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From Mark's Desk: Without a day. That’s how we adjourn when the work is supposed to be done. After two years of triumph and tumult, the 104th General Assembly adjourned “sine die” last month. Triumph in that Senate Republicans took the majority for the first time in over 140 years; tumult in that three incumbent Senate Democrats were indicted. Triumph in passing ethics reform creating an independent ethics commission after a month-long special session; tumult in rejecting the District 29 election and removing Ophelia Ford who sued Senators individually in federal court. What was accomplished will take time and distance to determine. The record number of bills filed, over 4,000, may obscure the real progress that was made in many arenas including education, health care, law enforcement, and tax relief for Tennesseans. A balanced budget without new taxes. Fully funded reserves at the statutorily required amount for the first time in memory. Pay raises for teachers, funding for expanded Pre-K, and higher lottery scholarships. TennCare’s sails were trimmed, and we initiated a new health insurance program for the working poor while also making it possible for Tennesseans to start their own Health Savings Accounts. New sales tax holidays and a referendum on November’s ballot to amend the Constitution to allow homestead property tax relief for our senior citizens. The Republican Senate asserted itself and Senate committees made their mark reshaping the governor’s priorities and budget to better meet needs previously overlooked by the Executive Branch. Funding diverted from accounts dedicated to preserving public transportation and infrastructure was finally restored. College and University tuition increases were minimized. Corruption in the Department of Safety and Highway Patrol was rooted out. Adjournment notwithstanding, there is always another day. It seems our work is never done. Within weeks of adjournment, I was recalled to Nashville to look into the treatment of our Veterans in Tennessee veterans’ nursing homes. What appeared to be evidence of neglect and mistreatment resulted in the Department of Health shutting at least one of the facilities down last week. Hearings of the Veterans Affairs Committee on which I am proud to serve are being scheduled. If Tennessee can’t do the job right, it shouldn’t do it at all. There are also disturbing revelations from the Department of Transportation since we adjourned regarding a $20 million grant for construction of an intermodal transfer facility which doesn’t exist at the FedEx Forum. This will also require investigation. I have asked the State Comptroller to do the audit. Once again, as Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee charged with oversight of TDOT, I will convene the Committee to get to the bottom of what went wrong. As discouraging as it may sometimes seem, I realize that we are part of the system of checks and balances you rely on to keep government from going astray. Whether it is Governor Bredesen or Mayor Herenton, executives traditionally resent the legislative branch and do what they can to keep us at bay. Whether we are in session or not. At the end of the day, however, we know that it is necessary for us, as legislators, to do what you entrusted us to do. Check and balance those in power. Tell power the truth. Make them honest and keep us free. Sine die. |
