Monday, January 11, 2010
Politics / Woods Morning Roundup: Lawmakers Return to the Capitol for Fun-Filled Special Session
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Jan 11, 2010 at 5:43 AM
"If a compromise can't be reached, and the TEA's dug in, we have to work through that. I'm optimistic that it can be a matter we can work out, but it depends on how far apart the parties are."
Once the one-week special session's over and the governor passes his last state budget this spring, he says he's got nothing left to accomplish (oh well) so he'll do a little globe-trotting to finish out his term. "I've told [ECD commissioner] Matt Kisber that I'd be willing to do some more traveling than I have in the past," he says in a Tennessean interview. As for the budget-cutting, TennCare's on the chopping block again.
"There will definitely be some limits in coverage. You can't effect the budget of the state of Tennessee without dealing with TennCare. It's like trying to balance the federal budget, but (with) Social Security, Medicare and Defense off the table."
House GOP leader Jason Mumpower complains there's "a lot of hand-wringing going on" among lawmakers who'd rather not cut benefits to sick people, etc. He says, "I want to look at this not as a crisis, but as an opportunity." Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey adds, "The battle is going to be making these budget cuts yet keeping money in the Rainy Day fund."
The state Funding Board makes a critical decision in secret, puzzling the governor who says: "I thought it kind of was in public." ... Rick Locker surveys the gubernatorial candidates on gun laws. The main finding? Only Ramsey wants to allow weapons into local parks and playgrounds whether cities like it or not. ... Haslam goes on a rare duck-hunting trip to show his love of guns but makes headlines instead for buying the wrong license. "I just messed up," he says. ... Rep. Ben West defends the Radnor Lake Rambo:
Perhaps it was nothing more than a symbolic Second Amendment version of a flag burning, which also moves the emotions of some to restrict the First Amendment.Dueling opinions on the Music City Center in The City Paper:
Council member Mike Jameson: Even assuming the center could pay for itself, its opportunity costs -- its effect on our bond rating and total indebtedness -- mean that if we do this, we can't do other things (like build better schools, hire more police, pave streets). As one consultant said, "Money dedicated to a long-term project such as the convention center is necessarily unavailable for other projects that might also provide lasting value."
Hotel executive Irwin Fisher: If we don't move forward with a convention center now, we will lose the opportunity for at least another decade. Our brand, our city and our citizens will suffer as a result. Building Music City Center is not a leap of faith. It is the next natural step. We need to take it.
Comments (0)