BRADLEY CO. VETERANS HOME FUNDED IN 2012-2013 BUDGET

Governor Haslam Asks Tennesseans To ‘Believe In Better’

 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam tonight delivered his 2012 State of the State address before a joint session of the General Assembly in which he shared his vision for the state and called upon those watching and listening to “believe in better.”

 

“We can believe in better for how state government serves Tennesseans,” Haslam said.  “We can believe in better when it comes to the education of our children, and we can believe in better when we talk about a stronger, healthier economy for our state.” 

Things are definitely getting better for the future site of the Bradley County Veterans Home located in the 24th District.  “We are very blessed that the funding for the new Veteran’s Home in Bradley Co was included by the Governor in the 2012-2013 Budget Proposal,” stated Rep. Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland). 

“I am very grateful to serve on the House Finance Ways & Means Committee, and to have been a part of the team who put this Veterans funding plan together,” Brooks continued. Deputy Governor Claude Ramsey, our East TN friend in Nashville, has shepherded this project through for us from his first days in the new Administration.”

As stated on the Bradley Co. Veterans Home webpage, “Work began on a state resolution to support a VA home in Bradley County in late 2007.  The result was passage of House Resolution 531 on May 6, 2008.  The resolution was sponsored by Representative Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland) and urged the Governor to support the construction of a State Veteran’s Nursing Home in Bradley County.  The resolution passed 97 to 0.”

“This funding for the Bradley Co. Veterans Homes is truly the culmination of the life’s work of Mr. John Simmons”, stated Brooks.  John is smiling down on us from heaven right now… and telling all of the combat buddies he can find inside those pearly gates. From my very first term in office, I can still remember John Simmons walking the halls of the Legislative Plaza, working on this project.” 

The House and Senate were called into a joint convention for the Governor’s State of the State address.  The Chamber was filled to capacity and the Governor did not disappoint.

During his speech, the governor emphasized the importance of Tennessee job growth, a continued focus on improving education, public safety, a more customer-focused, efficient and effective state government and keeping taxes low.

 

“Our role in state government is to provide services that Tennesseans aren’t able to get on their own – we build roads, offer higher education options, guard prisoners, help families adopt children, care for the mentally ill, patrol highways, serve veterans and perform hundreds of other services,” Haslam said.  “My job as governor is to make sure we are providing those services in a customer-focused and effective way.”

 

Gov. Haslam also outlined his Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget proposal, which reflects his priorities and includes strategic investments, necessary reductions and savings for the future. 

 

Highlights of the budget include:

·         Restoration of more than $100 million of the $160 million “core services” funding that was designated two years ago to be cut such as:

Ø  The Coordinated School Health program;

Ø  Extended teacher contracts;

Ø  Alcohol and abuse treatment programs;

Ø  Juvenile justice grants;

Ø  Diabetes prevention;

Ø  And matching dollars for state employee 401k programs.

 

·         Full funding for the Basic Education Program.

        

·         A 2.5 percent pay increase for state employees.

 

·         $50 million to the Rainy Day Fund bringing it up to $356 million.

 

·         More than $23 million to fund a new veterans home in Bradley County.

The budget also includes funding for the governor’s legislative proposals announced earlier in the month that include:

 

·         Tougher sentences for certain gang-related crimes and for gun possession by those with prior violent felony convictions along with mandatory incarceration for repeat domestic violence offenders;

·         Raising the exemption level on the estate tax in Tennessee from $1 million to         $1.25 million to lower the tax burden on family farmers and family business           owners;

·         And lowering the state portion of the sales tax on food from 5.5 percent to 5.3 percent with the goal of lowering it to 5 percent during the next three years.

“I promise to be relentless when it comes to providing the very best service to our taxpayers for the very lowest price.  They deserve it,” Haslam said.  “And on issue or policy, our administration will always work to get to the right answer, not just our own answer…Working together, we are going to achieve better for Tennessee.”

Rep. Brooks added, “I must say how very grateful I am for Governor Haslam’s ongoing commitment to Tennessee’s kids.  The Governor truly is relentless in providing the very best service and shows his commitment to Coordinated School Health is his new budget.”

Thanks to our state’s Coordinated School Health, student school health screenings were

standardized in Tennessee. Last year over 1.5 million students were screened. Of those screened, 192,000 students were referred to a health care provider for additional medical attention. This represents a 257% increase over the number of referrals in 2006-2007.

Tennessee CSH Coordinators have worked with community partners to establish school-based health clinics. The number of schools with school-based clinics increased from 54 in 2008-2009 to 65 in 2009-2010. The number of Tennessee students served in school clinics increased by 354% between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 (69,305 students compared to 314,829 students).

“Coordinated School Health in Tennessee is a model program across the nation.  I am proud to partner with these amazing coordinators and their kids to keep our school kids healthy in Tennessee,” stated Brooks.  A healthy child is a learning and growing child.  These healthy, growing kids are the work-force for the next generation in our state.  I am grateful that our state invests in our kids early – and creates a better environment for our kids to learn and grow. Now that is ‘Believing in Better’.”

 

As stated, this was a historic evening here in the state’s capitol.  We witnessed a new Governor, giving his second State of the State speech, is this picturesque setting. “It is truly an honor to have been selected by my friends and neighbors to serve here in the State House,” said Brooks.  “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.”

Rep. Kevin Brooks serves the 24^th Legislative District in Cleveland, TN and Bradley County.  Kevin and his wife, Kim are actively involved in their community and local schools with their  two children, Zach who is attending Lee University and Elizabeth who attends Cleveland High.