http://go4truth.com Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:05:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 en http://go4truth.com/archives/2007/12/gordon-challenges-energy-company/ U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Murfreesboro) recently challenged an effort by the Utah-based public corporation EnergySolutions to import 20,000 tons of nuclear waste from Italy to be disposed in Tennessee. Gordon said in a release this week, "Tennessee should not be the dumping ground for nuclear waste around the world." In addition to the challenge from the Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, EnergySolutions will have 30 days to answer questions by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Gordon concluded, "The waste would get all the way to Tennessee before it is determined if it meets federal requirements. Do we really want to transport 20,000 tons of foreign nuclear waste across Tennessee?" The Mufreesboro Daily News Journal echoes Congressman Gordon's suspicions and supports his efforts to "let Europe take care of its own nuclear waste." Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:04:09 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" http://go4truth.com/archives/2007/09/democrat-mcwherter-looks-to-unseat-lamar/ From The Knoxville News Sentinel Democrat Mike McWherter, a West Tennessee businessman and son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, announced Monday that he is establishing an “exploratory” campaign for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Lamar Alexander. “I’ve been honored to hear encouragement from Tennesseans in all parts of the state — East, Middle and West — who say they’re ready for a positive change in Washington,” said McWherter, 51, in a statement. “I want to continue the dialogue on how we change the direction in our country for the future of our kids and grandkids. Forming an exploratory committee is a key step in my own decision-making process,” he said. McWherter declined to further discuss his plans on Monday, but said he would do so today in Nashville. Former state Democratic Chairman Bob Tuke and Kevin Doherty, a Nashville insurance lawyer, have also indicated they were interested in running for the Democratic Senate nomination. Both also indicated they would step aside if McWherter chose to run. “If he’s going to do it, I’m going to help him,” said Tuke on Monday. “I think he is a fine candidate and a fine guy. I think Tennessee needs a senator who will represent Tennesseans.” Tuke said he expects a Democratic challenger will need about $10 million to run an effective race against Alexander, a former governor who has announced he will seek a second term in the Senate next year. By establishing an “exploratory campaign,” McWherter can begin to raise money. Tom Ingram, Alexander’s chief of staff and former campaign manager, said recently McWherter would be a respectable candidate, but expressed optimism that Alexander’s popularity will translate into re-election. Tuke said he will help McWherter raise funds and is optimistic that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will also actively support a McWherter candidacy. Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:04:27 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" http://go4truth.com/archives/2007/07/bushs-budget-story-messier-than-traffic/ BUSH OFFERS TENNESSEANS ONLY PART OF THE BUDGET STORY Visit to Nashville marks continued neglect of middle class families Nashville, TN - "When President George Bush lands in Nashville today, we can expect him to tell only part of the story," said Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser. While the deficit is expected to slip to about $205 billion during this fiscal year, it is expected to climb back to $258 billion next year. ["A tamed U.S. deficit, but can it last?" 7/13/07] But, President Bush is trying to take credit for something that his policies did little to affect, according to the non-partisan Concord Coalition. "The modestly improved short-term outlook is not the result of policy actions or economic trends that are likely to keep the deficit on a downward slope," the group noted in a recent press release. [Concord Comments on Mid-Year Review, 7/11/07] "However, the deficit is not really the issue here," Sasser said. "The national debt is." "Under this administration the national debt has risen by $2.6 trillion to approximately $8.2 trillion," Sasser said. "President Bush continues to mortgage this country's future, and I hope he will take a few moments between photo opportunities and motorcades to have a serious discussion on this issue." "Some issues merit more than stale political rhetoric, but President Bush seems more comfortable sloganeering than having an honest dialogue with Tennesseans. "The only thing President Bush has done for Tennessee families is tie up traffic on their drive home from work when he comes to visit," Sasser concluded. Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:13:27 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" http://go4truth.com/archives/2007/07/for-gop-a-good-man-is-hard-to-find/ A recent Associated Press poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs showed considerable promise for Democratic Presidential candidates among 1,004 surveyed adults, 773 registered voters. Democrats Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards remain the front runners in the Democratic primary, which was recently hastened to February 5th in Tennessee and 7 [possibly 19] other states. Support has remained steady for all three candidates since polling was conducted May 5-7 earlier this year. Former Vice-President Al Gore inserts himself consistently as among the most popular potential candidates amidst constant media deflections that he is currently considering a presidential bid. For Republicans, however, the outlook is far less promising with the Associated Press reporting that "nearly a quarter of Republicans are unwilling to back top-tier hopefuls Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain, or Mitt Romney . . . such dissatisfaction underscores the volatility of the 2008 GOP nomination fight." [See: 'None of Above' leads Republican field', Associated Press, 7/17/07] In a field that 'boasts' a one-term Senator and thirty plus-year lobbyist, a "thrice-married backer of abortion", an Arizona Senator whose campaign is nearly broke, and a former Governor privy to campaign trail 'conversions' on important social issues, Republicans are finding it difficult to rally around one suitor. Adding to the sting of GOP voter defections, low Presidential approval ratings continue to steal support from Republicans in Congress, such as Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) with his vocal support for the Iraq Study Group recommendations. However, for elected Republicans, their public voting record is something much more difficult to shake from memory. Senator Alexander, who has voted 90% with Bush policies, is now part of a Republican filibuster effort to halt Democrats from changing direction in Iraq. When President Bush arrives in Nashville this Thursday to discuss the budget and tour a local Bun factory, there will be a symbolic proximity between Senator Alexander and the administration's failed policies and divisive ideologies regardless of whether or not Alexander is in the state or in Washington, D.C. In 2008, unless there is a real change in direction for the GOP, they will be scrambling for candidates to unite the Congressional castoffs. Luckily for Democrats, the diverse field of candidates will capture the attention of swing voters looking for a good man or woman lacking on the other side. Tue, 17 Jul 2007 07:56:25 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/06/SENATOR-ALEXANDER.--JUST-NOT-THAT-INTO-US?/ The race to discover which Republican is the wealthiest in Tennessee remains undecided as freshman Senator Bob Corker has filed an extension to delay his annual Senate finance disclosure until August 13th. So far, however, Senator Alexander has proven how out of touch he is with Tennesseans. "Senator Alexander often attempts to mislead Tennessee voters by saying he's of an independent mind. But he operates the same as most Washington Republicans who follow President Bush wherever Karl Rove leads- wearing plaid at home and Bush's promise ring in Washington," said Tennessee Democratic Party spokesperson Wade Munday. Senate financial disclosure records show Alexander owning assets ranging from $17 million to $49 million including land, stocks, and commercial buildings. And despite such healthy earnings, approximately $1.3 million to $3.2 million through dividends and capital gains, Alexander spoke on the Senate floor to oppose raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.(Source: Congressional Record-Senate, S. 1222, January 26, 2007) Regarding Alexander's land holdings, he owns a 5,000 acre farm in Texas and previously owned an estimated $1.25 million half acre in in Nantucket, Massachusetts. The Nantucket undeveloped half acre came into question when the Senator vehemently opposed the idea of placing an alternative energy wind farm near the land. Just this week, he held another press conference to oppose an amendment offered by Senator Domenici (D-NM) to the Renewable Energy Bill which would place requirements for utilities to find alternative energy methods such as wind energy. "Alexander has incorrectly branded himself as an independent-thinking Tennessean. The fact is that he votes over 95% of the time with President Bush," Munday continued. "And I'd say with 5,000 acres of land in Texas, he might as well be from the same village as Mr. Bush." Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:53:08 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/05/RISING-GAS-PRICES-UNDERSCORE-NEED-FOR-ENERGY-INDEPENDENCE/ Rising Gas Prices Underscore Need For Energy Independence By U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon With Memorial Day and the official summer driving season approaching, drivers are paying a heavy price for our nation’s dependence on foreign energy. On average, U.S. families are paying a record $3.10 for regular gasoline, which is 72 cents more than the price at the beginning of the year. In Tennessee, the average price per gallon is $2.84 – 111 percent higher than it was in 2001. While the average Tennessean is paying more for gas, the oil companies are enjoying tremendous profits. The six largest oil companies announced $30 billion in profits for the first quarter of 2007, and they enjoyed a record $125 billion in profits in 2006. With those numbers, oil companies don’t need any additional tax incentives to drill for oil. That’s why I joined a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives in voting to repeal multi-billion dollar taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil companies and reinvest that money here at home in renewable energy and energy efficiency. This is just one example of how Congress is working to take the country in a new direction on energy by working to bring down the cost of gas and make America more energy independent. The House is holding hearings on legislation that would help to crack down on price gouging. And in the coming days, House committees will continue to work to stabilize gas prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil both with alternative fuels and greater energy efficiency. If we want America to enjoy continued security and prosperity, our country must have a more balanced energy policy that will promote conservation and maximize our domestic energy resources, including clean and renewable sources of energy. Our current dependence on foreign energy is dangerous, and it threatens our economic health, national security and ability to maintain our competitive position in the world. As the Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I am working to diversify and expand our domestic energy resources. That’s why I have introduced legislation to make alternative fuels more available and to strengthen our commitment to energy research and development for the next generation of high-risk, high-reward energy technologies. The federal government has a responsibility to lead our efforts to become more energy independent. In fact, Congress recently launched a Greening the Capitol initiative to set an example, and I have introduced legislation to ensure the federal government is a leader in energy efficiency. Changing our energy policy clearly won’t happen overnight, but we will have good results if we can develop better ways to get new energy technology to consumers. At $3.10 a gallon, we simply can’t afford to rely on the old way of thinking. Thu, 17 May 2007 08:03:14 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/05/CONGRESS-WORKING-TO-IMPROVE-EDUCATION/ From U.S. Representative John Tanner: CONGRESS WORKING TO IMPROVE EDUCATION WASHINGTON - As students, parents and teachers look toward the summer break, Congress has been working on some matters that will affect schools in Tennessee and across our country for future school years. I hope to take this chance to tell you about the education issues we have been working on in Washington. Education Budget. The House version of the 2008 budget, still pending, will restore funding for cuts President Bush had recommended to education programs, including Head Start and job training. We will continue to push for full support of the programs that help our students prepare for college and the workforce. Head Start. The Improving Head Start Act of 2007, which recently passed the House with my support, reauthorizes this important, pre-K program and expands the criteria to help even more children. The bill calls for grants to be awarded to the highest performing Head Start institutions, including faith-based and community-based organizations. Teacher Tax Relief. I am a lead sponsor of this bill, which will help teachers make up for the costs they often have to spend out of their own pockets to buy supplies and educational tools for their classrooms. Teachers can currently deduct up to $250 they pay for such items as books, flash cards and crayons, but that provision expires at the end of this year. We want to restore that tax credit but expand it to $400 to make sure our teachers have everything they need to help our students be successful. Student Loans. As one of its first actions this year, the House of Representatives, with my support, voted to cut student loan interest rates in half over the next four years. We also approved the Student Loan Sunshine Act, which will clean up the relationship between student lenders and colleges, after recent reports that some lenders may be taking advantage of students and parents. Math and Science Education. Two bills passed by the House will offer scholarships to encourage more students to become math and science teachers. With these bills, we also voted to recruit and train science, math and engineering professionals who want to move their skills into their classrooms to become teachers. Music Education. I co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution that passed the House unanimously, affirming the importance of music education in a well-rounded school curriculum. The resolution notes that learning music helps develop 21st century workplace skills like critical thinking, creative problem-solving, effective communication and teamwork; keeps students involved in school and more likely to graduate; and helps students excel in other subjects, like math, science and reading. Residential Education. I was very honored and humbled to be named Policymaker of the Year by C.O.R.E., the Coalition for Residential Education, which includes Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes. We had worked together recently to ensure residential education facilities can serve as foster homes for children who are between homes. Congratulating Student Athletes. I co-sponsored a resolution from the House Education and Labor Committee that congratulates the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers on their NCAA championship, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously. As I stated in The Congressional Record, we were all proud to watch these outstanding student athletes earn their victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to win their 7th NCAA championship in 20 years. The resolution also congratulated Head Coach Pat Summitt, her coaching staff and all UT's student athletes for their dedication and teamwork. We want to thank all the students, teachers and parents who helped make 2006-2007 a successful school year, and I hope everyone will have an enjoyable and safe summer. Congressman Tanner represents Tennessee's 8th Congressional district in west and middle Tennessee. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and as chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Mon, 14 May 2007 14:02:10 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/05/Fair-Sustainable-Accountable/ Nashville, TN- As Governor Phil Bredesen continues the fight to improve statewide funding for education, his pragmatic leadership which carried him to a sweeping victory in 2006 seems to be hard at work again. After Republican legislators voiced some concerns over the Basic Education Program (BEP) formula, Governor Bredesen "rolled up his sleeves and went to work." The goal of the plan is to allocate new recurring funds which will be invested wisely by the state. "The Governor has shown that he's not playing politics with our children's future, he's leading Tennessee," said Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser. The proposal he developed, BEP 2.0, was publicly streamed via webcast in a joint session of the state legislature, the second one so far this year. Addressing both the state House and the Senate, the Governor outlined his efforts to increase school funding. Asking legislators to "seize the moment", he requested political leadership that sought real solutions to problems facing Tennessee schools. The Governor asked that the new school funding formula be fair, sustainable, and accountable. The $475 million plan, of which half would be funded this year, will be used to: - Fully fund the state's portion of the costs associated with at-risk students -Fully fund the state's portion of student growth costs in the year they occur -Expand funding for English Language Learners, with a goal of one teacher per every 30 students (currently at 1 per 45 students) -Increase the state's portion of instructional salaries from the current 65% to 75% -Increase the average teacher salary from $36,700 to $40,000 "We've shown we can make tough decisions in hard times; let's show we can make smart and sustainable investments in good times," Governor Bredesen said. "This is a unique time. If education is really the first priority for you, seize the moment, seize the tide." The Governor's address to the joint session will be available here soon. Simply click on House, video streaming, and view the May 3rd address. Thu, 03 May 2007 12:36:29 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/04/Why-Would-Lawmakers-Oppose-Schoolground-Smoking?/ From The Tennessean Why would lawmakers oppose banning all smoking on school grounds? Tennessee Voices Everyone claims they believe school children shouldn't smoke. Everyone claims adults should set good examples for school children. But not everyone wants to back up their words with action. April 18, something inexplicable happened in the Education Committee of the Tennessee Senate: Two local senators, Bill Ketron and Jim Tracy, voted to kill a ban on smoking on school grounds. Current law allows adults, defined as anyone 18 years old or older, to smoke on school property after hours. In addition to the obvious bad example that seeing adults smoking sets for impressionable young people, ask yourself how many high school seniors are 18. Should they be allowed to smoke at school? They are now. Furthermore, current law bars local education authorities from completely banning smoking on school grounds. Should the state be allowed to bar education leaders from taking such action if they see fit? Sens. Ketron and Tracy apparently believe high school seniors should smoke and that state government should interject itself into the business of local school systems. In committee, Ketron and Tracy both offered excuses for their votes, but, to be quite frank, their arguments don't hold water. Tracy said he opposes the ban because it would be difficult to enforce. By this line of thinking, there are any number of laws we should remove from the books. Take illegal immigration: How many agents do we have on the U.S.-Mexico border? How many immigrants cross that border illegally each year? The difficulty of enforcement should not deter us from trying to solve societal ills. For his part, Ketron claimed he opposes smoking on school grounds because the ban might hurt attendance at school sporting events. To be blunt, that argument is utter nonsense. Current law bans smoking in school stadiums and gymnasiums. The proposed bill would simply mean they have to make sure they are off school property before they light up. Are parents truly going to skip watching their children perform just because they might have to walk a few hundred extra yards to smoke? I highly doubt it. Sen. Roy Herron, the bill's sponsor, got to the crux of this argument when he said, ""We don't let people bring alcohol, illegal drugs or guns on the school grounds. We shouldn't let them bring the leading preventable cause of death in the state." The positions are clear: Either you think adults should smoke on school grounds, or you don't. Most Tennesseans believe the latter. It's a shame that Ketron and Tracy don't agree. Contrary to their beliefs, as evidenced by their actions in committee, smoking has no place on our school property. Sens. Ketron and Tracy should rethink their positions and do the responsible thing: support a complete ban of smoking on school grounds. After all, our young people deserve more than hollow words — they deserve substantive action to protect their health. By BLAKE BIVENS Wednesday, 04/25/07 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:27:34 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/04/Op-Ed:-Schools-First-History/ From The Knox News-Sentinel: Back to the cigarette tax-food tax debate April 25, 2007 Action in the Legislature this week - possibly even today - should return our attention to the debate over raising the state's cigarette tax and what appears to be its corollary, reducing the tax on grocery food items. To recap: Earlier this year, Gov. Phil Bredesen proposed an increase of 40 cents in the state's tax on cigarettes, bringing the total to 60 cents per pack but remaining well below the national average of about 90 cents. Most of the anticipated $220 million from the increase would go to kindergarten-through-12th grade education. About $15 million would go for anti-smoking campaigns and $6 million for agricultural projects. Republicans countered with a reduction of the tax on grocery food, phasing out the 6 percent tax over a 12-year period. The GOP later ditched that and offered a plan to eliminate the tax on all groceries for December. A Democratic plan offers to eliminate the state and local sales taxes on milk, eggs and baby food beginning Jan. 1, 2008. That plan already has won subcommittee approval. Bredesen's proposal faced rough sailing through the House Agriculture Committee earlier this month. The panel voted to slice the governor's plan in half and eliminate using the revenue for education. The committee also eliminated the anti-smoking campaign and put more money on agricultural projects and the remainder to reduce the tax on a number of food items. Thankfully, the budget subcommittee of the House Finance Committee voted last week to restore Bredesen's plan. The panel is waiting for a revised estimate of the fiscal impact before moving ahead. That apparently is where things stand now. The Senate Finance Committee is awaiting House action. The outcome remains uncertain. Another proposal, backed by Tennesseans for Fair Taxation, is sponsored by Rep. Harry Tindell, a Knoxville Democrat, and Sen. Tim Burchett, a Knoxville Republican, and 20 other lawmakers of both parties. That measure would raise the tax on cigarettes by an additional 4 cents while reducing the tax on grocery food from 6 percent to 3 percent. Proponents contend that Tennessee ranks highest among the 20 states that tax food, with an average of 8.35 percent when state and local taxes are combined. Tennessee also has one of the lowest taxes on cigarettes among the 50 states and District of Columbia. Efforts to reduce the tax on food might be largely about scoring political points with voters. If lawmakers were genuinely concerned about food taxes on lower-income citizens, they would have done something about it years ago. They have had their opportunities. Regardless, Republican and Democratic plans to reduce the tax on food are moving through the Legislature along with the governor's proposal to raise the tax on cigarettes. Accepting the former to secure the latter might be the cost of doing business in Nashville's political environment. And that will be OK, as long as lawmakers of both parties keep their eye on the real prize - an opportunity to channel more funds into improving education in the state. It is an opportunity that legislators should not risk losing. Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:22:13 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/04/Lt.-Gov.-Ron-Ramsey-Redefines-Constitutional-Majority/ Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser released the following statement regarding Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey’s late-night rule change, which allowed the adoption of a Senate rules committee report with less than the constitutional majority of seventeen: “Never before in Tennessee history has a legislative body adopted its rules with less than the constitutional majority. Rather than abide by established parliamentary procedure, Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey decided to score partisan points. I suppose the Tennessee Senate procedures dating as far back as Andrew Jackson are not good enough for Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey.” From the Associated Press: Senate votes to change key rules Now procedure changes would require OK from two-thirds of members NASHVILLE - The Senate on Monday voted to change a segment of its in-house rules that could determine the powers of the speaker, committees and the flow of legislation. Senators voted on whether attempts to change the Senate rules of procedure would require a majority of 17 votes in the 33-member chamber - which is currently the case - or if approval from two-thirds of the members would be needed. The vote was 16-13 for the latter. Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle considered challenging the vote, saying 17 votes should have been needed for passage, but he decided not to. "This is really a sad day in this Senate," Kyle said. "And with that said, I withdraw my motion." Kyle took the two-thirds requirement for rule changes out of the Senate's temporary rules when the session convened in January. Republicans wanted to put the requirement back in before the Senate adopted the permanent rules that would govern the chamber until the end of next year. Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris said he planned to vote on the permanent rules Monday evening but decided to wait at the request of some lawmakers. Republicans held a one-vote majority when the 105th General Assembly convened in January, and Sen. Ron Ramsey of Blountville was elected the first Republican speaker since Reconstruction. Ramsey appointed Republican chairmen and majorities to the most powerful committees before Sen. Mike Williams of Maynardville shed his Republican affiliation to become an Independent. Williams' defection dropped the GOP into a 16-16 tie with Senate Democrats, but Senate rules do not require Ramsey to change the makeup of committees to reflect that change. By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II, Associated Press April 17, 2007 Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:12:24 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/04/Op-Ed:-Veteran-Slams-Alexander's-Record/ From the The Tennessean: The tragedy that is Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. — the abysmal failure to care for our wounded soldiers — is 650 miles from Nashville. Why should it bother Tennesseans who care less about what is going on so far away? There are thousands of veterans in Tennessee. We care and, even more, instead of allowing our younger comrades returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to suffer in silence, we are rallying for their support. My challenge to the staff of The Tennessean is to go to every veterans hospital in Tennessee and see how the patients are being treated within Tennessee. As a part of this, ask how many have been denied benefits or had their benefits decreased due to bureaucracy and budget squeezes. After the data is collected, publish the voting record of our senior senator from Tennessee who, even though in Washington, seems as distant from the veterans' issues as we are from Walter Reed. His record has earned him a failing grade from every veterans' organization that tracks the votes in Congress. Furthermore, Empowering Veterans, a new national grass-roots veterans' organization has marked Sen. Lamar Alexander as one of the top 10 enemies of veterans, and we hope others who proclaim "Support the Troops" will rally to defeat Mr. Alexander in 2008. Richard Conover Mt. Juliet 37122 Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:18:50 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/04/Op-Ed:-On-Cigarette-Tax-Hike-Industry-Blows-Smoke/ From the Commercial Appeal: Op-Ed: On Cigarette Tax Hike, Industry Blows Smoke Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposed 40-cent cigarette tax hike for education appears to be in trouble in the legislature, where it is stalled in the Senate Finance Committee. Arguments against the tax hike, which would raise a projected $219 million, have been based largely on challenges to whether additional taxes are needed to sufficiently fund education in the state's elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. But we urge Tennesseans also to consider the benefits of a cigarette tax hike on health and the economy. Raising the price of cigarettes is a proven and effective method of preventing and reducing youth smoking. Children are more likely to never start, to quit or to cut back on smoking in response to higher cigarette prices. The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that a 50-cent-per-pack cigarette tax increase in Tennessee -- just 10 cents more than Bredesen has proposed -- would result in $232.6 million in revenue, 27,500 fewer adults smoking, 40,100 fewer children taking up smoking and 12,800 children saved from early death. Additionally, that hypothetical 50-cent tax increase would yield $16.6 million in savings over five years in health care costs related to cardiovascular disease, $12.2 million saved over five years because of improvements in pregnancy and birth outcomes, and $963 million in savings in long-term health care costs. The tobacco industry has very skillfully created several subterfuges to steer voters away from these facts. One strategy has been to claim that cigarette taxes disproportionately affect the poor, who have the highest smoking rates. The evidence, in fact, points to the contrary; lower-income smokers benefit most from tobacco tax increases because they are most likely to quit or cut back as a result of increases in cigarette prices. Increased tobacco prices also reduce smoking initiation and consumption among youths, which carries long-term health and economic benefit for individuals and the society. The net result is a shift of the overall tobacco-tax burden toward high-income smokers who are less likely to be affected by increases in cigarette prices. Another favorite anti-tax argument of the tobacco industry is that raising cigarette taxes leads to lost revenue for governments as consumption declines. This argument correctly acknowledges that cigarette taxes reduce consumption, but is fallacious in terms of the effect of tax increases on revenues. Even very substantial cigarette tax increases will both reduce consumption and increase tax revenues. This is partly because the proportionate reduction in demand does not match the proportionate size of the tax increase, since addicted consumers respond relatively slowly to price rises. Furthermore, some of the money saved by quitters will be spent on other goods, which are also taxed. Historically, raising tobacco taxes, no matter how large the increase, has never led to a decrease in cigarette tax revenues. A cigarette tax hike could further improve the health of Tennesseans by channeling part of the added revenue to effective tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Such programs would especially benefit lower-income citizens who often do not have access to such services. Investing part of these revenues into novel community-focused prevention and cessation research can further reduce the burden of tobacco use in Tennessee, which currently kills 10,000 of our citizens each year. At 20 cents per pack, Tennessee's cigarette tax is the nation's third lowest. Although the potential benefits of a cigarette tax increase on the quality of our educational system may be compelling, we urge that Tennesseans also consider the proven health benefits that result from raising tobacco taxes. Dr. Wasim Maziak and Dr. Kenneth D. Ward are associate professors in the Department of Health and Sport Sciences and the Center for Community Health at the University of Memphis. Thu, 05 Apr 2007 05:50:50 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/04/'Law-&-Order'-and-Lobbying/ From the Politico: 'Law & Order' and Lobbying Republicans pining for a Fred Thompson presidential bid contend the "Law & Order" star would make a strong candidate because of his experience as a senator, federal prosecutor and Watergate investigation counsel, as well as his conservative credentials and fame as a television and movie actor. But supporters rarely focus on another hat he wore before and after his eight years in the Senate: lobbyist. The role could be an issue if he seeks to move from his current flirtation with running, which has generated escalating poll numbers and buzz, to actually running, which would subject him to a heightened level of scrutiny. Over about two decades of lobbying (during which he also acted and practiced law), Thompson made nearly $1.3 million and represented clients including a British reinsurance company facing billions of dollars in asbestos claims, Canadian-owned cable companies, and deposed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, according to government documents and media accounts from his first run for the Senate in 1994. During that special election to fill the Tennessee seat vacated by Al Gore's ascendance to the vice presidency, Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), Thompson's opponent, had blasted him as "a Gucci-wearing, Lincoln-driving, Perrier-drinking, Grey Poupon-spreading millionaire Washington special interest lobbyist." But Republican Thompson crushed Cooper, 61 to 39 percent. That, however, was in a watershed Republican year, and it was before the Jack Abramoff scandal tarred lobbyists in the public's mind as corrupt, self-dealing influence peddlers. Lobbying accounted for only a fraction of Thompson's income, said his spokesman, Mark Corallo. The former senator is not lobbying now and has no plans to do so, Corallo said, "but he's not going to foreclose any options." Nor will Thompson hide from his past if he runs, the spokesman said. "There's nothing wrong with lobbying. It's an honorable profession," Corallo said. "Let's face it: If you're a politician, you're being lobbied on a daily basis. So it's just not an issue." But it will become one if Thompson declares his candidacy, aides for two Republican presidential candidates predicted. "These would be logical lines of attack," one said, though both said their campaigns have yet to build opposition research files on Thompson’s lobbying. But whatever they might dig up "won't stick, said Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), national co-chairman of the Draft Fred Thompson 2008 committee. "In politics, everything is fair game," Wamp said. "But I don't think anybody sees Fred Thompson as a lobbyist. They see him as a senator, and I think they will view him as a president." Thompson plans to huddle with lawmakers on Capitol Hill this month to gauge support, Wamp said, adding that a number have signed on to help Thompson should he decide to run. Wamp was not familiar with the specifics of some of Thompson's lobbying work. But he called the lobbying a "limited" part of a résumé that includes asking the Watergate congressional investigation hearing question that exposed President Richard M. Nixon's secret recording system, helping uncover a payoff scheme that landed a Tennessee governor in prison and playing a host of television and movie roles, including his ongoing portrayal of the quick-witted, drawling Manhattan District Attorney Arthur Branch on the popular NBC cops-and-courts television drama "Law & Order." Thompson's commanding presence, background and conservatism bring to mind another actor-turned-pol, Wamp said. "The whole thing is very Reagan-esque. The whole story." Thompson cruised to a full Senate term in 1996 but decided not to run again in 2002. A year after stepping down, he registered to lobby for British reinsurance company Equitas Ltd. The company paid him $760,000 to guard its interests against several bills seeking to protect businesses from asbestos lawsuits, according to records Thompson filed with the Senate. The legislation died, and Thompson this year filed papers ending his relationship with Equitas, the only client on whose behalf Thompson registered to lobby after leaving the Senate. "We were very satisfied with his representation," Equitas spokesman Jon Nash said in an e-mail. The company, which spent $5.3 million on a team of lobbyists from eight firms from 2004 to 2006, wanted Thompson, Nash explained, because "we needed help in lobbying Republicans in the Senate, and in addition, as a former senator from Tennessee, he had a good relationship with the then-majority leader, Sen. Frist," also a Tennessee Republican. The provisions that concerned Equitas were removed from the last version of the legislation, according to a lobbyist with a Republican background who worked on the issue, and said Thompson had the ability to become a successful K Streeter. "He gets into the weeds of an issue," the lobbyist said, adding that lawmakers' doors opened easily for Thompson, though not necessarily because he was a former colleague. "He's well-received on the Hill in no small part because of his Hollywood status. People like to mingle with him." Thompson appears to have earned less money lobbying before serving in the Senate. But it's difficult to trace lobbying work done before 1995; before then, Congress did not require lobbyists to report how much clients paid them, and records are not easily searchable by lobbyists' names. Thompson did file papers with the Justice Department to represent Haitian President Aristide in October 1991, two weeks after Aristide was overthrown. The filing lists Thompson as a member of the Washington-based law firm Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn and says he intended to lobby Congress, the State Department and the White House "in order to obtain the restoration of the democratically elected government of the Republic of Haiti." Corallo had a different take, asserting Thompson "didn't file papers to represent President Aristide. He filed papers to discuss the Haitian embargo." And Corallo said Thompson was not paid for his Haiti work, which consisted of a single telephone call to then-White House Chief of Staff John Sununu. "That's the only thing he ever did on that. So that's that," Corallo said, adding that Thompson is no longer associated with Arent Fox or any other law or lobbying firm. From 1975 to 1993, Thompson was paid $507,000 lobbying for six clients, according to a 1994 article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal. The newspaper reported that Thompson's campaign provided information showing Thompson received payments from Westinghouse, two Canadian-owned cable companies, the Tennessee Savings and Loan League, a Teamster's pension fund and a Baltimore-based coalition of businesses seeking federal grants. Corallo said Thompson's camp assumes the Commercial Appeal report is accurate. But he declined to provide The Politico with information on lobbying payments to Thompson. "It being so far back, that's an awful undue pressure, burden for the senator to have to go dragging back through records," Corallo said. During the 1994 campaign, Cooper said Thompson lobbied for legislation that caused the collapse of the savings and loan industry and against a bill that would have limited foreign involvement in the U.S. cable industry. Thompson's camp shrugged off those criticisms, according to press reports at the time, which quoted his aides as saying he had worked on earlier savings and loans legislation that was rolled into the controversial 1982 legislation and had pushed for more competition in cable. If Thompson declares for president, his opponents would be ill-advised to rehash Cooper's 1994 strategy, Corallo said. "I really can't see any of the candidates wasting their time attacking him for doing things that were perfectly legal, honorable, ethical and public," Corallo said. "It's just not a big deal." Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:25:28 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/03/Rep.-Lincoln-Davis:-Truth-About-the-Budget/ From the Columbia Daily Herald: Back to Pay-As-You-Go: The truth about the budget by Rep. Lincoln Davis There are many untruths emanating from Washington about the recently passed House budget. It almost seems like there is an attempt to rewrite history. First, the D.C. Republicans have zero credibility when it comes to the budget. Last year, when they were in complete control, they couldn’t pass a budget resolution or the appropriations process. The wheels completely fell off. They gave us the rainforest in Iowa, the Bridge to Nowhere, and when handed a budget surplus in the hundreds of billions in 2000, it only took six years to squander it and saddle us with historic deficits and a ballooning debt. The record needs to be set straight. The newly passed budget ends the “borrow and spend” era of the last several years with the reimplementation of Pay-As-You-Go rules. As a result of the reckless “borrow and spend” mentality taxpayers now spend $254.6 billion in interest payments to finance our debt. During this time, federal spending increased more than any other time since the Johnson Administration. So much for small government. Furthermore, since 2001, foreign ownership of our Treasury securities more than doubled to $2.2 trillion (with Communist China being a major buyer of our debt). This is not rhetoric, but fact. Figures don’t lie. The Democratic budget achieves balance by 2012 and blocks the trend of “borrow and spend.” Not only does the Democratic budget achieve balance by 2012, it also rejects the president’s deep cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. The budget also makes down payments on critical national priorities including health care for children, education, veterans’ programs, and the farm economy. The budget also accommodates deficit-neutral middle-income tax relief — including the Alternative Minimum Tax, the child tax credit, and the marriage penalty — while providing the necessary resources to meet critical national security threats to the nation. Additionally, there is language in the budget stating support for the extension of the state sales tax deduction. The GOP budget has no such provision. You can be certain that my Tennessee colleagues and I, Democrats and Republicans, will be working hard to make sure the state sales tax deduction not only is extended but made permanent. If the Republican Party was serious about longterm tax cuts for the middle class, they would have made them permanent when they were first passed instead of setting expiration dates. The proof is in the facts. Like most farmers, Tennesseans won’t be sold a blue-eyed mule again by the GOP. Lincoln Davis, D-Tennessee, represents the fourth district of the U.S. Congress. Thu, 29 Mar 2007 07:30:57 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/03/Playing-Politics-with-Kids/ From the Senate Democratic Caucus: With the Senate Finance Committee scheduling debate on Governor Phil Bredesen's Schools First Initiative Tuesday at 8:30am, there are a lot of reasons for Tennesseans, and not just for education proponents, to keep an eye on whether their Senators still support a cigarette tax or if they're playing politics with our children's future. Currently, Tennessee has the 45th lowest education funding nationally and the third lowest cigarette tax nationally. The Schools First Initiative was proposed by Governor Bredesen in his inaugural speech this year and is an attempt to correct that inequality by providing approximately $220 million to public schooling in Tennessee. The cigarette tax is not new to the Tennessee General Assembly. Nine members of the Senate Finance Committee have sponsored prior legislation to increase the tax or voted in favor of legislation to increase the tax. And tomorrow, they will be voting again on whether they should increase the cigarette tax to improve Tennessee's funding for public education for our children. Of the current members of the Tax Committee who previously signed on to the cigarette tax, are Senator Diane Black, R-Gallatin, Senator Mark Norris, R-Collierville, Senator Tim Burchett, R- Knoxville, Senator Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, Senator Jim Kyle, D- Memphis, Senator Rosalind Kurita, D-Clarksville, Senator Doug Henry, D-Nashville, Senator Joe Haynes, D-Goodlettsville, and Senator John Wilder, D-Mason. Here is a brief history of the cigarette tax: * In 2005, Sen. Rosalind Kurita (SB0013/HB0690) sponsored a bill to increase the cigarette tax by 40 cents to 60 cents per pack. The bill died in Senate Finance by an official vote of 4-3-3. Sens. Tim Burchett, Jim Kyle, and Douglas Henry voted for it. Sens. Joe Haynes and Randy McNally abstained. * On 02/17/2005, Sen. Mark Norris/Rep. ‘Butch’ Borchert introduced HB1944/SB2100, which would have increased the cigarette tax by 20 cents per pack. The first $30 million collected would have gone to tobacco farmers in amounts similar to what they would have received from the master settlement agreement. All revenue in excess of $30 million would have gone into the general fund. Rolled in House Agriculture Committee, no action taken. Did not move in the Senate. * In 2003, Kurita and Rep. Diane Black proposed increasing the cigarette tax to 60 cents per pack (HB1647/SB1173). On Tuesday, May 13, 2003, Kurita withdrew the Senate bill, citing opposition on the Finance Committee. * “Ups and downs of legislative session,” Knoxville News-Sentinel, 06/07/2003: “. . . the Legislature declined to pass an increase in the cigarette tax. Sen. Rosalind Kurita gave up the attempt to raise the tax, telling colleagues their opposition cost the state much-needed revenue and a chance to curb smoking and enhance health. The bill didn't even get out of the Senate Finance Committee.” * “Tobacco tax hike urged,” Chattanooga Times Free Press, 10/21/2003: “Sen. Rosalind Kurita, D-Clarksville, has sponsored two failed bills that would have raised the tax on cigarettes. She said she will reintroduce the bill in the 2004 legislative session. Sen. Kurita said the goal is to prevent teenagers from smoking. ‘Research shows us that increasing the tax on cigarettes will have the direct effect of decreasing the number of children and young people who begin to smoke,’ said Sen. Kurita, a registered nurse. ‘Increasing the tax on cigarettes will also have the long-term effect of saving money on health care for Tennesseans.’ Sen. Kurita's bill seeks to raise the cigarette tax to the national average.” * In 2002, Kurita tried to raise the cigarette tax by 30 cents per pack, increasing it to a total of 43 cents (SB2136/HB2876). Black signed on to this bill as a co-sponsor. Voted down in Senate Finance on March 12, 2002. Burchett, Haynes, and Henry voted for the tobacco tax increase. Kyle abstained. (“Senate Panel Rejects 30-Cent Hike in Tenn. Cigarette Tax, Commercial Appeal, 05/13/2002). * Burchett, Haynes, Henry, and John Wilder voted to increase wholesale tax on cigarettes by seven cents per pack and increase wholesale taxes on other tobacco products and alcohol by 10 percent on July 3, 2002. This was the final compromise tax bill of 2002, ending a government shutdown. Passed the House 50-41 and the Senate 22-11. (Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey voted in favor.) • On June 20, 2002, McNally proposed an amendment to SB3135 that would have increased the cigarette tax from “six and one-half (6 ½) mills” to “twenty-one and one-half (21 ½) mills” (Amendment #10 to SB3135). The Senate Journal reports that, after a motion of previous question on the amendment prevailed by a vote of 25-4, “On motion, Amendment No. 10 failed.” No vote is recorded. The Tennessean reports, “McNally, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, wants to use the new tax to deflect education cuts” (“Stopgap budgets in mix,” 06/20/2002). SB3135, which authorized the transfer of reserve funds to the General Fund, passed 26-5 on 06/20/2002. * On July 9, 2001, the House voted on a proposal by Representative Gary Odom to triple the state's cigarette tax (a 26-cent increase, at the time). This was offered as an amendment to HB1781. The amendment failed by a vote of 28-59. The Associated Press reports that Black was one of only eight House Republicans to vote for the amendment (which includes current members Bill Dunn and Beth Harwell). 03/26/2007 Sun, 25 Mar 2007 08:30:25 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/02/Schools-First-Figures-Released/ From the State Senator Jim Kyle: The Office of State Senator Jim Kyle released the figures of the Schools First Initiative yesterday. The spreadsheet, compiled by the office of Governor Phil Bredesen, displays the approximate amount of funding each state legislative district will receive. Under the Schools First Initiative, an increase in the cigarette tax would provide increased funding for education. Opponents of the Schools First Initiative want to introduce a food tax cut swap for the cigarette tax increase. That legislation (SB1540), introduced by Sen. Mae Beavers, does not provide any funding to education but proposes to end the state sales tax on food in the next twelve years without replacement revenue. Without the funding from the cigarette tax increase, Sen. Beavers district would lose an estimated $6 million that would go towards basic education funding for students provided by Schools First. Other opponents of the Schools First Initiative include Sen. Diane Black and State Rep. Beth Harwell; however, they have been in full support of a cigarette tax increase in the past. Both voted for a previous Democratic sponsored bill to triple the cigarette tax, HB1781, introduced in 2001 but failing passage. Sen. Black and Rep. Harwell's districts would lose $5 million and $10 million respectively. Sen. Jim Tracy's growing district would lose $6.8 million. The logic of increasing the cigarette tax is clear in Governor Bredesen's Schools First Initiative. We do not need to cut taxes simply because we have surplus revenue. We must prepare for our children's future. Currently, Tennessee has the third lowest cigarette tax in the country, and cutting that tax is a deterrent to teen smoking. I believe we all agree that is a good thing. Republicans have introduced the food tax swap as a wedge between the legislature and school funding. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-TN, 22 years ago presciently noted that if we do not continue to fund education using alternative methods we will have to 1) cut funding to education 2) increase the food tax 0r 3) implement a state income tax. Partisan politics have no place in preparing our children for the future. There must be responsible ways of coming together to do what's right for our state's education agenda. The Schools First Initiative works and it is the best solution to preparing for Tennessee's future growth. Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:09:01 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/02/Bredesen-Skeptical-of-Food-Tobacco-Tax-Swap/ From the Chattanooga Times Free Press: NASHVILLE — Gov. Phil Bredesen urged state NAACP leaders Tuesday to “put your skeptic’s hat on” when weighing whether to use money from his proposed cigarette tax hike to slash state food taxes instead of funding the governor’s education plan. “We are already a very low-tax state. Among states we are No. 48 in terms of state and local taxes,” the governor said. “Our future is vastly more tied to good schools and good education for our kids than in trying to become No. 49 in taxes.” Gov. Bredesen said a proposed “tax swap,” which seeks to use a cigarette tax increase to fund a 50 percent reduction in the state’s 6 percent sales tax on food, would not help the very poor. He said most don’t pay taxes because they are on food stamps or a similar program and their purchases are exempt. The governor’s comments came as he continues to make his case for tripling Tennessee’s cigarette tax from 20 cents per pack to 60 cents. Most of the $219 million it would raise would go toward funding $243 million in education improvements, including more funding to help poorer students and keep college tuition increases low. Some legislators as well as groups such as Tennesseans for Fair Taxation argue the state’s 6 percent sales tax on food is among the nation’s highest, and they have proposed the idea of the tax “swap” in recent years and again this year. In a news release issued Tuesday, Tennesseans for Fair Taxation argued that Tennessee is fast “becoming an island of high food taxes.” The group’s spokeswoman, Hazel Longstreet, said Tennessee retailers will be hurt by lower taxes in adjacent states. Each penny of state sales tax raises about $70 million from food, records show. Each 20 cents on cigarettes raises about $109 million. In his pitch to the NAACP, Gov. Bredesen noted that reducing the sales tax on food would put about $35 back into a low-income household, while a college graduate would earn $35,000 more than a high school graduate. “It is an investment in education,” the governor said, later noting that “when you look at replacing the sales tax on food with a cigarette tax you actually make the tax more regressive.” Dr. Bill Fox, director of the University of Tennessee’s Center for Business and Economic Research, said research shows the governor is right. “You actually are increasing the tax substantially on poor people when you do that,” he said of boosting cigarette taxes to cut the sales tax on food. While not an advocate of the tax swap, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, said he has yet to be convinced cigarette taxes should be increased. “The bottom line here is we have overcollected in taxes,” Sen. Ramsey said. “I think we need to find some way once again to give some of that back to the people.” He said there is a “real possibility” the state may be able to fund the governor’s education proposal out of budgetary growth, which he estimated at $400 million. But he emphasized that he cannot say for sure until Gov. Bredesen’s proposed fiscal year 2008 budget is unveiled next week. House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, said he wants to fund the education portion of what the governor wants. “If a member’s not in favor of going up to the 40 cents (on cigarettes), then we need to come up with another source of revenue. I don’t have a suggestion for that at this time.” Gov. Bredesen has acknowledged that passing a tobacco tax increase as well as a ban on workplace smoking will not be easy in Tennessee. But he has noted that tobacco farming has fallen in recent years after the elimination of the federal government’s tobacco subsidy program. “Times are changing here in Tennessee, as they are everywhere,” the governor told the Tennessee Press Association last week. “Tobacco is no longer the top crop. In fact, it’s struggling to be in the top ten.” Rep. Naifeh noted, however, that tobacco interests remain powerful. “The Farm Bureau is there. We still have a number of tobacco farms and tobacco legislators, but I think everyone realizes that we got to do something. Our tobacco taxes are the third lowest, and we don’t need to be there and also be third from the bottom on education.” The governor’s plea did not entirely convince NAACP member John Seward of Dyersburg, a Tennessee native who spent years living in Wisconsin where there is no state sales tax on food. “I’m not used to paying taxes on food,” he said. But Monroe Woods, president of the Bolivar and Hardemann County NAACP branch, said he believes education is the main priority. He noted that while the sales tax on food “is an item we’d love to see changed, we still believe education needs to be funded.” By ANDY SHER 02/14/2007 Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:34:08 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/02/Democrats-Want-to-Halt-PAC-Money-Transfers/ NASHVILLE -- Political action committees would be banned from transferring campaign cash to other PACs under a bill introduced in the state Senate Wednesday. The bill sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Nashville, follows an Associated Press report last month that a PAC controlled by Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, avoided contribution limits by giving money to another committee that then directed money to key Republican candidates. Ramsey's committee, known as RAAMPAC, gave the maximum of $15,000 to each of three candidates in the closest races of the 2004 and 2006 cycles. His PAC then gave money to a separate committee called SALT PAC, which then gave the same candidates more money. Officials with both PACs said they followed state laws since there was no explicit coordination between the two committees. SALT PAC is run by John "Chip" Saltsman, a former state Republican Party chairman who this month was named campaign manager for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential exploratory committee. Ramsey, who was elected Senate speaker last month, said he could not immediately comment on the proposal because he had not yet seen the bill. House Judiciary Chairman Rob Briley, the sponsor of the companion bill in the House, said the bill is designed to prevent large transfers of campaign cash like those made by RAAMPAC. "It's intended to stop that," said Briley, D-Nashville. "It's one of the ways that money gets transferred from place to place that we probably need to have more scrutiny over." The bill would still permit state political parties and legislative caucuses to transfer campaign money. Ramsey is known for his fundraising prowess. His PAC gave $149,500 to Republican candidates and causes in 2006, and $106,000 in 2004. He personally gave $34,878 over the same period. State law regards contributions made through an intermediary committee the same as having come from the original source, but it's only illegal if the money that moved through the second committee was specifically earmarked for particular candidates. The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance only investigates potential violations of campaign finance laws if a complaint is filed. No complaint about RAAMPAC has been filed. Other criteria for determining a conduit are the percentage of contributions received from a single source though the guidelines don't specify what percentage would be considered excessive. RAAMPAC's $25,000 contribution to Saltsman's committee last year was 78 percent of the total that SALT PAC spent in Tennessee, records show. In 2004, Ramsey personally gave SALT PAC $10,000, while his RAAMPAC gave another $15,000. Ramsey's combined contributions accounted for 73 percent of SALT PAC's state spending in 2004. By Erik Schelzig 02/08/2007 Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:31:00 +0000 "Go4Truth.com" /archives/2008/02/Bredesen-Emphasizes-Education-in-State-of-State/ From the Office of the Governor: Governor Phil Bredesen [Monday] delivered his 2007 State of the State Address to the 105th Tennessee General Assembly, proposing new initiatives to strengthen education in Tennessee at every level. “Tennessee is ready - we’re ready,” Bredesen said during his address in the State Capitol’s House Chambers. “We’re ready to lift our sights even higher. We’re ready to take the next steps to seize the future for ourselves, for our children and for our children’s children. I believe that we start with education.” Moving forward, Bredesen’s strategy for strengthening Tennessee’s public education includes four pillars: - Prepare every student for success - Provide adequate funding to every district, directing all new money into the classroom - Raise standards and expectations, demanding a return on this historic investment - Make college more accessible and affordable To support this comprehensive strategy, Bredesen made the following proposals to the General Assembly: • $120 million for at-risk students in K-12, to fully fund the state’s share of these costs • $27 million for student growth needs in local school districts, to fully fund the state’s share of these costs • $25 million to fund additional Pre-K classrooms statewide, bringing the state closer to Bredesen’s goal of offering a quality Pre-K education to every four-year-old in Tennessee • $48 million to keep tuition increases at state colleges and universities modest • $10 million to offer free community college tuition to high school students who make an average score of 19 on the ACT, 19 on the math component and 19 on the test’s reading component • $9.3 million to increase Tennessee’s Hope Scholarships to $4,000 annually • $48 million to fund operating increases in Tennessee’s higher education system • Implementation of ACT testing for 8th and 10th grade students, to assess their academic needs early on and design individual learning plans to help them graduate on time and ready for work or college • Establishment of a four-year math requirement in Tennessee’s public high schools • Bipartisan review of Tennessee’s Lottery Scholarship program. (The Tennessee Higher Education Commission predicts that 75 percent of scholarship recipients will lose their scholarships before finishing school.) To fund these new initiatives, Bredesen proposed using some state lottery funds, as well as a modest 40-cent increase in the state’s cigarette tax. Bredesen stressed that, with or without the increase, Tennessee’s budget is sound and balanced. The BEP, growth in TennCare and Cover Tennessee, funding for new Pre-K classrooms and community college scholarships and other initiatives are already proposed and funded. “The argument for a cigarette tax is straightforward: Our schools need more money,” Bredesen said. “Our cigarette tax is among the lowest in the nation, it has room to grow, and even after such an increase, will still be vastly below the national average.” Ninety percent of revenue from the increase would go into education, and the remainder would fund agriculture and anti-smoking programs in Tennessee. Bredesen made a call to Tennessee’s General Assembly to put aside “politics as usual” and instead make a bipartisan commitment to the education of Tennessee’s children. “As I look out over this chamber tonight, I am proud indeed that bipartisanship is not a new idea in Tennessee; that we have been practicing it and getting results for our state for a long time,” Bredesen said. “To all of you from both sides of the aisle, thank you for putting the needs of our state first.” While Monday’s address focused on Bredesen’s number one priority, education, his FY ’07-’08 budget presentation will contain specific requests for investments in education, job creation, health care and environmental protection. The Governor will present his budget proposal to the General Assembly later this month. Click here for the text of the speech. Tue, 06 Feb 2007 10:09:11 +0000 "Go4Truth.com"