State Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville) and members of the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus on Thursday announced the release of the 2009 House Democratic Caucus Agenda.

“Tennessee Democrats believe education, economic opportunity, public safety, and health care are the cornerstones of our future success as a state.” Pitts said. “Our agenda reflects those priorities and distinguishes where House Democrats stand and lets our citizens know that we are putting them first.”

“This year’s Democratic Agenda focuses on a number of areas including improving educational opportunities for young Tennesseans, increasing the number of new jobs created in Tennessee, and continuing to improve safety & reduce crime.

Rep. Joe Pitts, D-TN Hse, District 67

“Expanding opportunities in education, bringing more jobs to Tennessee, and still being fiscally responsible are at the top of our agenda,” Pitts said. “The more we help Tennessee students achieve the best education possible while also trying to give working moms and dads the chance to earn a living, we give our state a much better chance of lifting ourselves out of this financial slowdown.”

1. Providing Quality Education for All

Tennessee Democrats fully support public education because it is vital to our future. We respect our educators and we support them and their important work.

2. Increasing Jobs & Economic Opportunities

Tennessee Democrats support policies that will bring new, well-paying jobs to Tennesseans. Also, we support our public employees who work on behalf of all Tennesseans.

3. Promoting Fiscal Responsibility

Tennessee Democrats support sound fiscal policy and balanced budgets. We promote policies that will create opportunities for all of our citizens and grow our economy.

4. Providing Affordable Healthcare

Tennessee Democrats promote policies that will provide access to affordable healthcare for all our citizens.

5. Supporting Tennessee Golden Generation

Tennessee Democrats support our senior citizens. We want our seniors to enjoy life, have quality healthcare and the opportunity to live at home as long as possible. We believe that Social Security must be protected and reasonable provisions to protect retirement pensions for workers must be created.

6. Promoting Equality and Diversity

Tennessee Democrats believe that all men and women, of every race, creed and philosophy, deserve equal rights and opportunities to succeed and we must promote ways to encourage and protect equality and diversity among all Tennesseans.

7. Protecting Tennessee’s Most Vulnerable

Tennessee Democrats believe in protecting and caring for our most vulnerable citizens, especially our children and those with disabilities.

8. Improving Safety and Reducing Crime

Tennessee Democrats promote policies that ensure the safety of all citizens. We support our law enforcement officers, firefighters and other public servants who put their lives in jeopardy to protect us.

9. Honoring Patriotic Service

Tennessee Democrats support our men and women currently serving in the armed forces and our veterans who have served us in the past. We honor those who have sacrificed to safeguard our liberties and our democracy.

10. Investing in Energy Efficiency & Protecting the Environment

Tennessee Democrats believe we must develop clean, renewable, alternative sources of energy to meet future demand, protect our environment and move us toward energy independence. In addition, Tennessee Democrats are committed to protecting the natural beauty of Tennessee and our environment. We understand the importance of clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.

“The direction from our citizens is clear and I look forward to working with every member of the House and Senate, as well as the Governor, to help make these goals a reality,” Pitts said.

For more information contact House Democratic Caucus Press Secretary Addison Pate at (615) 741-6620 or e-mail at addison..gov.

AARP is political but non-partisan, and wields considerable influence on state and federal legislation, serving as the voice of their demographics. They do so without endorsing specific candidates and they remain issue oriented.

To educate and inform their membership. AARP publishes a monthly magazine with the largest circulation in America. the March/April edition got my attention with the cover photo of a smiling Jack Nicholson, one of the outstanding actors of our generation.

Besides an insightful article on him, the magazine from cover to cover offers articles with practical information. Two articles in particular that apply to many of us involve dealing with stress: “Riding Out a Recession” and “Finding Faith” (a search for spiritual peace).

For example, the State of Tennessee is promoting reduced taxes for seniors with annual incomes below $24,000. property taxes support city and county infrastructures. Without that income, our schools, law enforcement and social services would be on life support.

This issue gives guidance on property taxes in answer to this question:

“I just got my tax bills, and with home prices dropping, I say my house isn’t worth nearly as much as the town assessorseems to think. What can I do?”

The broad answer, if a citizen appeals, is as follows: “Don’t delay. Gather the evidence,. Hire an appraiser. Look for unique factors.” For a fuller explanation, refer to AARP (Mar/April, p 14; “Lower That Too!”)

Nuggets of helpful, realistic and utilitarian information is disseminated in these pages.

The Clarksville Montgomery County AARP invites all residents age 50 and up to their monthly meetings, which are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m. at Hilldale United Methodist Church. Each meeting includes a guest speaker. Through their meetings, one hears first hand the progress in improving and protecting lives of seniors and political actions at the local, state and federal level.

House GOP leaders pleased with Supreme Court verdict upholding lethal injection

House GOP leaders said this week that they were pleased with the opinion issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Baze vs. Rees case that upheld the use of lethal injection as a means of execution. In a 7-2 ruling Wednesday, the Supreme Court held that Kentucky’s three-drug protocol did not amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

In September of 2007, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ruled that Tennessee’s method of lethal injection was unconstitutional. Soon after, Governor Phil Bredesen issued a moratorium pending the outcome of the death penalty case facing the U.S. Supreme Court. As a result, two executions were put in jeopardy of not being carried out. Pervis T. Payne was scheduled to be executed on December 12, 2007, for two counts of murder stemming from a brutal stabbing he committed in Shelby County. Mass-murderer Paul Dennis Reid gunned down seven victims execution style, killing more people than anyone else on Tennessee’s death row, and drawing seven death sentences.

The Republican leaders pointed out that by the time a criminal in this state reaches the point of execution, they have been afforded every opportunity—appeals, access to lawyers, and judicial review—to ensure that their rights are properly carried out and protected. The leaders called for the Governor to lift the moratorium and carry out the executions as planned, adding that the justice a jury of their peers determined should be administered.

Ninety-six inmates reside on death row in the state of Tennessee, with the  next execution scheduled to take place in April of 2009.

Immigration provision killed on House floor

House Republicans attempted to add a commonsense immigration provision to a bill before the House on Thursday. The Republican-sponsored amendment would have clarified that employers are able to require that their employees speak English on the job. The move sparked outrage on the other side of aisle, and the amendment was killed, with a 51 to 46 vote.

Earlier this year, Republicans introduced legislation that would have enacted the “Protecting English in the Tennessee Workplace Act.” The bill, similar to that of Senator Lamar Alexander’s legislation on the federal level, specified that it is not an unlawful practice to require an employee to speak, or an applicant for employment to agree to speak, English while engaged in work. The sponsor argued that it was not unreasonable to protect businesses by clarifying that they are allowed to set their own policies, and that requiring that English be spoke on the job often boils down to a safety precaution. He cited businesses where employees are continuously handling toxic products or food containers, or in factories, where critical safety information is displayed in English. The bill eventually failed in the Employee Affairs subcommittee.

Long Term Care proposals moving forward

Republicans have been at the forefront of legislation to help elderly and disabled citizens “age in place” by receiving more home and community based care options — and generally to give them more choices about their health care.  This week marked the passage of House Bill 941 out of Health and Human Resources Committee, legislation that would offer financial allowances to consumers, giving them the freedom to choose which services they want within their spending plans.

The program began as a demonstration in Arkansas, Florida, and New Jersey. Currently, 12 more states are implementing self-directed personal care programs. Findings of a demonstration project jointly supported by the U.S. House and Human Services and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showed that recipients with disabilities who direct their own supportive services were significantly more satisfied and appeared to get better care than those receiving services through homecare agencies.

Another piece of legislation championed by Republicans for several years was rolled into an Administration’s bill and passed unanimously in the House this week. The bill encourages personal responsibility by rewarding those who purchase long term care insurance. Currently, to receive state dollars for long term care, participants are required to “spend down” their assets—sometimes losing family heirlooms or land. House Bill 4206 would allow those types of assets to be retained, dollar for dollar, to equal the amount of a long term care  insurance purchase, rewarding the participants and allowing them more freedom.

• House Bill 2750 passed out of Finance, Ways and Means this week and is making its way to the House floor. The bill would authorize a governing body to use electronic forms of communication that would be available to the public in an effort to solve some of the problems associated with the dust-up over the Sunshine Law in Knoxville. The sponsor said he believes that with technology expanding the way people communicate, using this technology could solve some of the problems with the Open Meetings Act.
• House Bill 1421, the “Competitive Cable and Video Services Act,” passed out of the Commerce Committee this week and is headed to Finance, Ways and Means. The Senate bill is moving forward as well, with legislators having announced last week that a compromise was finally reached on the legislation after nearly two years of negotiations.
• Two DUI bills saw passage this week, as Republican lawmakers continue their efforts to strengthen the state’s DUI laws. House Bill 831 requires a judge to impose on a DUI offender certain conditions such as participation in an alcohol and drug safety school, or a drug and alcohol assessment or treatment. House Bill 3661 would create within the TBI a “Repeat DUI Offender” registry of persons who have two or more DUI convictions and whose license is currently suspended or revoked. The registry would be available on the Internet, similar to the way sexual offender information is provided.
• The much-anticipated spring Sales Tax Holiday is approaching, and will occur April 25-27, 2008. The date, originally set for March 21-23 on Easter weekend, was changed by the General Assembly in order for consumers to enjoy the full three days of tax-free items. Consumers and retailers can call (800) 342-1003 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.state.tn.us/revenue/salestaxholiday for more information.

• House Bill 2484 exempts places of worship from posting of signage to indicate nonsmoking enclosed areas as required by the Non-Smoker Protection Act. (Agriculture Committee)
• House Bill 3602 creates a statewide board of building appeals. (Commerce Committee)
• House Bill 3807 requires a utilization review of medical services in workers’ compensation cases to be done by a physician licensed in Tennessee in the same specialty as the physician providing the services. (Consumer & Employee Affairs Committee)
• House Bill 4029 creates a pilot program to make laptops available to juniors and seniors attending high school who are also enrolled in college courses at the eligible postsecondary institutions. (Education Committee)
• House Bill 2876 creates a Class D felony for fifth and subsequent DUI offenders with a minimum 360 consecutive day sentence; counts all convictions within 10 years of DUI date when calculating prior offenses and includes convictions of vehicular assault, vehicular homicide while intoxicated, and aggravated vehicular homicide. (Finance, Ways and Means)
• Senate Joint Resolution 0687 provides for the popular election of the lieutenant governor. (State & Local Government Committee)
• House Bill 2513 requires the Tennessee lottery corporation to use numbered balls in selecting lottery winners. (State & Local Government Committee)
• House Bill 2860 creates a presumption when determining the amount of bail that any defendant not lawfully present in the United States is a risk of flight; requires jailers to determine citizenship status of persons charged with a felony or with a second or subsequent DUI. (Budget Subcommittee)
• House Bill 2903 requires the general appropriations act to first fund K-12 education and then remaining functions of state government. (Budget Subcommittee)

The House Democrat Review is a weekly feature that gives Tennesseans an in-depth look at what our Democratic state legislators have been working on this week, and a glimpse into what’s planned for the coming week at our state house. 

House Passes Property Tax Relief Increase for Disabled
Representatives also tackle predatory mortgage lenders & long-term care

NASHVILLE (April 17) – On Monday the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to expand the availability of Tennessee property tax relief to more homeowners who are totally and permanently disabled.

“During these tough economic times many people are struggling just to keep food on the table, and have little to no money left over,” said Finance Chairman Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley). “By raising the maximum income requirement, more people will be able to take advantage of this tax relief opportunity and hopefully be able to utilize that money for more immediate needs.”

Under the new legislation, the maximum allowable income for determining eligibility to participate in the state’s tax relief program for homeowners who are totally and permanently disabled is increased to $24,000 a year. This program compliments additional tax relief programs already in place for people over 65 year of age as well as those who have been injured while serving in the military.

“Anytime you can lessen the economic burden on those who already have more than their fair share of burdens, you do it,” said Fitzhugh.

New Legislation Combats Current Crisis of Predatory Mortgage Lenders

Also on Monday, House Members voted overwhelmingly to allow Tennessee to participate in a program designed to provide consumers a central location to review state licensed & registered mortgage companies with whom they want to do business. This nationwide mortgage licensing system is known as “The System.”

“Our current economic crisis is thanks, in large part, to predatory mortgage companies offering unreasonable loans to people who could not afford to make the payments,” said State Representative Curt Cobb (D-Shelbyville). “We must take steps to protect consumers from greedy lenders who think nothing of the long-term consequences, both to the individual as well as the community.”

Tennessee now becomes the 39^th state to enter into the The System and joins 42 other state agencies, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participating in the program. The System is expected to save Tennessee significant resources by automating and streamlining agency processing of mortgage licensing/registration applications and renewals. The System will also improve Tennessee regulators’ ability to supervise mortgage lending and brokering and enhance the ability to take enforcement actions against corrupt individuals.

“We cannot simply turn a blind eye to the disaster that has become the housing market,” said Cobb. “Working people are losing their homes because someone decided to take advantage of the system and we must do all that we can to not let that happen again.”

The bill now heads to Governor Bredesen for his signature.

New Requirements Passed to Protect Seniors in Long-Term Care Insurance Agreements

On Thursday House Members unanimously passed a bill protecting seniors looking to buy long-term care insurance. House Bill 4206 modernizes current regulation of long-term care insurance and provides better protections from non-forfeiture benefits, incontestability periods and insurance producer education.

“Our greatest generation deserves to have the best long-term care benefits possible, and our boomer generation will be there soon enough,” said State Representative Eddie Yokley (D-Greeneville). “We must protect our seniors and give them every opportunity to have the benefits and resources they need to live out their remaining years without the stress of financial uncertainty.”

Under the new legislation, long-term care producers are now required to receive an additional eight hours of training on the sale of long-term care insurance. It also revises state law to meet with Congressional requirements so that Tennessee may participate in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which includes the Long-Term Care Partnership Program.

“We continue to work at long-term care in Tennessee and it is my hope that residents will see significant improvements in Tennessee’s long-term care options in the near future,” said Yokley.

The bill is expected to be taken up on the Senate floor later this month.