| Norris: Workers' comp and marriage top issues
By Greg Little, Managing Editor
Many issues are now being discussed by lawmakers in Nashville, and none of them seem to have easy resolutions.
Of course the proposed budget of Gov. Phil Bredesen is on the front-burner for most lawmakers, yet there are many other issues.
Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said workers compensation reform is now at hot topic in Nashville.
Norris on Tuesday said there had already been two days of hearings about the issue and a third day was about to start.
He said business leaders and chamber of commerce representatives in Tennessee have taken part in the hearings and all say something needs to be done about the high cost of workers compensation.
However, Norris said maybe the most important factor in the debate is that the commissioner of labor and the commissioners of economic development are also saying something needs to be done.
Not to mention their boss, the governor.
“You have the state’s head Democrat who says he wants change,” said Norris. “He has asked the Legislature to produce a bill.”
Norris said he filed a bill on behalf of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and that could be used as the main legislation. He said the administration, too, could bring on legislation at at time.
“We are in desperate straights when it comes to saving jobs in Tennessee,” said Norris.
“Unemployment is at a seven-year high and although the economy is picking up, we are not creating any jobs.”
He said West Tennessee is especially hard hit.
“The manufacturing and construction sectors are lagging,” said Norris.
Norris said since lawmakers are hoping to be done by April, that means there’s only about two months to get the issue addressed.
“I think it will pass in some form,” said Norris.
DEFENSIVE MARRIAGE
Another interesting issue which may have to be addressed is the “defensive marriage act” which was passed in Tennessee in the late 1990s.
He said the act states that Tennessee will only recognize the union of a man and a woman. Also, it states that same-sex couples married in other states will not be recognized if they move to Tennessee.
“All that was fine until the Massachusetts Supreme Court last week upped the ante by insisting civil unions and alternatives to marriage are not an acceptable substitute,” said Norris.
What it means is that a married couple from Massachusetts could move to Tennessee and this state would not recognize the marriage. Then, said Norris, the matter could end up in the hands of the United States Supreme Court and Tennessee’s law could be placed in jeopardy.
Norris said the solution may be drafting of a federal constitutional amendment. To do that, he said 38 states would have to agree to the language and get it passed.
“It may be incumbent upon us to join with some other states to amend the constitution,” said Norris.
He thinks it might be necessary.
“I think the institution of marriage between a man and a woman is the bedrock of our civilization,” said Norris. |
