Bond bill facilitates industry moves to Tennessee
Legislative Wrap-Up: Companies expected to bring thousands of jobs to state over the next decade
Rep. Joe Pitts
On Monday, the House voted to bring thousands of new jobs to Tennessee with the passage of a bill that guarantees incentive grants for Volkswagen and Hemlock, two companies scheduled to build new manufacturing facilities in Chattanooga and Clarksville.
“As many states in our nation struggle to survive this current financial crisis, we in Tennessee continue to lure new job opportunities to our state and provide a light at the end of this dark economic tunnel,” said State Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville). [Read more]
GOP Week in Review
Senate State and Local Government Committee approves election integrity bill and legislation honoring Republican Majority on State Election Commission
NASHVILLE, TN: Legislation protecting the integrity of elections in Tennessee overcame its first hurdle towards passage this week with approval by the Senate State and Local Government Committee. The bill requires voters to provide photo identification to guard against fraud and assure only U.S. citizens vote.
“Unfortunately, we know that voter fraud exists and that there are people who try to be dishonest in an election,” said Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), Chairman of the Committee and sponsor of the bill. “This bill aims to curtail such abuse by making sure those persons voting are who they say they are.” [Read more]
Economic Recovery and the African-American Community
“How Will President Obama’s Economic Recovery Bill Affect the African American Community?” The answers can be found in community discussions to be held on March 5 at the Montgomery County Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, from 6-8 p.m.
The event, which is free and open to the public, is hosted by the Urban Resource Center and its director, Terry McMoore, in partnership with the Center for Community Change.
Over the next 5 years a half a billion dollars in job training money will be coming to Clarksville. Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC) will open a new plant in Clarksville that will hire over 1,000 construction workers to build, and provide over 800 permanent high paying jobs when they open. HSC will be one of the richest employers in Clarksville’s history since the arrival of Fort Campbell in the 1940s. [Read more]
McMillan to run for Governor
Kim McMillan makes it clear: she’s running for governor. “These are tough times but I believe in the future of Tennessee because I believe in the people of Tennessee,” said McMillan, Tennessee’s first female House Majority Leader and former member of Governor Bredesen’s cabinet.
“For almost a year I’ve been listening to the needs of our neighbors and families and loss is on everybody’s mind– loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of health insurance, loss of retirement security. I know that tough times call for leadership that lifts us up and brings us together,” she added.
“I’m running for governor because I believe I can bring Tennessee together, and I know that together we can do more than just make it through – we can make it better.”
McMillan filed papers to establish an exploratory committee for the 2010 governor’s campaign last spring. “The people of Clarksville and Montgomery County have been good to me and that’s why I met with my hometown paper to make my intentions clear. I want to make sure they know that I’m in this race and I’m in it all the way.”
McMillan teaches political science at APSU.
Tennessee GOP Week in Review
- Tougher laws for sex offenders
- Property tax freeze for seniors
- Investing state funds
- Bonds issues for industrial development
Legislation protecting children from child sexual predators advances in Senate
NASHVILLE, TN (2-26-09): Several bills aimed at protecting children advanced in the State Senate this week, including legislation approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee that would prohibit sex offenders from loitering within 1,000 feet of certain places where children are likely to gather. The bill, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville), would apply to schools, licensed day care centers, child care facilities, public parks, playgrounds, recreation centers or athletic fields when children under age 18 are present.
“This legislation greatly strengthens our laws to protect Tennessee children,” said Woodson. “Parents deserve to know that their children are safe, and this bill will keep sexual offenders away from these areas where children are commonly present.” [Read more]
River District Commission to meet
The River District Commission will meet Wednesday, February 25, at 4 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference in City Hall on Public Square to review the Phase II Master Plan, Rails to Trails program, RJ Corman Railroad and the Ingram Site. [Read more]
Ft. Defiance, conference center top Finance Agenda
The Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, February 24, at the City Hall Conference Room at 4 p.m. to review an agenda that includes renewal of services with TRC Environmental Inc. for archaeological survey at Ft. Defiance and selection of PKF Consulting to provide market analysis and financial advisory services for a feasibility study for a conference center.The agenda is as follows: [Read more]
TDOT schedules road, bridge, pothole repair
Tennessee Department of Transportation crews are taking advantage of the break from snow and ice removal to patch and repair potholes across the state. TDOT is reminding motorists to keep an eye out for these mobile maintenance crews.
Winter weather extremes lead to an increase in potholes on state highways and bridges. Potholes form when moisture seeps into cracks in the pavement, then freezes and thaws causing the cracks to expand. The constant pounding of traffic loosens the pavement which causes it to crumble creating the pothole.
“Winter and early spring are the time when we see potholes form. We may have temperatures in the fifties during the day and sub freezing temperatures at night. This temperature variation causes a lot of expanding and contracting of the asphalt,” said Paul Degges, TDOT Chief Engineer. “Our maintenance forces are working everyday to repair and patch potholes.” [Read more]
Republican Caucus presents weekly “wrap”
Each Friday Clarksville Online will publish the House Republican Caucus Weekly Wrap as a service to the community. This week’s topics include:
- Tennessee to receive $3.7 billion in federal money
- Environment and Conservation Committees hear testimony on TVA coal ash spill
- General Assembly website receives makeover, features improved bill tracking
Legislators were updated this week on the estimates from the bailout package passed by Congress and signed by the President earlier this week, learning that Tennessee stands to receive anywhere from $3.7 to $4.3 billion over roughly two years. Most of the money is already allocated by the federal government to specific purposes, with only $171 million left for “general purpose.”
TennCare will receive the largest sum of money, with $1.1 billion allocate specifically for the program. Other health-related programs that will receive money are foster care and adoption assistance services, immunization programs, elderly nutrition programs, and child care, which together total approximately $70 million. [Read more]
Finance Committee to hear counter offer on property for marina wetland mitigation
The Finance and Administration Committee will meet February 12 at 3 p.m. at the City Hall Conference Room at City Hall, 1 Public Square in downtown Clarksville to hear the following agenda:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ANNOUNCE MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE (VERIFY QUORUM)
III. Discussion and possible action on counter offer for property on Southside Road for marina wetland mitigation (Councilwoman McLaughlin)
IV. ADJOURNMENT
