Governor Phil Bredesen will kick off the final day of open budget hearings on Monday with an interactive session with health occupational students from high schools in Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Shelby Counties, including Brainerd High School.
The students will participate in the virtual Q&A session with Governor Bredesen and Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, just before the Department of Health's budget hearing begins. Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Cooper will discuss how the Department of Health is managing the H1N1 influenza pandemic and other public health issues amidst the challenges of the state budget and answer other questions posed by students.
Tennessee's eighth round of open budget hearings began on Monday. Upon taking office in January 2003, Governor Bredesen made a commitment to open the budget process to give Tennesseans full view of how their tax dollars fund state government.
All budget hearings may be viewed live online and are archived at www.tn.gov/budgethearings.