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February 12, 2010

Fitzhugh Seeks Re-election to Tennessee House of Representatives (82nd District)

Filed under: News — 4:12 am

Friends, After much thought and prayer, I have decided against running for the 8th Congressional seat to replace John Tanner. I am today announcing my intent to seek re-election to the 82nd House District in the Tennessee House of Representatives. I thank each of you who encouraged me to run for Congress. I feel I can continue to have the greatest impact serving you in the state house. Below is an article from the Commercial Appeal which I thought you might like.
Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to serve YOU.
Craig

***************

NASHVILLE — State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, a Democrat from Ripley, announced today he won’t run for the 8th Congressional District seat that U.S. Rep. John Tanner is vacating in this year’s election.

Fitzhugh, 59, a banker and lawyer, had considered running for his party’s nomination for the congressional district comprising North Memphis and north Shelby County, all of Northwest Tennessee, through Jackson and to Clarksville. Instead, he will seek a ninth two-year term in state House District 82, which encompasses Crockett, Dyer and Lauderdale counties.

“When my friend John Tanner announced his retirement from Congress, an interest in the position was immediately kindled in me,” said Fitzhugh. “Since 1965, when I served as a page for our former Congressman Robert A. “Fats” Everett, I’ve always had a wish to follow in his footsteps. Encouraged by many, I pursued a look at the seat, even doing a bit of polling. With encouraging results, I became more interested.

“However, the more I considered running for Congress, the more I realized my passion for serving in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The Bible tells us that everything has its time. For me, this is not my time to run for the United States Congress. … Our state budget situation is once again dire and I believe I can best serve my constituents by doing what I can to keep our state financially on solid footing,” said Fitzhugh, who as chairman of the House Finance Committee plays a major role in passage of the state’s annual budget.

September 21, 2009

Latest Blog Posting: West TN Megasite-Now is the Time

Filed under: News — 3:41 pm

Please check out my latest blog post regarding the West Tennessee Megasite by clicking on this link

August 23, 2009

Fitzhugh Attends Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce Coffee

Filed under: News — 1:44 pm

On Friday, August 7th, the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce played host to Sen. Mark Norris, Rep. Craig Fitzhugh and Rep. Judy Barker during a Legislative Coffee meeting.More along the lines of a town hall meeting, the state legislative members first gave an introductory presentation and then answered questions from the audience.

Next, Fitzhugh took the podium. He said there were some leadership changes on Capitol Hill and especially in the House. Fitzhugh was reappointed as chairman of the House Finance Committee. He said he and Norris did have some disagreements, but they worked through them. He also noted Barker, Norris and himself work well together and will continue to do so.

Fitzhugh said this past budget was a tough one. He mentioned legislative members not wanting to be where they were a few years ago, where they spend one-time money for recurring obligations. And they had the opportunity to spend the money this time because they had a bundle of federal cash, but chose not to. Fitzhugh however said they did continue some necessary programs.

Fitzhugh said the General Assembly did something unusual this budget year. The oddity was taking steps for the next budget year.

“They made some decisions to change some recurring expenses based on recurring revenues to non-recurring expenses based on non-recurring revenues,” said Fitzhugh. “We put in place already, a lot of cuts that are going to take place at the end of this next fiscal year.”

Fitzhugh said the state was looking better on revised revenue estimates.

“This is a relative term. We’re looking a little better actually,” said Fitzhugh. “Our decrease in revenue is not as much as we thought. That’s good news believe it or not.”

He then told the audience the General Assembly was closely watching the state’s tax dollars.

“I can say with assurance your tax dollars are being looked at, every single dollar,” said Fitzhugh.

He said his finance committee and the budget sub-committee scrutinizes every bill that spends a dollar. Both the committee and sub-committee are composed of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.

He then noted Tennessee is so sales-tax dependant that revenues dip significantly when automobiles and homes don’t sell. But, when they do sell, Tennessee will catch up faster than surrounding states.

Fitzhugh said he knows what local governments are facing and they are making an extra effort to not have unfunded mandates.

“I think Judy, Mark and I know and understand that and watch that,” said Fitzhugh. “So, if you can be grim and optimistic at the same time I think that’s about where I am.”

Fitzhugh said the biggest disappointment he has is spending so much time in Nashville, but is easily available by phone and e-mail.

To Read The Entire Story, click on the link below

http://www.stategazette.com/story/1561258.html

May 25, 2009

Fitzhugh Meets with Supporters of Port of Cates Landing Development

Filed under: News — 12:59 pm

Port of Cates Landing reaches major

milestones

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A West Tennessee delegation traveled to Nashville to thank legislators for their roles in supporting major developments at the Port of Cates Landing, north of Tiptonville. Representing the delegation and highlighting significant developments for the legislators were Port of Cates Landing Marketing Team Chairman Kerry Brannon and team member Randall Rhodes.Brannon reported that several major milestones have been reached. Among those are completion of the 9,000-foot slack-water harbor, proposed construction of an open cell terminal and selection of Associated Terminals as the port operator. Associated Terminals is one the largest terminal operators in the United States Gulf. Additionally, port officials are investigating the benefits of Clean Port USA designation (an Environmental Protection Agency National Clean Diesel Campaign program) and Foreign Trade Zone status.

It was explained that new and existing businesses will be able to utilize the Port of Cates Landing to transport their raw and finished products by barge-to-rail, barge-to-truck and truck-to-rail transfer. This multi-modal concept will offer efficiencies and cost savings to port users.

Legislators also received a funding report during the update session. To date, over $13 million has been invested by local, state and federal government agencies to complete the dredging of the harbor and the acquisition of more than 1,000 acres designed to support the port. Phase II of the project will provide for construction of a docking facility with multi-modal rail and roadway connections.

Representative Judy Barker commended the Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority and area volunteers for advancing the project.

“Development of this unique asset has the potential for creation of hundreds of needed jobs, and injection of millions of dollars in capital investments and tax revenue into the regional economy,” said Barker.

Rhodes noted that three economic impact studies have been completed, all of which justify the development of this project. Two of these studies, one done by Younger & Associates and one by the University of Memphis, indicate the potential to create as many as 5,600 new jobs, with an annual impact of $206 million in new income and tax revenue in Lake, Dyer and Obion counties. (These three counties comprise the Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority). The third study, done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, indicated that existing industry alone would support the development of the multi-modal port through savings created by supplementing truck and/or rail transport with cost-effective barge transport.

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh was also on hand and commented that “the forward thinking of citizens in Lake, Dyer, and Obion Counties is becoming reality. The impact of the port will be felt far beyond these counties and will be a critical asset for economic growth as well as the state.”

Rhodes further explained that planned local road and rail improvements, along with the port’s proximity to the proposed route of I-69 (the corridor connecting Canada to Mexico), will help retain existing area businesses and attract new businesses. Increased business activities should provide economic and social benefits for years to come to all of West Tennessee and perhaps even to Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas.

For more information about the Port of Cates Landing, visit www.portofcateslanding.com, send inquiries to info@portofcateslanding.com, or contact Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority Board Chairman Jimmy Williamson at 731-287-4605.

http://www.stategazette.com/story/1540856.html

January 22, 2009

Fitzhugh Appointed to Chair House Finance Ways and Means Committee for Upcoming Session

Filed under: News — Source: KnoxNews.com — 3:47 pm

State House committee chair assignments

Here are the committee assignments released Thursday by House Speaker Kent Williams, R-Elizabethton. All committees are evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, except for the Government Operations and Calendar and Rules panels, where the GOP holds a one-vote advantage:

-Agriculture: Chairman Stratton Bone, D-Lebanon; 12 members.

-Calendar and Rules: Chairman Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville; 23 members.

-Children and Family Affairs: Chairman John Deberry, D-Memphis; 12 members.

-Commerce: Chairwoman Beth Harwell, R-Nashville; 30 members

-Conservation and Environment: Chairman Joe McCord, R-Maryville; 12 members.

-Consumer Employee Affairs: Chairman Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma; 12 members.

-Education: Chairman Henry Brooks, R-Knoxville; 22 members.

-Ethics: Chairman Ulysses Jones, D-Memphis; 12 members.

-Finance, Ways and Means: Chairman Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley; 30 members.

-Government Operations: Chairwoman Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet; 13 members.

Fitzhugh Speaks at University of Tennessee Commencement

Filed under: News — Source: University of Tennessee — 3:44 pm

October 9, 2008

Fitzhugh Named Best Lawmaker in Tennessee

Filed under: News — Source: Business TN — 10:33 am

In May of 2005, federal and state law enforcement agencies descended on Capitol Hill and arrested four indicted state lawmakers for taking money from a fake FBI front company. One of those arrested was Sen. Ward Crutchfield, a Chattanooga Democratic, who was recently sentenced to two years’ probation. Last June, ex-state Sen. Jerry Cooper was acquitted on bank fraud charges in a U.S. District Court. During the trial, an FBI agent testified that Cooper had transferred more than $95,000 from a campaign account into personal accounts with 24 checks dated between December 1999, and November 2001. The State Registry of Election Finance has since imposed a record $120,000 civil penalty against Cooper. Cooper most recently announced his retirement from the legislature and his plans to appeal the fine. (In 2007 Cooper also pleaded “no contest” to drunken driving charges.)

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