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TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

HomeServe USA adding 120 Chattanooga jobs (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)HomeServe USA, a provider of home repair service programs, plans to add to its Chattanooga call cenoperation and create 120 jobs, officials said today. With the additions, HomeServe’s head count in Chattanoois to reach almost 300 people in the city, according to the company. The Chattanooga facility, located at 12Premier Drive, services the Continental U.S. and Canada. “We have placed a renewed emphasis on helpexisting industries grow right where they are, as this is essential to reaching our goal of becoming the Nolocation in the Southeast for high-quality jobs,” said Gov. Bill Haslam in a statement. Interested applicants capply online at www.homeserveusa.com/Careers.html and the company is holding a job fair this week at its lofacility.  http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/16/homeserve-usa-adding-120-chattanooga-jobs/breakingnews

Measure for selecting judges advances in Senate (Associated Press)A proposal that seeks to amend the state constitution to change the way appeals judges are selected passed Senate on Monday night The resolution sponsored by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark NorrisCollierville was approved 21-9. It would give voters three options for selecting judges: contested electionsfederal-style plan, or a plan similar to the current one. Under the current Tennessee judicial selection methodcommission nominates judges, the governor appoints them and voters cast ballots either for or against keepthem on the bench. Norris said some type of plan is necessary because the current plan is scheduled"sunset," or end, and "this is the last opportunity Tennesseans have to get this on the ballot in 2014." Howevopponents say the legislation is unnecessary. "I think this is doing something that we can already do," saDemocratic Sen. Andy Berke of Chattanooga. "The current constitution authorizes us to have the Tennessplan."

http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=39058063.story

Senate Approves Judge Appointment Proposal Much Like Gov’s Preferen

(WPLN)Last night, the Tennessee Senate approved a proposal for naming state judges – a first step in making a chanto the state constitution. And it was the one that m ost resembles the current system. Senate Republican LeaMark Norris says his resolution would give lawmakers leeway to set up a system much like today’s method – governor appoints judges, they later stand for retention in an unopposed, yes-no vote by citizens. Governor Haslam said it is his desire to pass a constitutional amendment to write the current method called “Tennessee plan” into the constitution. Last night’s 21 to 9 vote was not the final word on judges by the uppchamber. A compe ting plan will be up for a vote in the Senate later this week. Senator Norris says he welcom

the competing plan. He argues that more than one proposal for naming judges may be in order, becauseresolution must pass the next General Assembly by a two-thirds majority before it can be on the ballot in 20http://wpln.org/?p=360 42

House passes ban on synthetic drugs (Associated Press)The House passed a bill that would make it a felony to make or sell synthetic drugs often called bath salts thimitate controlled substances The bill passed unanimously during the House floor session on Monday. SponRep. Jon Lundberg, a Republican from Bristol, said the drugs have hit his district in northeast Tennessee haafter Virginia banned the drugs and people have been crossing state lines to purchase the drugs in storesTennessee. Lundberg said the drugs are not marketed for ingestion and can be purchased in convenience a

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tobacco stores. The bill w ould also allow authorities to declare the stores where the drugs are sold as pubnuisances. The Senate has not yet passed its version of the bill.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=39057985.story

Hundreds To Attend Tennessee Prayer Breakfast At Lipscomb (WTVF-T

Nashville)

State and local officials will take part in the 38th annual Tennessee Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday morning. It start at 7 a.m. at Allen Arena at Lipscomb University. Each year, organizers said 500 to 800 guests attend fraround the state representing government, business, education, and churches. Among the participants will Governor Bill Haslam along with First Lady Crissy Haslam. The Prayer Breakfast, formerly known as Governor's Prayer Breakfast, is Tennessee's version of the National Prayer Breakfast. The event is held annuin Nashville prior to the conclusion of Tennessee General Assembly's legislative session as an effortencourage state leaders through prayer. The event is presented and produced by the Citizens' committee-volunteer group made up of business and ministry leaders as well as elected officials.http://www.newschannel5.com/story/17495139/hundreds-to-attend-tennessee-prayer-breakfast-at-lipscomb

Call 811 before you dig (Crossville Chronicle)Gov. Bil l Haslam has issued a proclamation announcing April as Tennessee Safe Digging Month. T

proclamation reminds Tennessee homeowners to call 811 before starting any outdoor digging projects. Amarks the start of spring digging season, so Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, Tennessee811 and Gov. Haslare encouraging homeowners to call 811 before they dig to prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenioutages. A utility line is damaged by digging once every three minutes nationwide, and one-third of theincidents are caused by failure of the professional excavator or homeowner to call 811 before beginning thdigging project. When calling 811, homeowners are connected to Tennessee811, which notifies the appropriutility companies of the intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark tapproximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Once lines have been accurately markedigging can begin around marked lines. “We join the governor in strongly encouraging individuals and companto call 811 before they begin digging,” said Kathy Quartermaine, Tennessee811 Marketing & EducatManager.http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x1789086509/Call-811-before- you-dig

Tennessee Seeking to Bolster Business Ties with China, South Korea (TN ReporA trade mission to China and South Korea, underway this week by state economic development officials anearly a dozen health care-related companies in Tennessee, looks to build on the state’s already producttrade relationships with east Asian countries. Through the mission, which will be led by Bill Hagecommissioner for the Department of Economic and Com munity Development, the state intends to help increaexports by small- and mid-level businesses in Tennessee. The participants will attend business meetinarranged by the U.S. Commercial Service, a component of the Department of Commerce, as well as exhibition of health care-related products and services in the Asia-Pacific Region, the China International MediEquipment Fair. “Last year, Tennessee exported roughly $30 billion dollars in goods; however, fewer than tpercent of all Tennessee companies are exporters,” Hagerty said in a press release released in late JanuaryECD. “This trade mission will allow participants to be introduced to potential distributors and customers in trapidly growing Asian market and explore new sources of revenue.”

http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/04/16/tennessee-seeking-to-bolster-business-ties-with-china-so uth-korea/ 

Veterans, labor center merge in Cookeville (Associated Press)The Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs is moving its Cookeville field office to the state DepartmentLabor's Career Center, the third location where the two offices have been m erged. The new consolidated cenwill open on Tuesday in Cookeville and officials say in a news release that the relocation will make it easier veterans to access resources from each department. VA Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder said in a statemthat moving the veterans center into the career center w ill be more effective and efficient. Veterans' services include assistance with employment, filing for service-connected or pension benefits, filing for home loguarantees, education resources and information on burial benefits.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/17/veterans-labor-center-merge-in-cookeville/ 

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$80 million U.S. Highway 27 redesign on hold (Times Free-Press/Sher)Tennessee has yanked the em ergency brake on the downtown half of the U.S. Highway 27 construction projeState transportation officials have planned for five years to spend about $80 million to widen the Olgiati Bridand rebuild the aging highway between the bridge and Interstate 24 by 2016. But the state has sent thoblueprints to planning purgatory until local and Tennessee officials can agree on the details. "We don't buroads unless we have consensus with local leaders," Tennessee Department of Transportation Commission

John Schroer said. "We're going to take a step back, which is why we pulled it from the three-year plan, awe're going to re-look at the MLK intersection and Fourth Street intersection to make sure that we have agreement." There is $9 billion worth of TDOT projects in the pipeline, but the agency has only $900 millionspend on road construction in any given year, he said. "Since that's the case and I have limited capacity, I'm going to put roads where people don't want them," he said. "We're going to put them where they're embraceThough workers will continue the $102.5 million project north of the bridge to Signal Mountain Boulevard, state's decision temporarily ends local hopes of widening the Olgiati Bridge and U.S. 27 through downtounless a compromise is hammered out.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/17/a1-us-27-redesign-on-hold-chattanooga/?local

TDOT reverses I-75 decision on contract award (News-Sentinel/Jacobs)Original bid winner gets job after all The state giveth and the state can taketh it back. The Tenness

Department of Transportation has reversed a decision made last week providing an emergency job to repaisliding slope along Interstate 75 near the Stinking Creek interchange in C ampbell County. The lowest of the submitted bids was $9,334,340.21 from Elmo Greer and Sons LLC of London, Ky. For a couple days, ElGreer and Sons appeared to be the winner of the bid opened April 10. But on April 12, TDOT officials noted Kentucky firm did not have a certificate of authority to operate in Tennessee. TDOT then awarded the repair wto the next lowest bid of $9,439,680.70, which was submitted by Charles Blalock and Sons Inc., which is basin Sevier County. TDOT spokeswoman B.J. Doughty said Monday officials with the Tennessee SecretaryState indicated it would take a while for Elmo Greer and Sons to obtain the certificate. "We were very concernwith the time and that slope," Doughty said, so TDOT awarded the contract to Charles Blalock and Sons.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/16/tdot-reverses-i-75-decision-on-contra ct-award/ 

Intersections on road to improvement (Leaf Chronicle)

Construction continues on improvements to three intersections on Madison Street and Riverside Drive. TClarksville Street Department, in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, is reworkRiverside and Cumberland Drive, Madison and Richview Road and state Highway 76 and Madison. ChCowan, the traffic engineer for the Street Department, said most of the construction at Richview and Madishas been finished. “We’ve actually widened and added the second lane that we were planning on having at tintersection,” he said. “We have put some additional signage out there and paint markings on a temporary bato help educate the public because there is some change in lane configuration.” He said the Street Departmhas designated one of the lanes for turning left and added another as a shared second left turn lane and to straight as well. Over the weekend, he said, he drove through to see how the new lanes were handling. He she’s also tested the intersection during peak traffic hours in the week.http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120416/NEWS01/304160033/Intersections-road-improvement

Proposal outlines UTC campus growth for 10 to 15 years (T imes FrePress/Hardy)After Monday night's fourth meeting with community members, UTC officials are preparing to seek governmeapproval for the university's new m aster plan that will provide an outline for its real estate growth in the next 15 years. The plan aims to introduce more housing and parking for the Un iversity of Tennessee at Chattanooggrowing student population, centralize academic buildings on the campus, increase grounds for non-varssports and reduce campus carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030. The school is likely to expand studehousing farther down V ine Street and m ay buy some properties along M .L. King Boulevard, according to plan. "There's certainly some urgency in our housing situation," said UTC spokesman Chuck Cantrell, after school had to board some students in hotels at the beginning of this year. He said UTC's population is expecto rise to 12,000 students next fall, and the school will have to accommodate 15,000 within the lifetime of

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proposed plan. Officials and planners emphasized the proposal needs to be fluid so the university can respondproperties that may com e on the real estate m arket in coming years.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/17/utc-proposal-outlines-campus-growth-for-10-to -15/?local

Admissions to Bristol nursing home suspended (Bristol Herald-Courier)Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, has suspended new admissioof residents to Bristol Nursing Home effective April 13, 2012, and imposed a one-time state civil moneta

penalty of $3,000. The federal civil penalty has been imposed at $5,800 a day until the violations are correctedspecial monitor has been appointed to review the facility’s operations. Bristol Nursing Home , a 120-bed licensnursing home located at 261 North Street in Bristol, was ordered not to admit any new residents based conditions found during a complaint investigation and annual survey conducted M arch 26 – M arch 31, 2012. Tinvestigation was completed March 31. During the inspection, surveyors found violations of the followstandards: administration, performance improvement, nursing services and resident rights. The Comm issioneHealth may suspend admissions to a nursing home when conditions are determined to be, or are likely to detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the residents. The order to suspend admissions remains effectuntil conditions have been and continue to remain corrected. A copy of the order must be posted at the pubentrance where it can be plainly seen. The nursing home has the right to a hearing regarding the suspensionadmissions before the Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities or an administrative judge.http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/apr/16/admissions-bristol-nursing-home-suspended-ar -1846697/ 

Tennessee Lottery has 3rd-quarter record (Associated Press)The Tennessee Lottery raised a record $89.9 million for education in the third quarter. It exceeded the old recof $79.6 million in the third quarter of 2006. Lottery officials credited a world record Mega Millions jackpot of $6million on March 30 and increasingly popular instant games. Keith Simmons, chairman of the board for theyear-old lottery, said the games are on track for a record year.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=39054455.story

Capitol Hill Conversation-Legislators’ Projects (WPLN-Radio Nashville)Last week, the House approved Governor Haslam’s plan for a modest cut in the state’s grocery tax. They apassed the Governor’s proposal to raise the exem ption level on the inheritance tax. The Haslam Administratpushed for these tax cuts because the state has been bringing in more revenue than projected. But lawmake

have their own designs for the excess revenue, and they hope to get some of them into the budget. WPLNBradley George talks about those ideas with Capitol reporter Joe White.http://wpln.org/?p=359 50

Lottery scholarship bill passes Senate 20-10 (Associated Press/Johnson)A proposal that would make cutting some students' lottery scholarships in half contingent on lottery revenupassed the Senate 20-10 M onday evening, despite criticism that the increase in revenues may not be consisteThe legislation, sponsored by Republican Sen. Dolores G resham of Som erville, was approved 20-10. Tcompanion bill is awaiting a vote in the House Education Comm ittee. An original proposal sought to reduce bypercent the award for students who do not meet both standardized testing and high school grade requiremenA special panel of lawmakers recommended the proposal in November. Right now, students can gescholarship worth $4,000 for each of four years if they either earn a 3.0 grade point average in high schoolscore a 21 on their ACT college entrance exam. Under the new legislation, the lottery scholarship requireme

won't change if lottery proceeds match, or exceed, the previous year's through 2015 . Tennessee Lottery officsaid in a news release earlier on Monday that proceeds have reached $234 m illion, or were up $22 million, othis time last year. That means proceeds next year must be at least $22 mill ion to keep from triggerGresham's proposal.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=39057585.story

TN Senate approves cuts to lottery scholarships (Tennessean/Sisk)The state Senate approved a plan to reduce lottery scholarships for some students, which Republiclawmakers said was needed to keep the program from eventually becoming insolvent. The Senate voted 20-for a plan to halve HOPE scholarships to students who do not meet both of the program’s ACT and grade-poaverage requirements. The change still has to pass the state House of Representatives. If it is signed into la

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about 5,200 students a year would receive awards that had been reduced to $2,000 from the current $4,000. Tvote largely fell along party lines, as Democrats argued that no changes are needed to the HOPE prograwhich is running a surplus. But R epublicans have pushed for some sort of limit on awards, citing long-ranprojections that show scholarships outstripping the lottery’s growth. “To me, it’s classic Aesop’s Fables, ‘TGrasshopper and the Ant,’ ” said Sen. Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville, the bill’s sponsor. Tennessee currenawards a scholarship of $4,000 to any high school student in the state who scores at least a 21 on the ACT aearns at least a 3.0 grade-point average in high school. The plan would cut those awards in half if a studentone of those two benchmarks, saving the state about $17 m illion a year in awards when it went into effect in foyears.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120417/NEWS0201/304160074/TN-Senate-approves-cuts-lottery-scholarships?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Tennessee Senate OKs scholarship cuts unless revenues rise (TFP/Sher)The Senate approved legislation Monday that could slash lottery scholarships in half for several thousand collestudents in 2015 if proceeds from the games don't exceed this year's record-breaking net profits. TRepublican-sponsored bill passed on a mostly partisan 20-10 vote with Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, aother Democrats questioning why the legislation even is needed. The House version remains in committee awould have to pass both chambers in identical form before going to Republican G ov. Bill Haslam to considThe bill, sponsored by Senate Education C ommittee Chairman Delores Gresham, R-Somerville, changrequirements to obtain a $4,000 lottery-funded Hope scholarship, contingent on net lottery proceeds education in each of the next three state budget cycles. Under current law, students can qualify for a full Hoscholarship if they have a 3.0 grade-point average or score a 21 or above on their ACT. The bill changes thatsay that, beginning in the 2015-2016 academic year, students must have both a 3.0 GPA and score at least aon the ACT. If they don't, their scholarships would be reduced from $4,000 to $2,000. Home-schooled studeonly would have to meet the 21 ACT requirement and must score at least a 21 on two of the test's four parts.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/17/tenn-senate-oks-scholarship-cuts-unless-reven ues/?local

Vote could make it harder to get scholarship in Tennessee (C. Appeal/Locker)Despite a scholarship reserve fund of nearly $400 m illion, Republicans in the state Senate approved a meastonight that will make it more difficult for students to win a full $4,000-a-year Hope Scholarship starting in 201the lottery doesn’t produce record proceeds in each of the next three years. The House version of the bilawaiting committee review, and bills must pass both chambers in identical form before they become law. SinTennessee’s lottery scholarship program began in 2004, students have qualified for a full scholarship achieving either a 21 ACT test score or a 3.0 high school grade-point average. But if the bill sponsored by SDolores Gresham, R-Somerville, becomes law, students will have to achieve both standards to qualify for a f$4,000-per-year Hope grant, starting with freshmen entering college in the fall of 2015, if three financial triggaren’t met: First, the lottery’s net proceeds for scholarships in the current fiscal year, 2011-12, must exceed lottery proceeds for 2010-12 by at least $10 million. Then, net proceeds for fiscal years 2012-13 and 2013-must meet or exceed the net lottery proceeds of 2011-12.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/16/vote-could-make-it-harder-get-scholarship-tennesse/ (SUB)

Senate Trims Scholarship Amounts Or Not, If Enough Lottery $ Comes In (WPLNThe Tennessee Senate voted tonight to cut some lottery scholarship awards in order to build up lottery reservBut the m easure has an escape clause that leaves the scholarships untouched, if the lottery continues to bringadditional money each year. With lottery revenues showing a ten million dollar uptick this year, state senatoagreed to a trigger clause– if lottery proceeds continue to grow at that ten million dollar rate for the next thryears, the planned cutback doesn’t take affect. Otherwise many students will have their award cut in half, fro$4,000 a year to just $2,000. Dresden Democrat Roy Herron railed against the bill, even with its escape clauHe says thousands of students from family with limited resources won’t be able to stay in school w ith only hascholarship. “Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s gonna hurt. It makes a difference. It doesn’t make any difference to ochildren. Not a man or a woman in this room, it won’t affect a one of us, not a single one of us. But it will affthousands of those we represent.” Under the plan, students with a high college entrance exam and high gradwould get the full amount. Students who only hit one of those m arks would get a half-scholarship.http://wpln.org/?p=360 46

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Foreign charter school limit heads to governor (Associated Press)A bill seeking to limit the number of foreign workers at Tennessee charter schools is on its way for the governoconsideration The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Judd Matheny of Tullahoma passed the House o63-29 vote on Monday. The Senate passed its version last week on an 18-13 vote. Under the bill, a charteriauthority would not be allowed to approve a charter school application if the school plans to hire 3.5 percentforeign workers from H1B or J-1 visa programs. The bill would allow exemptions to the limit for foreign languateachers. Supporters said the measure is intended to encourage charter schools to hire from within Tenness

first, though the bill makes no mention of state lines. Rep. Rick Womick, a Republican from Murfreesboro, sastate funds are going to charter schools and American workers should have a priority over foreign employe"This is a jobs bill for Tennessee teachers," Womick said. "They get preference in hiring over any foreiworkers." But Rep. Mike Turner, a Nashville Democrat, said Matheny has been led astray on the purpose of bill, which Turner said was originally written to target certain charter schools that are operated by foreigners.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=39058135.story

Legislature Passes Limits on Foreign Staffers at TN Charter Schools (TN Report)The Tennessee Legislature has approved a bill limiting the number of non-U.S. citizens any Volunteer Stcharter school can hire while still maintaining eligibility for public funding. Senate Bill 3345, which passed in Tennessee Senate last week and in the House of Representatives on Monday night, would also require charschools to disclose all their funding sources in addition to capping the number of foreign citizens on staff at

percent of the total number of the school’s employees. House proponents of the measure portrayed it ascommon-sense effort to increase charter-school transparency and encourage the hiring of American citizensteachers — preferably Tennesseans. “It simply puts more accountability in the charter school process,” sHouse Speaker Pro Tem Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, the bill’s sponsor. The measure contains an exemptfor foreign-language teachers who, if by hiring them, would cause a charter school to break the cap, Matheadded. The measure passed April 12 in the Senate on an 18-13-1 vote. It cleared the House on a 63-29-1 voIn both chambers votes were cast mostly along party lines, with Republicans for it and Democrats against.http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/04/16/legislature-passes-limits-on-foreigners-in-tn-charter -schools/ 

Tennessee Senate delays municipal school district bill to Thursday (CA/Locker)The state Senate on Monday postponed until at least Thursday action on a bill that would allow the M empsuburbs to hold referendums this year on creating new municipal school districts. Sen. Dolores Gresham,

Somerville, agreed to defer the bill to Thursday at the request of Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, to give the SheCounty legislative delegation time to d iscuss the issue at its weekly Wednesday meeting. Gresham is the Sensponsor of a bill that requires annual performance evaluations of the directors of local school systems. But earlthis month, the Senate added to that bill an amendment by Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, that sets out procedure for calling referendums within municipalities on whether to establish new municipal school districThe amendment would allow such referendums this year, before the state's 14-year-old ban on new municidistricts is lifted next year. But the House last week refused to concur in the municipal-district amendment, whsent the measure back to the Senate because both chambers must approve bills in identical form before thcan become law .  http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/16/tennessee-senate-delays-municipalschool-district/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Volkswagen speaks out against guns in parking lots (Associated Press/Schelzig

The head of Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant is speaking out against a bill pending in the Tennessee GeneAssembly to strip employers of the right to ban firearms on company property. The proposal headed for vote iHouse committee on Tuesday m orning would allow people to store legally-owned firearms in vehicles parkedwork — regardless of their employers' wishes. "That's a sort of thing that makes us a bit nervous," Frank Fischthe CEO and chairman of Volkswagen Chattanooga, said in an interview with The Associated Press on MondThe guns-in-parking-lots measure is a rare instance where the German automaker has been at odds wTennessee lawmakers, he said. "On the whole, the cooperation and mutual understanding has been excellenFischer said in German. "The only thing we see critically as a company is the guns law. "We would not welcopeople being able to carry weapons on factory grounds, probably just as little as the state House or Senawould like people to enter their building armed." Fischer and other VW executives on Monday hosted a receptin Nashville for state lawmakers and Republican Gov. Bill Haslam. Supporters of the measure backed by National Rifle Association say they consider vehicles an extension of workers' private property, even if they

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parked on company lots.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=39059047.story

Sponsor: Horse slaughter bill not likely to pass (Associated Press/Schelzig)The sponsor of a bill seeking to attract horse slaughter facilities said the bill likely will not pass this year. ReAndy Holt said that chances were not good for the bill to pass, but he remained committed to bringing tindustry to Tennessee. The Senate version of the bill was taken off notice last week and Holt took it off t

schedule for the House floor on Monday. He said an amendm ent that would require hefty deposits for anyonemount a legal challenge to the facilities was removed from the bill, but he w as also w orking on adding animtreatment guidelines. "I am not into rushing stuff through," he said. "We want to make sure all the interesparties have a chance to express their grievances with these bills." Holt said he wants to add protections for horses and horse owners. "The amendment we are working on right now actually sets up guidelines for animtreatment and for the procurement of these animals," he said. Holt, a Dresden R epublican, has said his bill wocreate a humane way to cope with unwanted horses that are sometimes left to starve. But Democratic Rep. JaSontany of Nashville said slaughterhouses are seeking a different population of horses. "They don't want oldsick horses for slaughter," she said. "They want healthy horses."http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=39056019.story

Horse slaughterhouse bill fades in TN House (Tennessean/Gonzalez)Controversial bills to bring more horse slaughter facilities to Tennessee and protect religious expressionschools were tabled Monday, leaving no guarantees that either will come up again this year. The sponsorboth, Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, asked that the proposals be “held on the desk,” a m ove that neither sends bills back to committee nor reschedules another time for a vote. It leaves open the possibility that they can discussed again but, in the short time remaining this legislative session, m akes both long shots for passaAfterward, Holt said he may not have explained his bills well enough to convince his colleagues to support the“If we can’t get the job done this year, it looks like I just need to work harder and be better at explaining mposition for next time around,” Holt said. The technical maneuvers came at the start of Monday’s evensession, beginning with HB 3619, which would have created incentives to encourage horse slaughteroperations to locate in the state. The bill had already lost steam after a similar measure was withdrawn in tSenate. Less than a minute after sending the horse slaughter bill to legislative limbo, Holt moved to table tReligious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act, HB 3616, which w ould have protected school districts when studepray openly or make other expressions of faith.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120417/NEWS0201/304170003/Horse-slaughterhouse-bill-fades-TN-House?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Lawmakers Weigh More Regulation of Cosmetic Laser Operators (WPLN-Radio)For about a year Tennessee lawmakers have listened to testimony from people bu rned by cosmetic lasers, toused in spas to remove body hair, rejuvenate skin, and erase sun dam age. Lawmakers turned down the ideaputting doctors in closer charge of the procedure, but left another route open. Nichol Thompson teachcosmetic laser operation at a Knoxville school that is part of Tennessee School of Beauty. She was at the stcapital last week picketing as lawmakers tried to find an answer to consumer complaints. She says it would better if laser techs were certified by the state. “As of right now there is zero hours or regulations or certificatiofor lasering, or who can do it.” She lobbied Representative Joey Hensley, a Hohenwald Republican who’s alsdoctor. “I would certainly agree with that, that there does need to be a certification. Too many lasers are jupurchased by somebody, and they start using them, and they’re not trained to do ’em, and lasers can cause aof damage.” Hensley had introduced a bil l to require physicians be in the room when lasers are ushttp://wpln.org/?p=359 61

Cut to TN gift tax urged (Tennessean/Sisk)Economist Laffer tells lawmakers levy drives rich retirees from state Economist Arthur Laffer urged Tennesslawmakers on Monday to follow up on their plans to phase out the estate tax with a cut to the state’s tax on giwhich he said curbs economic growth. La ffer told the legislature’s Joint Fiscal Review Com mittee that the stat

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TN Bankers Welcome Proposed Tweaks to Dodd-Frank Act (WPLN-Rad

Nashville)Senator Bob Corker says the recent Wall Street reform needs of a few “technical corrections” that he believcould have bipartisan support. He certainly has the backing of Tennessee bankers. While he negotiated parts

the highly complex Dodd-Frank legislation, ultimately Corker couldn’t pull himself to also vote for it. His origiobjections aside, the Republican Senator says there are rules that just need some tweaks. The way Corkinterprets one provision, even rule-following loan officers could be on the hook when one of their borrowedefaults. Rodney Robinson of the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association calls it crazy. “If we have dottedof our i’s and crossed all of our t’s and verified that the information was accurate and the borrower qualified, can’t control what happens in the future.” According to the bankers association, such regulation would limit tnumber of loans made to high-risk borrowers. One of the most widely accepted changes is to shield sensitfinancial documents that banks would hand over to the newly-created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.http://wpln.org/?p=359 17

Cooper: Putting Budget Off To Lame-Duck Session Is “Chickening Out” (WPLN)U.S. Representative Jim Cooper complains many in Congress don’t want to take on the messy federal budg

until after this fall’s election. Cooper says the conventional wisdom is they’ll work out a deal in the less politlame-duck session afterward, but he warns they shouldn’t wait. Cooper says delaying a compromise until afelection day is a move with political convenience in mind, and not much else. “What they’re really saying is ‘don’t ever want to take responsibility today. We always want the problem to be solved by the next group, the nyear.’ – Because, they’re chickening out.” At the end of this year several federal budget issues will come tohead. If nothing is done, automatic cuts will slice into defense, and the Bush tax cuts and a payroll tax holiday wboth expire. Last week Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, a Republican, said he thinks mounting gridlockWashington wil l soon hit a breaking a point, and lead to a bipartisan deal, no matter who’s electhttp://wpln.org/?p=360 11

Scott DesJarlais, Eric Stewart spar over handling of money (TFP/Sher)Now that their latest financial disclosures are filed, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., and his Democra

challenger, state Sen. Eric Stewart, D-Belvidere, are turning their attention to more important things. That wobe attacking each other. DesJarlais's campaign Monday issued a release that charged Stewart "gets 'F' gradefiscal responsibility." The release cites a 2010 state Registry of Election Finance report that, among other thintook Stewart to task for fail ing to report $1,562.62 in contributions from individuals or groups as well $12,330.73 in contributions he himself m ade to his 2008 Senate campaign. "While liberal Democrat Eric Stewis trying to mislead voters into thinking he is a deficit hawk, reality clearly shows that he is irresponsible asloppy when he manages even small budgets under his direct control," said DesJarlais campaign managBrandon Lewis in a news release. "It's hard to imagine having someone represent the Fourth District on fedebudgetary issues in Washington who lacks the ability to balance their own bank account," Lewis said. Stewara statement acknowledged his 2008 state Senate campaign "made some mistakes. I took responsibility them," worked with state officials and "made the appropriate corrections," he said.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/17/desjarlais-stewart-spar-over-handling-of-mo ney/?local

Chuck Fleischmann holds cash-on-hand lead (Times Free-Press/Carroll)Nearly half the contributions to Scottie Mayfield's congressional campaign came from individuals livingincumbent U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann's home county of Hamilton. But four months before Tennessee's 3Congressional District Republican primary, Fleischmann, with the help of $390,874 from industry-backed politaction committees, maintains a sizable cash-on-hand lead over Mayfield and two other GOP challengers. Tfigures emerged from a Chattanooga Times Free Press analysis of newly filed campaign finance disclosudocumenting the year's first fundraising period. Between Jan. 1 and March 31, Mayfield raised $450,6Fleischmann collected $207,048; and Weston Wamp raked in $175,133. An Athens, Tenn., dairy executive apolitical newcomer who lives an hour away from Hamilton County, Mayfield spent his debut fundraising quarcollecting about $207,000 from residents of Chattanooga, Ooltewah, Signal Mountain or the Tennessee sideLookout Mountain, disclosures show. Fleischmann, of Ooltewah, raised about $46,000 from Hamilton Cou

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residents, or a little more than one-fifth of what Mayfield raised in the same timeframe.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/17/chuck-fleischmann-holds-cash-on-hand-lead/?local

Three Congress members from TN paid salaries to relatives (Associated Press)A study by a Washington, D.C.,-based nonprofit found that three Tennessee Congress members, includMarsha Blackburn of Brentwood, used campaign money to pay salaries to their relatives. The ChattanooTimes Free Press reports that the three were among 82 members whose families benefited from their positio

in government over the past two election cycles. The numbers come from a report by the Citizens Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. In Tennessee, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, an OoltewRepublican, paid his college-aged son $4,652 from campaign funds to accompany him on the campaign tduring the 2010 election cycle. Fleischmann said his son’s “low-paying, entry-level job” involved three m onths“traveling with me, seeing me make speeches and helping me meet with potential voters.” “When we started tcampaign in 2009, it was very, very lonely,” Fleischmann said. “I was learning how to campaign at the timbecause I was a political newcomer.” Knoxville Republican U.S. R ep. John Duncan paid his sister, son and niea combined $7,600 for work on compiling and filing financial disclosures, which a spokesman said was a bargahttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120417/NEWS02/304170008/Three-Congress-members-from-TN-paid-salaries-relatives?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

TN freshmen top veterans in fundraising (Tennessean/Bewley)

First-term Republican Reps. Stephen Fincher, Diane Black and Chuck Fleischmann are outpacing the statveteran lawmakers in fundraising this year, according to new campaign finance reports filed with the FedeElection Com mission. Fincher, of Frog Jump, brought in $268,693 during the first three months of the year, whBlack, of Gallatin, raised $257,748. Fleischmann, of Ooltewah in East Tennessee, raised $207,048. Tdelegation’s senior House members raised m uch less during the first three months of the year. For exampRepublican Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood brought in $144,853, and Democratic Rep. Jim CooperNashville raised $74,015. Blackburn and Fincher had more money at the end of the quarter than most delegatmembers — more than $1.2 million each. Bruce Oppenheimer, a political science professor at VanderUniversity, said freshman lawmakers often raise money m ore aggressively than more senior lawmakers becautheir seats are usually more vulnerable. “If you’re going to have a real challenge, either in the primary or in tgeneral election, it very likely will come after your first term, especially in seats that you took away from the othparty,” Oppenheimer said.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120417/NEWS02/304170007/TN-freshmen-topveterans-fundraising?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

Congressional race heats up over audit (Daily News Journal)Stewart acknowledges mistakes, blasts DesJarlais State Sen. Eric Stewart said Monday he paid a $100 fine2010 for inaccurate campaign finance reporting following a Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Financaudit. Stewart, a Belvidere Democrat seeking the 4th Congressional District seat, responded to a statementhis Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, that used the state audit to challenge his busineacumen. Rutherford County will move into the 4th from the 6th District in 2013. “With regards to our campadisclosures from over three years ago, our campaign made some mistakes. I took responsibility for them, workwith the Reg istry (of Election Finance) and made the appropriate corrections,” said Stewart. DesJarlais issuerelease Monday pointing out that Stewart failed to report contributions he received in his 2008 state Senacampaign, overstated contributions that were reported and failed to properly maintain campaign records or folcampaign finance statutes. The audit found Stewart didn’t report contributions totaling $13,893 he received in 2008 campaign, a violation of state law. It also determined he overstated reported contributions by $4,20another violation.  http://www.dnj.com/article/20120417/NEWS/304160032/Congressional-race-heats-up-overaudit?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAG E

States pick sides in Arizona imm igration case (Stateline)The U.S. Supreme Court case over Arizona’s latest anti-immigration law, scheduled for a hearing next wehinges largely on the question of where states’ power over immigration ends and federal power begins. But isign of how contentious the case is, many states are supporting the federal government instead of ArizoEleven states, all represented by Dem ocratic attorneys general, warned the justices that Arizona’s law reach

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too far and undermined the immigration policy of the United States. However much Arizona may disagree wfederal policies on immigration enforcement, they wrote in a friend-of-the-court brief, “it cannot operate its ounilateral removal policy outside of any federal oversight.” The case, Arizona v. United States, centers on a passed by Arizona lawmakers two years ago, known as Senate Bill 1070. The measure requires local policecheck the imm igration status of a criminal suspect if they have “reasonable suspicion” that the suspect is in country illegally. The Obama administration sued to block the law, and most of the law is on hold during tappeal. Sixteen states support Arizona’s position. O f those, all but West Virginia are represented by Republicattorneys general. They say that Arizona’s law does not interfere with federal immigration policies, and in fathe measure helps the federal government enforce its own immigration laws.http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=64 5632

Report: Sm yrna likely choice for Infiniti's new electric car (Nashville Biz Journal)Infiniti's first all-electric vehicle, revealed earlier this month at the New York International Auto Show, will likely built in Smyrna, Tenn., alongside Nissan’s Leaf, according to reports. Infiniti has not nam ed a production locatfor the vehicle now being called Infiniti LE concept. However, two Nissan spokesmen told The Chicago Tributhat the plant in Smyrna was the front runner for the vehicle, which will go on sale w ithin 24 m onths. Nissan istrack to start producing Leafs in Smyrna by December, three months after its new 1.3 m illion-square-foot battplant comes online next door. Overall, the car maker has spent more than $1.4 billion upgrading its MiddTennessee facilities. That capital investment will eventually lead to hiring 1,300 additional workers to produce tLeaf and lithium ion battery packs. The Sm yrna plant will be able to produce as many as 150,000 Leafs a200,000 battery packs per year. The Infiniti electric vehicle will feature the same 24-kWh lithium-ion battery the LEAF, according to plugincars.com.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/04/16/report-s myrna-likely-choice-for.html

Nissan's Smyrna plant may make new electric Infiniti (Daily News Journal)Spokesman can't confirm report After the new zero-emissions Infiniti LE Concept made its first appearance at 2012 New York International Auto Show in New Yo rk earlier this month, there have been questions about whthe car w ill be built. Though not expected to be rolling onto showroom floors for about two more years, sohave speculated that it would make sense for the car to be built in Smyrna alongside the all-electric Nissan Lewhich is slated to be produced here starting in December. The Chicago Tribune recently reported that two Infspokesmen said the Smyrna plant would be a good fit for the new Infiniti. Paired with the plans for the Leaalso the fact that the Smyrna plant made history this year when it began producing the Infiniti JX, the first luxcrossover to be built in Tennessee and the only Infiniti to be manufactured outside of Japan. Accordinginfinitinews.com, the Infiniti LE Concept’s battery pack will be a 24-kWh lithium-ion design — the same as tNissan Leaf. But Nissan spokesman Steve Parrett said he’s heard nothing that would suggest that the Infiniti would be made here. What is clear is that Nissan and Infiniti are ramping up electric efforts.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120417/NEWS01/304170017/Nissan-s-Smyrna-plant-may-make-new-electric-Infiniti?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAG E

Knox Schools unveils preliminary technology upgrade plan (New

Sentinel/McCoy)Knox County Schools has a plan to put an electronic device — whether it's an iPad, laptop or tablet — into hands of every student within the next five years. At the Knox County school board's mid-month meetiMonday, the system's chief technology officer laid out the preliminary plan and goals to implement technolo

into its 88 schools. The three goals, Gail Byard said, are to support instruction both in and outside of tclassroom; establish and maintain a robust infrastructure in the district; and provide comprehensive and reliamanagement information systems. In its five-year plan, which is contingent on the district receiving an additio$35 m illion in funds, the first year w ould be devoted to infrastructure and planning, then the district would beits implementation at the high school level. Byard said the plan includes areas of responsibility, outcomes aevaluation m easures. "My picture of this plan is somewhat like the strategic plan that we would at least annuare-evaluate, analyze the data that we have," she said. "And hopefully enlist the accountability office in helpinggo from year to year and make this a live and living document."http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/17/knox-schools-unveils-preliminary-technology-plan/ 

School board tackles budget, name (Commercial Appeal/Kelley)

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It's often referred to as the "unified school board," so why not make it official: the "Unified Shelby County SchBoard"? That's the proposition up for discussion today, if necessary, at the Shelby County School Boarmonthly work session. The 23-member panel is frequently referred to as the "unified board" because it temporarily, the governing body for both Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools, which scheduled to merge in the fall of 2013. Eventually, a board reorganization plan that em erged as part of a consagreement in U.S. District Judge Samuel 'Hardy' Mays' court last year will whittle the number of board membto somewhere between seven and 13. Meanwhile, the budgets for MCS and SCS for the fiscal year 2012-13 aare up for review today. Other resolutions on the agenda include a proposal to "work with all duly electmunicipal Boards of Education within Shelby County to arrive at agreements between the Shelby County Boof Education and the respective duly elected municipal Boards of Education" regarding the sale or leasesurplus school buildings that are located within those municipalities. Suburban leaders, with the assistanceallies in the state legislature, have been racing to get independent municipal school districts in place by the tithe new unified district is set to open.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/17/board-tackles-budget-name/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Three finalists for Roane school chief's job picked (Knoxville News-Sentinel)Interviews for the three finalists for the Roane County school director…s job are scheduled April 28, WayQualls said Monday. Qualls, hired by the Roane County Board of Education to oversee the selection procesaid board members late Friday picked the finalists from a list of 10 semifinalists. They are: Gary AytesWartburg, Tenn., a central office supervisor in the Roane County School System; John Green, principalMadison County Schools in Madison, Ala., and a former area superintendent for the 53,000-student GwinnCounty, Ga., school district; Donald Andrews, superintendent of the 19,000-student Randolph County SchDistrict and a resident of Asheboro, N.C. A decision on the successor to Roane County School Director TMcGriff is expected in a board meeting soon after the April 28 interviews, Qualls said. McGriff is retiring June as head of the 7,500-student school system.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/16/threwe-finalists-for-roane-school-chiefs-job/ 

Odom named new RCS director (Daily News Journal)The Rutherford County Board of Education’s search for a new director of schools came to an end Monday niwhen it unanimously selected Don Odom as the district’s next leader. Odom, a 43-year educator, was selecfrom a pool of 17 candidates that was narrowed down to four. He currently serves as the assistsuperintendent of curriculum and instruction for county schools. Shortly after the vote, the boardroom was fiwith applause by nearly a dozen principals, several current and retired educators eager to see the outcomethe three-month selection process. Board m embers cited Odom ’s longevity with the system, leadership skills apassion for education as grounds for their votes. “My heart is here; your heart is here,” Odom said, addressthe board after the vote. “We have a high achieving school district. It’s not a one-person accomplishment Rutherford County to be where we are. It’s a lot of people working together.” Other finalists included PaBarnes, assistant superintendent of student services and human resources for county schools; Stan Curtdirector of transportation, maintenance and custodial services for Cheatham County Schools; and Donna W rigassistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Knox County Schools.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120417/NEWS07/304170021/Odom-named-new-RCS-director?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Alabama: Alabama Digs a Deeper Hole (New York Times)A new legislative session has given Alabama lawmakers an opportunity to repeal the cruel, destructive aembarrassing immigration law they passed last year — the worst in the nation. It looks as if they’re blowingThe Legislature, with the support of Gov . Robert Bentley, who signed the bill into law, seems determined to tinat the margins. A new bill would remove a few sections of the law that have been blocked in court but hangsto others. It still seeks to use police as immigration agents, criminalize acts of charity toward undocumenimmigrants and nullify contracts the undocumented sign. And it retreats not an inch from its sponsors’ goalsolving Alabama’s problems through mass immigrant expulsion. The law, H.B. 56, has uprooted immigrafamilies, driving workers out of state and underground. It has saddled government agencies with litigation aburdened citizens with maddening red tape. And it has raised the risk of racial profiling and other police abuswhile reinvigorating Alabama’s reputation for bigotry. The changes under the new measure w ill do little to end abuses and inconveniences created by the law. C ompanies, for example, won’t automatically lose their licens

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if they knowingly hire unauthorized workers. Instead, penalties would be left up to a judge. Landlords won’tarrested for renting to undocumented immigrants, but churches and humanitarian groups still risk prosecutionharboring or transporting them. The police would be allowed to check drivers’ papers only after ticketingarresting them, not after any stop. But officers would also be able to detain anyone else in the car, a blatanunconstitutional overreach.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/opinion/alabama-digs-a-deeper-hole.html?ref=todayspaper(SUB)

OPINION

Editorial: Priorities need a tune up (Comm ercial Appeal)State Rep. Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, called the House passage last week of a bil l that will phase oTennessee's inheritance tax by 2016 "an exciting day for everybody." Really? More people probably would habeen more excited if on the same day the House had voted to end the sales tax on grocery food. After all, twould have had a bigger impact on the citizens of Tennessee. Instead, House members voted, 90-0, to cut state sales tax on grocery food from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent on July 1. The vote on the inheritance tax w88-8. Leaders of the Senate and Gov. Bill Haslam have agreed to both measures, so they are likely to becomlaw. Only about 1,000 inheritance tax returns are filed annually in Tennessee, Democrats argued. The statroughly 6.2 million residents would have benefited in one way or another if the state sales tax was lifted frogrocery food. The inheritance tax generates about $100 million a year for the state. With no income tax, howthat much m oney going to be recouped -- through more personnel and social services cuts?http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/17/priorities-need-a-tune-up/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Free-Press Editorial: TVA electric rates going up (Chattanooga Times Free-PressOur EPB gets its electricity, of course, from the Tennessee Valley Authority. And TVA has to set its rates to coall of its expenses. So it is of particular interest to all of us who have light and heat from TVA through our EBthat the Tennessee Valley Authority has announced that it will raise its wholesale rates 2.1 percent in MThat's to cover anticipated higher expenses from buying more electric power from other utilities that supplemthe power the TVA generates. What's the higher adjustment likely to cost average Chattanooga householdThe expectation is that the average added cost will be $2.28 a month, according to EPB Chief Financial OffiGreg Eaves. Nobody likes any increased costs, of course, but TVA says its fuel costs are still 1.5 percent belthe costs a year ago. Fortunately, "natural gas prices are the lowest they have been in a decade," accordingRandy Nipp, president of the Tennessee Gas Association. He said: "Gas prices are very attractive for homheating and appliances, and there is a big push now to expand gas into the vehicle market." In our area, whetwe depend upon electr icity or natural gas or both, we are much more fortunate economically than

homeowners in m ost other parts of our country.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/17/0417b-fp3-tva-electric-rates-going-up/?opinio nfreepress

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