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The legislature should table for now the bill on green-energy production property. HB 3520/SB 3296 would change the property tax valuation and assessment on green-energy production property. The bill proposes to increase the taxable value of that property from 0.5 percent of the purchase price to 33 percent of the total installation cost effectively a 6,500 percent increase in valuation for tax purposes. We would agree that the manner in which this tax break was created at the end of Gov. Phil Bredesens administration was unorthodox in its most charitable description, but businesses have been built and hundreds of Tennesseans hired since the tax preference was established. It would be equally capricious to jam the change through now, and could have a number of unintended and damaging effects. There should be a way to spur investment in solar-generating arrays that is above board. The change in tax treatment that is proposed is effectively a 10 percent cost increase on solar-generating installation, according to the Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TennSEIA). While the sun seems to be shining on the solar energy industry in the United States electricity produced from solar panels increased 109 percent in 2011 from the previous year it is an industry that will need continued nurturing. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120405/OPINION01/304050026/Solar-tax-proposal-needs-revision? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p
Guest columnist: Bill threatens state's position of leadership on clean energy (TN)
A bill in the state legislature will hurt small businesses, kill jobs and cripple our progress toward energy independence. Interestingly, the Republican sponsors of this legislation are proposing a new tax. Over the past few years, Tennessee has become a leader in clean-energy jobs, particularly in the production and manufacturing sectors. A 2009 report by Pew Charitable Trusts highlighted Tennessee as one of three states in the country with a large and fast-growing clean-energy sector. A 2011 report from The Brookings Institution counted 76,031 clean energy-related jobs in Tennessee, making it the fastest-growing sector in the state, according to the MTSU Green Jobs Report. But our progress in becoming a national clean-energy leader is in jeopardy if Senate Bill 3296 passes. Under the bill, the state would raise a clean energy-facilitys property tax from 0.5 percent of its purchase cost to 33 percent of its installation costs. The result is an effective 6,500 percent tax increase on solar panel installations. Thats right: 6,500 percent! This increase will price out many companies and homeowners considering solar installations who then sell the solar power back to TVA. Its worth noting that this is the only arrangement that TVA offers to solar production facilities. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120405/OPINION03/304050027/Bill-threatens-state-s-position-leadershipclean-energy?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p
includes a website called Meth Destroys, which provides information regarding meth use in Tennessee and ways to prevent it. http://www.nooga.com/154669/haslam-continues-anti-meth-campaign/
Gov. Bill Haslam defends growth of Tennessee budget (Nashville Biz Journal)
In an interview with WPLN 90.3 FM, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam defended his plan for spending some of the state's higher-than-anticipated revenue and admits that he's "adding to the size of government." "There are some real needs out there to fund," Haslam told WPLN. "You know, I'm a conservative Republican, and I don't apologize for that, but I don't think government is evil. I don't even think it's a necessary evil. I think it's a critical way that we provide needed services." In the interview, Haslam also discussed his stance toward legislation that hits his desk. Haslam has neither used nor threatened to use his veto pen this year. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/morning_call/2012/04/gov-bill-haslam-defends-growth-of.html
Bill setting min. jail time for repeated domestic violence moves forward (TN/Wilson)
Legislation requiring jail times for repeat domestic offenders passed a House subcommittee W ednesday morning. The bill, part of Gov. Bill Haslams crime initiative, would impose mandatory minimums that currently dont exist for repeat offenders. If passed, a second domestic violence conviction would bring a 45-day sentence and a third conviction would require 120 days in jail. The legislation now needs approval from the full House Finance Committee before it reaches the entire House for a vote. Funding for the legislation has been a longtime issue, but there was no debate in W ednesdays subcommittee. The bills projected $8 million-plus cost is set to be deferred to local governments, but a budget amendment announced by the Haslam administration Monday allocated an extra $4 million to partially reimburse those expenses. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120405/NEWS0201/304040169/Bill-setting-minimum-jail-time-repeateddomestic-violence-moves-forward?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
http://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/04/wall-street-journal-taxes-haslam/
More mortgage relief dollars on the way to Tennessee (Memphis Business Journal)
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency announced it has received another infusion of federal dollars to be used for foreclosure counseling. The $659,511 allocation from the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) Program is the sixth such infusion for the Tennessee agency, which intends to use the money to continue providing foreclosure prevention counseling services. The THDA is the same agency that administered the Tennessee Hardest Hit program in 2011. That program provided up to $20,000 in mortgage payment assistance to households which had experienced job loss or reduction of income. The need for counseling is evident. Free counseling improves the homeowners chance of success and helps provide stability to affected neighborhoods, Bill ClenDening, THDA assistant director of single family programs, said in a statement. So far, the NFMC program has produced tangible results for homeowners in trouble with mortgages. According to a study published by the Urban Institute, NFMC program participants were twice as likely to get a mortgage modification than those who did not seek counseling and were 67 percent less likely to fall behind on future mortgage payments. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/04/04/more-mortgage-relief-dollars-on-the.html
TBI: violent crime up 20 percent, other crimes slightly up on state campuses (CP)
Crime on school campuses across Tennessee slightly increased in 2011, according to a report released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Wednesday. Violent crime, however, rose 20 percent for the second year in a row. According to a release from the TBI, its Crime on Campus 2011 report shows the increase follows after a decrease in reported offenses for 2010. Since 2004, the TBI reports have shown decrease each year except for another slight increase in 2009. Last year, there were 7,493 reported offenses compared to 7,190 in 2010. Some findings of the report include: Drug/narcotics and drug equipment violations have increased yearly since 2008 for a total increase of approximately 47 percent with 2010 to 2011 having the largest increase of nearly 26 percent. There were 772 of these type of offenses reported in 2011. There was a 47 percent increase in what the TBI labels forcible sex offenses reported from 2010 and an increase in the number of reported rapes with 20 overall. 37 percent of all 2011 offenses reported were categorized as larceny or theft, which is an increase from 2010. However, there was an overall decrease of 3 percent since 2009. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/tbi-violent-crime-20-percent-other-crimes-slightly-state-campuses
students like sophomore Heather Thompson, an English major at Belmont University. Belmont was one campus that saw an increase in crime last year, and while its increase was mostly due to drugs and thefts, Thompson said the statewide increase in sex offenses was disturbing. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120405/NEWS03/304050033/4-out-7-Middle-TN-colleges-report-slight-risecrime?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News
TBI says college campus crimes up in some areas, down in others (HeraldCourier)
Crime activity is up. That's according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Their most recent report shows crime on college campuses across the state in 2011, up 4.2 percent from 2010. In 2011, the TBI reports 7,493 offenses compared to 7,190 in 2010. Violent crime was also up nearly 20 percent for the second year in a row. So are local colleges reporting the same increase? Etsu's public safety director Jack Cotrel says numbers going up one year, and then down the next can be normal. Cotrel says, "I've been looking at these statistics for years and they are very constant." The same goes for alcohol related offenses. The TBI reports 30 alcohol related cases on ETSU's campus in 2011. That's down from 2010, which only shows 78 alcohol related offenses. Over in Bristol, KingCollege's public safety says their biggest crime on campus are burlaries. They say, alcohol related offenses are almost non-existent. Benny Berry says, "Our numbers don't follow along with state trends because we have closed campus. There are no city streets on campus so for instance where DUI's have gone up, we don't have the issue." http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/apr/04/tbi-says-college-campus-crimes-some-areasdown-oth-ar-1819410/
At Austin Peay State University, fewer thefts, more drug offenses (Leaf Chronicle)
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations released its annual Crime on Campus report Wednesday, revealing that Austin Peay State University saw an increase in some crimes and a decrease in others. A significant decrease in the number of thefts was reported. In 2010 there were 91 thefts. In 2011, there were 72, a 20.8 percent decrease. Statewide, there was a 3.3 percent decrease in larceny thefts. The category accounted for 37.1 5
percent of all 2011 offenses reported with theft from a building being most often reported. We had some concerted efforts to reduce the amount of petty theft, said Bill Persinger, APSU spokesman. If you leave things lying around, people tend to pick them up cell phones, textbooks. We sent out communications to remind students to be cognizant of that to reduce those issues. Persinger said APSU works diligently to provide more deterrents to crime. Over the years weve increased the number of cameras on campus so we can monitor much more space, Persinger said. We have the blue phones throughout campus. W e also have anonymous text messaging and email. All those things combined allow us to be safer and help people report things who may be hesitant. We also have a 24-hour public safety escort at night available for students who are going from building to building at night. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120405/NEWS01/304050022/At-Austin-Peay-State-University-fewerthefts-more-drug-offenses
http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38972739?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
for medical reasons. "By not passing this, we have failed a lot of people," the Memphis Democrat said after the meeting. "If my colleagues ... talk to their constituents, they're going to find out that lots of people are doing this illegally and would like us to legalize it." The proposal would create a program for people with severe and chronic illnesses such as cancer to be able to get the marijuana. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38967317?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
Medical Marijuana Snubbed Out, but Sponsor Promises Another Try (WPLN)
A bill to make marijuana legal as a prescription drug died a legislative death today, but backers say theyre more optimistic than ever that Tennessee will eventually have medical marijuana. The bill made it all the way to standing committees in both chambers before it was snuffed out. Memphis Democrat Jeanne Richardson, who has carried the bill for several years, urged fellow lawmakers to talk to their constituents about the issue while on the campaign trail. Were all gonna be out campaigning, and I hope I win, so I can bring this bill back next year, but if I dont, someone will bring this bill back next year. Supporters of medical marijuana say they are now counting lawmakers in both parties as allies. The measure, like all bills left unpassed at the end of a legislative session, will officially die when the last gavel bangs probably next month. http://wpln.org/?p=35684
The state House of Representative spent more than a half hour today debating a resolution with no practical effect it would tell the federal government that Tennessee doesnt approve of mandatory coverage of contraception the national health care plan. Theres no guarantee that anyone in Washington will pay any attention to the memorializing resolution but Republicans used it to quote scripture against the presidents health care plan. Knoxville Republican Bill Dunn Its always been said, Render unto Caesar what is Caesars, render unto God what is Gods. And whats happening now, is were taking what belongs to God, our conscience, and giving it to the government. It started a run of Bible verses from the resolutions backers, whose main political point was that coverage of contraception would be a problem for Catholic organizations. Nashville Democrat Mike Turner insisted the resolution was already outdated. http://wpln.org/?p=35678
Rep. Todd Announces He Has Cancer, Keeps Treatment Bill Alive (M. Flyer)
In a scenario which almost seems appropriate for a TV drama, state Representative Curry Todd (R-Collierville) made a dramatic announcement Tuesday in a legislative committee about his private bout with cancer and halted efforts in that committee to kill a bill affecting treatment for his illness. Todd, a former Memphis policeman who has been an active advocate for numerous positions favored by the current Republican administration, stopped one such n its tracks when he told colleagues at a Commerce Committee hearing that he has a rare form of cancer that could benefit from oral chemotherapy treatments. His announcement clearly affected the vote of the Committee, which had seemed destined to a reject bill sponsored by Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin) and opposed by Governor Bill Haslam and spokespersons for the insurance industry. The Bill would require insurance companies to pay for oral chemotherapy treatments of the sort that Todds own condition macroglobulinemia, a lymphatic cancer might at some point require. Testifying against the bill, Sammie Arnold, a lobbyist for the Haslam administration, had said the governor regarded the bill as a bureaucratic governmental mandate." http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2012/04/04/rep-todd-announces-he-has-cancer-keepsrescue-bill-alive
Former state Sen. Mike Williams joins crowded field seeking Faulk's seat (T-N)
Former state Sen. Mike W illiams has joined a crowded field seeking the GOP nomination in the race for the renumbered 8th Senatorial District. Williams is among five people who have filed petitions to compete in the state GOP Primary and want to succeed state Sen. Mike Faulk, R-Church Hill, who recently announced he would not seek re-election. Williams filing with election officials listed his address as Corryton. Others who have filed include state Rep. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, and Rogersville Republican Cynthia Jackson. Williams narrowly lost running as an independent against Faulk in the 2008 general election, but was subsequently elected as county mayor in Union County in 2010. Williams was speaker pro tem of the state Senate during the 104th General Assembly from 2005 to 2006. But, on March 14, 2007, he announced that he was leaving the Senate Republican Caucus and becoming an Independent, leaving the Senate evenly divided at that time with 16 Democrats, 16 Republicans, and one Independent. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9044815/former-statesen-mike-williams-joins-crowded-field-seeking-faulk39s-seat
D.C. can do more to help economy, Lamar Alexander tells TN chamber (TN/Rogers)
Although Washington has become the target of abuse in recent years, it still has a role to play, Sen. Lamar Alexander told several hundred people at a 100th birthday celebration for the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. Washington, D.C. can help Tennessee, and Tennessee can teach Washington, D.C., said Alexander, the keynote speaker at the chamber event. Alexander laid out a broad plan to improve the economy, mainly by improving education and making government more business-friendly. For example, he said, reducing the expansion of Medicaid under federal health-care reform and fixing No Child Left Behind, former President George W. Bushs massive education reform plan, would leave more funds for public schools. The emphasis on education was reinforced by Scott Becker, senior vice president of Nissan North America, who called for the regional talent pool of engineers and technical people to be increased. Becker said his company has had jobs open that required skills not available in the current pool of Tennessee employees. Education reform could change that, he said. Alexander also called for federal trade laws to increase exports and a comprehensive immigration bill to reduce uncertainty in hiring. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120405/NEWS0201/304040188/D-C-can-do-more-help-economy-LamarAlexander-tells-TN-chamber?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s 9
Lou Ann Zelenik looks for rematch with Diane Black (Tennessean/Cass, Paine)
2010 battle was a bitter one Lou Ann Zelenik, who lost a bitter Republican primary to U.S. Rep. Diane Black two years ago, took steps toward striking up a rematch Wednesday. Meanwhile, Park Overall, an environmental advocate and actress from East Tennessee, filed a qualifying petition to run against U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, the Tennessee Democratic Party said. Zelenik picked up a qualifying petition in W ilson County to run for election in the newly redrawn 6th District, and said she plans to qualify by todays noon deadline. Zelenik lost the 2010 GOP primary for the seat by fewer than 300 votes to Black, who went on to win the general election and is now serving her first term in Washington. The fallout from that battle was heavy as Zelenik and Black traded barbed accusations and lawsuits. Zelenik ran an ad describing Black as having approved contracts for Aegis Sciences Corp., a drug testing company owned by her husband. A Nashville judge dismissed a suit filed by Aegis, saying the ad was protected political speech, while Zelenik countersued the company. We had to wait until the lawsuit was behind us to take this step in qualifying, she told The Daily News Journal in an interview W ednesday night. W e are extremely pleased with the ruling. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120405/NEWS02/304050066/Lou-Ann-Zelenik-looks-rematch-DianeBlack?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News
the quality of the labor has been great," said Lucas Hiler, national account executive for Aerotek. "W e're getting very successful candidates for Volkswagen." Aerotek currently provides about 500 contract workers in VW's Chattanooga plant. Many of those workers are being transitioned to full-time jobs with Volkswagen and will be replaced with other contract jobs working for Aerotek. "W e are assessing each Aerotek employee for their performance and look forward to hiring those that meet our performance standards," said Guenther Scherelis, general manager of communications for Volkswagen in Chattanooga. "We will have an open window over the next three to four months and encourage applicants to apply or a position at Aerotek." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/05/vw-contractor-hiring-more-workers/?business
Giant Haywood County industrial park gets new name (C. Appeal/Bailey)
Memphis' growing reputation for economic development -- and its push for regional cooperation -- got some mega-affirmation from a rural neighbor on Wednesday. The name of the West Tennessee Megasite in Haywood County has been changed to Memphis Regional Megasite. "Memphis is a globally recognized brand, and by focusing around the Memphis brand we will be able to much more efficiently market the assets of the megasite," Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith said in a prepared statement. The 1,720 acres in southwest Haywood County are being developed with the state's help as a potential site for a car manufacturer or other large industrial development. The site is located along Interstate 40, and CSX Rail connects it to four other rail systems in the Memphis area. Memphis has generated momentum in job growth by attracting such big employers recently as Electrolux and Mitsubishi Electric Power Products. Last year, Memphis and Shelby County attracted more than $1 billion in investment from private companies, Greater Memphis Chamber officials said in January. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/04/giant-haywood-county-industrial-park-gets-new-name/ (SUB)
payments, stemming from "improper agreements" with third-party physician groups. It also alleges that Erlanger acted in outright violation of a corporate integrity agreement it entered in 2005 with the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That agreement came after the hospital was forced to pay a $40 million settlement for years of billing fraud. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/05/judge-drops-erlanger-lawsuit/?local
State says 17 charter schools can open in Memphis this fall (C. Appeal/Roberts)
Seventeen charter schools, waiting in limbo for months, got a green light Wednesday to open from the state treasurer who said they pose no significant financial threat to the public school systems here. The proposed charters still must go through a state appeal process, which applicants, including former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton, said effectively derails even the soundest plans. I am going to cautiously say it would be very difficult to open that number of schools in such a short period of time, said Herenton, who intended to open seven W.E.B. DuBois charter schools by fall. Ross Glotzbach, chairman of the proposed Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School, groaned at the delay. Thats not good. We have our own Grizzlies Prep board meeting set for next week. W e will have to gather information and see what we do with it. Because charter schools are public schools, the tax money for education follows the child to the new school although the student is still counted as part of the school districts enrollment. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/04/state-says-17-charter-schools-can-open-memphis-fal/ (SUB)
fashion ... continue to support the education of children in the city." Luttrell and Transition Planning Commission chairwoman Barbara Prescott met with Wharton to discuss compensation for police officers who have been assigned to schools and school crossing guards, a benefit to the schools that costs the city a reported $2 million annually. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/05/unified-schools-may-lose-services/ (SUBSCRIPTION)
appears to be the administration's callous disregard for residents of Chattanooga and Southeast Tennessee. That was made clear Tuesday when Finance Commissioner Mark Emkes said the administration opposes a lastminute budget amendment by Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, to provide $12 million to keep the Bledsoe County facility open. Emkes' statement is the death knell for Taft. Sexton says as much. It will be "extremely difficult" to get the GOP-controlled legislature to support his amendment if the Republican governor opposes it. The administration, in fact, is so confident that Taft will be closed that inmates already are being moved to other facilities, though none has a history of dealing positively with the state's most hardened and violent young male criminals. What's best for youth in trouble with the law but still of an age where rehabilitation is possible apparently did not factor into the decision to close Taft. W hat does matter is saving money. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/05/targeting-southeast-tennessee/?opiniontimes
Guest columnist: Gov. Bill Haslam should veto 'Monkey Bill' (News-Sentinel)
Tennessee is dangerously close to enacting a law that would gut science education in public schools. The "Monkey Bill" sailed through the Legislature and is now on Gov. Bill Haslam's desk awaiting his review. The bill is adapted from a template offered by the conservative, Seattle-based Discovery Institute, which promotes intelligent design. As a force for moderation, Haslam should veto this legislation. Under the pretext of fostering critical thinking, this legislation states that teachers must be allowed to discuss "weaknesses" in scientific theories such as evolution and other scientific subjects that "cause debate and disputation" calling their validity into question. No one doubts the value of critical thinking to any serious course of scientific study, but this legislation seeks to subvert scientific principle to religious ideology by granting legal cover to teachers who wish to dress up religious beliefs on the origin of life as pseudo-science. Terms such as "strengths and weaknesses" and "critical thinking" are frequently used by those seeking to introduce nonscientific ideas such as creationism and intelligent design into the science curriculum. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/05/hedy-weinberg-gov-bill-haslam-should-veto-monkey/
http://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/04/i-40-corridors-unnatural-divide/
Frank Cagle: Knox Needs to Honor Promise to Provide Pension for Deputies (MP)
You would think the pension board and a couple of CPAs would be a better vehicle to solve problems with the Knox County Uniformed Officers Pension Plan, but it will instead be resolved by a subcommittee of the Charter Review group. W hoever makes a decision about putting something on the ballot, lets remember that the problems with the pension fund are not the fault of the sheriffs department and we would hope the solution does not represent a retreat from promises made to the officers. A little history: City policemen and firemen had a defined benefit pension plan. In other words, when you retire you are guaranteed a certain amount of money each montha traditional pension plan. County deputies had a plan in which they contributed a percentage of their salary and the county matched it up to a certain amount. Essentially, an IRA. Over time the result might exceed the amount you would get in a traditional pension. Unless the stock market goes in the tank about the time you decide to retire. And in the case of uniformed officers it is not unusual for them in their 50s to need to retire earlyit often takes hard physical effort to be out on the street chasing young gangbangers. You retire early, you will get a huge tax bill with an IRA. http://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/04/knox-county-needshonor-its-promise-provide-pensio/
George Korda: Loudon Co., atheist groups and religion in the public square (NS)
Loudon County has become a target for anti-religion groups that seem to believe that God and expressions of religion have no place in government. At all. Period. According to the March 28 News Sentinel, the Lenoir City school board temporarily stopped offering prayer before meetings in response to letters from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union and the (Appignani) Humanist Association. The word religion on police officers uniforms is seen as an additional affront to the U.S. Constitution, and there is an effort underway to remove religion from the patch. What Loudon County is dealing with is: A. with too People much time on their hands and with nothing much important to do other than attack religion and the religious. B. The time-honored tactic of raising concerns or reportedly threatening a lawsuit to force acceptable behavior. If you are an elected official in Tennessee or anywhere else faced with these challenges there are only two reasons to cave in to such demands: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/05/george-korda-loudon-county-atheist-groups-and-reli/
Editorial: Costs, Benefits and Your Drug Plan (New York Times)
It seems counterintuitive, but the Federal Trade Commission has just decided that a $29 billion merger of two of the three largest companies that manage pharmaceutical benefits for employers and health plans Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions would not substantially lessen competition. That judgment deserves credence because of the thoroughness of the F.T.C.s eight-month inquiry and the willingness of the agency to oppose other mergers when the evidence warrants. The best news to come out of the investigation is that there are a growing number of challengers to the giant pharmacy benefit managers, known as P.B.M.s, including big insurance plans that have decided to enter the business and smaller stand-alone companies that are increasingly winning business by offering customized services, such as making their pricing models more transparent. The big players should take note. The P.B.M.s purchase drugs from manufacturers or wholesalers and dispense them, by mail order or through pharmacies, to enrollees in a health plan. A majority of the F.T.C. commissioners found that the market for P.B.M. services contains numerous, vigorous competitors. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/opinion/costs-benefits-and-your-prescription-plan.html? _r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION) ###
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