February 9, 2007
                                      
Dear Friends,

One of my objectives as the new Majority Leader is to do my part to assure that we increase taxpayers' return on their investment in Tennessee.

That's why I am writing to you this week from Washington, D.C. where I am attending the White House Transportation Leadership Summit.

I was invited here by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters to meet with her and other policymakers and talk about the future.

Our newly appointed Republican Senate Transportation Chairman, Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), is with me. There are governors and legislators here from 23 states. 

The future of transportation is about more than just roads.  It's about economic development, jobs, energy, the environment, and your overall quality of life.

Congestion costs you money.  Delays waste fuel and valuable time better spent at work or at home with family.  Even though some of you may not see it yet, our transportation networks are increasingly unreliable.

Are we managing our assets as profitably as possible?  We're discussing ways to educate each other about "what's not working" in transportation in order to efficiently allocate available resources without tax increases.

I hope to analyze answers to these questions and find pragmatic solutions, which create opportunities for all Tennesseans in the near future.

Mark Norris
                Senate Majority Leader

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Norris Named to Transportation Finance Committee 

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  --- State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) has been named a Principal of the National Intergovernmental Forum on Transportation Finance in Washington, D.C.

Norris was nominated to the national post by the Council of State Governments (CSG) after being elected to the Executive Committee of the CSG's Board of Directors last month.  He will continue to serve as Chairman of the Economic Development, Transportation and Cultural Affairs Committee for the CSG's 16-state Southern Legislative Conference.

Norris will meet in Washington, D.C. next week with other leaders starting a six-month study of policies and agreements to prepare for future surface transportation needs over the next 25 years.

“Folks take roads and public transportation for granted, and they shouldn't. Traffic delays frustrate our freedom. Deteriorating systems are wasteful.  They waste time and natural resources,” Norris said.  “We are meeting to analyze alternatives for the future and common sense solutions.”

Norris previously served as Chairman of the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee.  Last year, he fought to end the ongoing diversion of gasoline tax revenues from the state’s transportation trust fund to other government programs.

"That's behind us now," Norris said. "But the trust fund needs to be repaid out of existing surpluses before there's talk of raising gas taxes again."

Norris received the Tennessee Public Transportation Association's Legislator of the Year award in 2006.  

The Washington, D.C-based National Academy of Public Administration sponsors the Forum.  It is a congressionally chartered organization comprised of current and former Members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries, Governors, legislators and other leaders known for their contributions to public administration. 

* * * * * 

Norris Responds to Governor’s Education Plans

Suggests Non-Traditional Students, Job Skills Training be Included 

     NASHVILLE --- State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) praised the Governor’s new emphasis on education as a priority for Tennessee, but cautioned that fiscal details had not been released following the State of the State address earlier this week. 

“Until we can study the numbers and determine whether other areas will be neglected, we’ll reserve making a call,” Norris said during a speech to the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce’s Public Affairs Conference earlier this week. 

“By putting education on the table, the Governor shows he is ready to work on it and we welcome him,” Norris said.  “Republicans began improving education in the 1980s under then-Governor Lamar Alexander, who had education as his top priority.” 

“Alexander’s Better Schools Program is hailed as one of the earliest and most significant efforts at fundamental school reform in the country,” Norris said.  “While Governor Bredesen now turns his attention to improving education in Tennessee, Republicans have made it a priority for many years, and we look forward to a more cooperative approach by the Administration.” 

Norris cautioned that the Governor’s budget still has not been released, and other pressing state issues were not addressed in his speech. 

“We haven’t seen the proposed budget yet, so it’s difficult to ascertain whether all his ideas are appropriate,” Norris said.  “There are other areas that members of the Senate Republican Majority want to discuss, but it’s a start.” 

Norris also highlighted adult education and identified it as a key initiative for business in the state. 

“There is tremendous focus on getting our high school seniors into college and keeping them there, and that’s important,” Norris said.  “But non-traditional students should be a part of the equation.  Companies scouting for expansion look closely at what our workforce brings to the table.”