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March 9, 2007 Dear Friends, I am pleased to report that, after five years of effort, medical liability reform in Tennessee is gaining momentum. The affected parties are back at the table. One of the primary objectives of my legislation is to reduce frivolous lawsuits that clog our legal system and needlessly increase costs. Senate Bill 2001 is far-reaching and affects not only families, but employers, providers and insurers as well. Whenever there is legislation of this magnitude, affecting so many, the challenge is striking an appropriate balance. It has been especially challenging given the number of competing interests involved. It sounds cliché, but making progress means finding a “win-win” scenario. This week, I wrote directly to many health care providers impacted by this issue. (You can read it here.) Based upon the replies received, I found those directly affected support the concepts we are negotiating. Is it everything everyone wants? No, but there is progress, and most people recognize that. This balancing of interests is constant and even affects the Governor’s budget, which we are also negotiating, including popular initiatives like my “Crooks with Guns” bill (Senate Bill 1967). My editorial below discusses the challenge we face in prioritizing needs which must be met. We continue working to move Tennessee forward. Mark Norris * * * * * Safe Streets or Switch Grass? Which would you rather pay for - - safe streets or switch grass? This rhetorical question reflects the sort of competing demands legislators must balance in approving the Governor’s annual budget. Should we invest more today to reduce violent crime or spend that money on alternative energy research? Senate Bill 1967, “Crooks with Guns,” which I am sponsoring for the Tennessee Public Safety Coalition with Rep. John DeBerry, is a tough bill enhancing punishment for those using guns when committing crimes. Specifically targeting habitual criminals, the plan requires a mandatory (10) year sentence without parole when a convicted felon uses a firearm to commit new crimes. Crime statistics support the initiative: Memphis and Shelby County, part of my senate district, reported a 25% increase in armed robberies from 2005 to 2006. Nashville reported a 15% increase during the same period. Criminals are increasingly using firearms, and law enforcement officers are asking for support. Statewide, total crimes against individuals have increased ten percent in three years. Murder is up 11%; robberies with guns up 5%; and aggravated assaults 8%. The Tennessee Public Safety Coalition, made up of police chiefs, sheriffs and district attorneys from across the state, came to Nashville recently to ask for our help. Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas told of his department’s frustration at repeatedly arresting the same offenders. He explained how this law would make our streets safer. It reduced crime by over 50% when implemented in New York. It would reduce crime here in Tennessee, too. The “Crooks with Guns” initiative has widespread support. But funding for it, estimated at almost $70 million, wasn’t included in the Governor’s budget. Instead, he asks us to fund research on switch grass and other alternative energy sources. Switch grass can be used to produce ethanol, and the Governor has identified its development as a key priority for the state. Research and development of alternative energy is expensive, and the Governor proposes spending $70 million to pay for it instead. While we agree that it is important to address Tennessee’s long term energy needs, helping police get criminals off the street is an immediate need. The “Crooks with Guns” legislation could take effect on July 1, and we could see safer streets within months. The Governor has recently expressed interest in funding these measures, and I look forward to working with him to make it happen. As Senate Majority Leader, it is my hope we can do so to effectively fight crime and make our streets safer sooner than later. * * * * * Legislation Moves Through the Senate The week began with a bang on Monday night when SB 201, sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), passed the Senate to require that all written drivers license examinations be given in English unless the person has written security clearance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Senate Standing Committees were busy this week reviewing proposed budgets and considering legislation. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard from Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) on SB 1196. The bill would require all individuals arrested of violent felonies to provide a DNA sample to the TBI. Current law provides that persons provide a DNA sample only after they have been convicted and sentenced for certain violent felonies. Known as the “Johnia Berry Act”, this bill is the result of years of work by Lt. Gov. Ramsey along with the parents of Johnia Berry. Johnia Berry was an ETSU graduate student that had moved to Knoxville to enroll at UT to work on a Master’s Degree. On December 6, 2004, someone entered her apartment and brutally murdered her. The killer has not been found despite the fact that DNA evidence was taken at the scene. The parents of Johnia feel that Tennessee does not have enough DNA samples in their data bank. Last year, Lt. Gov. Ramsey worked with the TBI to get more funding and staffing for the DNA data bank program. This year Lt. Gov. Ramsey hopes to go all the way with passage of this legislation. The bill was passed out of the Judiciary Committee and was referred to the Finance Committee. More information about Johnia Berry can be found at www.johniaberry.org. Senator Diane Black (R-Gallatin) was able to pass two bills out of the Judiciary Committee. One, SB 1178, also dealt with DNA testing. Currently individuals who are convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanor sexual offenses are required to register with the sexual offender registry. Only convicted felons are required to submit a DNA sample to the TBI. This bill would require those misdemeanants that are told to register with the sexual offender registry to submit a DNA sample as well. The other bill was SB 1172 which would require the Department of Safety to develop a code to be placed on drivers licenses. The code would be placed on a license of a sexual offender to allow law enforcement the ability of quickly identifying convicted sexual predators. The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville), moved out a number of bills this week including one by Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville). SB 1329 was designed to assist adult education students and teachers. It would help qualifying adults with GED testing fees and classrooms with technology upgrades. The bill would also provide for increases in pay for adult education teachers. * * * * * Watson Participates in Read Across America Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson) spent last Friday reading to students at Hamilton County Schools. He read from a Dr. Seuss selection at Ganns Middle Valley. At Hixson High School, Senator Watson read from three of his favorite books, and lead a discussion on these books with the students. Read Across America celebrated the life of Dr. Seuss and his many books including “The Cat in the Hat” on March 2. Deanna Johnson, wife of Senator Jack Johnson (R-Brentwood), also spent the day reading to students at Williamson County Schools. Budget Battle Brewing With another week behind us, we have another week of Bredesen trying to strong-arm the Legislature. Late last week, Gov. Bredesen announced that he did not want to negotiate the size of his proposed 40 cent cigarette tax. "I've put forward a cigarette tax (increase) of 40 cents that I think is a very reasonable and conservative amount of money," Bredesen said. "It still keeps our cigarette tax well below even national averages. "And I'm not in any sense compromising on that," he said. -Associated Press Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) responded on Monday while addressing the Pachyderm Club in Chattanooga questioning the need for a $200 million dollar tax increase. “If we voted on the budget tomorrow, he couldn’t pass it,” Norris said. But Senator Norris said the state’s healthy economy and budget surpluses ought to preclude raising any taxes. The budget anticipates $401 million in Department of Revenue growth. -Chattanooga Times Free Press On the other side of the budget, Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) is proposing an elimination of the sales tax on food. The Governor has called the plan “political voodoo”. The Commissioner of Finance and Administration said this week that the plan will cause harm to the state’s financial future. "We will fight this proposal with everything at our disposal," Goetz said. -The Tennessean * * * * * |
