MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 Laws limiting early voting rile Democrats, rights groups (USA Today)

More than half a dozen states, including Tennessee, have passed new laws to reduce early voting, setting up a clash with civil rights groups and Democrats who claim the rules could disenfranchise minority voters in the 2012 election for the White House and Congress. Among states with new restrictions: Wisconsin and Florida, presidential swing states that also are key battlegrounds in the fight for control of the U.S. Senate, where Democrats hold a narrow advantage. Democrats benefit In Florida, nearly 3.3 million Democrats cast in-person ballots before Election Day in the 2008 contest that swept President Obama into power. By contrast, 810,666 Florida Republicans participated in the in-person early voting that year, according to the Florida Secretary of States office. Obama won the state by 3 percentage points. Five other states Ohio, Georgia, Maine, Tennessee and W est Virginia this year approved laws shortening early voting, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures. With the exception of West Virginia, Republicans control the governors offices and legislatures in those states. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111212/NEWS02/312120041/Laws-limiting-early-voting-rile-Democratsrights-groups?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Budget cuts threaten Tennessee and Georgia Pell grants (TFP/Garrett)

Half a million students across the country and thousands in Tennessee and Georgia could lose their federal Pell grants for college if a proposal in Congress passes during the next few weeks of Washington budget talks. Many more students in Tennessee and Georgia and beyond could see their awards trimmed, officials said. Brenda Anderson, a 19-year-old sophomore at UTC, said she doesn't know how she will continue school if she loses some of her Pell grant. Already, the grant doesn't cover the cost of tuition. She has taken out loans and relied on scholarships to bridge the $2,000 gap each year, along with her living costs. "My dad recently lost his job," she said. "I have been working since I was 16 to support myself. I am blessed to be in school ... This is do or die. You have to make something of yourself." With Pell facing a $1.3 billion shortfall and many government programs on the chopping block because of the federal deficit, some lawmakers say they want to protect the country's largest financial aid program for college students, but something has to go.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/12/budget-cuts-threaten-pellgrants/?local Tour of governor's mansion sure to fuel Christmas spirit (Tennessean/Kerr)

Cookevilles Stacey Logsdon saw it as a one-chance opportunity: She took her children out of school to tour the governors mansion. The four boys and one baby girl ages 10, 7, 5, 2 and 9 months gamely posed in their holiday frocks in front of a tall Christmas tree decorated all in gold. This might be our Christmas card, Logsdon said, before 5-year-old Elijah declared the tour is really pretty. Elijah is right. If you are in need of a dose of Christmas spirit, this will do it. More than 3,000 people have signed up for the free tours of the governors executive residence on South Curtiswood Lane. The tours run through Friday. To sign up, go to www.tn.gov/firstlady and register. Parking is at area churches, and shuttles take you to and from the mansion. The residence is decorated with bows of green, most trimmed from the trees on the 10-acre site. There are 16 live, donated Christmas trees, one of which is all in baby blue in honor of Gov. Bill and Crissy Haslams first grandson. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111212/COLUMNIST0101/312120012/Gail-Kerr-Tour-governor-s-mansionsure-fuel-Christmas-spirit?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

State officials seek to restore vacant positions (Times Free-Press/Sher)

State agencies are scrambling to save hundreds of long-vacant positions set to be axed next year, warning that abolishing some could harm services for Tennesseans most in need and, in one case, risk federal penalties. The move comes in response to a directive from Gov. Bill Haslam that state departments eliminate frozen positions vacant for more than a year unless they can "buy" them back by making cuts in less vital areas. Four years of budget cuts and hiring freezes, a lagging economic recovery and higher demand for services have taken their toll on the state, some commissioners have said. The upcoming 2012-13 budget proposal will be the first shaped entirely by Haslam, a Republican who succeeded Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen last January. The current 2011-12 budget that went into effect July 1 was built largely on Bredesen's recommendations. In his 2010 campaign, Haslam spoke of the need for a "leaner and more efficient, effective and accountable state government." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/12/state-officials-seek-to-restore-vacant/?local

University of Tennessee preparing for proposed budget shake-ups (N-S/Boehnke)

UT preparing for proposed budget shake-ups Mixed messages from the state have the University of TennesseeKnoxville preparing for the possibility of budget increases or cuts which could amount to as much as a $12.5 million swing. UT-Knoxville could see as much as a $6.1 million reduction in state appropriations should Gov. Bill Haslam decide to implement the full 5 percent cut his office asked all agencies to prepare for in September. However, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission proposed to the governor a $19.3 million increase in higher education funding last month. That would translate to a $6.4 million increase for UT-Knoxville. Both dollar amounts are based on the Knoxville campus' portion of the new outcomes-based funding formula outlined in the Complete College Tennessee Act passed in January 2010. UT-Knoxville will benefit from an increase in its graduation rates, retention rates and research dollars, which means it would get a larger percentage of any funding increase and take a lesser cut if one is implemented. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/12/university-of-tennessee-preparing-for-proposed/

Scaling back Health Department services? (Oak Ridger)

The Anderson County Health Department likely won't have to close its primary care clinic, but its services could be scaled back, if a proposal from state officials is approved by Gov. Bill Haslam and the state Legislature Art Miller, director of the Anderson County Health Department, said the state Department of Health commissioner has been tasked with cutting 5 percent in the department's budget for the next fiscal year. The proposal includes "scaling back" services at 10 Health Department-based primary care clinics across Tennessee, Miller told the Anderson County Commission. The Anderson County Health Department houses one of those primary care clinics. "We see a lot of folks," Miller explained. The potential cuts may not happen ... but local officials are using caution. "This is only a proposal," Miller said. "It may not even happen, but we're trying to prepare." County Mayor Myron Iwanski said the local Health Department's roof needs to be repaired and the air-conditioning system needs to be replaced. Every year, Anderson County sends money to the state to support the local Health Department and its programs. Iwanski said he recently wrote state officials to ask if Tennessee would "forgive" those payments this year and allow the county to have money to address the roofing and air-conditioning needs at the Health Department. http://www.oakridger.com/health/x828555266/Scaling-back-Health-Department-services

Tennessee investigates injury to woman at group home (Tennessean/Roche)

A state agency is investigating the circumstances that led to the injury of an elderly mentally disabled woman being cared for at a Madison residence under a state contract. Holly L. Tramil, spokeswoman for the state Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, said the case was the subject of an ongoing investigation. The unidentified woman suffered multiple fractures to her leg, according to a document reviewed by The Tennessean. As a result she underwent surgery last week. The woman was a resident at a home in Madison owned by the Rochelle Center, but her care was being provided by the Volunteers of America of Kentucky. The records reviewed by The Tennessean show that the same woman had to be hospitalized recently for an unrelated condition. Jennifer Hancock, a spokeswoman for Volunteers of America, acknowledged there had been an incident at the residence but declined to discuss any details, citing the ongoing investigation and patient confidentiality laws. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111212/NEWS21/312100016/Tennessee-investigates-injury-woman-grouphome?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News 2

Tennesseans reminded to test smoke alarms monthly (Associated Press)

Tennessee Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak reminds homeowners that smoke alarms should be tested at least monthly. The suggestion is listed in a safety checklist she provided with the onset of cold weather. Tennessee, she said, has a high rate of fire deaths. Other recommendations: Don't leave decorative candles unattended. Fireplaces should be professionally cleaned before using them during the season. Furniture, clothing and other combustible materials should not be placed in front of permanent heaters like those on walls or on baseboards. If vents blow warm air, this way there will be little worry about the items catching fire. Don't smoke in bed or in a chair. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38129309.story

UT course is for those using domestic kitchen (Associated Press)

A one-day course at the University of Tennessee is for individuals who use a domestic kitchen to prepare and sell food to the public. The course Wednesday is designed to ensure that facilities meet regulations of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. It will cover regulations for establishments using domestic kitchens for bakery and other non-potentially hazardous foods intended for sale. The course will be presented by the UT Institute of Agriculture's Department of Food Science and Technology and UT Extension. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38129237.story

Middle Tennessee receives $1M donation (Associated Press)

Middle Tennessee State University says its athletics department has received a $1 million donation from the estate of Jeff Hendrix. The school says the gift is the largest unrestricted donation in athletics history. It will be used to construct a new stadium club at Floyd Stadium, which will be named after Hendrix. The donation was presented Sunday during halftime of the Middle Tennessee-Georgia Tech women's basketball game. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38127703.story

MTSU booster bequeaths school $1M for football stadium club (Gannett)
Money will go to build football stadium club What Jeff Hendrix did so generously in life, he did even more so in death. Hendrix, an Middle Tennessee State University athletics booster, posthumously donated $1 million for the construction of a football stadium club at Floyd Stadium, as announced at halftime of the MTSU womens basketball game Sunday afternoon. Hendrix, 53, died in May after a 13-month battle with cancer, but his final gift stands as the largest unrestricted donation in MTSU athletics history. I didnt know it was the biggest ever, said Kay Hendrix, his widow. It may have been the biggest ever, but knowing his heart, Im surprised he didnt give even more. He wouldve probably left everything. He just got so much more pleasure from giving than receiving. The donation will create the Jeff Hendrix Stadium Club, a long-awaited project for the MTSU football program. The club level of Floyd Stadium will be glassed in and renovated as an annual revenue producer, so Hendrixs gift can keep on giving. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111212/NEW S04/312120037/MTSUbooster-bequeaths-school-1M-football-stadium-club?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Chattanooga State's Kimball campus details change (TFP/Lewis)

In changing the scope of the proposed Chattanooga State campus in Kimball, county commissioners must redo some of the project's groundwork. At the November meeting of the Marion County Commission, board members unanimously approved a new wetlands study, a new geotechnical soils study and gave Mayor John Graham the power to sign a revised architect's contract so the bid documents for the project can be completed. Heidi Hefferlin, president of Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects, said the only thing that changed in the architect's contract was what was being done on the project. "The original contract addressed the welding facility or technical building," she said. "The focus has changed to a classroom building, which is in a different location. So, my exhibits which called out legally what we were doing needed to be changed." The wetlands study, which addresses the nearby creek and new access road, will cost $2,500, Hefferlin said. The county also will have to pay $3,500 for geotechnical soils borings for the new location of the classroom building, she said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/12/kimball-campus-details-change/?local

Baumgartner's pension under attack by legislators (News-Sentinel/Humphrey)

Two state legislators say former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner exploited a loophole in state law to collect a $58,800 annual pension and they want to close it. Sen. Randy McNally and Rep. Bill Dunn have also asked officials for investigations into whether Baumgartner should face further charges and into whether the payments he authorized for defense attorneys in the 2007 Channon Christian-Christopher Newsom 3

murder trials are valid. Baumgartner began drawing a state pension of $4,900 per month on March 11, according to a spokesman for the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, a day after pleading guilty to official misconduct stemming from his addiction to painkillers. The Legislature enacted a law after the 2005 "Tennessee Waltz" scandal that declares a public official forfeits his or her state pension if convicted of a felony involving that office. The legislators convicted of bribery charges in that scandal were able to draw their pensions because the new law was not in effect at the time the charges were filed. The idea of the law, McNally and Dunn said, was to make sure that public officials convicted in the future would not be able to collect a pension after misdeeds. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/12/baumgartners-pension-under-attack-by-legislators/

Knox County Commission to talk about Lakeshore's future (N-S/Donila)

As state officials look to shutter Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, some local leaders are wondering whether it should instead be expanded. Knox County Commissioner Jeff Ownby is sponsoring a resolution that asks the state to delay closing the facility for up to two years and possibly build a much-debated safety center to serve as an alternative to incarceration for the mentally ill. The commission will talk about the proposal during today's 2 p.m. work session at the City County Building. "The Knox County Jail is the third-largest mental health hospital in the state," said Ownby, whose 4th District includes the Lakeshore operation. "W hen the mentally ill get arrested, we don't have a place for them. W e put them in jail. A safety center would stop that." Ownby, whose wife and sister-in-law work at Lakeshore, said he would recuse himself from any vote about the facility. Commission Chairman Mike Hammond said he supports the proposal, but wants to hear more about potential savings if it closes. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/12/knox-county-commission-to-talk-about-lakeshores/

Local sales tax hike closer to spot on ballot (Johnson City Press)
At its Thursday meeting, Washington Countys Joint Education Committee approved a resolution that would place a public referendum on a quarter-cent sales tax increase on August election ballots. The resolution will face the full County Commissions approval at its Dec. 19 meeting; if passed there, the referendum could be placed on the ballot in August to be decided by voters. Both the Johnson City and W ashington County boards of education have adopted resolutions calling for a referendum to raise the sales tax in Washington County, saying unfunded mandates and increasing operational costs have made it harder to adequately fund education. The Johnson City Commission also will need to pass a resolution approving the referendum. Committee members decided on Augusts ballot for the proposed referendum even though the school boards request stated it would prefer the November ballot. With the budget challenges, the sooner we see what happens, the sooner well know the decisions well have to make. Second, the ballots would receive more attention in August 2012, said Commissioner Mark Larkey, who made the motion for August. For the kids, we need to do this when it has the chance to pass. http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=96600#ixzz1gJrYdYc6

Shelby County Schools merger commission to gain insight (C. Appeal/McMillin)

It is a quirk of a busy calendar that a school-merger forum with Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) Schools leaders hits this afternoon, just three days before the county's Transition Planning Commission body holds a "Vision Meeting" aimed at charting its course. As a vision for what's possible, on paper at least, Charlotte-Mecklenburg's 136,000-student district appears to provide a compelling model for the 21-member commission, which is charged with creating a plan for merging Memphis City Schools with Shelby County Schools. CMS won the 2011 Broad Prize for Urban Education by, among other things, greatly increasing student learning and closing achievement gaps between different demographic groups. CMS's current state -- and not so much how it consolidated in the 1950s -- is the focus of today's meeting, which is being underwritten by the Hyde Family Foundations and runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Christian Brothers University's Sabbatini Lounge. "The focus is not so much how do you merge, but how do you emerge as an outstanding district," said Barbara Prescott, the chairwoman of the transition group. "We're really looking at how you operate in terms of high student achievement in a diverse district, where you are closing achievement gaps and maintaining very high standards." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/12/merger-commission-to-gain-insight/ (SUBSCRIPTION) 4

Three charged following Hawkins County meth lab raid (Times-News)

Hawkins County authorities were already investigating an alleged meth lab operation north of Rogersville on Hickory Cove Road on Thursday evening when two of the three suspects were arrested during a traffic stop. The residence under investigation was 1332 Hickory Cove Road, the home of Phillip David W illiams, 46, and Donna Carol Vaughan, 51. Williams and Vaughan left the residence Thursday afternoon in a vehicle and were stopped by deputies because Williams was known to have a revoked drivers license. A search of the vehicle allegedly revealed them to be in possession of drug paraphernalia, and W illiams and Vaughan were both arrested. Narcotics deputies then went to the Hickory Cove Road residence, where they allegedly detected a strong odor associated with meth manufacturing. James Logan Thacker, 19, also of that residence, was located on the property, and a search of his person allegedly revealed him to be in possession of what was described as a felony amount of methamphetamine in his right watch pocket. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9039399/three-charged-following-hawkins-county-meth-lab-raid

California: California Budget Cuts Likely as Revenue Lags (Wall Street Journal)
Recipients of state money in California are bracing for as much as $2.5 billion in new budget cuts prompted by a revenue shortfall in the nation's most populous state. The cuts expected to be announced this week by Gov. Jerry Brown could include a seven-day reduction of the school year, projected to save $1.5 billion. Other possible cuts outlined by the state finance department include $248 million in home-to-school transportation for students and $200 million in lower funding for public universities. A provision in California's budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 required midyear cuts if less revenue materialized than hoped. That now seems likely as the weak housing market takes a toll on the construction and financial-services sectorsand the state's broader economy. "This year, Governor Brown and Democrats in the legislature passed a balanced, honest and on-time budget that shifted the state's credit rating from negative to stable," said Mr. Brown's spokesman, Gil Duran. "We don't like the trigger cuts, but this was the only way to sidestep gridlock and pass a credible budget by the deadline." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204336104577092463932359068.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Georgia: Georgia legislators likely to focus less on immigration (Associated Press)

Immigration was a dominant topic during the last legislative session in Georgia, and while its likely to surface again when lawmakers return to the Capitol next month, it probably wont take as large a share of the spotlight. Georgia lawmakers, like their counterparts in several other states, passed a tough law targeting illegal immigration earlier this year. Some South Georgia Republicans who voted for the bill said theyve heard concerns from people who work in agriculture and would like to see amendments made to help farmers. Secretary of State Brian Kemp said hed like to see changes to a section that establishes requirements for the issuing and renewal of professional or business licenses. But legislative leaders and the laws sponsor say significant changes to the laws substance are unlikely. This law has only been in effect six months, some parts havent even gone into effect and its under a court challenge, Republican House Speaker David Ralston told The Associated Press. We need to give it some time before we start tinkering with it. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/12/georgia-legislators-likely-focus-less-immigration/?local

New Mexico: New Mexico legislators look to curb charter school costs (Stateline)
One of Albuquerques charter schools, Academia de Lengua Y Cultura, offers a dual-language middle-school curriculum, with teachers in some classes giving lessons in English and Spanish on alternating days. Across town, the Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, which takes students from sixth grade through high school, emphasizes seminar discussions and offers advanced international diplomas. The Southwest Secondary Learning Center, meanwhile, reinforces math, science and engineering lessons by allowing students to maintain and fly real airplanes. They represent three of New Mexicos more than 80 charter schools. While some of those schools look and act like private institutions their leaders have freedom to run them as they see fit as long as students meet state standards they are part of the public school system, charge no tuition and receive nearly all of their funding from state monies. But unlike other states, where average per-student funding for charters is typically lower than it is for other public schools, a legislative report released last month found that charters in New Mexico receive an average of 26 percent more funding per student than traditional public schools. The report suggested that lawmakers change how schools are funded to address that. http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=618440 5

MORE

OPINION Editorial: Tennessee should seize opportunity to build solar industry (J. Sun)
A report released Thursday by the Tennessee Solar Institute paints a positive picture and a potentially bright future for the solar industry in Tennessee. But Tennessee faces competition from other states such as North Carolina and Georgia. The study urges state officials to remain aggressive in developing the solar industry. Solar energy presents Tennessee with a major opportunity to develop this fledgling business and to become a national and world leader in the field. It is an opportunity not to be missed. Tennessee already ranks 22nd in the amount of photovoltaic installed and operational. Three world-leading companies have major facilities in Tennessee: Sharp electronics in Memphis, Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. is building a plant in Clarksvillle, and Wacker Chemie AG is building a plant near Cleveland. In addition, Tennessee already has established the Volunteer State Solar Initiative that includes the University of Tennessee and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The state has more than 200 organizations involved in solar power, including 174 for-profit entities. The industry already employs more than 6,400 Tennesseans. Sharp electronics recently announced it is expanding solar panel production and hiring new employees because of increased demand for its products. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111212/OPINION01/111211013/Tennessee-should-seize-opportunity-buildsolar-industry

Editorial: Open meetings case still strong (Commercial Appeal)

The Tennessee County Commissioners Association is advocating a change in the state open meetings law that would essentially gut the nearly 40-year-old statute. The public should be extremely wary of a measure that will be touted in the halls of the state Capitol next year as a more efficient and effective way to conduct the public's business. In fact, passage would essentially allow local government bodies -- like the General Assembly itself -to conduct the public's business well away from the public eye. As long as a quorum of a local legislative body is not present at a meeting to discuss pending issues, the meeting would not have to be open to the public. The measure found its footing among government officials in Obion, Lewis and Williamson counties, but passage by the General Assembly would affect local legislative bodies statewide. Nothing in the amendment would prevent a few influential members of a local legislative body, for example, from getting together privately to negotiate a property tax rate they could all agree on without being required to justify their positions to voters. To his credit, Gov. Bill Haslam said last week that he opposes the measure and personally feels comfortable with open meetings from his previous experience as the Knoxville mayor. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/12/editorials-open-meetings-case-still-strong/ (SUB)

Editorial: More cuts to higher ed funding mean higher costs for students (N-S)
The state of Tennessee is facing a potential 5 percent budget cut next year, and that will mean less in state funding for higher education. The budget cuts are being considered during the same time that a special legislative committee is pondering a reduction in the amount of lottery funds that help Tennesseans earn a 6

college degree. The budget cuts and the lottery reduction mean, of course, that students and their parents will be paying more in the future for a post-secondary education, whether in college or one of the state's 27 technology centers. Nothing new there. That has been an ongoing process, with tuition increases coming almost yearly. According to a story from The Chattanooga Times Free Press last month, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission said tuition and fees have risen from between 104.8 percent to 142 percent, depending on the institution, over the past 10 years. During roughly the same time period, the percentage of state appropriations for state-supported universities has decreased from about 58 percent of a university's budget to a projected 36 percent for next year, depending on cuts for the 2012-13 state budget. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/12/editorial-more-cuts-to-higher-ed-funding-mean/

Guest columnist: Opt-out on health care: choice vs. risk (Tennessean)

Recently, a city fire department refused to douse a fire outside the city limits because the homeowners had chosen not to pay for fire service. There was a simple and well-publicized contract between the city and the rural community. The county would not tax homeowners. Instead, each homeowner was told to pay a $75 fee or be ineligible for fire service. These owners decided not to pay, believing that a disaster would never strike. It did. The firefighters followed the well-defined rules to intervene only if lives were at risk. The family lost everything. Firefighters watched, although not without their own personal misgivings. Many people were outraged that the firefighters could be so callous. Frankly, at first blush, I was among them. But then, I reframed the events from the perspective of my conservative friends who emphasize individual responsibility and reject mandatory health insurance. This fire scenario recreates the essential elements of individual responsibility for insurance decisions and the consequences both for the individual and for those who have to stand by and watch them unfold. Could this fire protection plan be the design starting point for a conservative compromise health-care proposal? http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111212/OPINION03/312120007/Opt-out-health-care-choice-vs-risk? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Free-Press Editorial: W ho pays for federal school lunch rules? (Times Free-Press)
It's terribly easy for Washington to impose rules and regulations on the states but not provide the money to implement those rules. That is what has happened with public school lunch programs. In the coming academic year, schools were supposed to start serving more healthful meals, with more servings of vegetables, fruit and so forth. That sounds like a good idea. But in a recent letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, governors from around the country pointed out that short-term money being provided by the federal government to pay for more nutritious school meals was extremely inadequate and would saddle cash-strapped states with a huge new expense. Now, however, members of Congress who are fighting such unfunded mandates are being accused of wanting to sabotage the health and nutrition of schoolchildren. That's ridiculous. We're all for reducing childhood obesity and encouraging exercise. But Washington should not impose regulations, even for noble purposes, and then simply leave someone else to pick up the tab. That -- not sabotaging children -- is the real issue. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/12/who-pays-for-school-lunch-rules/?opinionfreepress

###