FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2012 Haslam requests assistance for Hancock, Hawkins farmers (W BIR-TV Knoxville)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has announced he has requested a secretarial designation of natural disaster for Hancock and Hawkins counties due to April's freeze. Haslam made the request in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. A secretarial designation would make farmers eligible to apply for lost income recovery, low-interest loans and other disaster assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency. "I understand that weather is always an unpredictable factor in farming, and the unusually warm winter and spring coupled with an April freeze has no doubt impacted some farmers," Haslam said. Farmers in Hancock and Hawkins counties reported significant yield and quality losses for mixed forages and heavy damage to fruit crops as a result of the freeze. The area experienced a dramatic drop in temperatures and heavy frost April 7 - 24. http://www.wbir.com/news/article/221458/2/Haslam-requests-assistance-for-Hancock-Hawkins-farmers

Doe Mountain acquired in $8.8M acquisition, boost in NE Tenn. tourism eyed (AP)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and the Nature Conservancy say they expect an $8.8 million purchase of undeveloped property in Johnson County to be a boost to tourism and create jobs. The state and the conservation organization announced Thursday that they have acquired the 8,600-acre Doe Mountain, just southwest of Mountain City. Doe Mountain, which contains miles of existing roads and trails, is one of the largest remaining blocks of forest in private ownership in the Southern Blue Ridge region. It will be open to the public. "Doe Mountain offers a great opportunity for outdoor recreation and the benefits that come with opening up space for people to enjoy, such as healthier communities and new jobs from tourism," Haslam said in a news release. "I'm pleased we as a state could contribute to this lasting legacy for all Tennesseans." http://www.timesnews.net/article/9047354/doe-mountain-acquired-in-88m-acquisition-boost-in-ne-tenn-tourismeyed

DAG Paul Phillips retiring; Phillips-Jones appointed to take over (W BIR-TV Knox.)
Governor Bill Haslam has named a new top prosecutor for the 8th Judicial District. District Attorney General Paul Phillips has announced he will retire on September 1, 2012. The Eighth Judicial District is composed of Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union counties. Phillips has held the job since 1982. Gov. Haslam has appointed Lori Phillips-Jones to take over after Phillips' retirement. "Lori has served the citizens of the Eighth Judicial District well for more than 11 years as assistant district attorney general, and her extensive experience makes her the best fit for this role," Haslam said. "I'm pleased to appoint her, and I appreciate her willingness to serve in this capacity." Phillips-Jones graduated from the University of Tennessee Law School in 1999 and has been with the Office of the Attorney General, Eighth Judicial District since 1997. She has served as a criminal investigator and a violent crimes prosecutor as the assistant district attorney general. http://www.wbir.com/news/article/221477/2/DAG-Paul-Phillips-retiring-Phillips-Jones-appointed-to-take-over

Second round of INCITE recipients announced (Nashville Post/Duncan)

Tennessees INCITE Co-investment Fund has announced its second round of investments. Three more companies are receiving more than $3.8 million in funds from participating private investors. This allows the companies to, combined, leverage approximately $1.4 million in co-investment funding from the state. The current round of companies includes J2 Software Solutions, a Tullahoma-based company providing various public safety organizations with software and technology solutions to aid their operations; Consensus Point, a Nashville company with a collective intelligence solution that can generate prospective business insights; and Knoxville-based Aldis Inc., whose product is aimed at the traffic management sector. Todays announcement comes a little more than a week after the first round of companies receiving funds was made public.

http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/5/31/second_round_of_incite_recipients_announced

Tennessees millions in incentives come up short on jobs (Nashville Biz Journal)

Companies moving to or expanding in Tennessee have received at least half a billion dollars in state grants and state and local tax breaks since 2006, promising to create thousands of jobs. By 2011, as the nation emerged from the recession, an overwhelming amount of those positions had been cut, representing a negative return on the states multimillion-dollar investment. In short, the state has lost much of what it paid for. Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam inked an expansion last month of the states FastTrack program, offering tens of millions of dollars more for a program aimed at generating jobs. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/06/01/tennessees-millions-in-incentives.html (SUB)

Tax credits face uncertain future under Gov. Haslam (Nashville Business Journal)
It was a tool that undoubtedly helped lure some big-name, high-dollar projects to Tennessee under Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen. Think Hemlock Semiconductor, Volkswagen and Wacker Chemie, companies that received millions of dollars in state tax credits and are each investing more than $1 billion in Tennessee. Now, tax credits are facing an uncertain future as Republican Gov. Bill Haslam looks to put his own stamp on the states economic development effort. Namely, Haslam has said the use of tax credits through the states Department of Revenue will decrease by a larger amount than a recent increase in cash grants http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/06/01/tax-credits-gov-haslam.html (SUBSCRIPTION)

Communities forge own way on incentives (Nashville Business Journal)

In the high-stakes competition for jobs, its a primary arrow in the quiver for Middle Tennessee communities: cutting companies a break on their property taxes. Middle Tennessee counties have awarded $184.4 million in tax breaks since 2005 to lure new industry to their communities and help existing companies grow, more than three times the amount of state training and infrastructure grants given to Middle Tennessee companies during the same time period. As Gov. Bill Haslam moves away from a complicated system of statewide tax breaks, the ability of local officials to fill in that gap could become more crucial to http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/06/01/communities-incentives.html (SUB)

I-24 work will close Korean Veterans Bridge (Tennessean/Humbles)

A revised detour will be in place Saturday for this weekends shutdown of a three-mile section of Interstate 24 downtown for the Nissan Taste of Music City Festival. The section of I-24 eastbound and westbound closed for bridge work from the I-24/I-65 split north of downtown to the I-24 and I-40 split east of Nashville will be closed from 9 p.m. today to 5 a.m. Monday. The Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge will be closed to through traffic starting at 6 a.m. Saturday for the Taste of Music City, scheduled for 5-9 p.m. the same day. Sections of Main Street and W oodland Street under the interstate will also be closed. The Korean W ar Veterans Memorial Bridge and Shelby Avenue have been options for local traffic access between East Nashville, LP Field and the Central Business District of downtown during road closures. Alternate routes Saturday when the Korean War Veterans bridge is closed include: From the Central Business District of downtown, follow Second Avenue South to Woodland Street, then Interstate Drive to Shelby Avenue. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120601/NEWS01/306010033/I-24-work-will-close-Korean-VeteransBridge?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1 (SUB)

Willed property can help pay for TennCare costs (Associated Press/Burke)
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled W ednesday that the state can go after the family houses and property of people who died owing money for end-of-life care even if that property has been left to family members in a will. The state has long had the right to go to court to make a claim against the estate of someone who died owing money for long-term or nursing-home care. Wednesdays unanimous ruling, however, reverses a lower courts decision barring TennCare from making a claim against property that was given away in a will. The states highest court said the property could still be used to satisfy a debt to TennCare or any other creditor. TennCare administers the federal Medicaid program in Tennessee. Tim Takacs, a Nashville-area attorney who practices elder law, said the ruling was not surprising because the state already successfully pursues claims for reimbursement from the estates of people who have died after receiving long-term care. A court can order that a 2

family home or property be sold to pay off a debt for nursing-home care. However, Takacs said a surviving spouse or a disabled child will not be subject to losing their home to satisfy health-care reimbursement costs for a family member who was on TennCare. http://www.tennessean.com/viewart/20120601/NEWS21/306010086/Willed-property-can-help-pay-TennCarecosts?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p (SUBSCRIPTION)

Former Hawkins County General Sessions judge indicted on 41 counts of theft (TN)
A former Hawkins County judge who resigned amidst criminal allegations against him has now been indicted on theft charges by a Davidson County grand jury. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports James "Jay" Taylor, 41, of Rogersville, was indicted on 36 counts of theft more than $500 and less than $1,000, three counts of theft over $1,000 and two counts of theft less than $500. Taylor turned himself into authorities Thursday morning and was booked into the Davidson County Jail. A press release from the TBI says that between September of 2010 and July of 2011 Taylor filed numerous false claims with the Administrative Office of the Courts. He allegedly requested payment as appointed legal counsel in cases where he did not perform legal services. The TBI launched an investigation into allegations of bribery and theft against Taylor at the request of the 3rd Judicial District Attorney Generals Office in August of 2011. The theft offenses named in the indictments occurred in Davidson County, where the Administrative Office of the Courts is located. Davidson County District Attorney Generals Office and Tennessee Attorney Generals Office are prosecuting the case. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9047328/former-hawkins-county-general-sessions-judge-indicted-on-41-countsof-theft

State Rep. Eric Watson seeks re-election in 22nd District (Times Free-Press)
State Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, formally announced Thursday he is seeking re-election to the 22nd Legislative District he has represented since 2006. Calling it an honor to serve the district, which includes rural areas of Bradley County as well as all of Polk and Meigs counties, W atson said in his announcement that during his House tenure "we have taken many steps forward in the 22nd District and I want to continue to serve you and complete the work we have begun together." The lawmaker said much has changed in the district over the past six years, pointing to economic development such as the $1.8 billion Wacker Polysilicon plant and the building of an Amazon.com distribution center, both in Bradley and both of which received state incentives. "Whirlpool and Olin committed to remain in our district, which will preserve hundreds of more jobs," W atson added. "Volkswagen suppliers are now looking at our district as a place to locate and possibly create hundreds of additional jobs in the future." The successes came about through partnerships and cooperative efforts between various state and local officials and agencies, he said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/01/state-rep-eric-watson-seeks-re-election-22/?local

Dean criticize charter rejection, hopes for Great Hearts solution (CP/Garrison)
Mayor Karl Dean, injecting himself into two Metro school board decisions, said hes deeply disappointed about the boards vote to deny KIPP Academys charter expansion and hopes Great Hearts Academies would address diversity concerns in a revised charter application. The Great Hearts academic program is understandably attractive to many Nashville parents seeking additional educational options, Dean, an outspoken charter advocate, said in a statement Thursday evening. I encourage Great Hearts and Metro Schools to work together to find a solution. Deans statement comes two days after the school board Tuesday voted to approve two publicly financed, privately led charters and to deny the applications of eight others. Rejected charter applicants have until June 13 to appeal the boards decision. School board chair Gracie Porter told The City Paper Thursday she wasnt prepared to respond to Deans statement when asked to comment. Applicants always have the opportunity to reapply, she said. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/dean-criticizesboards-kipp-charter-rejection-hopes-great-hearts-solution

Mayor Karl Dean rips Metro school board for KIPP charter denial (Tenn./Cass)
Mayor Karl Dean, perhaps the citys foremost champion of charter schools, blasted the Metro school board Thursday for rejecting a prominent charter operators application to open a second school in Nashville. I am deeply disappointed that the school board denied KIPP Academys application for a second charter school, even after the districts charter school review committee recommended approval, Dean said in a statement released 3

just before 6 p.m. KIPP is one of the most highly-regarded national charter organizations in the country and does an outstanding job in an area of great need in Nashville educating our at-risk children. Year after year, KIPP students achieve great results. The school board voted 5-1 against KIPPs application Tuesday. Board member Mark North said the existing KIPP schools students regressed in science and social studies, though Dean said they performed well in mathematics and social studies, and their gains in reading scored highest in the state among schools serving low-income students. We have made great progress as a city in our approach to giving parents more choices through charters, and this denial sends a negative message to the rest of the country as to our position on charter schools, the mayor added. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120601/NEWS04/306010085/Mayor-Karl-Dean-rips-Metro-school-boardKIPP-charter-denial?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Pot land to become parkland under unprecedented deal (Tennessean/Gonzalez)

Short Mountain species, views, headwaters will be protected A remote Tennessee mountain where drug dealers grew and hid mounds of marijuana for more than a decade will soon become protected parkland. Nearly 1,000 acres on Short Mountain in Cannon County will be kept free of development to instead remain wild and natural for hunters and hikers an unusual outcome for forfeited drug property. But this was no ordinary land. The gentle slopes and craggy ridges amazed federal drug investigators who were in on the raid and led scientists to discover species of crayfish, salamanders and beetles not found anywhere else. And the water that runs off the mountain the tallest point in Middle Tennessee at 2,074 feet flows down in every direction. The deal to conserve the drug land, signed recently after years of negotiations, is one of just four such transfers in the nation in 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Its also by far the largest. In Tennessee, such an arrangement has no precedent. A huge win for conservationists, who worked for years to convince government and police agencies of its merit, the deal preserves some of the most beautiful land in the state. Those who put it together say that made more sense than selling it off to recoup all of the money poured into the drug investigation. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120601/NEWS01/306010053/Pot-land-become-parkland-underunprecedented-deal?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Attorney: Ownby has no plans to resign commission seat (News-Sentinel/Donila)

Knox County Commissioner Jeff Ownby, arrested last week on an indecent exposure charge, will not resign from his 4th District seat and plans to attend Monday's board meeting to vote on the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, his attorney said Thursday. In addition, defense attorney Gregory P. Isaacs lambasted the Tennessee Department of Children's Services for telling the News Sentinel and other local media outlets that three foster children were removed from Ownby's home as a result of the arrest. "That is false," he said. "Two foster children had previously been scheduled to return to their biological parents after the completion of the school year and were removed from the Ownby home on the morning of May 24, before his arrest. An 18-yearold remains at the residence. The statement made by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services was false and was made with a reckless disregard for the truth." DCS spokeswoman Molly Sudderth, who initially relayed the information to the media, disputed much of Isaacs' allegations. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/01/attorney-ownby-has-no-plans-to-resign-commission/

Memphis officials study half-cent hike in sales tax rate (Commercial Appeal/Maki)
Wharton, Flinn join for proposed addition, top rate allowed The Memphis City Council on Tuesday will hear a proposal to increase the city sales tax rate by half a cent, to the maximum amount allowed under state law. Such an increase, which Memphis voters would have to approve, would place the city's local-option sales tax at 2.75 percent, up from the current 2.25 percent, and could bring in as much as $47 million annually. Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn will propose the ordinance with the support of Mayor A C Wharton. Flinn said the increase would help fund "city improvements and public safety initiatives," and could capture revenue from people who do not live in Memphis but come to the city for work, recreation or shopping. "The sales tax is something that everybody pays so the burden wouldn't be solely borne by Memphians," Flinn said. Flinn said he is introducing the measure now to get it on the November ballot. He said that if approved, the sales tax increase would not help the city out of its immediate budget problems. Wharton has called for a 47-cent property tax increase for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to cover the cost of court-ordered funding for Memphis City Schools. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/01/city-studies-bump-in-sales-tax/ (SUBSCRIPTION) 4

Luttrell signs $1.2 billion budget despite qualms over spending (CA/Connolly)
Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell says he has signed the county's $1.2 billion annual operating budget, despite the fact that the County Commission added $980,000 in spending that he opposed. The biggest chunk of additional spending was $495,000 for the homeless. The commission voted last week to finalize its approval for this and other routine spending for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The budget process wraps up relatively early this year: In 2010 and 2011, commissioners approved the budget in June. Luttrell's administration presented commissioners a balanced budget, and the additional spending means the government will dip into savings. "It bothers me because of unknowns," Luttrell said. He cited education as one unknown factor affecting county finances. He spoke outside a meeting of the Transition Planning Commission, which is working to manage the complex merger of the city and county school systems. The county is contributing $361.3 million to schools this year, and the full financial consequences of a merger are unclear. Luttrell also said the fact that the county government will reappraise properties for tax purposes next year adds to the uncertainty. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/01/uneasy-luttrell-signs-budget/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Budget committee reallocates revenue away from education (State Gazette)

In a surprising turn of events, the Dyer County Budget Committee unanimously approved to reallocate 6 cents from property tax revenue currently designated for education into the debt service fund. In addition, 3 cents from the school transportation fund will also be reallocated into debt services. The move made it possible for the debt service and education budgets including the transportation budget to be approved at the end of Wednesday's meeting by the budget committee. "I am more in favor of this option, which moves money from transportation," said Dyer County Mayor Richard Hill. "We don't want to do anything to impact the county or the city classrooms." Hill had stated just 24 hours earlier in Tuesday's budget meeting with a room full of education supporters that he was a voting member of the budget committee and that he would not vote to take money away from education. The decision made on Wednesday reduces the county school expected general fund revenue by $200,230 each year and the city school expected general fund revenue by $155,146. Also, the school transportation fund, which is operated by the county schools, will be reduced by $177,687. http://www.stategazette.com/story/1855286.html

Expert: Mosque ruling 'reinforces' Sunshine Law (Daily News Journal)

Tennessee Press Association attorney agrees with chancellor's decision Chancellor Robert Corlew IIIs ruling that the Rutherford County government failed to provide adequate public notice before approving a mosque set a Sunshine Law precedent, an open meeting expert said. In affect, hes plowing new ground, said Knoxville attorney Rick Hollow, a 40-year-plus legal counsel for the Tennessee Press Association. This ruling is a significant ruling strengthening the open meetings law because it reinforces the notice requirements and reinforces the importance of the totality of circumstances that the Tennessee Supreme Court tacked onto it. If it were affirmed by a court of appeals or the supreme court, it would be a very significant decision with the publics right to know, and thats the only way I look at it. While county officials weigh their options on whether to appeal or accept the ruling that voided the mosque decision, construction workers continue to build a new Islamic Center of Murfreesboro on Veals Road off Bradyville Pike. A crew supervisor said Thursday theyll continue to build until either the county government or the congregation asks them to stop. The supervisor also said the county government told the construction company to continue to build the $2 million Phase I project thats supposed to be 12,000 square feet. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120601/NEW S/306010016/Expert-Mosque-ruling-reinforces-Sunshine-Law? odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1

Sen.

Bob

Corker

says

tax

reform

is

gaining

traction

in

Congress

(Tennessean/Cass)
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker said Thursday he senses a growing consensus in Congress that the nation needs to reform the tax code while also restructuring entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. I really do think that the sweet spot for our country is pro-growth tax reform, Corker told reporters after addressing the Tennessee Business Roundtable. Thats lowering marginal rates but doing away with loopholes (in order to) generate more revenues and certainly economic growth linked to long-term entitlement reform. I do feel consensus building around that concept on both sides of the aisle, and our first best opportunity to deal with that is going to be during the lame-duck session. I am convinced that over the next couple of years, this issue is going to be addressed. The Tennessee Republican, who is up for re-election this fall, said he believes the amount of 5

revenue lawmakers will be willing to put on the table will be tied to the amount of real reforms of the tax code. But he acknowledged the process will be tricky once Congress gets down to details. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120601/BUSINESS01/305310108/Sen-Corker-says-tax-reform-gainingtraction-Congress?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&gcheck=1&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Corker voices optimism (Jackson Sun)

Senator hopeful that parties will work together to solve nation's fiscal problems U.S. Sen. Bob Corker said he is optimistic that Democrats and Republicans in Congress will be able to come together to solve some of the nations fiscal problems. He said that is something that must be done if the United States is to prosper in the world economy. We need to deal with our own fiscal issues and get them off the table, Corker told the Jackson Sun Editorial Board on Thursday. Im more optimistic than ever ... Im optimistic over the next 24 months were going to do something great for the nation, and I want to be a part of that. Corker said that although Congress has been in a sustained gridlock on many fronts, he sees evidence that there is some consensus building among Democrats and Republicans around the issues of pro growth tax reform and entitlement reform. Consensus could set the stage for some meaningful changes that will spur the economy and reduce the national debt. If we could get this (fiscal) uncertainty behind us, we are set for a tremendous boom, Corker said. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120601/NEWS01/306010010/Corker-voices-optimism?nclick_check=1

Corker Expects Battle Over Which Loopholes To Close (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker says theres widespread support for closing tax loopholes, as part of a potential deal to rework entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. But Corker jokes the fight over exactly which loopholes lawmakers close will amount to a permanent employment plan for lobbyists. Speaking to business leaders in Nashville, Corker said figuring out which loopholes to close would pit such executives against each other. And every lobbyist in America will be hired, because what is one mans loophole is another mans whatever. Its their existence. Corker says one particular battleground could be tax breaks for when companies provide health benefits for workers. And he says dealing with tax breaks on mortgages would invoke ire from what he called the housing industrial complex. And by the way, Corker said, those are on the individual side. Wait until you get on the corporate side. http://wpln.org/?p=37822

Corker: European Crisis Foreshadows U.S. Debt Fallout (W PLN-Radio Nashville)

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker is tempering his longstanding call to cut government debt with a warning. Corker worries the U.S. will follow down the path of the European debt crisis. Corker points to so-called austerity measures in Europe: unpopular government cuts in areas like healthcare and education. Corker acknowledges its not a perfect comparison, because right now the U.S. can borrow easily. But he warns investors might not always be so fond of American debt. The fact is were seeing what happens when austerity and other kinds of things have to occur. And were seeing, by the way, politicians be elected out who have tried to correct the fiscal situations that exist in these countries, which does not bode well. Corker told a group of business leaders in Nashville Thursday that in January he thought the European issue was in the rearview mirror. As to the political challenge of winning support for austerity, Corker sees it as a question of maturity, and getting voters to take a long view. So far that hasnt got much traction in places like Greece, where unemployment is at 20 percent. http://wpln.org/?p=37807

Roe says VA is exempt from automatic spending cuts (Times News)

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe said Thursday the Department of Veterans Affairs will be exempt from automatic spending cuts called for in the 2011 Budget Control Act. Roe, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, noted the VA wont be held to sequestration or about a half-trillion dollars worth of defense and non-defense discretionary spending cuts scheduled to begin early next year. Its pulled out. Its not part of those automatic cuts. ... W e have so many veterans in our district, Roe, R-Tenn., said in a conference call with reporters. Congress and veterans advocacy groups had pressured the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue a ruling exempting the VA, which runs a medical facility and outpatient clinics in Roes 1st Congressional District. The OMB made that ruling in late April. W ith the OMB ruling out of the way, Roe said Congress is expected to pass an appropriations bill funding the VA for the coming federal fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9047338/roe-says-va-is-exempt-from-automatic-spending-cuts

Scottie Mayfield pledges term limit of 10 years (Times Free-Press/Carroll)

Scottie Mayfield promised Thursday to serve no more than 10 years if elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, making a pledge his top opponents recently refused or evaded. Mayfield campaign spokesman Joe Hendrix said his boss decided to address term limits after reflecting on prior conversations with members of Congress. They told him theyd like to support certain legislation or initiatives, but choose not to vote for [them] because it would hurt their re-election, Hendrix said. Having term limits ... creates the opportunity to vote for what the member believes is right. A dairy executive challenging U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in Tennessees 3rd District Republican primary, Mayfield would be 72 at the beginning of a hypothetical fifth term. He would become eligible for a full congressional pension after holding office for five years, according to the Congressional Research Service. A single House term is two years. Fleischmann is seeking his second term. In a May 21 debate, he avoided a direct question about a term-limits pledge, saying that elections every two years already make House members accountable to voters. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/01/scottie-mayfield-pledges-term-limit-10-years/?local

Salazar renews waterfowl commitment during Nashville visit (Tennessean/W ilson)

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed an agreement updating an international waterfowl conservation agreement with Mexico and Canada during a Nashville convention Thursday. The update to the 25-year-old regulations, called the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, was signed by Salazar at the Ducks Unlimited convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The U.S., Canada and Mexico all adhere to the plan, which sets out to conserve wild and migratory birds across the continent through habitat protection and by other means in all three countries. Wildlife doesnt know political borders the way we know political borders, Salazar said. They dont carry green cards or anything else. The habitats of waterfowl, including ducks, geese and swans, would have added protections across the continent as a result of the plan. More than 15.7 million acres in the three countries have been protected through the agreement so far, Salazar said. These lands can benefit the waterways from a habitat, as well as hunters and outdoorsmen who take advantage of these areas. The signing of this agreement is an important one because it recognizes that ducks and other waterfowl are continental birds, Salazar said. So Canada, the United States and Mexico signing this agreement is a great step forward to make sure the hunting heritage and habitat for ducks and other waterfowl is something that is preserved. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120601/NEWS11/306280001/Interior-Secretary-Ken-Salazar-renewswaterfowl-commitment-during-Nashville-visit?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1 (SUB)

Thousands in Tennessee to get health insurance rebates (C. Appeal/Sells)

Thousands of Tennesseans can expect a check from their health insurance company in August as insurers comply with a provision of the still-controversial and still-undecided Affordable Care Act. Insurers in Tennessee will pay around $29.5 million in rebates this year to 223,583 Tennesseans, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, to meet a spending threshold set by the health reform law. The threshold, called the medical loss ratio, was set to require insurance companies to spend a minimum of 80 percent of their premiums on health care, not on other business costs like executive pay or marketing. The rebates bridge the gap of what the companies actually paid for health care in 2011 and the 80 percent threshold. Insurers must report the amounts of these rebate payments to the government today. The majority of the Tennessee rebates -- about $22.3 million -- will go to 134,629 with individual policies, the Kaiser study said. About $4.4 million will go back to 65,908 insured with small groups, like small businesses. About $2.8 million will be refunded to 23,046 insured in large groups. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, the state's largest insurer, announced Thursday it will pay $8.6 million to about 73,000 individual policyholders in August. The insurer reported the figures a day ahead of the federal deadline. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/31/bluecross-blueshield-refund-86m-73000-individual-p/ (SUB)

Y-12 suspends some work because of safety concerns (News-Sentinel/Munger)

The government's contractor at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant Thursday indefinitely suspended a number of maintenance activities at the plant because of poor performance in certain safety-related procedures. B&W Y-12, a partnership of Babcock & Wilcox and Bechtel National, halted all "lock out/tag out" activities at the Oak Ridge plant, where nuclear warhead parts are manufactured and dismantled and where the nation's largest stockpile of 7

bomb-grade uranium is stored. Lock out/tag out procedures are set up to disable equipment and dangerous machinery to help protect service and maintenance employees from electrical and other hazards while performing their jobs. The plant's lack of adherence to proper lock out/tag out procedures has reportedly been a problem for years. In a Feb. 3 memo, staff of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board said there had been continuing issues at Y-12 since at least 2007. The National Nuclear Security Administration, according to that same memo, had identified 14 negative events since April 2010. Thursday's suspension of lock out/tag out activities was ordered after three additional incidents that took place recently, according to Y-12 spokeswoman Ryn Etter. She said nobody was injured in the incidents each associated with isolation of electrical power for maintenance projects but they prompted the contractor to take additional steps to correct the problem. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/01/y-12-suspends-some-work-because-of-safety/

Nissan to hire 1,000 (Daily News Journal)

Job fair for Smyrna plant scheduled for Saturday Yates Services is hosting a job fair to fill many of the 1,000 open positions for Nissans Vehicle Assembly and Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in Smyrna. The fair will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Murfreesboro Career Center on 1313 Old Fort Pkwy. The company is recruiting to fill long-term, full-time positions. Yates Services is hiring for off-shift positions, including nights, afternoons, weekends, and rotating shifts for the following jobs: Assembly/Production $15.25 progressing to $19.25 offshift Material Handling forklift experience required; $13.25 progressing to $15.75 off shift Industrial Maintenance graduate and have a diploma through an Industrial Maintenance course; off-shift starting pay rate $19.75 progressing to $28.25 Tool and Die Maker experience required in welding, CNC, and/or hand grinding Warehouse/Production Support Off-shift starting pay rate $12 progressing to $13.25 http://www.dnj.com/article/20120601/BUSINESS/306010017/Nissan-hire-1-000?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| FRONTPAGE

Showcasing (NS/McCoy)

need: Knox

Schools

makes

argument for funding

increase

Adrian Burnett Elementary is busting at the seams with almost 675 students walking its halls intended for only 500. "W e do not have one extra inch of space in this school," said Kathy Duggan, the school's principal. "We have a lot of shared space here. There are lots and lots of needs." On Thursday, school officials gave members of the media a tour of Adrian Burnett, Shannondale Elementary and Gibbs High three of the facilities that would see improvements if the school board's budget is approved by the Knox County Commission next week. That budget includes a request for an additional $35 million to be spent on a number of initiatives, including technology and capital improvements. For next year's budget, $28 million would be designated for technology and capital improvements and the remaining $7 million would be added to the district's operating budget. "W hen we think about the school board's budget obviously there are some critical education initiatives and facilities improvements are part of that," said Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre at the beginning of the tour. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/01/showcasing-need-knox-schools-makes-its-argument/

Schools Group Lists "Bloody" Options To Close Funding Gap (M. Daily News)
The group planning out a consolidated countywide school system found a way to balance the budget of the school system to come. But it would come at the expense of much of the work the group has done to build an improved and merged school system. The schools consolidation planning commission approved Thursday, May 31, an option list totaling $54 million in cuts it could make to balance the expenses and revenues of the school system that debuts in August 2013. But the group also said the list was not a recommendation. They termed it a reluctant contingency plan that they hope will cause Shelby County government and state government leaders to consider additional funding instead. The group earlier gave preliminary recommendations that would save an additional $97 million. Most of that would come from closing 21 schools and outsourcing custodial services at schools as well as transportation of students The list of options includes increasing the student-teacher ratio by one from the current Memphis City Schools ratio to save $20 million. The $20 million is the highest dollar figure item on the list and it mean 280 fewer teachers as well as an additional three to four students in the average middle school and high school classroom. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jun/1/schools-group8

lists-bloody-options-to-close-funding-gap/

Memphis-Shelby County schools merger reaches rough patch (CA/Kelley)

For members of the Transition Planning Commission, the thrill is gone. Members of the group crafting a plan for the merger of Memphis and Shelby County Schools had no trouble with their first item of business Thursday: approving a set of financial projections that left a $67 million gap between available revenue and proposed spending for the first year of operation. Neither was it hard to approve a set of initiatives that would narrow the gap by $29 million, although they're dependent on some successful lobbying at City Hall and the state Capitol. The going got tough, however, when it came to approving a list of cuts and revenue increases, mainly cuts that the unified school board can pick and choose from, if it decides to take that route -- $54 million worth in all -- to balance the $1.2 billion budget. The commission's Reginald Green was among the opponents, suggesting that surely there could be ways to balance the books without such drastic measures as increasing class sizes, hiring fewer librarians and assistant principals and cutting $14.3 million from the central office staff. How can you increase class sizes, asked Commissioner Kenya Bradshaw, and expect students to adapt to new statemandated common core academic standards? http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/01/mergerreaches-rough-patch/ (SUB)

The Jones Factor (Memphis Flyer)

Martavius Jones, who with Tomeka Hart was one of the prime movers in the December 2010 decision by the Memphis City Schools board to surrender its charter, thereby initiating city/county school merger, has consistently been an advocate ever since of maximizing the contours and possibilities of the Unified School District that will become reality in August 2013. As a current member of the provisional Unified School Board and of the Transition Planning Commission created by the 2011 Norris-Todd Act to advise on the MCS merger with Shelby County Schools, Jones has resisted all efforts to facilitate the creation of separate suburban municipal school districts, threatening suit against future attempts by such districts to acquire existing school buildings free of cost or to enroll students from unincorporated areas of Shelby County. But Jones' position in regard to a June 11th meeting called by Billy Orgel, president of the Unified District's interim 23-member board, has other opponents of the suburban breakaway districts puzzled. http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/the-jonesfactor/Content?oid=3195571

Greene County Schools $1.2 million shortfall (Times-News)

With a $1.2 million budget shortfall, Greene County school leaders are looking for ways to cut costs without eliminating an elementary school. In a school board meeting this afternoon, Director of Schools, Dr. Vicki Kirk said members discussed cutting two driver's education positions, a music teacher position, and extracurricular positions, along with suggesting that employees may have to pay more for insurance benefits. Closing Glenwood Elementary is an option, but Dr. Kirk says, it's a last resort. Dr. Kirk says, "But you see when you're budget is 83% personnel, and the rest of that are things like electricity, diesel, and textbooks that have already been cut, there's not a lot left to cut that's not people." The school board has not gotten a final figure from the commission on how much the county will be able to give the school system. Once that happens, Dr. Kirk says, more decisions will be made. And in an effort to help the school system, some members of the Greene County Commission proposed an increase in the county's wheel tax. One supporter of the increase is Commissioner Tim White. He wants the wheel tax increased from 20 dollars to 40 dollars. He says, that will help some, but not all of the school system's financial problems. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/may/31/2/greene-county-schools12-million-shortfall-commiss-ar-1956464/

Schedules Get a Makeover in Schools Across the Country (Stateline)

Many states, driven by budget woes, a desire to boost tourism or a determination help low-performing schools, are contemplating changes in the amount of time their students spend in class. Some California school districts may be forced to trim the school calendar to save money. In Alabama and Virginia, the issue is whether a longer summer vacation will bolster the tourism industry. Meanwhile, Michigan wants to add days to the school calendar to help its lowest-performing schools. The issue in California, as it has been for several years, is money. Earlier this month, Governor Jerry Brown proposed an 8 percent cut in education spending that would take effect unless voters approve a November ballot initiative that includes an income tax hike on the states wealthiest citizens and 9

an increase in the sales tax. To cope with the 8 percent cut, school districts would be allowed to cut up to 15 days from the school calendar over the next two years. The new reductions in the school year would come on top of previous cuts in the past several years. Schools were given the option to reduce the school day by five days starting in the fall of 2009, and then an additional 7 days during the last school year. http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/schedules-get-a-makeover-in-schools-across-the-country85899395274

MORE

OPINION Editorial: Taxes for schools an investment in future for Nashville's youth (Tenn)
As a Nashville native, homeowner, parent and a public schools product and advocate, its difficult to understand why anyone would say no to any investment in Nashvilles future. I was raised to believe that we all hold a stake in our community and that an investment in education is never an investment lost. So its particularly difficult to understand when that no comes at the expense of our public schools, which stand to benefit enormously from Mayor Karl Deans budget proposal. Of the 53-cent property tax increase proposed in the budget, nearly half would go to education an enormous investment in teachers, classrooms and our children and a clear statement that shows that our community cares deeply about its members and its direction. Nashville is growing fast. Over the past decade, we have added the second-most people of any county in the state. People are coming here from across the country and around the world, drawn by our quality of life, vibrant culture and growing business and entrepreneurial opportunities. Unfortunately, they arent attracted by our schools, some of which have struggled to keep up with federal and state benchmarks as well as factors wholly outside the control of teachers and principals 10

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120601/OPINION03/306010054/Taxes-schools-an-investment-futureNashville-s-youth?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cp&gcheck=1&nclick_check=1 (SUB).

Editorial: School budget No. 1 priority should be technology (Jackson Sun)

As budget discussions between Jackson-Madison County school system officials and Madison County commissioners continue, it is important to keep priorities in line with funding decisions. Chief among these decisions is how much to spend on technology. We remind everyone involved that the school boards No. 1 priority is improving school technology. For many years, the school system has spent about 1 percent of its annual budget on technology, and often less. The result is that the school system has fallen behind when compared to school systems where technology investments have been as much as 10 percent of annual budgets. One problem faced over the years was that many teachers were not prepared to use the latest technology, and sizeable investments in computers and other education technology met with resistance from officials and educators. But much has changed in recent years as the accelerating digital age brought the world unprecedented access to the Internet through myriad devices from computers to Internet-connected projectors, interactive Promethean boards, and most recently through mobile technology. For todays school systems, technology is no longer an option. School systems such as Jackson-Madison County that have fallen behind now must make up for lost time. That means putting technology spending at the top of the priority list and keeping it there for years to come. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120601/OPINION/306010002/Our-View-School-budget-No-1-priorityshould-technology

Times Editorial: Positive home sales growth (Times Free-Press)

Economists and real estate officials no doubt wish the April numbers were higher, but the 2.2 percent increase in Hamilton County and North Georgia and the 3.4 percent national rise in home sales compared with a month earlier are positive signs that local and national economies on the rebound. The across-the-board increases add to already growing evidence that home sales, an important indicator of consumer confidence, continue to accelerate, though not at an equal pace in all areas of the country. Indeed, analysis of Aprils numbers reveals several important trends. Sales increases, in fact, were reported in each of the nations four geographic regions. Sales to first-time buyers increased from March to April. Median sales prices generally increased across the country, though there were some local and regional fluctuations. There were other positive signs, as well, that the housing market is starting to build momentum after almost five years in the doldrums. Among the most important was the reported decline in the proportion of distressed property sales homes in default or those repossessed by lenders. Home prices generally rise as the number of distressed properties sold declines. In April, homes in that category totaled 28 percent of sales. Thats still high, but it is a considerable improvement over the 37 percent reported in similar sales a year ago. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/01/positive-home-sales-growth/?opiniontimes

Greg Johnson: Hybrid pension plan no real change (Knoxville News-Sentinel)

The city of Knoxville's work to find a solution for its ever-increasing pension plan obligations may have been exhausting, but it was far from exhaustive. In fact, the "Hybrid Max Plan" promoted by Mayor Madeline Rogero, which she claims combines a defined benefit plan with a defined contribution element, falls short of real change. To review, under a defined benefit plan like the one currently in place, city employees and retirees like 80 percent of public employees nationwide are guaranteed a payment in retirement based on salary and length of service. Taxpayers bear the burden for funding shortfalls or poor investment performance. In a defined contribution plan, employees make contributions, and the employer invests a "defined" amount. Employee contributions belong to the employee. Employer contributions "vest" to the employee after a set period of years. The employee gets the reward of owning the assets while accepting most funding risk and all investment risk. Nationally, more than 80 percent of private sector employees must make do with a defined contribution plan. In other words, the vast, vast majority of workers in Knoxville must take responsibility for their retirement income. Why should they also be responsible for funding most of the retirement income of city employees, a small, small minority of the population? http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/01/greg-johnson-hybrid-pension-plan-no-real-change/

Editorial: Government leaders hold taxes down in tough times (Daily News
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Journal)
Rutherford County government leaders should be commended for proposing spending plans for fiscal 2013 that wont require a property tax. Initially, the Rutherford County School Board was backing a budget proposal that would force a 6.2-cent increase in county taxes. And one schools official suggested the system needed an 11cent increase. That latter figure would tack about $41 onto the average annual property tax bill of $924. But even though that sounds like a minimal amount maybe a trip to the movies with the kids property tax payers in Rutherford County need a break. As the region continues to crawl out from under recession, people still dont have the extra cash they did before the economy crashed in 2008. Job prospects are improving, but unemployed residents are still looking for decent work in order to survive, and household budgets remain stretched. Thats why it was necessary for schools officials to settle on a no-frills spending plan that will enable the system to meet growth requirements without putting a greater burden on taxpayers. The $279.6 million proposal is 4.7 percent more than the current budget of $267.1 million. It makes up a large part of the countys overall budget of $443.9 million, which is expected to take effect July 1. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120601/OPINION01/306010008/EDITORIAL-Government-leaders-hold-taxesdown-tough-times

Editorial: Hands off the Internet (Commercial Appeal)

Here's a bad idea that keeps recurring: Turn control of the Internet over to the United Nations. A group of nations, led by the usual suspects -- China and Russia -- and joined shamefully by Brazil and India, are planning to try to amend the U.N.'s International Telecommunication Union treaty, to bring the Internet under a U.N. agency. Backers of the plan say the agency would impose controls, ostensibly for privacy and cybersecurity purposes; allow governments and national telephone companies to tax Internet traffic; and take over the functions now handled -- and handled rather well -- by a loose confederation of private agencies, including engineering standards and assignment of addresses, names and domains. The agency could also regulate international traffic. There is no demonstrated need for this regulatory format, especially not by a U.N. bureaucracy of the kind that made such a corrupt hash out of the oil-for-food program with Saddam Hussein's Iraq. For an example of what that regime might be like, we need look no further than the Chinese government, which has been engaged in a nonstop game of whack-a-mole with free spirits on the Internet. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/01/hands-off-the-internet/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

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