(NASHVILLE, TN), September 2, 2010 – State Senator Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) said today she is very pleased that small businesses will have an advocate to help them cut through the red tape of government when they need assistance.  The announcement follows Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson’s appointment of Joshua Helton to the newly-created position of Small Business Advocate for Tennessee. 

Gresham successfully co-sponsored Senate Bill 3484 this year, which established the position.  Helton’s office will mediate and assist with resolution of issues concerning small business owners and state departments and agencies.  Gresham said the new law also requires all state departments and agencies with regulatory authority over businesses to designate a point person who will deal directly with the Small Business Advocate when issues or questions arise.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Senator Gresham.  “This new position provides help for small business owners who too often have a difficult time cutting through the red tape of state government.”

In addition, the new law requires the small business advocate to prepare an annual report on their office’s activities, findings and recommendations for transmission to the governor, members of the General Assembly and the heads of the affected departments and agencies to make sure officials are notified about any problems or concerns.  Gresham believes this will provision will help identify better ways to assist small business owners in the future.

“We must streamline state government to work more efficiently and effectively,” added Gresham.  “I look forward to hearing from Mr. Helton regarding his recommendations.”

Helton worked for the private law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz before joining the Comptroller’s staff as the legislative auditor last September.   He can be reached on the toll-free number at 1-866-831-3750 or by email at smallbusiness.advocate@tn.gov or by visiting the Small Business Advocate website at http://www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/OSBA.
 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 30, 2010 – The National Federation of Independent Business, Tennessee’s leading small business association, has endorsed incumbent Bill Ketron (Murfreesboro) in the race for the 13th Senate District.

The endorsement was made by NFIB/Tennessee SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise) Trust, which is comprised exclusively of NFIB members. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2. Senate District 13 includes Lincoln, Marshall, Maury and part of Rutherford counties.

“Senator Ketron is an outstanding supporter of small business in Tennessee,” said Jim Brown, state director of NFIB/Tennessee, noting his 100% NFIB Voting Record from 2009-10 and strong support for small business in committee. “Bill Ketron demonstrated outstanding leadership in achieving a bipartisan solution that will address unfair bidding and employee misclassification in the construction industry, while ensuring small subcontractors will be able to continue pursuing their livelihoods.”

“Bill Ketron consistently supports free enterprise in the Tennessee General Assembly and has earned the strong backing of the small business community in Senate District 13.”

Ketron said, “I am grateful for the support of NFIB, the Voice of Small Business. I am particularly pleased with the passage of Senate Bill 3591, which will protect thousands of small contractors and subcontractors, in the 2010 session. Tennessee is a great state in which to do business, but we must continue to cut red tape, keep taxes low and pursue commonsense tort reform to make our environment better for small business.”

NFIB’s endorsement is critical to the Ketron campaign. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to go to the polls. NFIB has pledged it will activate its grassroots network on behalf of the Ketron campaign. NFIB’s political support is based on the candidates’ positions and records on small business issues. 

Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

(NASHVILLE, TN), August 27, 2010 -- State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Representative Pat March (R-Shelbyville) said today they are very pleased with the announcement that SMW Automotive will be locating in Shelbyville.  The local lawmakers have been working with state and local officials to help bring the production facility to Bedford County.
“Jobs are ‘priority number one’ as the economy continues to be sluggish and unemployment remains high,” said Senator Tracy.  “We are very pleased that our county will receive 170 much-needed new jobs as a result of this new facility.”
“This announcement shows that Tennessee workers represent quality, pride, integrity, and innovation -- things that the world today needs and wants more of,” added Marsh.  “These are our best competitive assets in drawing new jobs to our area.”

Tracy, who is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee said he will continue to work to ensure transportation needs for the facility. 

“Certainly one of the most important things we can do to draw new jobs is to keep Tennessee a business-friendly state in these difficult financial times,” added Tracy.  “Businesses do not need additional taxation or more burdensome regulations.  We are pro-growth and pro-business state and we must work to keep it that way.”

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 (NASHVILLE, TN), August 24, 2010  – State Senator Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) has been appointed by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey as a member of a special joint committee studying a freeze on utility rates for senior citizens.  The eight-member Senate and House committee is charged with reporting their findings, including any legislative proposals, to the 107th General Assembly by February 1, 2011.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve on this committee,” said Senator Southerland, who is Chairman of the Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee.  “Our senior citizens have many financial hardships and this is a matter that should be explored.  This has been a very difficult year for many of them as temperatures in the winter and summer have been extremely harsh, increasing utility bills for many elderly citizens statewide.”

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in seeking solutions to help meet our senior citizens needs.”

For Immediate Release    Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336

(NASHVILLE, TN), August 17, 2010 -- A national news reporting and opinion website has listed Tennessee as the best state in the nation in terms of debt by ranking the volunteer state as having the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the nation. The Daily Beast, which is an online news and commentary outlet, released the state-by-state list in the wake of Congress’ passage of a $26 billion stimulus bill passed last week. 

Tennessee had a debt ratio of 1.95 as compared to Rhode Island, which was ranked as having the worst debt in the nation with a 21.54 percent ratio.

“We have worked very hard over the past two decades at keeping Tennessee as debt free as possible,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge).  McNally has served on the Finance Committee for 20 years.  “Like with family budgets, debt is one of the worst pitfalls in financial planning, particularly in lean economic times like we are currently facing.”

The online publication said the debt numbers were calculated by using U.S. Census data and past state debt increases or decreases to estimate current debt levels.  Calculations were also based on information from an independent analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities utilizing baseline budget spending compared to expected revenue.

Many states were depending on passage of a second stimulus package by spending the funds before they arrive, even though the money had not been approved by Congress.  Tennessee, rather, took a cautious approach by making spending provisions that were contingent upon passage of the federal bill.  The congressional bill, H.R. 1586, was signed into law on August 10.

“We have taken a very fiscally prudent path in our state finances,” added Chairman McNally.  “This includes our cautious approach to any further stimulus funds that might come to us through the FMAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentages) enhanced funding package.  I appreciate the acknowledgement by this publication that shows our efforts to keep Tennessee out of debt.”

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Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov
 
(NASHVILLE, TN), August 12, 2010 -- State Senators Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said today they have asked Senate Education Chairman Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) to schedule a meeting of the Senate Education Committee “as soon as practicable” to hear testimony regarding the appointments of the members of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR).  The call comes one week after the Board appointed John Morgan, Chancellor, despite a request from the Senate Education Chairman to broaden the search to consider applicants with advanced doctorate degrees and managerial experience in a higher education setting. 

Ketron said Tennessee law requires appointed members “shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”  The Senate has not acted on the appointments in recent years.  The law states appointments “shall be effective until adversely acted upon by the Senate.” 

“We have a duty under Tennessee law to look at members appointed to the Board of Regents which was obviously put into place to explore their qualifications, education ideas and other relevant matters to that position,” said Senator Ketron, who is a member of the Education Committee.  “Therefore, this is something that we have a statutory duty to examine.  We have been far too lenient in this regard and need to take a look at these board members who are serving approximately 200,000 students across this state in a position of high authority.”

“I am very concerned about the Board’s action to drastically increase the new chancellor’s salary from $305,000 to $385,000 at a time when our state employees did not receive a raise and when we are looking at increased tuition rates for our students,” added Ketron, who is also Chairman of the legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee.  The Fiscal Review Committee serves as the General Assembly’s watchdog on the state’s finances and contracts.  “The legislature made many difficult cuts to state government programs this year.  The public, rightfully, has a good reason to complain when such action is taken by a state government board or agency, especially when the education requirements for the position were lowered by the Board.”

The Tennessee Board of Regents supervises all public institutions of higher education in Tennessee not governed by the University of Tennessee system, including the state’s four-year institutions, community colleges, and the Tennessee Technology Centers.  Unlike most states, the Board of Regent’s component institutions do not have their own board of directors or trustees at the campus level, leaving the TBR with the ability to hire or promote various positions in the state’s colleges and universities.  There have been several attempts to combine the TBR with the University system, or replace it with a system under which each component school, or at least each of the universities, would have its own independent board.

“The Tennessee Board of Regents has a huge impact on our higher education system,” added Senator Tracy, who is also a member of the Education Committee.  “Although the Senate cannot act as a body until next year on this matter, we are asking the Chairman to begin the process of looking at the members appointed as we are statutorily required.”

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Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

(NASHVILLE, TN), August 12, 2010  -- State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said today he has been informed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) that a $1,161,000 grant has been approved for the Smyrna Airport in Rutherford County.   Tracy is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.  The grant is available through TDOT’s Division of Aeronautics.

“Access to airports are essential to the economic development of our county, as well as use for local citizens,” said Gresham.  “This grant will assist us in making needed improvements.”
 
Tracy said the funds from the aeronautics grants will be used for the design and rehabilitation of several taxiways.  The grant was recommended by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission.

“I’m very pleased that this grant will enable us to make these improvements,” added Tracy.  “We will continue to work to bring our tax dollars back to Rutherford County.”

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Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336

  (NASHVILLE, TN), August 11, 2010 – The Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers (ALMR) today applauded legislation sponsored by Senate Environment and Conservation Chairman Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) and State Representative David Hawk (R-Greeneville) to keep toxic mercury-added consumer products from being improperly disposed in landfills in Tennessee.  The new law, Public Chapter 840, provides assistance through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for tanning bed facilities and large employers to recycle mercury containing products, which are predominantly fluorescent light bulbs. 

“The ALMR applauds Tennessee for enacting this important law to keep harmful mercury out of the garbage and protect the environment,” said Paul Abernathy, Executive Director of the ALMR."  The ALMR is a national organization that assists government and business with outreach and education for the promotion of mercury recovery from wastes.  “We appreciate Senator Southerland and his colleagues’ efforts to help the business community become compliant and divert these wastes into recycling programs.”

  “Improper management and disposal of these bulbs have been releasing mercury into the environment,” said Senator Southerland.  “This causes hazardous contamination of land and waterways, which places our children’s future in danger.”

Health problems associated with mercury exposure include digestive, cardiovascular, nervous system and kidney-related illness.  Experts maintain yearly usage of mercury containing lamps is in excess of one billion nationwide.

Other lighting products, besides fluorescent light bulbs, containing mercury includes high intensity discharge bulbs and projector lamps.  In addition, the waste also includes many common materials like batteries, some electronic equipment, switches and thermostats.  Abernathy said the legislation does not impose any hardship on businesses or the state government because there are already complete programs available through recycling facilities. 

      “All these items are easy to keep out of the environment by sending them to authorized recyclers.  There are cost-effective recycling programs for business of all sizes” said Steve Barnett of Southeast Recycling Technologies, Inc.  “Any costs for recycling light bulbs are very small compared to huge energy savings from using mercury bulbs in the first place” said Barnett, whose company services the entire state and southeast region.”

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(NASHVILLE, TN), August 4, 2010 – Local State Senator Ken Yager and Representative Chad Faulkner announced today that LaFollette Middle School in Campbell County has been awarded $9,800 in grant incentive funds from Tennessee's Energy Efficient Schools Initiative.  The funds will be used to install energy efficient HVACs at LaFollette Middle School.

 “This grant is especially needed this year as the extreme weather has put a strain on school budgets to keep up with utility costs,” said Senator Yager.  “The funds will help us be ready for any future needs like this by improving energy efficiency in our schools.”

The General Assembly is recognized for the legislation that is assisting all school districts to become more energy efficient, resulting in lower operating costs and creating a healthier and safer learning environment.  The Initiative is also retaining and creating jobs in Tennessee, both in the manufacturing sector in Tennessee as well as equipment vendors, contract labor for equipment installation, local equipment sales, etc.

“This program has enabled many schools across our district to acquire energy efficient equipment,” added Rep. Faulkner.  “The result will be savings to the taxpayers over the long run.”

For more information about the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative, please visit www.tn.gov/eesi.

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