FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012 Haslam Signs Public Safety Legislation (TN Report)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today held a ceremonial bill signing at the Bartlett Criminal Justice Center to highlight three pieces of public safety legislation. The bills were a result of his administrations multi-agency, comprehensive public safety action plan aimed at curbing violent crime, lowering the rate of repeat offenders, and significantly reducing drug abuse and drug trafficking in Tennessee. One of the key roles of state government is to keep citizens safe, Haslam said. These laws will play an important role in combating some of our states toughest safety challenges. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reports that in 2010 and 2011, domestic violence victims made up more than half of all reported crimes against Tennesseans. HB 2389/SB 2251 increases the mandatory jail time for repeat domestic assault offenders. Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville), Sen. Doug Overbey (R-Maryville), House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick (RChattanooga) and Rep. Jim Coley (R-Bartlett) sponsored the legislation. http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/06/07/haslam-signs-public-safety-legislation/

Haslam Signs Trio of Anti-Crime Bills (Memphis Daily News)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed a trio of anti-crime measures into law during a Wednesday, June 6, visit to Bartlett. The laws include an increase in mandatory jail time for repeat domestic violence offenders and a second law upping sentences for convicted felons with guns that include some specific circumstances for longer sentences. The third law makes aggravated assault, robbery and aggravated burglary a higher class of felony with a longer sentence when committed by groups of three or more people. The law is aimed at gang violence. The felons with guns bill that passed in the Tennessee Legislature earlier this year is the second in as many years to become law. Shelby County legislators refer to the latest bill as son of a gun. The DAs have quite a bit of discretion in terms of them deciding what are the cases that merit that, Haslam said when asked about complaints by some attorneys in the federal courts system that federal felons with guns cases have overcrowded dockets. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jun/8/haslam-signs-trio-of-anti-crime-bills/

Inheritance Tax Phase-out Signed by Haslam (TN Report)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today traveled to Luckey Family Farm in Humboldt to highlight the second of three tax cuts passed during this years legislative session and signed by the governor. Haslam held a ceremonial bill signing of HB 3760/SB 3762, which phases out the state inheritance tax during the next three years before it is completely eliminated starting January 1, 2016. The bill was introduced by the governor as the state continues its work toward providing the best customer service at the lowest possible cost to Tennesseans. W ere focused on making state government more efficient and more effective while reducing the cost to taxpayers, Haslam said. Jobs are created when people invest capital. The inheritance tax is causing Tennesseans to take their capital to other states as they grow older, but businesses and family farms cant pick up and leave. Eliminating this tax will ease the burden on family businesses and farms that are left to other generations. http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/06/07/inheritance-tax-phase-out-signed-by-haslam/

Haslam: Pre-K funding, vouchers no package deal (Associated Press/Schelzig)

Gov. Bill Haslam is weighing both an increase in funding for the states public pre-kindergarten program and creating a school voucher system in Tennessee, though the Republican says he doesnt consider the two proposals linked. The governor told The Associated Press after a recent groundbreaking ceremony outside Nashville that while both measures face heavy opposition among various factions of lawmakers, he doesnt see one as providing political cover for the other. Those are two good examples of something where people on both

sides can point to studies that show theyre either effective or not, Haslam said. Our job is to wade into the middle of that and see if it works for Tennessee. But I dont think theyre coupled at all. Republicans in the Legislature have traditionally been more supportive of voucher programs, while voicing more skepticism about the pre-K program. Democrats have largely opposed vouchers and called for more public early childhood learning opportunities. In both cases its one of those where both of them are controversial, but at the end of the day our mission is to figure out whats effective and what works, Haslam said. The governor managed to delay a legislative fight over vouchers this year by calling for a study panel to develop recommendations by this fall. But the Senate has passed voucher legislation in the past, making it likely that the measure will again be a priority next session. http://www.dnj.com/viewart/20120608/NEWS05/306080024/Haslam-Pre-K-funding-vouchers-no-package-deal? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE (SUBSCRIPTION)

State working on smartphone app using traffic data (Associated Press)

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is working on a free smartphone app using the traffic data it already collects. According to WPLN, it's tentatively set to be available later this year. The state already watches traffic congestion through a system of highway cameras, posting estimated drive times on interstate signs. Gov. Bill Haslam says a smartphone program is meant to customize that information and put it in one place. WPLN said the state has not publicized how much it will cost taxpayers. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/08/state-working-on-smartphone-app-using-traffic/

TDEC Announces $25.5 Million in Loans for Water, Wastewater Infrastructure (MNH)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau today announced that two communities, one water authority, and one water/wastewater authority have been approved to receive a total of $25.5 million in low-interest loans for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. These projects will help address critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, as well as foster healthy communities as they continue to grow, Haslam said. The State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program provides low-interest loans that help communities, utility districts, and water and wastewater authorities finance projects that protect Tennessees ground and surface waters and public health. Loans are used to finance the planning, design and construction of water and wastewater facilities. The Department of Environment and Conservation administers the SRF Loan Program for the state of Tennessee in conjunction with the Tennessee Local Development Authority. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides grants to fund the program, and the state provides a 20 percent match. Loan repayments are returned to the program and are used to fund future SRF loans. http://missouri-news.org/midwest-news/tennessee/tdec-announces-25-5-million-in-loans-for-water-wastewaterinfrastructure-2/17646

Keep Tennessee Beautiful has new logo and website (Associated Press)
The agency Keep Tennessee Beautiful has unveiled a new logo and website, www.keeptnbeautiful.org . The new site features a fresh design and showcases the new logo, which is designed to mirror the three grand divisions of Tennessee. Since 1983, the group has been a state resource center for litter prevention, community greening and beautification, and recycling and waste reduction education. It is affiliated with the University of Memphis through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The agency has 24 Tennessee affiliates. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/08/keep-tennessee-beautiful-has-new-logo-and/

Keep Tennessee Beautiful site has new Web address (Times Free-Press/Higgins)
Keep Tennessee Beautiful has a new Web address and a new logo, Executive Director Sutton Mora Hayes and area affiliates announced Thursday. The new address is www.keeptnbeautiful.org, and the new logo shows a river, a green field and mountains at the top. "It reflects the three grand divisions of Tennessee," said Joanne Maskew, executive director for the Cleveland/Bradley Keep Tennessee Beautiful affiliate. The state organization, part of Keep America Beautiful, has 24 Tennessee affiliates, including Anderson, McMinn and Monroe counties and the Scenic Cities Beautiful Commission of Chattanooga. "We have 30 years of history that we can build on, and we want everyone to know what the millions of volunteers we work with have been doing to keep Tennessee 2

beautiful," Hayes said in a news release. The new website, activated Thursday, includes an interactive map so users can locate recycling opportunities by county or ZIP code as well as news from the affiliates and information on how to become a volunteer. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/08/tenneessee-beauty-site-has-new-web-address/?local

UT staff, faculty eye boost in pay (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Trevizo)

Schools in the University of Tennessee system are coming up with plans to improve lagging compensation for faculty and staff. If raises are approved by the UT board of trustees, every employee in the University of Tennessee system will get a 2.5 percent across-the-board increase, with a $1,000 minimum for those making $40,000 or less. The increases would take effect July 1. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga also is proposing using $400,000 for market and merit pay adjustments, said Richard Brown, vice chancellor of finance and operation. The merit-market adjustments would occur in September, he said. Each of the seven institutions in the UT system came up with its own plan to address compensation gaps. The system's compensation and advisory board, which Brown leads, will present the plan to system trustees at a June 20 meeting in Knoxville. Brown said he can't speculate on whether the board will approve the recommendations. "I can attest that the UT board has been quite interested in maintaining and enhancing the quality of our workforce," he said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/08/tennessee-ut-staff-faculty-eye-boost-in-pay/?local

TennCare misuse alleged (Cleveland Daily Banner)

During the past few months, investigators have been busy cracking down on alleged TennCare misuse or fraud. Doctor shopping is described as an individual illegally soliciting area medical or pain treatment centers to obtain multiples of prescription drugs, typically to resell the drugs for a profit. According to the Office of the Inspector General, a Marion County man was the most recent area resident charged with doctor shopping. The Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the Bradley County Sheriffs Office, today announced the arrest of Randy W. Troy, 44, of Whitwell. He was charged with one count of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain a controlled substance by doctor shopping, or going to multiple doctors in a short period of time to obtain prescription drugs, according to information from the OIG. W hen individuals misuse their TennCare benefits, its a serious issue the Office of Inspector General will not tolerate, Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. Anyone committing TennCare fraud will be investigated, prosecuted, and arrested by the OIG. http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/18900353/article-TennCare--misuse--alleged? instance=homesecondleft

Dyersburg Farmers Market first stop in statewide tour Saturday (State Gazette)
The wait is over, localvores. Despite a late cold snap that proved disastrous for some fruit crops in patchy spots across Tennessee, the three-week warm spell that came before has farmers markets filling up with summer produce earlier than usual. Tennessee Department of Agriculture Agritourism and Farmers Markets Coordinator Pamela Bartholomew reports that summertime favorites like yellow squash, zucchini, broccoli, cabbage and cucumbers are already being picked. Homegrown tomatoes and sweet corn are not far behind. Following Mother Nature's lead, the Main Street Farmers Market of Dyersburg opens Saturday, June 9. Opening day in Dyersburg will also host the first official tour stop of this summer's "Pick Tennessee Products" tour. The state agriculture department tour will stretch across the state, reaching as far east as Maryville and running through August. The state's Pick Tennessee Products promotion began in 1986 as a campaign to identify local food products in retail stores but has expanded with national trends to focus on farm-direct foods and local farmers markets. http://www.stategazette.com/story/1857692.html

Democrats push Tennessee First contracting bill (Tennessean/Cass)

Eager to gain political ground in an election year, state Democrats criticized Republicans on Thursday for opposing legislation that would give Tennessee companies the first shot at working on state projects. Four state representatives and two Metro councilmen who hope to join them in the General Assembly held a news conference to promote the Tennessee First Act, which would give preference to Volunteer State firms if their bids for public contracts are within a certain percentage of the lowest bids. The idea was first introduced by Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, in 2011 as HB 2079 but failed to advance to the floor of either chamber during the past two legislative sessions. A similar measure was introduced as an amendment to another bill earlier this year but was rejected by Republicans, who hold a heavy majority in the House. Councilman Darren Jernigan, who is running for the District 60 House seat and faces no primary opposition, called out Republican Rep. Jim Gotto, 3

who voted against the amendment and will be Jernigans opponent in November. I think the people of District 60 would be appalled, especially those who are looking for jobs, Jernigan said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120608/NEWS02/306080082/Democrats-push-Tennessee-Firstcontracting-bill?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&gcheck=1&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

TN felons seek to have voting rights restored as election nears (Tennessean/Haas)

Frank Turner Jr. has turned his life around. The longtime felon is a volunteer with Men of Valor, a Nashvillebased nonprofit that ministers to people in prison. Hes written a book about his struggles with drugs and crime in the hope that others will learn from the mistakes hes made. He also started his own masonry business. Even though hes come so far, theres one thing that has eluded him: the right to vote. Ive been wanting to do it for the last couple of years, Turner said. I want to register to vote because there are some things in society that need to be cleared up, and I think that everybodys opinion needs to be heard. Turner, who was convicted on an aggravated assault charge, recently joined dozens of other felons at a local workshop designed to teach them how to have their voting rights restored. While the process is free, nonprofit and civic groups such as Music City Links are working to help felons sort through the paperwork. We have a democratic government, we have to vote for the representative that decides what rules were going to be governed by. So, its important that they participate in the process, said Marilyn Robinson of Music City Links, which hosted the workshop. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120608/NEWS0201/306090003/TN-felons-seek-voting-rights-restoredelection-nears?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Knox chancellor nixes attempt to overturn red light camera law (N-S/Jacobs)
Two camera enforcement companies have lost a bid to overturn a state law that prohibits fining drivers for improper right turns on red if the only evidence is photographic. And despite predictions that the law that went into effect last July would cause an increase in wrecks, statistics in Knoxville refute that contention. Knox County Chancellor Michael W. Moyers' 27-page decision signed May 30 addresses a multitude of arguments brought by American Traffic Solutions, Inc., and Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., asking him to declare the law unconstitutional. ATS, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., provides camera enforcement equipment for 14 intersections in Knoxville. Redflex, based in Phoenix, Ariz., has equipped four intersections in Farragut with photo enforcement devices. "The challenged law does not in any way amend or modify the rules regarding making right turns at a red light," Moyers ruled. "Its only effect is to provide that some other evidence besides the camera footage standing alone is necessary to prosecute a violation for making an illegal right turn at intersections where right turns on red are otherwise allowed." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/08/knox-chancellor-nixes-attemptto-overturn-red/

Light wait: Inspection grace period eyed for engine signal (C. Appeal/Callahan)
There may be a reprieve for some Memphians whose vehicles failed inspection because of the "check engine" light. The City Council is considering a measure that would allow those with financial hardships who failed the test to get a one-year extension to have the problems repaired. The measure is facing its second reading before the City Council on June 19. The final reading and public hearing is planned for July 3. "If someone fails the test, and wishes to declare a financial hardship, we will grant that to them. We will give them one year," city Chief Administrative Officer George Little said. "It's about providing some relief for individuals who may be financially challenged as a result of failing the emissions test." To qualify for the waiver, drivers would have to provide a written cost estimate as well as meet income guidelines. For one person, that means an income falling below $16,245. For two people, that income level is $21,855. For three or more, the level is $27,465. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/08/light-wait/ (SUB)

Councilman organizes 'roundtable' meetings to discuss budget (CP/Garrison)

Metro Councilman Steve Glover has organized a pair of roundtable discussions at his office this weekend to pore over Mayor Karl Deans proposed budget with council colleagues and perhaps identify ways to reduce the mayors proposed 53-cent property tax increase. If you knew me on the school board, Im obviously always looking at ways we can try to be a little more efficient and operate more efficiently, Glover, who recently wrapped up a term as a Metro school board representative, told The City Paper. So, thats obviously the objective here. Glovers first budget discussion, at his office at 1101 Kermit Drive, suite 610, is set for Sat., June 9, at 1:30 p.m. The second meeting is the following day at the same location and time. Both meetings are open to the public. The real nature of the meetings is to say, Alright, if we cut here, what might be the implications, 4

what might be the unintended consequences? Glover added. When youre sitting at a roundtable, you can kind of just throw it all out there. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/councilman-organizes-roundtable-meetings-discuss-budgetproposal

Weekend meetings to discuss tax plan (Tennessean/Cass)

A group of Metro Council members will hold open meetings Saturday and Sunday to talk about Mayor Karl Deans budget and property tax increase proposals. The group will meet at 1:30 p.m. each day at 1101 Kermit Drive, Suite 610. Councilman Steve Glover, who is organizing the discussions and holding them at his office, said he wants to look at the potential repercussions and unintended consequences of Deans plan and discuss any alternatives. I want to look at everything thoroughly, said Glover, a former school board member. Im trying to find common ground. Dean has proposed a 53-cent property tax increase to help fund a $1.71 billion operating budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120608/NEWS0202/306080068/Weekend-meetings-discuss-tax-plan? odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Murfreesboro budget passes first test, despite pay worries (Daily News Journal)
The City Council approved a $117 million budget without a property tax increase Thursday despite complaints from some firefighters and police officers over their pay and benefits. Some of our police officers qualify for food stamps, said Matthew Roe, a Murfreesboro patrol officer who is president of the local Fraternal Order of Police Hendon-McClanahan Lodge No. 54. Some work part-time jobs to make ends meet. I qualified for W IC (Women, Infants and Children assistance for baby formula and food from federal government) last year when my wife and I had a newborn. The six present council members unanimously voted for the budget plan for the next fiscal year that starts July 1. Mayor Tommy Bragg was absent, so Vice Mayor Ron Washington presided over the meeting. Two more votes must take place before the tax and spending plans are ratified. Councilman Eddie Smotherman said hes received calls from city employees about getting better pay and benefits. Hes also received calls from people asking him if he can help them get a city job. Everybody in Murfreesboro is suffering, said Smotherman, who was elected to the council on April 17. We are experiencing tough economic times. We have a budget to stay within. Not a single person said I want you to raise my taxes. Although the council is touting 14 straight years of avoiding a tax increase, firefighter Matthew Young did bring up the idea of raising property taxes during a public hearing before the vote. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120608/NEW S05/306080020/Murfreesboro-budget-passes-first-test-despite-payworries?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1 (SUB)

Shelby County teens lead state in dropout rate, pregnancy, poverty (CA/Warren)
Shelby County teens lead the state by far in sexually transmitted diseases. They have the highest rate of school suspensions, expulsions and dropouts, and one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among the 95 counties in the state. And nearly one out of every three Shelby County residents under age 18 lives in poverty. This portrait of troubled area youths emerges from a report, "KIDS COUNT: The State of the Child in Tennessee 2011," released Wednesday by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. "I'm really concerned," said Linda O'Neal, the commission's executive director. "What the data tell us is that we need to focus on the needs of adolescents as well as children and that we need to intervene with effective strategies to change their trajectory." In some Memphis communities, it is the social norm to become sexually active at an early age and not to make school a priority, said psychologist Sidney Ornduff, who oversees mental health services for Shelby County Juvenile Court. She says many kids don't start school until after Labor Day, which typically means missing three weeks of the school year. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/08/report-paints-bleak-picture/ (SUB)

Murfreesboro Mosque Opponents Ask Judge to Stop Construction (WPLN-Radio)

A group opposed to a new mosque in Rutherford County has filed for an injunction to halt construction at the site. Last week, Chancellor Robert Corlew ruled that the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was approved at a planning commission meeting without adequate public notice. He did not order that construction be stopped, but attorney Joe Brandon says it should. He represents opponents of the mosque, who have focused their legal challenge on how the project was approved. However, Brandon has also aired a number of conspiracy theories, accusing the Islamic Center of having ties with terrorists and promoting Sharia law. They know they dont have a valid building permit, and yet they continue to thumb their nose at the laws of Tennessee and continue to build. Thats 5

Sharia law, and we have a problem with that. Mosque leaders say they just want a place for all of their congregants to gather. They hope to finish the first phase of construction before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in mid-July. http://wpln.org/?p=38022

Fort Campbell Troops Tapped for Afghanistan Rotation (W PLN-Radio Nashville)

War-weary Fort Campbell is being tapped to send more than 5,000 troops back to Afghanistan. The Department of Defense has announced deployments later this year from the 101st Airborne Division. The Rakkasans of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team first deployed to Afghanistan more than a decade ago. The units most recent deployment was part of President Obamas surge in 2010. Soldiers patrolled along the violent border with Pakistan. Sixteen men were killed. The 101st Airborne Combat Aviation Brigade was also part of that surge and will return again for another tour in the fall along with the Rakkasans. Unlike the surge, this deployment comes as overall U.S. troop levels are on the decline. An additional 23,000 troops are supposed to be pulled out of Afghanistan before Fort Campbell soldiers even get there. http://wpln.org/?p=38029

ION opens national headquarters in Nashville (Nashville Business Journal)

The InterOrganization Network (ION) has opened a national headquarters in Nashville, ION and Nashville CABLE announced today. ION, led by President Sarah Meyerrose, has a number of gender diversity initiatives aimed at increasing the number of female board members in U.S. public companies. ION's new headquarters is located at 4322 Harding Pike, Suite 417, Nashville 37205. The following are excerpts from today's news release: From this central U.S. location, President Sarah Meyerrose will oversee the organizations gender diversity initiatives to increase the number of women board members in U.S. public corporations. Since taking office this March, Ms. Meyerrose has strengthened existing partnerships and developed new ventures with organizations such as KPMG, Corporate Board Member and Governance Metrics International (GMI) and expects to announce another ION member organization. Through Nashville-based CABLE, one of IONs 15 member organizations, Ms. Meyerrose is directly involved with the Women on Corporate Boards and Board Walk of Fame initiatives, which work to educate Tennessee companies about the importance of women in executive leadership positions. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/women_of_influence/2012/06/ion-opens-national-headquarters-in.html

ION opens national HQ in Nashville (Nashville Post)

ION, the InterOrganization Network, and Nashville CABLE today announced the opening of IONs national headquarters office in Nashville. It will oversee IONs efforts to increase the number of women on the boards of U.S. publicly traded companies. ION President Sarah Meyerrose will oversee the office, located at 4322 Harding Road in Belle Meade. ION had operated from Fort Washington, Penn. Meyerrose (pictured here) is the principal of SMSS LLC, a consulting company focused on improving the strategic performance and human resources practices of regional and community banks. She has more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry. Meyerrose was a member of the inaugural Board of Visitors for the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University and is a member of Women Business Leaders in Healthcare, among other affiliations. She recently joined the board of a start-up online payment solution company Paytopia, which works to prevent fraud and identity theft during online transactions. http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/6/7/ion_opens_national_hq_in_nashville

School board member David Testerman against three-way land swap (TFP)
Hamilton County school board member David Testerman came out Thursday night against a three-way land swap that would trade away East Brainerd Elementary for property to build a new stadium at the Howard School of Academics and Technology. Testerman released a statement, saying he was surprised by the deal Superintendent Rick Smith offered to be part of in March, which affects part of his district. In the deal the city would trade Dogwood Manor Apartments to the Chattanooga Housing Authority. CHA would give up the former Poss Homes site to the schools. The city and CHA would divide the schools' East Brainerd Elementary site. Cash exchanges also would be made. "The community around the school has not been consulted at all about this -- at the very least, this is a serious breach of transparency in the government process," Testerman said. Though he said Howard needs a new stadium, the school board's goal should be building classrooms, he said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/08/hamilton-county-david-testerman-against-land-swap/?local

Kingsport BOE cuts $2.1 million to balance budget (Times-News)

6

The Kingsport Board of Education voted 4-1 Thursday night to close a $2.4 million budget gap and balance its 2012-13 budget. The BOE used some increased revenue projections to close the gap, but the bulk of the budget balancing about $2.1 million was through cutting proposed expenditures. And the bulk of that was cutting positions that included 11 proposed academic coaches and eight proposed teaching positions, although the budget leaves in five discretionary teaching positions that may be needed to cover an expected enrollment increase. School leaders had asked the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for $2.425 million in additional operational funds, but the first reading BMA budget approved earlier this week included only $300,000 in new city funding. The changes make the general purpose school budget $63 million. Its not like we took everything (budget request) that was asked for. Its very, very sad for me, BOE member Susan Lodal said. BOE Vice President Carrie Upshaw cast the lone vote against the reduced budget. Upshaw said she has lain awake at night struggling with the budget being cut in many areas but still including more than $500,000 to help launch Innovation Academy of Northeast Tennessee, a joint Kingsport/Sullivan County STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) platform school. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9047657/kingsport-boe-cuts-21-million-to-balance-budget

Schools may get $3M (Jackson Sun)

The Madison County Budget Committee voted to recommend approval of nearly $3 million in capital improvements for Jackson-Madison County Schools during a meeting held Thursday afternoon. Initially school and county officials were considering spending capital funds to add an additional lane to Liberty Technology Magnet High Schools track and building a gym at Madison Academic Magnet High School, but both items were removed from recommendation. Instead officials are focusing on the necessities such as a new roof for Andrew Jackson Elementary, new bleachers at North Parkway Middle, classroom technology, nine regular school buses and two fuel trucks. The buses cost $84,000 each, while the fuel trucks are $90,000 each. Budget Committee chairman Doug Stephenson said during Thursdays meeting that he wanted to see the district come up with a system for bus replacement. W e need to start thinking outside of the box, he said. What other alternatives does the system have? We need some direction. State law requires that school buses are retired from use after 15 years. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120608/NEWS01/306080007/Schools-may-get-3M?nclick_check=1 (SUB)

North Dakota: Will N. Dakota Be the First State to End Property Taxes? (Stateline)
North Dakota voters on Tuesday will decide the fate of a ballot initiative that would make the state the first in the country to end property taxes. If any state is going to take such a dramatic step, North Dakota would seem to be a likely candidate. North Dakota is generally a conservative state, and fiscal conservatives generally support lower taxes. The state is also experiencing a surge in tax revenue unrivaled elsewhere. The property tax is often described as the least popular of the taxes that fund state and local government. Yet even those ingredients dont appear as though they will be enough. The reason why is that, regardless of what interest or what party they represent, the powers-that-be in North Dakota have a preference for caution. That same preference exists in other states, which is why the most sweeping ballot measures to change or limit government have tended to fail lately. http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/will-north-dakota-be-the-first-state-to-end-property-taxes85899396968

Wisconsin: Scott Walker's Education Victory (Wall Street Journal)

Overhauling a state government, facing down a union machine, beating back a recallScott Walker hasn't exactly been a slacker. Yet hidden among the Wisconsin governor's reforms has been another significant success: He's helped change the education paradigm. Conservatives have pushed education reform for decades, with notable successes. But the debate had also become predictable. Republicans argued for systemic change; Democrats argued for more money. The fight was largely confined to the education sphere, with conservatives arguing education reform for education's sake. The W alker breakthrough was to integrate education into the broader fiscal and structural dispute. His argument: Wisconsin is broke. W e can continue to pour money into the public-union monopoly, forcing us to cut further from priorities (namely, education). Or we can enact broad structural changes, the savings from which we can use to better our state (notably, schools). "The argument was two-dimensional previously," says Scott Jensen, senior adviser at the American Federation for Children. Mr. W alker, "by undoing the bigger state infrastructure that locked in inefficiencies, [has] freed up 7

additional funds to flow to the classroom, all without asking for more from taxpayers." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303753904577452862561051838.html?mod=ITP_opinion_0 (SUBSCRIPTION)

MORE

OPINION David Lillard: Summit can help teachers teach finance (Tennessean)
We live in an increasingly complex world. Today, people have more choices than ever about key financial matters such as investment options, which home or car loan makes the most sense and which credit cards to use. To make good decisions in these areas and others, we need to be financially literate. Unfortunately, though, too many of us are not. Consider these statistics: According to a 2010 survey conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Mathew Greenwald and Associates, two-thirds of American workers have saved less than $50,000 toward their retirement, and more than a quarter have saved less than $1,000. According to another 2010 survey by Sallie Mae and Gallup, 40 percent of parents with children under 18 havent set aside money for college expenses. According to a 2006 report by Moebs Services Inc., 87 percent of Americans dont even balance their checkbooks. Our state legislators recognized that such numbers are not encouraging. That is why they decided in 2010 to create the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission, a nonprofit organization administered by the Tennessee Treasury Department that is committed to improving financial literacy among Tennesseans. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120608/OPINION/306080049/Summit-can-help-teachers-teach-finance? odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cp&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Editorial: Reapprove mosque plans (Tennessean)

Commission can clear up mess, stop bias Opponents of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro seem bent on 8

wasting Rutherford County money. We hope they will simmer down and let the process proceed. On June 1, Chancellor Robert Corlew, in a ruling that has implications far beyond the Islamic Center for Rutherford County projects, said that the countys approval of the ICM project on Veals Road just outside the city limits of Murfreesboro was improper based on inadequate public notice. The chancellor followed that ruling by saying that construction on the project did not have to stop during the window for appeals, which lasts until June 30. The Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission approved the congregations plans for 52,960 square feet not far from city limits on Murfreesboros southeast side. The ICM broke ground on the first 12,000 square feet of the project in September and hopes to have that part completed in time for the holy month of Ramadan in August. The congregation, about 1,000 people, currently holds worship services in an office building at 862 Middle Tennessee Blvd. in Murfreesboro. And now the folks that got that approval overturned are filing an injunction to stop construction for good. We say: wait. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120608/OPINION01/306080046/Reapprove-mosque-plans?odyssey=mod %7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cp&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Free-Press Editorial: Fresh ObamaCare deceit (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

If you look up the definition of "bait and switch," you will find a reference to ObamaCare. OK, you won't really find mention of ObamaCare. But it would be perfectly understandable if you did. Its supporters used a series of cynical accounting tricks to make it seem as if the health care reform law would reduce, rather than increase, federal budget deficits. That isn't likely to pan out, as noted in a devastating recent study by Charles Blahous, a Medicare trustee, and by countless other observers. And now, more and more small businesses are discovering that ObamaCare's lure of supposed tax credits for companies that provide medical insurance to their workers was a mirage -- or at least requires such a complicated application process that it isn't worth the aggravation. Joyce Rosenberg, who writes on small business for The Associated Press, spelled out what a joke the tax credits really are for lots of businesses. Companies are excluded from the credit if, for instance, their average employee earns more than $50,000 per year. Businesses that want the tax credit also have to pay a minimum of half the insurance premiums for their workers, making applying for the credit even less appealing. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/08/fresh-obamacare-deceit-chattanooga-free-press/? opinionfreepress

###