-for-kindergarten/(SUBSCRIPTION)

No tax hike in Rogero budget; pension funding increased (News-Sentinel/Witt)Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero's first proposed budget in office includes no tax increase and more m oney the city employees' pension shortfall. Rogero said Friday her $180.5 million operating budget maintainsincreases money for most areas of government. The 2012-13 proposal is $8.38 million greater than the currefiscal year budget that ends June 30. "We will ensure that those who lead our city in the future will inherit a cthat is fiscally sound, with neighborhoods that are stronger than they are now, and a place where businessgrow and prosper," she said in a luncheon address at Victor Ashe Park. The overall Knoxville budget is $3million, but $263 million is transferred to other agencies and used for debt payments, including $24.3 millioncapital improvements. The mayor's budget gives money toward major campaign platforms she named during run for office in 2011, including sustainability, the environment and b lighted housing. "Those would be the mapolicy steps as significantly different, not just incremental, shifts," said Bill Lyons, deputy mayor and polchief for Rogero.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/27/no-tax-hike-in-rogero-budget-pension-funding/

Smyrna may cut jobs, programs (Daily News Journal)Mayor Dover says he's in no rush to raise taxes As town officials are working out the details of the budget for upcoming fiscal year, department heads here have been asked to make cuts to personnel, programs aprojects. Its likely that will mean fewer employees in the police and fire departments, as those departmemake up the bulk of the budget. For the last three years, Smyrna has implemented cost-saving measures suas freezes to merit raises, cutting off travel and training, and even putting an end to free coffee. But those aresustainable changes, according to Mayor Tony Dover, who wants the next budget to be a model for a leanmore efficient vision of the town. We can no longer depend on short-term fixes, Dover said. We need loterm solutions. When the Smyrna Town Council meets on May 9, it will have the first reading of the new budgThat meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Smyrna Town Hall, 315 S. Lowry St. The second reading will be at councils meeting in June and the budget will likely go into effect on July 1.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304270039/Smyrna-may-cut-jobs-programs

Dover: Town m ust budget for new reality (Daily News Journal)Mayor Tony Dover told The DNJ today that he has asked department heads to consider options for cuttexpenses as the town prepares its budget for the next fiscal year. Dover spoke to The DNJ via phone, but asent the following email to summarize his message about the budget: "As the economy began to slow and started seeing a reduction in sales tax collections and development revenues, we did what any prudent businedoes and started implementing cost saving measures to cut back on expenses until things improved. Afteyears of doing this, it is clear that we w ill not see a return to the growth we were living on in years past. It is aclear that eliminating travel, training, raises, etc. are short term fixes and not long term solutions. It is time for Town to recalibrate our operations for a new reality. In looking at our budgets going forward we have certcriteria that we have to meet: 1. Focus on the core services that we have to provide and evaluate the cost vbenefit for everything else that we do. We need to make certain that the work we do is done as efficiently possible and that it adds value to our citizens and customers.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/120427011/Dover-Town-must-budget-new-reality

Green visits Congress to discuss health care (Leaf Chronicle)Dr. Mark Green made a house call on the U.S. Senate and House on April 26 to discuss Obamacare andimplications for the doctor-patient relationship, health care choice and health care costs. Among the elecofficials he met with were Sen. Rand Pau l of Kentucky, Rep. M arsha Blackburn of the 7th Congressional Distfor Tennessee who represents the C larksville area and Rep. Michele Bachmann of the 6th C ongressional Distfor Minnesota and former U.S. presidential candidate for the Republican Party. Green is the CEO of Align M
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/28/maturity-key-for-kindergarten/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/27/no-tax-hike-in-rogero-budget-pension-funding/http://www.dnj.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304270039/Smyrna-may-cut-jobs-programshttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/120427011/Dover-Town-must-budget-new-realityhttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/28/maturity-key-for-kindergarten/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/27/no-tax-hike-in-rogero-budget-pension-funding/http://www.dnj.com/article/20120428/NEWS01/304270039/Smyrna-may-cut-jobs-programshttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/120427011/Dover-Town-must-budget-new-reality


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and a practicing emergency room physician running for Tennessee State Senate in District 22. Align MD ihealthcare management company headquartered in Clarksville. The event is sponsored by Doctors 4 PatieCare, a nonpartisan, nonprofit physician organization focused on fighting for the rights of patients and protepatients freedom of choice.http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/304270008/Green-visits-Congress-discuss-health-care

Trying to Shed Student Debt (Wall Street Journal)The growth of student debt is stirring debate about whether the government should step in to ease the burdenrewriting the bankruptcy lawsagain. In 2005, Congress prohibited student debt from being discharged throubankruptcy, except in rare cases, because of concerns that many young graduateswho often have no maassets such as a house or a carwould be tempted to walk away from loan obligations. Some lawmakers nwant to temper that position, pointing to concerns that a significant number of Am ericans could be buried uneducation loans for decades. Their efforts, however, would apply only to private loansa fraction of the markIn the past decade student debt has surged as tuition and enrollment climbed. At the same time, collegraduates' earnings have declined. The average debt load of all new graduates rose 24%, adjusted for inflatifrom 2000 through 2010, to $16,932, says the Progressive Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tankWashington. Over the same period, the average earnings of full-time w orkers ages 25 to 34 with no more thabachelor's degree fell by 15% to $53,539.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303978104577364120264435092.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Ex-TVA chief: Nuke program too costly (Associated Press)Former Tennessee Valley Authority chairman S. David Freeman says the federal utility should just stopnuclear reactor building program. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Freemans comment caThursday, the same day the TVA board voted to continue construction of Watts Bar Unit 2, despite a $2 millicost overrun. Freeman said he thought he was having a bad dream when he first learned of cost overruns aconstruction delays at the reactor at Watts Bar, near Spring City, Tenn. Current TVA board Chairman Sansom defended the decision to go ahead at Watts Bar, saying the board has been kept apprised during

cost review. Chattanooga native Freeman blames the new part-time TVA board, saying members never ask apenetrating questions.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280037/Ex-TVA-chief-Nukeprogram-too-costly?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Commissioners, schools officials cancel early budget session (TFP/Ham an)Hamilton County commissioners and schools officials often get together before budget season and hash priorities for the next year. Not this season. Though County Commission Education Committee Chairman W arMackey originally scheduled a meeting for early March, the sides canceled it. "We're not going forward with thprior to budget hearings," Mackey said Thursday. "I'm not happy with the people from the school boaHamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger is preparing the county's budget for the fiscal 2013 year, which begJuly 1. Budget hearings will begin the week of May 7. O fficials from county departments and constitutional officsuch as trustee or property assessor will come before commissioners and explain their budget requests for n

year. Commissioners then decide how much to appropriate and, when necessary, whether to raise more m onthrough taxes or issuing bonds. Coppinger has said he w ill not ask for a tax increase, and in January sent a letto department heads and constitutional offices urging them not to ask for more than they received this fiscal yeLast year, the county's budget totaled about $625.8 million.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/schools-and-county-cancel-early-budget-session/?local
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/304270008/Green-visits-Congress-discuss-health-carehttp://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/304270008/Green-visits-Congress-discuss-health-carehttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303978104577364120264435092.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280037/Ex-TVA-chief-Nuke-program-too-costly?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280037/Ex-TVA-chief-Nuke-program-too-costly?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280037/Ex-TVA-chief-Nuke-program-too-costly?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/schools-and-county-cancel-early-budget-session/?localhttp://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/304270008/Green-visits-Congress-discuss-health-carehttp://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/304270008/Green-visits-Congress-discuss-health-carehttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303978104577364120264435092.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280037/Ex-TVA-chief-Nuke-program-too-costly?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120428/NEWS21/304280037/Ex-TVA-chief-Nuke-program-too-costly?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/schools-and-county-cancel-early-budget-session/?local


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OPINION

Guest columnist: Tennesseans should consider obesity a crisis (News-Sentinel)During 35 years as a registered nurse, I cared for many patients suffering from heart attacks and strokes, obesbeing a significant contributing factor to their condition. Today, as vice mayor of Farragut, a leader in tTennessee Municipal League and a volunteer in the outpatient surgical waiting area of Tennova at Turkey CreMedical Center, I'm concerned by both the physical and fiscal costs of the obesity epidemic in my beloved natstate of Tennessee. Tennessee ranks among the states with the worst weight problems. In 2011, Tennessranked fourth in obesity in a study compiled by the nutritional data company Calorie Lab Inc., trailing oMississippi, Alabama and West Virginia. In this same analysis, it was found that 67.8 percent of Tennesseaare overweight and 31.7 percent of the state's population suffers from obesity. Tennesseans don't have wei

problems because we're lazy or less than responsible. We're hard-working, church-going, family-orientpatriotic people. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/28/mary-dorothy-lamarche-tennesseans-shouldobesity/

Guest columnist: Mem phis can't afford a property tax hike (Comm ercial Appea l)"People are voting with their taillights." A leading businessman in Memphis told me that years ago, and it's strue. The 2010 Census showed that the city of Memphis loses approximately one-half percent of its populatievery year. Since 2008, Memphis Light, Gas and W ater Division has experienced a steady decline in the numbof customers. Yet counties surrounding Shelby County seem to be bulging with population increases. And wthe completion of I-269, the interstate that will circle our county, the exodus from Memphis and Shelby Coulikely will increase. Not only are we losing population; our tax base is static, our property values are decreas
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and there is little development occurring within the city. According to the Memphis Regional Chamber and tU.S. Department of Labor, the M emphis area has lost 35,000 private-sector jobs since 2008. I love M emphis.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/28/guest-column-memphis-cant-afford-a-property-tax/(SUB)

Charlie Daniels Political Cartoon: TVA (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)http://media.timesfreepress.com/img/news/tease/2012/04/27/120428_TVA_t618.jpg?ba5b5b122dd3d37cc13d83e92a6a0ec0d5bfa32a

Columnist: God and Man in Tennessee (New York Times)EARLIER this month state senators in Tennessee approved an update to our sex-education law that would bteachers from discussing hand-holding, which it categorizes as gateway sexual activity. The bill came fastthe heels of a new state law that effectively allows creationism to be taught in our classrooms. Though he voicmisgivings, our governor, Bill Haslam, refused to veto it. Its election season, and theres no doubt thepoliticians are pandering to Tennessees conservative Christian m ajority. Theyre right in one sense: most of myself included, are faithful Christians. But by politicizing our faith, they are ignoring Tennessees true religioroots and threatening the liberties they claim to protect. Our governor, like many of our states political leadepast and present from Estes Kefauver and Cordell Hull to Howard Baker and Lamar Alexander was boand raised here in East Tennessee, and he knows well how deep-rooted our spirituality is in Appalachia. But seems to have forgotten where it comes from .http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/opinion/god-and-man-in-

tennessee.html(SUBSCRIPTION)

Times Editorial: GOP threatens college loans (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)The personal cost that students and their families pay to get a college degree has doubled over the past couof decades as state governments have shrank their support for higher education. That has forced ever larnumbers of students to take out increasingly higher college loans, leaving the average graduate today carryin$25,000 education debt when they finish school. And now, if Congress can't come to an agreement by July, interest rates on federally subsidized student loans would double, from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. That wouadd another $1,000 to average annual repayment schedules for students who received Stafford loans. That'burden the government ought not to impose on students who presently rely on these loans, or on graduatrying to enter a tough job market and to earn a decent w age.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/28/gop-threatens-college-loans/?opin iontimes

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