Daily Dose for January 30, 2007

Daily Dose

Pre-K Special Again This Year -- The PR machine is running full force on Pre-K education. It's an issue that's likely to come up again this year in Governor Bredesen's state of the state address. Tennessee school systems would like to add 337 new state-funded prekindergarten classrooms to the tune of $36 million, a proposal Governor Bredesen is likely to approve. The current state budget has about $56 million earmarked for the program. Of that, $25 million comes from lottery profits and the rest from general state revenue funds. More from the News-Sentinel and Tennessean.

East TN Farmers Get Big Tobacco Buy-Out -- East Tennessee farmers will have $12.5 million more dollars towards transitioning tobacco farms to other cash crops, according to new Congressman David Davis. Davis: "I am excited that there will be more money for farmers who have participated in the [Tobacco Transition Payment Program]. The 1st District has a long tradition of tobacco farms. I grew up on a small tobacco farm. I know how important farms are to the livelihood of many in East Tennessee." The program provides annual transitional payments for 10 years to eligible tobacco quota holders and producers. TTPP payments began in 2005 and continue through 2014.

Nashville Mayor Fundraising Update -- Former Metro Law Director Karl Dean announced Monday he raised $156,450 for his fledgling campaign for Nashville Mayor in less than a month. Dean gave himself $50,000, and the rest of the money largely came from fundraising among fellow attorneys. Competitors Councilman-at-Large Buck Dozier has raised nearly $316,000 total. Former Congressman Bob Clement's numbers are now well above $290,000 and Councilman David Briley hasn't released his disclosure, but continues to do some interesting things with the internet, including a grassroots ad campaign.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |