posted July 10, 2008
State Sen. Andy Berke said Wednesday the top legislative accomplishment this year was legislation affecting long term care and community choices.
Speaking at the monthly meeting of the MidTown Council Chamber, he said the legislation will change health care at no extra cost to taxpayers.
More options will be available as more and more Tennesseans wish to have options other than nursing homes, he said.
Sen. Berke highlighted three areas of this session: Elder Care, Education & the Lottery, and Water Resources. He noted that the state Senate is composed of 16 Republicans, 16 Democrats, and one Independent, "a situation that does not allow for headstrong activity."
He said from the Education Lottery reserve funds were made available: $90 million for energy efficient schools, and funding for more lottery scholarships.
The speaker said attracting new industry to the state often depends on the educational level of prospective employees and making college a choice for more students remains a priority.
Sen. Berke said he believes Tennessee has the best governor in the country. He said Gov. Phil Bredesen understands the importance of running the state as a business, making budget decisions where recurring expenses are paid with recurring income, and non-recurring expenses are funded with non-recurring dollars, always balancing the benefits provided against the taxes charged.
Sen. Berke spoke of the day he heard that Georgia legislators were planning how to move the state line in order to access water from the Tennessee River. He said he had just been elected in November 2007, and entered his first session in January 2008, and barely a month had passed when he heard of the sudden demands from Georgia.
He said he went to his office and "thought for an hour in order to come up with a smart-alec remark."
Then he went to the press area and issued a press release that proposed the two states could settle this matter with a football game, but it would be unfair to the state of Georgia. He noted that this remark caused the news wires to light.
He said he instantly had many requests for national interviews, including Brian Williams, and was chastised by the Senate leadership for overstepping the bounds of a freshman senator.
Sen. Berke said he had already learned from dealing with the press that you could say a lot about an issue, but only little punch lines will get published. He said he told this story to underline that water "is our 'oil', there will be a revolution in our area in the next 10 years concerning it."
He said Georgians think it’s not a big deal to ask Tennessee to let them stick a straw in the river to supply their growing needs.
He said Atlanta is arrogant to think that their needs outrank those of people in Tennessee.
Marion County, where the proposed change in the state line would be, was having water shortages while he was campaigning, he noted.
He had already made note of the problem as he drove past signs saying “No Water” in 2007.
The speaker said water matters for economic development, for environmental health, and for life choices of Tennessee citizens and that conservation and better land use planning are needed in both states.
When asked what he thought upcoming legislation would cover, Sen. Berke listed education and the environment as always important issues, as well as balancing the budget each year.
The MidTown Council’s new officers were presented at the meeting - President John Bailes of Senior Housing Associates, Vice President Grace Frank of Innovative Realty, Vice President of Programs Velma Wilson of Cleaning Solutions, Vice President of Membership Michael Itson of Advertising Ideas, Secretary Jamie Curtis of Gault & Associates, Inc., Treasurer Melinda Davidson of First Tennessee Bank.
The MidTown Council was formerly known as Eastgate/Ridgeside, and the name change has been invoked to more accurately reflect the area represented which is from Central Avenue to Chickamauga Creek, or the area bounded by zip codes 37411 and 37404.
Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at Out of the Blue Cafe & Kites.
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