House Republicans Targeting Jobs and Economic Development, Await Governor’s State of the State Address Next Week

As the General Assembly awaits the State of the State Address from Governor Haslam, House Republicans are busy filing legislation to help pave the way for job growth in Tennessee’s private sector. This focus on economic development is expected to dovetail with the priorities of the Haslam Administration.

Throughout 2011, GOP lawmakers met with business leaders and concerned citizens about ways to remove government hurdles to economic growth in the State. The House Majority Leader, Representative Gerald McCormick (R—Chattanooga), appointed a task force to hold hearings on the issue.

When asked about the expected priorities of the General Assembly, Representative Ryan Haynes (R—Knoxville) stated in an interview this week, “I think you will find this General Assembly will be one of the most business-friendly there has ever been for the business community.” He continued, “Additionally, we have a pro-business Governor leading us who has proposed a number of innovative ideas to encourage growth in the private sector. Together, we are putting the number one priority for Tennesseans—job growth—at the top of our list.”

I believe we need to do more to add greater accountability and performance measures to government so that Tennesseans are getting the most value for their taxes. We must do more to prevent government’s limiting influence on businesses, through factors like regulations and paperwork, so our job creators can grow their businesses. Government must be transformed from a hurdle to a resource, in my view.

Governor Haslam will give his annual State of the State Address on Monday evening, January 30th to a Joint Session of the General Assembly. The Governor is expected to unveil his budget proposals and provide full details of his legislative priorities to move Tennessee forward.

State Comptroller Justin Wilson Says Tennessee’s Finances are Sound

Tennessee is in “sound fiscal condition” according to State Comptroller Justin Wilson, who appeared before the House Finance Committee this week. The Comptroller delivered his “State of Fiscal Affairs” report to legislative leaders in the House of Representatives.

Comptroller Wilson went through a number of items that are solvent and secure in Tennessee’s financial portfolio such as the overall budget, current state of the debt, retirement fund, and the trust fund.

Wilson cited the “willingness of the General Assembly to enact budgets that have forgone, reduced or eliminated expenses and services,” as another reason for Tennessee’s stable financial standing.

Wilson said the General Assembly must continue to reduce expenses, and the administration should increase the efficiency of state government operations in anticipation of the tough financial challenges Tennessee is likely to face in the future.

Future financial challenges cited in the Comptroller’s report to the Committee include:

• Continuing to reduce expenses and create efficiencies;
• Funding increases already projected and planning for federal mandates
• Making capital improvements and rebuilding the state’s reserves;
• Maintaining strong credit ratings and a manageable state debt; and,
• Improving financial reporting.

Haslam, Ramsey, Harwell Announce Judicial Selection Legislation
On Wednesday, Governor Bill Haslam, Lt.Gov. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville), and House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) announced a joint proposal to address how judges are chosen in Tennessee.

The three stood together for the announcement during a press conference in the State Capitol where they outlined the plan that includes a constitutional amendment that would apply to all Supreme Court justices and other appellate judges saying that they:

• Will be nominated by a commission based on merit;
• Will be appointed by the Governor; and
• Will be elected in a retention election as they are today.

“It is great to stand here today with Lt. Gov. Ramsey and Speaker Harwell to announce our proposal together,” Haslam said. “I believe the current process has worked well during my time in office, and I’ve been pleased with both the quality of candidates and the process for choosing them. The judiciary is the third and equal branch of government, and we are here to make this recommendation because we believe it is important for our Constitution to clearly reflect the reality of how we select judges in Tennessee.”

"The importance of a highly functioning and independent judicial branch is crucial to the small, efficient government our unified Republican majority continues to bring to Tennessee," Ramsey said. "Our current method of choosing judges is a very good system, but it is not constitutional. This effort will ensure that we finally have a constitutional method of choosing judges. I am proud to stand with the governor and the speaker in favor of a judicial selection process that is fair, effective and constitutional."

“I am proud to join today with Governor Haslam and Lt. Gov. Ramsey to offer this solution on the issue of judicial elections,” Harwell said. “I am confident that what we are proposing today will maintain the integrity of the judicial system while respecting the state’s constitution. I want to thank my colleagues for their tireless work and dedication regarding the issue of judicial selection in Tennessee.”

Legislation will be filed to extend the Judicial Nominating Commission and the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission until at least 2015, which allows appropriate time for the constitutional amendment to be considered with the goal of avoiding any additional confusion.