WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
Democrats’ Jobs Tour Hears Concerns on Regulations, Job Training (TN Report) Democratic legislators launched a statewide “jobs tour” in Memphis on Monday, and they heard a lot of the same topics of concern from businesses that Republicans are hearing — like regulations and job training. And for good measure, there was a firm opinion voiced about Amazon.com. House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh of Ripley and Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis led a discussion that included representatives from a variety of businesses at a Holiday Inn adjacent to the University of Memphis. The group talked while eating breakfast, and there was a hefty helping of complaints about federal regulations, more so than about state regulations. While Democrats are conducting their own tour, they said they want the effort to create more jobs in the state to be bipartisan. The business leaders, in a gathering of about 20 people, repeatedly asked for state lawmakers to be liaisons to their federal colleagues about the regulatory environment, specifically citing the federal Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.tnreport.com/2011/09/democrats%E2%80%99-jobs-tour-hears- concerns-on-regulations-job-training/
Haslam to appear on NBC education program (Tennessean/Hubbard) Gov. Bill Haslam is appearing Monday on NBC’s Education Nation, hosted by Brian Williams. Haslam is among at least 10 governors who will be in New York next week speaking on national education issues. “He’ll address issues that came up during the past legislative session like tenure reform, charter schools expansion, and he’ll also probably talk about the state’s request for a waiver to No Child Left Behind based on the fact that the state itself is setting high standards,” said governor’s spokesman David Smith. Other governors appearing on the show include those from Wisconsin, where the year was marked with teachers union battles, and fellow Race to the Top grant winners Georgia and Delaware. The program will stream live at 1 p.m. CST Monday on www.EducationNation.com. Haslam will also be part of a Tuesday panel on college access issues. “We focused on governors who were doing significant work in education, and Gov. Haslam is one of those governors,” NBC spokeswoman Meghan Pianta said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110921/NEWS/309200058/Haslam-appear-NBC-education-program? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News
Marathon makes $1M investment in Brownsville (Jackson Sun) Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty on Tuesday joined with local officials in welcoming Marathon Heater, Inc. to Brownsville. The company’s $1 million investment will create 60 jobs during the next three years Marathon Heater is a leading manufacturer of industrial-grade heating elements and temperature sensors, according to a news release from the state. “I’m happy to welcome Marathon Heater, Inc., to Brownsville and to Tennessee,” Haslam said in the release. “Marathon’s decision to locate in Haywood County is an example of the results we continue to see with our Jobs4TN economic development plan, and I appreciate the company’s investment in our state as we work to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.” http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20110921/NEWS01/110920027/Briefly-Adamsville-woman-killed-crash? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
Power Academy model of success, earns state honor for progress (CA/Locker) Power Center Academy, a Memphis public charter school in the Hickory Hill area, was named the middle school winner Tuesday night in the first SCORE Prizes, a statewide public school competition by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education. The prize recognizes one elementary, one middle and one high school plus a school district that have done the most to improve student achievement in spite of challenges, according to the Tennessee education reform organization founded and chaired by former U.S. senator Bill Frist of Nashville. Each of the three school winners received $10,000 and the school district winner received $25,000. SCORE last month identified three nominees for each award. Power Center Academy was the only West Tennessee nominee among the nine schools and three districts. The Memphis charter school has 191 students and is in its fourth year. It focuses on entrepreneurship, scholarship, humanitarianism and technology. Frist, who named the winners in a ceremony at the historic Ryman Auditorium that also featured Gov. Bill Haslam, said that 85 percent of Power Center Academy's students are economically disadvantaged. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/21/power-academy-model-of-success/
Maryville City Schools wins top state reform award (Knox. News-Sentinel/McCoy) More than 75 Maryville City Schools administrators and classroom teachers were on hand Tuesday when the district won the top prize in the first year of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education's educational reform award. The award recognizes the elementary, middle, high school and district in Tennessee that has the most dramatically improved student achievement despite challenges. Sharon Anglim, spokeswoman for the Maryville City Schools, said the group was excited when their name was called. "It's certainly an honor to be the first district to be recognized," she said. "This is not just for our district, but for all the districts in the state who are doing extraordinary work to make difference in children's lives." Other finalists in the district category were Loudon County Schools and Williamson County Schools. As the winner, Maryville receives a $25,000 prize.Winners in the elementary, middle and high schools categories, which will each receive $10,000, were: Anderson County's Fairview Elementary, Power Center Academy in Memphis and Mount Juliet High School in Wilson County.Maryville City Schools director Stephanie Thompson said they will let classroom teachers decide where the winning money can be used to benefit the most students. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/20/maryville-city-schools-wins-top-state-reform/
Tennessee business climate ranked fourth best in U.S. (Nashville Biz Journal) Tennessee has been ranked as having the country’s fourth-best business climate. Texas took the top spot on Development Counsellors International’s “Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing” survey. The survey is conducted every three years. It has tracked trends in economic development since 1996. In the latest survey of 322 corporate executives, 49.4 percent named Texas as having one of the most favorable business climates in the nation. No. 2 North Carolina was named by 27.8 percent, and South Carolina was cited by 14.3 percent. No. 4 Tennessee was cited by 13.5 percent. When asked why they selected various states as being best for business, respondents frequently mentioned low operating costs and a pro-business climate. Those surveyed identified California, New York and Illinois as the states with the least-favorable business climates. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/09/20/tennessee-business-climate-ranked.html
Middle TN companies receive solar grants (Tennessean/Gonzalez) The Tennessee Solar Institute on Tuesday announced almost $1.6 million in new solar installation grants for 17 projects proposed by Tennessee businesses. The grants include more than $700,000 for four projects in Davidson County and two in Williamson County. Recipients include the Mallory Station Group, which received funding for four installations, The Bailey Co. and HTI Memorial Hospital Corp. The Tennessee Solar Institute, which administers U.S. Department of Energy funds, has given grants for 144 installations since September 2010. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110921/NEWS21/309210124/Middle-TN-companies-receive-solar-grants? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News
Hamblen woman charged with 'doctor shopping' (Knoxville News-Sentinel) A Hamblen County woman has been charged in Hawkins County with TennCare fraud involving "doctor shopping," using TennCare to go to multiple doctors in a short time period to obtain prescriptions for a controlled substance. The state and the Hamblen County Sheriff's Office arrested Melissa Carpenter, 41, of Morristown and charged her with one count of fraudulently using TennCare. An indictment says Carpenter obtained prescriptions for the painkiller oxycodone from multiple physicians within a 30-day period. The physician office visits and prescriptions were paid for by TennCare. If convicted, she could receive a two-year sentence. District Attorney General C. Berkley Bell is prosecuting. Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or by logging on to http://www.tn.gov/tnoig and following the prompts to "Report TennCare Fraud."
2 http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/20/hamblen-woman-charged-with-doctor-shopping/
Hamblen Co. woman arrested for 'doctor shopping' in Hawkins Co. (Herald- Courier) A Hamblen County woman is charged in Hawkins County with TennCare fraud involving “doctor shopping,” or using TennCare to go to multiple doctors in a short time period to obtain prescriptions for a controlled substance. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), along with Hamblen County Sheriff’s officers, today announced the arrest of Melissa Carpenter, 41, of Morristown. Carpenter has been charged with one count of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain a controlled substance by “doctor shopping.” An indictment says Carpenter obtained a controlled substance from multiple physicians within a 30-day period, receiving prescriptions for the strong painkiller Oxycodone. The physician office visits and prescriptions were paid for by TennCare. The TennCare fraud charge against Carpenter could result in a two year sentence if convicted. District Attorney General C. Berkley Bell is prosecuting. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/sep/20/hamblen-co-woman-arrested-doctor-shopping-hawkins--ar-1324105/
Hamblen County woman charged with "doctor shopping" (WVLT-TV Knoxville) A Hamblen County woman is charged in Hawkins County with "doctor shopping" said The Tennessee Office of Inspector General. Melissa Carpenter, 41, of Morristown has been charged with TennCare Fraud. She is accused of visitng mulitple doctors within a 30-day period and obrtaining prescriptions for Oxycodone. It could result in a two year sentence for Carpenter if she is convicted. "The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is committed to pursuing those individuals who are involved in TennCare Fraud and abuse especially when dangerous drugs are involved," Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. The OIG has charged nearly 1,500 people with TennCare fraud since it began full operation in February 2005. http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Hamblen_County_woman_guilty_of_doctor_shopping_130233843.ht ml
Read On (Weakley County News) Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam visited Union City Elementary School Friday to discuss the school’s program, progress and needs with teachers, administrators and school board members. At the close of her visit, Mrs. Haslam, who is supporting a reading initiative in her official capacity, read to third-graders in the school library. UCES is one of 10 schools in Tennessee selected by Mrs. Haslam to become part of a partnership in improving literacy rates. This was her second visit to UCES and she plans several more. http://www.nwtntoday.com/news.php?viewStory=60976
THP, trucking industry cooperate in education (Associated Press) Tennessee state troopers are working with the state trucking industry group on an education program for drivers and companies. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Trucking Association conduct a roadside inspection event Wednesday at the Coffee County scales in Manchester. Troopers will demonstrate how roadside inspections are carried out daily in the program, which is designed to educate the industry on commercial vehicle safety and enforcement. The event begins at 10 a.m. CDT at the scales on the eastbound side of Interstate 24. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37507863.story
Nashville State moves closer on purchase of Dillard's building (Tenn./Cass) Nashville State Community College moved toward closing on its purchase of the former Dillard’s building at Hickory Hollow Mall after the state gave its final blessing this week. The college’s satellite campus could open there in a year, the Tennessee Board of Regents said Tuesday. The executive subcommittee of the State Building Commission approved the $3 million purchase from Dillard’s on Monday, Board of Regents spokeswoman Monica Greppin said. The higher education system will start working to complete the transaction by getting surveys and environmental studies done. Nashville State wants to use the facility as a satellite campus to relieve overcrowding at its main site on White Bridge Road and serve a large student population from Antioch, Greppin said. The overall budget to convert the Dillard’s building is $8.3 million, including $1 million from Metro government and $250,000 raised by Nashville State. Mayor Karl Dean is looking to buy the old J.C. Penney building and the 12.31-acre site it sits on at Hickory Hollow Mall for a library, community center and park. Legislation could go to the Metro Council as early as mid-October, Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling said
3 Tuesday. The parcel has been appraised for $3.25 million. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110921/NEWS01/309210123/Nashville-State-moves-closer-purchase- Dillard-s-building?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
MTSU to start tying tornado warnings to AccuWeather (Daily News Journal) Change expected to alert more imminent threats Effective Oct. 21, MTSU will be using AccuWeather instead of the National Weather Service cues to sound warning sirens on campus. About four years ago, MTSU officials established a “building runners” program on campus whereby select people in every building made the rounds during a tornado warning alert — knocked on office and classroom doors, and suggested that everyone go to their designated “safer places” in their buildings. While not perfect, the system worked pretty well, officials said, given the many buildings on campus and their different configurations. The policy was (and still is) to issue an alert anytime a tornado warning is issued in Rutherford County, according to a news release. Often that means disrupting classes when tornadic activity is in the far corners of the county and is unlikely to affect MTSU. Still the policy has been to issue an alert when a warning is issued anywhere in the county. Starting Oct. 21, that procedure will change, thanks to services provided by AccuWeather. MTSU will longer take their cues from the National Weather Service but instead from AccuWeather, which pinpoints tornadic activity much more precisely for specific geographic areas, according to MTSU. http://www.dnj.com/article/20110921/NEWS01/110921001/MTSU-start-tying-tornado-warnings-AccuWeather
TN lawmakers grill courts' disciplinary body (Tennessean/Gee) The commission responsible for investigating ethical complaints against judges is fighting for its life in hearings before a special committee of the Tennessee General Assembly this week. It’s the second year in a row that the Court of the Judiciary has been called before lawmakers to face critics who believe legitimate complaints have been ignored by the 16-member commission that includes 10 judges and conducts most of its work behind closed doors. The stakes are higher this year, though, as legislative leaders have signaled that, when the General Assembly reconvenes in January, they will quickly take up bills that could alter the oversight of some of Tennessee’s most powerful officials. “We would like for them not to dissolve our organization. We would like them to continue to allow us to do the job that we’re doing,” said Memphis criminal court Judge Chris Craft, presiding judge of the Court of the Judiciary. “I’m not sure why they’ve decided that maybe we’re trying to sweep things under the rug.” The state constitution gives the legislature the power to remove judges but does not spell out a procedure for investigating complaints or handing down less severe punishments. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110921/NEWS0201/309210111/TN-lawmakers-grill-courts-disciplinary- body?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
Lawmakers Questioning How State Disciplines Judges (WPLN-Radio Nashville) A committee of state lawmakers raised concerns today over conflicts of interest and transparency from the board that handles ethics complaints against judges. Some lawmakers want big changes to Tennessee’s Court of the Judiciary, arguing it’s too lenient. State Senator Mae Beavers has pushed to give lawmakers control over who sits on the Court of the Judiciary. Right now most members are appointed by judges, though they’re tasked with policing judges. Beavers also wants ethics complaints the group receives to be made public. “Everything I do is public. Every vote that I cast is public. Whether I’m right or wrong, whether it matters or doesn’t matter, everything is public; I’m an elected official. Judges are elected officials, and when I get ready to vote on a retention election or any other election, I want to know what that judge has done.” Shelby County Judge Chris Craft argues there’s good reason complaints about judges shouldn’t be public. Craft heads up the Court of the Judiciary. http://wpln.org/?p=30399
Memphis City Council rejects voters' say on tax increases (C. Appeal/Maki) Proposal would have made it more difficult to raise rate for property owners Just a few months after adopting a "one-time" 18-cent property tax increase, the City Council voted Tuesday against letting voters decide whether it should be more difficult for the council to raise property taxes. The council voted 7-6 Tuesday against holding a referendum to ask voters if a two-thirds majority of the council should be needed to approve a property tax increase that is higher than the percentage increase of inflation or population growth. Currently, a simple majority 4 of the 13-member council can approve a tax hike. "This is smart because it will cause us to focus more on where we really need to be focused: on the spending side," said Councilman Kemp Conrad, who sponsored the ordinance. "I'm just saying let's make it a little more difficult, a two-thirds majority." But a majority of the council disagreed. Council members Joe Brown, Berlin Boyd, Harold Collins, Edmund Ford Jr., Janis Fullilove, Wanda Halbert and Myron Lowery voted against placing the question before voters. Council members Conrad, Jim Strickland, Bill Morrison, Reid Hedgepeth, Shea Flinn and Bill Boyd supported the referendum ordinance. "What I see the ordinance doing is tying the hands of the council," said Lowery. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/21/council-rejects-voters-say-on-02/
Alexander to step down from Senate GOP leadership post (City Paper/Woods) Sen. Lamar Alexander announced Tuesday he will resign his Republican leadership position in January, promising to be “more, not less aggressive on major issues." In a speech on the Senate floor, Alexander, who is 71, also noted that he plans to run for a third, six-year term in 2014. Alexander has been Republican Conference Chairman, the Senate’s third-ranking Republican, for nearly four years. His term ends in January. “Stepping down will liberate me to work for results on the issues I care the most about,” Alexander said. “That means stopping runaway regulations and spending. But it also means setting priorities – confronting the timidity that allows runaway health care spending to squeeze out research, scholarships, highways and other government functions that make it easier and cheaper to create jobs. I want to do more to make the Senate a more effective institution so that it can deal better with serious issues. “For four years my leadership job has been to help others succeed, to find a Republican consensus and to suggest a message. There are different ways to offer leadership. After nine years in the Senate, this is how I believe I can now make my greatest contribution.” http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/alexander-step-down-senate-gop-leadership-post
Alexander may gain power in leadership exit (Tennessean/Bewley) Sen. Lamar Alexander’s decision to resign his Senate leadership role could give the veteran lawmaker more power, not less, and help him advocate for issues important to Tennessee, analysts say. Alexander announced on the Senate floor Tuesday that he will step down as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference in January to focus on policy priorities. He said he will still run for re-election in 2014 but will not challenge Texas Sen. John Cornyn next year in the race for GOP whip, the No. 2 Republican job in the Senate. Alexander hasn’t always voted with his party and is considered one of the few GOP leaders with a moderate streak. But political analysts say there’s no sign GOP leaders pushed him to resign. “He’s enjoyed his leadership role, but it’s been a role that’s more about helping the conference and his colleagues succeed as Republican messengers,” said Tom Ingram, a Nashville-based political strategist who has worked on and off for Alexander since the 1970s. Alexander “has felt constrained by that in terms of being able to deal as aggressively and directly with some of the issues as he’d like to,” Ingram said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110921/NEWS02/309210105/Alexander-may-gain-power-leadership-exit-? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
Sen. Lamar Alexander gives up leadership position (Times Free-Press/Carroll) When he became the U.S. Senate's third-ranking Republican in 2007, Lamar Alexander swapped some of his independence for a seat at the table. In January, he'll swap it back. Alexander's impending resignation as Senate Republican Conference chairman surprised Capitol Hill and led reporters to ask what he meant when he said vacating a powerful position would "liberate" him to tackle legislative issues. The former Tennessee governor, U.S. secretary of education and two-time presidential candidate said he now spends about 40 percent of his time on leadership matters, media strategies and political goals, completely different tasks, he said, from fighting for "research, scholarships, highways and other government functions that make it easier and cheaper to create jobs." "A lot of my job is political messaging, and we have 47 political messengers in the Republican conference," he joked. "So they can do that." According to news reports, the Senate Republican Conference chairman manages private strategy meetings and drives the conference's message. In careful remarks to reporters, Alexander's junior colleague, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Senate leadership positions tend to be "a little stifling," adding that a resignation allows Alexander to "express himself more fully." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/21/alexander-gives-up-leadership-position/?local
Lamar Alexander: Giving up party role, gaining freedom to lead (N-S/Collins) U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander may be giving up power when he resigns in January from one of the U.S. Senate's
5 most influential leadership positions, but he figures he'll get back something possibly more important: His independence. The two-term senator from Maryville announced Tuesday he will step down in January as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference to focus more on the issues he cares about most. He said he also would work to make the Senate more effective by encouraging Republicans and Democrats to move beyond the divisive partisanship that often causes the process of lawmaking to grind to a halt. "There are different ways to offer leadership in the United States Senate," Alexander said in announcing his decision from the Senate floor. "And I've concluded that, after nine years, this is now the best way for me to make a contribution." Alexander's decision to step down from the leadership job stunned his colleagues, but Alexander said he had been contemplating the move for several months. He said he wrote his resignation speech while on a fishing vacation in August, but delayed making the announcement until he was certain he was comfortable with the decision. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/21/alexander-giving-up-party-role-gaining-freedom/ Alexander gives up Republican leadership position in Senate (C. Appeal/Sullivan) Sen. Lamar Alexander said Tuesday said he plans to step down from his position in the Senate Republican leadership in January in a move he said will "liberate me to spend more time working to achieve results on the issues I care the most about." The Tennessee Republican also said he will seek re-election in 2014. "For four years my leadership job has been to help others succeed, to find a Republican consensus and to suggest a message," Alexander said in a floor speech. "There are different ways to offer leadership. After nine years in the Senate, this is how I believe I can now make my greatest contribution." In a speech that reviewed American history and contentious debates that led to the killing of Alexander Hamilton and the caning of a congressman, Alexander said people who think these days are more uncivil than in the past have forgotten history. "I said to Tennesseans when I first ran for the Senate that I would serve with conservative principles and an independent attitude. I will continue to serve in that same way," Alexander said. "I am a very Republican Republican. I intend to be more, not less, in the thick of resolving serious issues." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised his colleague with a review of his career in the White House, as a two-term governor of Tennessee, and president of the University of Tennessee -- "that was when they used to play football," he joked. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/20/us-sen-lamar-alexander-gives-republican-leadership/
Alexander to Relinquish Senate Leadership Post (WPLN-Radio Nashville) Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander announced this morning he will step down from his position in Republican leadership. He’s spent four years as the Senate Conference chairman, shaping the GOP message on issues. Alexander says by stepping down as the Senate’s third ranking Republican, he intends to step up his work on making sure health care spending doesn’t squeeze out other priorities, like research and road building. “I expect to be more – not less – aggressive on the issues. And I look forward to that. The Senate is created to be the place where the biggest issues creating the biggest disagreements are argued out.” Alexander calls himself a “very Republican, Republican,” and a politician who sees the need for bi-partisanship. “I know that the Senate usually requires 60 votes for a solution on serious issues and we simply can’t get that with only Republican votes or only Democratic votes.” Before being elected in 2002, Alexander told voters he would serve “with conservative principles and an independent attitude.” That independence has set him apart from other GOP leaders. As recently as last summer, Alexander was the only member of party leadership to endorse a plan that reduced the deficit with a combination of tax increases and spendinghttp://wpln.org/?p=30387 cuts.
'Corrupt' or a 'novice'? Two different views of Rep. Stephen Fincher (CA/Sullivan) Republican members of the Federal Election Commission Tuesday released their explanation of why they refused to endorse a five-figure penalty against the Stephen Fincher for Congress Committee. The Republicans said the requirements for reporting campaign loans "is an issue that trips up many candidates, especially novice candidates who may have unprofessional staff or volunteers assisting with their administrative obligations." The explanation became public three months after the FEC deadlocked on the Fincher complaint, and coincided Tuesday with a report by the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington naming the Republican freshman as one of the "most corrupt members of Congress." Asked about the CREW report, Fincher's spokesman, Sara Sendek, released a statement Tuesday: "The FEC has previously reviewed this matter and dismissed it without further action." Fincher's opponent in the 2010 campaign, state Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden, filed a complaint last September regarding a $250,000 loan that Fincher initially reported had come from personal funds despite disclosure statements filed with the House clerk indicating he had no assets. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/20/corrupt-or-novice-two-different-views-rep-stephen/
Tenn. lawmaker resuscitates man in airport (Associated Press)
6 A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Phil Roe of Tennessee said the retired obstetrician/gynecologist performed CPR and used a defibrillator to resuscitate a man who collapsed at an airport in Charlotte. Roe spokeswoman Amanda Little told the Kingsport Times-News that Roe was on his way to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday morning and was getting a connecting flight in Charlotte, N.C., when an unidentified man collapsed. Little said the man was not breathing and had no heartbeat. She said Roe gave the man CPR and then shocked him with an automated external defibrillator and was able to bring him back. She said the man apparently had a heart attack, but a local hospital responded and they think he will survive. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37504683.story
New site selected for veterans nursing home (Leaf Chronicle) County picks spot behind Walmart on Ft. Campbell Blvd. County administrators offered a new site for the proposed Tennessee State Veterans Nursing Home to a county commission committee Tuesday afternoon. Members of the committee, including county mayor Carolyn Bowers, all expressed strong support for the 9.5- acre site behind the Walmart on Fort Campbell Blvd. as a home for the $22.6 million project. Montgomery County Director of Facilities Development Clint Camp and Director of Administration and Development Phil Harpel both said they feel comfortable with the new site, which replaces the north Clarksville location that the Tennessee State Veterans Homes board shot down in May. Camp said the preliminary studies show good drainage and grading, which were both factors in the board's disapproval of the former location during the environmental study phase, along with the site's proximity to the Outlaw Field Airport. Officials at the state's Real Property Administration and the city also expressed preliminary approval of the site, Harpel said. However, several studies evaluating potential traffic, environmental factors and other components will all have to be conducted before the site is assessed by any state or national agency. Camp said he expects the studies to be mostly complete by Christmas. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20110921/NEWS08/109210316/New-site-selected-veterans-nursing- home?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
Government Shutdown Possible Over Disaster Aid (Wall Street Journal) Congress once again found itself embroiled on Tuesday in a display of brinksmanship and the threat of a government shutdown, despite the public's recoiling against such maneuvering earlier this year. Congress needs to pass a funding bill before the fiscal year ends Sept. 30, but Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the sensitive issue of how to pay for disaster relief. Lawmakers hope to pass a short-term bill this week that would fund the government through Nov. 18. The House version, to be voted on Wednesday, includes $3.65 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief fund, paid for by offsetting cuts elsewhere in the budget. Senate Democrats intend to provide almost twice as much disaster relief—about $7 billion. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D., La.), whose state is often ravaged by hurricanes, said of the House bill, "It's wholly insufficient." She said the bill would be paid for, "but we can argue about that later." House leaders said they were providing more than enough in emergency relief. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) said, "We are delivering the monies that are needed." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903374004576583122917373248.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)
In Cuts to Health Programs, Experts See Difficult Task in Protecting Patients (NYT) President Obama and some members of Congress assert that, in cutting Medicare and Medicaid, they can whack health care providers while protecting beneficiaries. But experts say it is not so simple. Experience, they say, shows that some cuts in payments to providers hurt beneficiaries, as more doctors refuse to take Medicaid patients or limit the number of new Medicare patients they will accept. Hospitals curtail services. Beneficiaries may have more difficulty getting therapy services after a stroke, traumatic brain injury or hip fracture. By contrast, the experts say, other cuts force health care providers to become more efficient, saving money for beneficiaries, taxpayers and the government. Marilyn Moon, a health economist and former trustee of the Medicare program, said that “you have to be vigilant” in cutting Medicare payments to health care providers because “there is no bright line” between cuts that affect beneficiaries and those that affect only providers. The need to make such distinctions came into sharp focus this week as Mr. Obama and a bipartisan special Congressional committee intensified their search for ways to squeeze hundreds of billions of dollars out of federal health spending. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/us/politics/wielding-the-ax-on-medicaid-and-medicare-without-wounding-the-
7 patient.html?ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)
Storage yards cleaned up at Y-12 in Oak Ridge (Associated Press) The Y-12 National Security Complex says it has cleaned up the last of 16 highly contaminated storage yards at the uranium processing facility at Oak Ridge. The cleanup of the 1.5-acre, decades-old storage yard for unneeded materials and chemicals was expected to take up to two years and $4.2 million, according to a Y-12 news release on Tuesday. Officials were able to save an estimated $600,000 and finish the work six months ahead of schedule by disposing some of the waste onsite. About 60 percent of the total waste of the storage yards went to the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility at Oak Ridge. The rest of the waste went to the Nevada National Security Site as originally planned. Officials say they reduced costs associated with containers, personnel and fuel. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37504221.story
Watts Bar disaster drill scheduled today (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sohn) Don't be alarmed to see radiological monitoring teams scurrying around the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant today. About 1,000 Tennessee Valley Authority and state emergency responders in McMinn, Meigs and Rhea counties will conduct an emergency preparedness exercise in and around the plant. The drill is to help TVA and responders prepare for a Department of Homeland Security and Nuclear Regulatory Commission exercise in October, TVA spokeswoman Myra Ireland said. TVA will be graded on how it responds to the exercise. "We do it for the health and safety of the public," Ireland said. Residents may see the radiological monitoring teams or other responders in action as part of the exercise and may hear on-site and off-site sirens, she said. Utilities operating nuclear power plants are required by the NRC to conduct emergency exercises annually as part of a long-term drill and exercise program.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/21/watts-bar-disaster-drill- scheduled-today/?local
Proposed GM deal has 1,700 new Spring Hill jobs (Associated Press/Poovey) As General Motors Co. plans to create more than 1,700 new jobs at a Tennessee assembly plant where about 2,000 employees were laid off two years ago, the mayor of Spring Hill said the turnaround seems too good to be true. "It's almost like Alice in Wonderland falling into a rabbit hole," Spring Hill Mayor Michael Dinwiddie said Tuesday. "All we hear is about how bad the economy is, that all the jobs are going overseas." A summary of GM's proposed contract with the United Auto Workers shows the jobs were originally destined for Mexico. Hiring at the plant south of Nashville is to begin next year. "It's absolutely fantastic news," Dinwiddie said. "Folks will come in and purchase houses. They will be spending money in our businesses." At the Embers Tavern and Grille, near the plant where GM decades ago launched the Saturn, owner and GM Spring Hill retiree Ben McFarlane said he looks forward to a return of big shift-change crowds in the afternoon, the 10 p.m. "beer drinkers shift" and the influx of skilled trade workers who will be in town to install new equipment. "That is going to be a huge boost for us," McFarlane said. "It's been most noticeable at the shift change." http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37503817.story
GM proposal calls for 1,700 jobs, two vehicles at Spring Hill (Nash Biz Journal) A proposed agreement between General Motors Co. and the United Auto Workers union calls for the return of 1,700 jobs to the company’s plant in Spring Hill, The Associated Press is reporting. The AP, citing a summary of the deal released by the UAW, also reports that the plant will make two midsize cars. The plant has been on standby since 2009, when it produced its last Chevrolet Traverse. About 1,000 employees work at the Spring Hill facility in engine production and other operations, down from a peak of more than 7,000. Union members are to vote on the new deal in the next week. The Associated Press reports that GM will invest a $61 million on one of the Spring Hill vehicles, creating some 600 jobs. It is investing $358 million on the other vehicle, creating some 1,100 jobs. The AP reports that hiring will begin next year. Reuters is reporting that the proposal between GM and the UAW will create 6,000 jobs at a total of six plants. According to a UAW official, a vast majority of the new jobs will be at the entry-level position of about $15 an hour, Reuters reports. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/09/20/gm-proposal-calls-for-1700-jobs-two.html
GM Work Bound for Mexico to Head for Spring Hill Instead (WPLN-Radio Nashville) General Motors plans to divert work that was headed to Mexico and build two mid-size cars in Spring Hill. The
8 assembly lines will restore 1,700 jobs in Tennessee. The new positions are part of a contract agreement between the United Auto Workers and GM. Ratification of the deal will take place next week. Roughly 2,000 employees were laid off in 2009 when the assembly line in Spring Hill was idled. Among them was Mike Proctor. He recently took a temporary position at a GM plant in Texas. Talking on his cell phone, Proctor says he’s already on the road, headed back to Tennessee. “That’s my home, and that’s where I’m trying to get back to.” Hundreds of GM employees scattered around the country. Proctor, who has a fiancé and home in Columbia, says he’s been waiting two years for the Spring Hill plant to restart. “It’s a great feeling. It’s a feeling of relief too.” According to a summary of the agreement, GM will spend $60 million on one of the car lines, creating 600 jobs. More than $350 million will be invested in another assembly line that will employ 1,100 http://wpln.org/?workers. p=30397
Gibson raid ignites passion (Tennessean/Wadhwani) A month after federal agents raided Gibson Guitar on suspicions the company illegally imported timber from Indian rainforests, the issues raised by the action continue to galvanize — and polarize — conservative activists, environmentalists and industry groups. But thus far federal officials have been largely silent, shedding little additional light on the case since the Aug. 24 raid because it is an ongoing probe. It is the second time in two years that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has raided Gibson. In both cases, the maker of classic American guitars is suspected of violating the Lacey Act, a federal law designed to bar imports of endangered animals, plants and — in this case — woods for use in the making of the finely crafted musical instruments for which the company is famous. This week, new developments in the Gibson raids included: Industry criticism: There has been an effort by conservation and timber industry groups to counter Gibson’s and some politicians’ criticism of the Lacey Act and to call attention to what they see as the critical twin issues of environmental conservation and shielding American timber interests from being undercut by cheap and illegally harvested wood imports. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110921/NEWS/309210114/Gibson-raid-ignites-passions?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|News
Proponents of Lacey Act push back against Gibson (Nashville Business Journal) A coalition of environmental groups and wood-product companies are fighting against the public outcry that has erupted in recent weeks since Nashville-based Gibson Guitar Co . was thrust into a political battle over a 100- year-old environmental law. Those groups, many of whom lobbied on behalf of a 2008 change to the Lacey Act, want to ensure that the logging and exporting of certain wood, like the ebony used in Gibson’s iconic guitars, remains restricted. Gibson, led by CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, has been accused of violating the Lacey Act by falsely describing the use of that wood, which was exported to the United States from Madagascar. Juszkiewicz has publicly contended that the Justice Department bullied the company because of the agency’s "interpretation of a law in India." The Lacey Act, originally passed by Congress in 1900, was amended in 2008 as part of that year’s Farm Bill to include protection for certain wood, in addition to endangered animal species. At its core, the Lacey Act makes it illegal to import plants or wildlife into the U.S. if those goods are harvested in a way that violates the laws of another country. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/09/20/proponents-of-lacey-act-fight-against.html
Feds won't target unwitting owners of illegal wood (Associated Press/Schelzig) Federal officials say that people who unknowingly possess musical instruments made with illegal wood products do not face prosecution. In a letter to Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, officials with the U.S. Justice Department and the Interior Department say enforcement efforts are focused on those "removing protected species from the wild and making a profit by trafficking in them." The letter responds to correspondence from Blackburn raising concerns over recent raids on Gibson Guitar Corp. factories in Memphis and Nashville. Agents carried away computer hard drives, pallets of wood and guitars they suspected of being made of wood imported in violation of the Lacey Act, which bans importation of environmentally threatened plants and animals. Gibson head Henry Juszkiewicz (JUS'-kuh-wits) has said the company is being unfairly targeted. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37507885.story
Japan's recovery felt in TN (Tennessean/Allyn) Opportunities open in autos, solar, wind Six months after an earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, more than half of the country’s tsunami-stricken manufacturing sector has recovered, and Japanese auto and solar power companies may expand in Tennessee. That’s according to Hiroshi Sato, the Nashville-based consul
9 general of Japan, who said Tennessee-Japanese business opportunities are improving despite supply disruptions in key Japanese economic sectors such as autos and manufacturing of LCD screens. The consul general spoke Tuesday morning along with other Japanese officials at a panel discussion organized by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. The state should expect more Japanese renewable energy companies specializing in solar panels and wind turbines — as well as the auto industry — to expand here because of the state’s pro-business environment and its central location, among other factors, Hiroshi Sato said. Japan’s production was around 60 percent of its pre-earthquake output, according to the latest reports, Kiichiro Sato, head of the Japanese External Trade Organization told business leaders. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110921/BUSINESS01/309210102/Japan-s-recovery-felt-TN? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p
Sea Ray dealers keeping an eye on politics, economics (News-Sentinel/Huotari) Economics and politics are as important to boat dealers right now as parts and inventory. Boat sellers from around the world attending Sea Ray's annual dealer meeting in Knoxville this week say they are closely watching the U.S. economy and 2012 presidential election as they try to predict sales in the coming year. Sales are typically flat or slightly up going into an election year, said Bo Bierley, manager of Russell Marine's Kowaliga Marina in Alexander City, Ala. "Historically, that has kind of been the case," Bierley said. Much hinges on the presidential election, said Lee Arnold, who owns a Sea Ray dealership near Roanoke, Va. The president has more power than Congress, and there is legislative uncertainty surrounding such issues as health care and tax increases, he said, adding that the uncertainty affects boat buyers. A few dealers said sales have been up — at least slightly — in the past year, possibly due to better weather and falling fuel prices. There also has been pent- up demand. Customers' boats have aged and haven't been replaced, said Patrick Deal, vice president of sales and marketing for Erwin Marine Sales in Chattanooga. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/20/sea-ray-dealers-keeping-an-eye-on-politics/
Hamilton County Commission to revisit school funding issue (TFP/Haman) With a new superintendent at the helm of Hamilton County Schools, a county commissioner plans to revisit a controversial resolution that gave the commission control of an education treasure chest. Chester Bankston said he now wants commissioners to return to the schools the key to payment-in-lieu-of-taxes money earmarked for education. Last week Bankston, who represents District 9 and earlier supported a plan to wrest control of the money from the schools, surprised some commissioners when he announced his plans to revisit the February resolution. He is expected to bring up the matter at today's full commission meeting. "[The schools] just need it back," Bankston, a former Board of Education member, said of the funds. "I personally wish we wouldn't tell them how to use it." Bankston voted in February with seven other commissioners for the body to control the money produced by any PILOT agreements the county entered after the 2009 tax year, including those with Volkswagen and Amazon. Greg Beck was the only commissioner who opposed the arrangement at the time. Now Bankston says he's had a change of heart. The schools need about $1.5 million for capital projects, and Bankston said he's more confident that leadership will use the money wisely. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/21/commission-to-revisit-school-funding-issue/?local
Georgia: Georgia seeks waiver of No Child Left Behind rules (Associated Press) Georgia education officials are seeking a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind Act and putting forward a new plan to measure the performance of the state's schools on more than just test scores. State School Superintendent John Barge and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson were set to submit Georgia's waiver request on Tuesday to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in Washington. The state is among the first in the nation to appeal some provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. No Child Left Behind relies on test scores to measure adequate yearly progress. The proposed Georgia alternative supplements test scores with other indicators like attendance, career or college readiness and how well the schools prepare students for the next level. Isakson was one of the original authors of No Child Left Behind. But last week the Georgia Republican sponsored a bill with other GOP lawmakers to scrap the adequate yearly progress requirement. No Child Left Behind requires that all students be "proficient" in math and science by 2014. Those benchmarks are widely considered to be unrealistic. Isakson said that after a decade of implementation the law "has served its purpose in raising expectations and standards." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/21/georgia-seeks-waiver-no-child-left-behind-rules/?local
10 Texas: Third Stay of Execution (Associated Press) Cleve Foster, who for the third time this year was hours away from execution for the rape-slaying of a woman, Nyaneur Pal, nearly 10 years ago, was granted another reprieve by the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday. Unlike his previous trips to the death house, this time the reprieve came before he was served his requested final meal, which included two fried chickens and a five-gallon bucket of peaches. The court’s brief order said the reprieve would remain in effect pending the outcome of Mr. Foster’s request for a review. In January, he won a reprieve so the justices could further review an appeal in his case. In April, the court again halted his execution when lawyers sought a rehearing on arguments that he was innocent and had poor legal help at his trial and early in his appeal. His lawyers returned to the court, specifically asking it to decide whether prisoners like Mr. Foster had a constitutional guarantee for competent counsel. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/us/cleve-foster-is-granted-third-stay-of-execution.html? _r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)
OPINION
Charlie Daniel Political Cartoon: “Smile” (Knoxville News-Sentinel) http://media.knoxnews.com/media/img/photos/2011/09/20/cd09212011_t607.jpg
Editorial: Narrowing focus of sex offender ban would make policy stronger (N-S) The Knox County library system has barred anyone on Tennessee's sex offender's registry from entering any of its branches. Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, in consultation with library officials, came up with the policy after a state law allowing restrictions on sex criminals took effect July 1. Knox County's library system is the first in the state to adopt a policy under the new law. Anyone on the state's sexual offender's registry who enters a Knox County library branch could face a charge of criminal trespassing. The policy allows sex offenders to check out materials through a proxy and to contact reference librarians by phone or email to get information from other library materials. The county has a compelling interest in protecting children against sexual predators, and we applaud Burchett for taking the initiative. However, though the desire to protect the youngest and most vulnerable of our society is important, more needs to be done to make sure the policy can stand up in court. As it's now written, the policy appears overly broad and might not be able to withstand a legal challenge. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/21/narrowing-focus-of-sex-offender-ban-would-make/
Editorial: More politics won't create jobs, focus in Nashville might (Jackson Sun) State Democratic Party leaders were in West Tennessee on Monday and Tuesday touting a jobs tour that will move across the state during the week. A stated goal of the group was to inspire Democrats to develop ideas that could lead to bipartisan legislation to help create jobs. But to us, the effort appeared to be more about political posturing than about jobs and economic development. We are not ungrateful for the party's attention to the job needs of West Tennessee, but we fail to see anything new. Anyone interested in the state's unemployment problems has easy access to the statistics. We know why people are unemployed. The nation's economic downturn played a role. But so did the erosion of old-technology jobs as they were relocated to foreign countries. That left large areas of the state, especially rural areas, with empty factories and a workforce needing to be retrained, if jobs could be found. We are told ad nauseum that government doesn't create jobs, and we can accept most of that logic. But government can be a partner in creating job opportunities. That is done primarily through business tax incentives, education, job training opportunities and infrastructure development. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20110921/OPINION01/109210305/More-politics-won-t-create-jobs-focus
Editorial: Dairy farm upgrade to boost MTSU ag sciences (Daily News Journal) Dairy farming used to mean getting up long before the sun and hand-milking cows. That was how many a 11 Rutherford County family made a living in what was once a dairy farming community. But as the economy, markets and technology changed, dairy farms began to disappear, until the point only a few remain in Rutherford County. One thing that didn't change, though, was the demand for milk. People still drink it, whether skim, 2 percent or whole milk, and expertise is needed to run the dairy farms that provide it. Wisely, MTSU maintained its emphasis on agriculture education over the decades and last week unveiled a $2.7 million modern dairy on Guy James Road in eastern Rutherford County. It's the "most visible" part of a $4.4 million university investment in its farm campus on the former Guy James farm. MTSU, which still has farming facilities on Manson Pike and Lebanon Highway, renamed the old James farm the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience Experiential Learning and Research Center. http://www.dnj.com/article/20110921/OPINION01/109210307/Dairy-farm-upgrade-boost-MTSU-ag-sciences
Free-Press Editorial: Chattanooga's 10,000th Volkswagen (Times Free-Press) It's always fun to mark milestones in our individual lives and in the economy. After Chattanooga spent years seeking to attract big economic development investments, it was fantastic news when Germany-based Volkswagen decided to build its billion-dollar car-manufacturing plant at Chattanooga's Enterprise South industrial park. Now, those cars are flowing off local assembly lines, generating economic activity and providing jobs for thousands of area residents. And the latest milestone at the VW plant is that it has produced its 10,000th car. Dealers have been receiving shipments of the new Passats. We anticipate many more celebratory days as Volkswagen's operations continue -- and perhaps expand -- in Chattanooga in years to come. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/21/our-10000th-volkswagen/?opinionfreepress
Frank Munger: Shrinking ORNL budgets to hit subcontractors, too (News- Sentinel) The fiscal storm clouds have been on the horizon for a while, so it wasn't necessarily a shock when Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason announced plans to eliminate up to 350 jobs. The jobs cut will take place over the next few months, initially through a voluntary separation program and then through involuntary departures (layoffs) as needed. Mason said these actions, as well as a management reorganization and possibly changes in the benefits programs, are necessary to prepare for a smaller budget in fiscal year 2012 and likely beyond. The idea is to reduce costs as quickly as possibly to get the maximum savings, he said. The shrinking budgets, however, will have an impact beyond the lab's direct payroll. There will also be jobs lost among subcontractors, and there probably will be fewer new subcontracts as well. "There's only two things we do with money," Mason said in an interview. "We pay people's salaries, and we award contracts. If we get less funding, we do less of both of them." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/21/shrinking-ornl-budgets-to-hit-subcontractors-too/
Guest columnist: Extend transportation program to avert disaster (Tennessean) “Houston — we have a problem.” When considering the peril Americans face as a result of our deteriorating transportation infrastructure, I am reminded of Astronaut Jim Lovell’s famous words during the ill-fated Apollo 13 space mission of 1970. At that time a team of men and women from Mission Control worked under tight deadlines to undertake a historic rescue. Members of Congress need to take similar action today. In 1970, it was a mechanical failure. In 2011, it is a failure to act. Congress faces a hard deadline of Sept. 30 to extend the federal transportation program. Failure to do so could have a devastating impact on mobility and the safety of the traveling public. Forty years ago, immediate action was necessary to ensure the safety of three American astronauts; the same urgency is necessary today to ensure the safety of millions. Once the immediate crisis is averted, Congress can continue the real work of developing a new, long-term transportation bill that will help meet 21st-century transportation needs. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110921/OPINION/309210092/Extend-transportation-program-avert- disaster?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p
Times Editorial: A strategy for the postal service (Chattanooga Times Free-Press) The woes of the U.S. Postal Service are well documented. Most recently, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe told Congress how technology and changing markets continue to undermine the service's fiscal stability. The agency lost more than $8 billion last year and could lose even more this year. There's been a lot talk about the problem, but few concrete suggestions to remedy it. That changed Monday when President Barack Obama provided a detailed strategy for rejuvenating the postal service. The blueprint must pass political and public 12 muster. It has much to recommend it. The recommendation likely to stir the most debate is reducing the number of days mail will be delivered from six to five. Saturday delivery is most likely to be eliminated. That will cause some hardship, but some cuts are necessary to save a vital public service. A delivery reduction, albeit painful, is one such cut. Officials say ending Saturday service could save $3.1 billion annually. Two other Obama proposals are meritorious as well. There's no reason to force the postal service to continue to prepay retiree medical benefits (no other federal agency does). http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/21/a-strategy-for-the-postal-service/?opiniontimes
Free-Press Editorial: Deficit-ridden Postal Service needs reform (Times Free- Press) When our Constitution was being written in "horse and buggy days," our Founding Fathers provided for a national postal service. Well, mail demands expanded as population and commerce grew. But technology has a way of rewriting the rules, and email correspondence has now vastly reduced traditional mail. About 43 billion fewer pieces of traditional mail will be sent this year than were sent four years ago! As a result, there sometimes is not enough work to be done by some of the modern Postal Service's hundreds of thousands of employees. We want good mail service, and we want it promptly and at reasonable cost. But with volume plunging, the Postal Service is facing multibillion-dollar deficits. And its union work rules deny it the nimbleness to adjust its workforce to meet actual demand for its services. So President Barack Obama has proposed that Congress reduce postal deficits by letting the Postal Service cut delivery from six days a week to five -- and raise postal rates. He also would provide a $6.9 billion "refund" to the Postal Service from its pension fund, and he wants to restructure the pension plan. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/21/postal-service-in-trouble/?opinionfreepress
###
13