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Haslam: Change Constitution, Keep System for Picking Judges (WPLN-Radio) |
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Governor Bill Haslam wants to rewrite part of the constitution on how judges are chosen, to spell out that the current system is okay. It’s held up to court challenges, but some lawmakers have argued it goes against the constitution, which says judges “shall be elected.” The current system isn’t a typical popular vote. Right now Tennessee judges get their jobs this way: A commission of mostly lawyers hands the governor a list of three names. The governor can pick one or ask for a new list. Once appointed, the judge faces a retention election every eight years – no challenger, just a yes-or-no vote where the sitting judge almost always stays on the bench. Ramsey: “When the constitution plainly says that ‘judges shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state,’ most people will agree that’s not what we’re doing now.” Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey is backing Haslam’s push to update the constitution, along with the House speaker. http://wpln.org/?p=33363 |
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Official: Knox County Trustee's Office computer seized on DA's order (NS/Donila) |
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Knox County's information technology department Wednesday seized a computer belonging to a Trustee's Office employee who county officials say may have taken state-administered tests on behalf of his co-workers. Information about the allegation has been turned over to authorities for a possible criminal investigation. "We have it (the computer) locked up in our cage where we keep things like that, and I'll wait for instruction," said Dick Moran, head of the county's IT department. Moran said Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols called him Wednesday and asked him to secure a specific Dell desktop computer inside the Trustee's Office. He said he'll meet with Nichols today to find out what he wants done with it. Knox County Commissioner R. Larry Smith said he initially received a tip that an employee was taking a test for other workers in the office. He also said he was told that someone in the office either destroyed computer files or attempted to cover up evidence of the activity. He said he got the information "from a credible source — someone who has no grudges or political aspirations, whatsoever." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/19/official-knox-county-trustees-office-computer-on/ |
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Ramsey wants drug testing for anyone getting government benefits (CA/Locker) |
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Tennessee state Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says he wants to press ahead with legislation "to make sure that we're drug testing practically everyone getting any kind of government benefits." And when questioned on the matter, he also said tentatively that it's "fine with me" if corporate executives whose businesses are awarded millions of dollars in state taxpayer cash as incentives to create jobs in Tennessee are subjected to the same drug tests as the recipients of welfare and food stamps that he wants tested. Ramsey, whose office also carries the title of lieutenant governor of Tennessee, told reporters Friday that he was glad lawmakers had completed the bitterly partisan work of redistricting the state legislature and congressional districts moments earlier because he's eager to work on the rest of his agenda when the legislature reconvenes today. He said that two items topping his agenda are unemployment insurance and public benefits in general, or at least those directed at poor people. "We will have some legislation ready to go on that. I can't tell you exactly what it's going to be right now but it will deal with making sure that when people apply for unemployment compensation that they're supposed to get it, and second of all, I still want to make sure that we're drug testing practically everyone getting any kind of government benefits," Ramsey said.(click link below) http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jan/17/ramsey-drug-test-most-for-aid/ |
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2010 Federal Cencus Information by County |
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Click on the link and drag the cursor to the county of interest.
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Water Quality Permits Online (Tennessean/Paine) |
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A new online database that lets the public view water quality permits locally and throughout the state is available from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. "Adequately managing and tracking all water quality permits is a critical role that falls under the responsibility of the department's Division of Water Pollution Control," Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan said in the e-mailed announcement. The public can access the information from the same database that the state's regulatory staff uses. It's part of the department's efforts to promote greater transparency, accountability and broader access to public information, he said. Also, the department's enforcement database, set up in 2008, along with many public notice postings, publications and other documents are available. The permit data viewer is at www.tn.gov/environment/wpc/dataviewer. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100929/NEWS0201/9290377/1009/NEWS |
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Corker urges limit on federal debt (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Flessner) |
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U.S. Sen. Bob Corker said he will introduce legislation after the November elections he hopes will “change the way Washington does business” by capping federal spending as a share of the U.S. economy. Corker, R-Tenn., said Thursday such a cap will likely require major cuts in overall federal spending, including changes in Social Security and other entitlement programs. He declined to specify where government spending should be cut, but during a meeting with reporters and editors at the Times Free Press, he said “it is embarrassing the way money is now spent in Washington.” Without limiting spending and debt, government borrowing as a share of the economy will more than double by 2030 to a level surpassing the debt burden of the financially troubled Greece, he said. “Today for every dollar we spend in Washington, we borrow 40 cents and that’s just not sustainable,” said the 58-year-old former Chattanooga mayor. click HERE |
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Leader of Governors group focuses on college grads (Associated Press/Johnson) |
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The incoming head of the National Governors Association said Sunday he will make increasing the number of students who complete college his focus during his scheduled yearlong tenure. West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, assumed the chairmanship of the NGA on Sunday from Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican, replaced Manchin as vice chairman. Manchin said he will work to unite governors, higher education officials, campus leaders and corporate chief executives behind the college initiative he calls "Complete to Compete." "If we don't improve college completion rates in this country, our children will be less educated than we are," he told reporters. "That will be the first time in the history of the United States of America that will have happened. That should be the most alarming statistic to get you motivated to make changes than anything else we can do." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/11/AR2010071101456.html |
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Stimulus Information on CTAS website |
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The UT County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) is providing a new link on its website (www.ctas.tennessee.edu) to highlight for Tennessee county officials information about the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly referred to as the federal stimulus package. Complementing what is available at the federal and state levels through www.recovery.gov and www.tnrecovery.gov, this CTAS page will provide frequent updates on county grant and financial information as they become available.
The information is being provided in a coordinated effort involving CTAS and the Tennessee County Services Association, Tennessee County Commissioners Association, Tennessee County Highway Officials Association and the Association of County Mayors of Tennessee.
The Tennessee county ARRA link can be found on the right-hand side of the CTAS homepage, at www.ctas.tennessee.edu.
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