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

Friends,

Over the past several weeks, I’ve attempted to emphasize the critical condition the rural counties in West Tennessee find themselves in.   This comes despite herculean efforts on the part of local officials to save and recruit local industry.  They recognize the changing jobs climate and are doing everything possible to ready their counties for these 21st Century jobs.  They will succeed, but the obstacles facing them are, in my opinion, much greater than other parts of the State.  In West Tennessee, we have had at least 3 megasite proposals and have finally been able to attract attention and resources to one.  This site, both actually and symbolically, holds the promise for a new future here.  It is our first attempt at major regional job creation and stands as the shining example as what can, and hopefully will, happen in rural counties.  We know we must lean on the state for vital assistance, but we also believe that those efforts will be rewarded by making our section of the State as productive and contributory as possible.

This is a critical time for us.  The megasite has the ability to affect the West Tennessee and beyond. The site is the visible part, and will form the basis for both on-site and regional supplier jobs, but the stakes are much higher than that.  An extended delay, or other action or inaction to jeopardize the completion of the project at the earliest possible time, will set back economic development efforts in West Tennessee for much too long.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as a state representative from rural West Tennessee.  Now is the time for this Megasite to become a reality.  Far too much is at stake to allow ourselves to get caught up in political and bureaucratic webs.  

Click here to read the Op-Ed regarding the Megasite Sen. Lowe Finney and I recently wrote for the Jackson-Sun newspaper in Jackson

Click here to read the Letter to the Editor regarding the Megasite I recently wrote for the Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis

I consider it a great privilege to serve the 82nd district in the Tennessee House of Representatives.  One of the best parts of my job is that I am able to travel our district and talk with hardworking folks who are proud to call west Tennessee their home.  I am always available to talk and help you in any way I can.  Please don’t hesitate to send me an email, give me a call, or write me a quick note.  I promise you will hear back from me, and I will do my best to assist you.  My contact information is below.  

Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber  announced applications are available for the Tennessee Rural Technology Assistance Program, a series of competitive grants aimed at increasing technology usage and availability in rural areas of Tennessee. The grants will be awarded to selected counties in which the population of all municipalities is less than 20,000 as of July 1st, 2009.

“As we’ve sought to bring jobs to rural communities in Tennessee, we’ve taken a number of steps to make them more competitive, including community development, the development of entrepreneurship and the availability of capital,” said Commissioner Kisber.

“The adoption of technology is a key. As we make technology more pervasive, we can make communities more competitive.” “I think this grant program is an important step for our rural areas,” said Rep Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley), chairman, House Finance, Ways and Means committee.

To Read The Entire Story, click on the link below:

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/08/15/state-ecd-announces-rural-technology-assistance-grants-applications-available/

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

milestones

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

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.

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Tennessee’s governor is no exception, and I can’t blame him. This recession was clearly not the fault of our state government, and with state revenues in the current fiscal year now expected to fall as much as $1 billion short of the amount assumed in Tennessee’s budget, it is wise for Gov. Phil Bredesen to petition Washington for help. I trust he will be successful and we will soon see a share of the federal stimulus package heading to Tennessee.

I am not one to “look a gift horse in the mouth,” but I have been through out-of-balance state budgets and a government shutdown before. I certainly don’t want our state to have to go through that experience again.

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