The "Loop"
February 17, 2012
Greetings to You! This week has been a busy but productive one indeed! HB2380, which saves the state over $505,600, made its way through committees. I will be bringing it to the house floor for a vote next week. Simply put, it allows the Department of Transportation to digitally-distribute utility relocation plans to utility owners. This is another example of running government more efficiently and spending less for printing costs.
HB2370--this bill will ensure the online retail giant Amazon will pay Tennessee sales tax if a national online sales tax law is not passed by the federal government by 2014. Under the bill, the new Amazon centers located across the state will meet the requirement for establishing a jurisdiction within the state. This bill is a jobs bill; it ensures a partner like Amazon, and similar companies, will participate in our system and keeps all businesses on a level playing field. This bill brings 3,500 positions to Tennessee.
HB2489 is a strong advocate for the rights of victims of Human Trafficking offenses. This is the first step that will strengthen the hands of law enforcement and give victims a better ability to prosecute those who would do such a hideous, deplorable thing!!!! It is frightening to know the high amounts of Human Trafficking in our state!
HB2638 has everything to do with free speech and the right to assemble for all Tennesseans. The right to protest will remain; you just cannot camp or make residence on public property, period.
It was an honor to be the sponsor of the Amicus Brief, which questions the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I am very proud of the fact that out of 101 legislators involved, 77 are from Tennessee! This particular brief is based on the perspective that the individual mandate is especially unconstitutional in 14 states, like Tennessee, which have exercised their Tenth Amendment right to adopt a Health Freedom Act--legislation I carried last year.
Tennessee was the first state to request a waiver, and was one of only 10 recipients of the first round of waivers, of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The Adequate Yearly Progress accountability model under NCLB has been an ongoing bump in the road for our schools. It is not realistic to label schools and districts as failing when, in fact, we are making significant gains. How about rewarding for success here!!! To view Tennessee’s approved waiver, go to Tennessee Department of Education’s website, www.tn.gov/education.
The mission of the Office of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury is to improve the quality of life for all Tennesseans by making government work better. A toll-free hotline is provided for citizens to report fraud, waste, and abuse of government funds and property. If you observe an agency director or employee engaging in any activity which you consider to be illegal, improper, or wasteful, please call the fraud, waste, and abuse hotline at 1.800.232.5454.
In closing, I found this report that explains just how dependent Americans are on Government Handouts. It is noted half of Americans do not pay income tax. The 2012 Index of Dependency was released yesterday and is at an all-time high. One in five Americans, more than 67.3 million, are now dependent on Washington. It goes on to say that the average individual could receive benefits valued at $32,748--more than the nation’s disposable personal income, which is $32,446. Yes indeed, we are living in difficult times which require much wisdom and guidance from The One who remains in control!!
Blessings!
Terri Lynn
February 10, 2012
Greetings, Folks of the Fortieth! Almost a month into the second half of session and we are beginning to see committees fill with legislation that is active and moving. Please take advantage of the user-friendly Tennessee General Assembly website where you can watch the committee meetings live on video stream, www.legislature.state.tn.us.
Communication is paramount between the folks I represent and the issues at hand here at the state level. I do appreciate the emails I receive when it comes to the legislation you are passionate about.
Your voice is being heard, for apparently Governor Haslam is opening up more discussion on SB2210 that would allow school districts to establish teacher salaries and use maximum class sizes rather than average pupil-teacher ratios in the school district. It is good to know that teachers are in those discussions as efforts to get feedback from various schools across the state continues. Remember, bills that are introduced go through changes in the committee process before they even come to the House Floor for a vote, and even then can still be tweaked.
The TennCare Standard Spend Down Program is available again and open for enrollment for new applicants on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 beginning at 6 p.m. This program comes to us through a waiver to the Medicaid program for only limited qualified low-income individuals. Eligible persons must have enough unpaid medical bills to meet the “spend down” limit in order to qualify for coverage. Call this toll free number, 1-866-358-3230, which is open from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. CST on Feb.21. Previous enrollment periods had taken some 2,500 calls within one hour. Go to the eligibility criteria on TennCare’s website, www.tn.gov/TennCare, for more information.
HB2638, heard in House Judiciary this past week, prevents people from LIVING on publicly-owned property not designated for residential use and prohibits people using publicly-owned property from posing a health hazard or threat to the safety and welfare of others. This bill makes it a class C misdemeanor to those who would violate. As one who supports our constitutional rights that gives us the right to protest, living, setting up residence, or camping should not be allowed on public property. Come to the plaza to express your concerns in protest then go home and return. Freedom of speech is essential and must be protected and by no means are we taking that freedom away by supporting this bill.
I look forward to seeing you in the district this weekend, and as always, it is such an honor to serve you. Call my office 615-741-2192 and Grace will assist you.
Blessings!
Terri Lynn
February 2, 2012
Governor Haslam delivered his State of the State Address this week. With the emphasis on the importance of Job growth, continue focus on improving education, public safety and with a more costumer-focused more efficient and effective State government, It is our job as elected officials to be prudent with the peoples money and still provide services Tennesseans are not able to get on their own. Highlights of the budget include raising the exemption level on the estate tax from $1 million to $1.25 million to lower the tax burden on family farms and family business owners, lowering the State portion of sales tax on food from 5.5 percent to 5.3 percent with a goal to bring it down to 5 percent in the next three years, fully funding the Coordinated School Health Program and a 2.5 percent pay increase for State employees. Governor Haslam has a clear vision for serving Tennesseans, Balancing our budget and lowering our taxes is an agenda all conservatives can appreciate and all Tennesseans will benefit from over the coming years. We are getting our fiscal house in order clearing out areas of waste in government and living within our means, just like many of us are doing in our own households. I truly do “Believe in better” as we stay the course towards bringing our economy back on solid footing once again.
Commissioner Hagerty of Economic and Community Development released some awesome news achieved by the department over the past year. In 2011 ECD projects and private sector growth accounted for 28,535 new jobs in Tennessee and more than 4 billion in investment. ECD had one of the most productive years in the State’s history and job creation hit its highest mark in the last five years. Again making Tennessee the Number 1 state in the southeast for high quality jobs remains our mission! To learn more visit tn.gov/ecd/pdf/2011AnnualReport.pdf
The 2012 Geographic Redistricting Data can now be downloaded online by accessing the new GIS data here: http://tnmap.state.tn.us/portal2/download.asp
The street-level statewide Google map data can be accessed here:
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/districtmaps/redist.html
District 40 has changed and I look forward to seeing many of you in the counties were I will be introducing your new representative as we all move forward to represent and serve our new constituencies.
To answer questions concerning the Governors Flexibility Innovation please note that HB2348 is still being tweaked. I had suggested that we consider being sensitive to those grades K-3 knowing how difficult it can be for one teacher to harness the age group in particular. This bill does not make any mandates on local schools concerning its existing class size, number of positions, and salary structure. As I understand this legislation it gives the local government flexibility to increase teacher pay and hire/maintain personal in areas of need. Tennessee is the only state in the country that has both an average and maximum class size policy. So again the bill is still in discussion but I do sense your concerns.
Agriculture Committee members made a visit to the Ellington Ag Center where we had lunch (all made from Tennessee Products by the way) and were briefed on the issues facing our state concerning the Departments needs. Tennessee truly is the best kept secret when it involves Tennessee Beef. The Cattlemen’s Association, of which I am a member of, joined us on the House floor as they were honored by the State of Tennessee.
Session is up and rolling. Please except my invitation to join me during this time by setting an appointment to come to YOUR office and sit on the Chamber Floor at the 40th district desk. It would be an honor, as it is always an honor, to serve you.
Blessings!
Terri Lynn
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08/01/2011 - The "Loop"
08/08/2011 - The "Loop" 08/15/2011 - The "Loop"08/22/2011 - The "Loop"08/29/2011 - The "Loop"
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