This is a compilation of Tennessee news and political stories assembled daily by staffers in Gov. Bill Haslam’s office.
Gov. Bill Haslam to give second State of the State address (AP/Johnson)
As Republican Gov. Bill Haslam prepares to deliver his second State of the State address this evening, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are laying out their wish lists for the upcoming budget year. They’re hopeful that rebounding revenues will allow increased spending. But GOP leaders are trying to tamp down expectations, despite improving financial numbers.
Gov. Bill Haslam to release budget proposal today (Times Free-Press/Sher)
State tax revenues are on the mend, but Gov. Bill Haslam and GOP legislative leaders are trying to throw a wet blanket on any would-be celebrations in advance of Haslam’s release today of his proposed 2012-13 budget. While collections are rebounding from the beating they took in the Great Recession and its aftermath, they won’t return to 2008 levels until 2014, officials say.
Haslam budget expected to include new cuts, new spending (N-S/Humphrey)
In fashioning his second Tennessee government budget, Gov. Bill Haslam has anticipated having about $400 million more in state tax revenue to spread around than in his $30.2 billion plan for the current fiscal year. But the governor has also anticipated that “ingrained” cost increases in various areas, including TennCare and education, will roughly consume the increase in revenue.
Haslam to give second State of the State address today (Commercial Appeal)
As Republican Gov. Bill Haslam prepares to deliver his second State of the State address this evening, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are laying out their wish lists for the upcoming budget year. They’re hopeful that rebounding revenues will allow increased spending. But GOP leaders are trying to tamp down expectations, despite improving financial numbers.
Governor Set to Unveil State Budget Proposal (Missouri News Horizon)
Gov. Bill Haslam is scheduled to pitch his roughly $30 billion spending plan to lawmakers on Capitol Hill Monday evening. During the annual State of the State address before a joint session of the Tennessee General Assembly, the governor is expected to outline his fiscal priorities and policy vision for the coming year.
Haslam Education Proposal Has Some Teachers’ Hackles Up (WPLN-Radio Nash.)
When Governor Bill Haslam lays out his agenda in this year’s State of the State address Monday night, one part is sure to perk up the ears of teachers. Haslam’s been talking about giving local school boards more leeway to set classroom sizes and teacher salaries. Haslam says he wants to give school districts more flexibility in terms of staffing.
Startup Memphis: City sets the pace for Tennessee (Commercial Appeal/Dowd)
During a visit to Memphis last week, Michael Burcham, president and CEO of the Entrepreneur Center in Nashville and leader of Gov. Bill Haslam’s Startup Tennessee initiative, promoted the new network that’s designed to support and sustain entrepreneurship across the state. As site of one of nine regional entrepreneurial accelerators across the state, Memphis is leading the way in providing invaluable programming resources for innovators, Burcham said.
Tenn. striving to curb deadly pain pill epidemic (Associated Press)
Tennessee’s death rate from drug overdoses has nearly tripled since 1999, a trend that state officials are trying to reverse with expanded regulations. Proposals include one from Gov. Bill Haslam that would require doctors and pharmacists to consult a controlled substance database before writing or dispensing such prescriptions.
Drug Abuse On Governor’s List (WTVF-TV Nashville)
Tennessee’s death rate from drug overdoses has nearly tripled since 1999, a trend that state officials are hurrying to tackle with expanded regulations. The proposals include one from Governor Bill Haslam that would require doctors and pharmacists to consult a controlled substance database before writing or dispensing such prescriptions.
TennCare narcotic spending is on the rise (Tennessean/Rau)
TennCare rolls out safeguards to curb spending, illegal deals At the same time state lawmakers, law enforcement agencies and other officials have been working to address Tennessee’s pain pill epidemic, TennCare spending on narcotic medications such as Lortab and Vicodin has been on a steady increase since 2007. The state’s Medicaid program, which provides health care to uninsured Tennesseans, saw spending on narcotic prescriptions increase 48 percent to nearly $49 million between 2007 and 2011.
Record number of black bears killed in TN (Tennessean/Humbles)
A record number of black bears were killed in Tennessee during the state’s most recent hunting season for the species, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. A total of 581 black bears were killed in 2011, TWRA spokesman Don King said.
Supreme Court to decide role of Nashville sheriff’s office in immigration (TN/Gee)
Immigration enforcement is at heart of lawsuit The future role of the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office is in the hands of the Tennessee Supreme Court, which has been asked to weigh in on a federal lawsuit that challenges the authority of the department to enforce federal immigration law. Five decades after Nashville and Davidson County adopted a consolidated government, a definitive decision from the Supreme Court could help put to rest persisting questions about how much the Metro Charter limits the powers of the local sheriff.
Bills seek changes to Tennessee’s voter ID law (Knox. News-Sentinel/Humphrey)
The majority leaders of the state House and Senate have filed bills that could open doors for more people to have a valid photo identification card for voting under a law that was approved in last year’s legislative session. One bill filed Thursday by Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Colliverville, and House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, would authorize county election commissions to issue a free photo ID.
Bill would weaken limits on lobbyists (Associated Press/Schelzig)
A bill would make it easier for lobbyists to wine and dine lawmakers, a move that critics say would be a “step backward” from ethics reforms imposed on the General Assembly after the FBI’s Tennessee Waltz bribery sting of 2005. Republican Rep. Philip Johnson of Pegram introduced the bill, which would allow employers of lobbyists to host receptions for standing committees in either chamber.
Sen. Bill Ketron to pursue better cyberbullying law (Gannett)
Alarmed by the suicides of two teens in the last two months over constant abuse at school, state Sen. Bill Ketron says he is trying to strengthen a cyberbullying law to make sure it is constitutional. Ketron sponsored a bill that passed in 2011 extending the state’s harassment statutes to offensive messages posted on the Internet.
Some legislators say redistricting won’t affect seeking re-election (Jackson Sun)
Some West Tennessee legislators say redistricting approved this month will not affect their re-election plans. Sen. Lowe Finney voted against the redistricting proposals that significantly changed his district but said that would not affect his candidacy plans when his seat is up for election in 2014.
Derryberry to explore candidacy (Columbia Daily Herald)
The chairman of the Maury County Democratic Party said he is considering running for the newly created 28th state Senate district seat. Guy Z. Derryberry, a Columbia resident who ran unsuccessfully three previous times for seats in the state Legislature, said he has decided to form an exploratory committee to determine whether he should vie for the new seat.
Littlefield’s proposed anti-gang initiative faces snags at Capitol (TFP/Burger, Sher)
Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield’s proposed anti-street gang legislation could be in for a rumble in the halls of the state Capitol, lawmakers say. Continuing state budget constraints as well as Gov. Bill Haslam’s plans to spend $6 million on his own crimefighting package could complicate efforts Littlefield announced last week.
Some see possible state amendments as unnecessary (City Paper/Woods)
Courtesy of Republicans who run state government, voters might have to decide whether to amend the state constitution not once, not twice but three times in the 2014 election. Democrats say it’s all aimed at arousing conservatives and bringing them en masse to the polls.
Redevelopment project aims to create tourist-friendly attraction (WMC-TV Memphis)
The Triangle Noir Redevelopment Project could turn a historic area of Memphis into a major tourist attraction. On any given week, the National Civil Rights Museum attracts thousands of tourists to Memphis.
Creating jobs: What can a governor do? (Stateline)
With unemployment stuck at stubbornly high rates in many states, it’s no surprise that governors in 2012 are talking a lot about the need to create jobs. But while some governors are outlining lofty, sweeping promises, Maine Governor Paul LePage cut to the chase.
California: Occupy protest returns in Oakland after lull (AP/Collins)
For weeks the protests had waned, with only a smattering of people taking to Oakland’s streets for occasional weekend marches that bore little resemblance to the headline-grabbing Occupy demonstrations of last fall. Then came Saturday, which started peacefully enough — a midday rally at City Hall and a march.
Hawaii: Hawaii Says ‘Aloha’ to More Visitors (Wall Street Journal)
Fresh off its prime-time exposure in Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl, Hawaii has another reason to bask in the sun: Newly compiled figures show the number of visitors to the Aloha State rebounded in 2011 to its highest level since 2007. State estimates being released Monday show the number of visitors to Hawaii rose 3.8% to 7.28 million from 7.02 million in 2010, amid increases in most of the islands’ major markets.
OPINION
Charlie Daniel Political Cartoon: “Oh no, not again” (Knoxville News-Sentinel)
Editorial: Just say ‘no’ to efforts to weaken ethics rules for state lawmakers (J. Sun)
We are disappointed that one of the first things this year’s Tennessee General Assembly is attempting to do is to weaken ethics reform rules to allow more lobbyist and corporate money to flow into our state’s political system. As Americans across the country increasingly express their distrust in politics and government insider influence, we urge state lawmakers to reject all attempts to weaken Tennessee’s ethics rules.
Editorial: Drivers need to drive, not send text messages (Knoxville News-Sentinel)
Texting while driving is reckless and deadly, ranking with drunken driving as one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road. Most Tennesseans would agree with that statement, according to a recent survey.
Editorial: Well-deserved honors (Commercial Appeal)
The efforts by the leadership team at Shelby County Juvenile Court to change the face of juvenile justice in Memphis and Shelby County continues to garner national recognition. The court recently became the only juvenile court in the Southeast, and one of only three nationwide, to win three top designations.
Gail Kerr: Arriola continues troubling trend in Davidson County Clerk’s office (TN)
Maybe it’s because more than $5 million flows in and out of the Davidson County Clerk’s office every year. Maybe it’s the complex number of transactions it handles, opening the door for all kinds of hanky-panky. Or maybe it’s something in the water. For whatever reason, the past three clerks — starting in 1980 — have come under scrutiny for questionable actions.
Free-Press Editorial: Obama’s plan to streamline ignores huge ObamaCare (TFP)
Any serious proposal to streamline the operations of the bloated federal government deserves consideration. So a proposal by President Barack Obama to consolidate several federal economic agencies into one and to look at similar possibilities for other agencies merits a close examination by Congress.
