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Daily Dose for May 08, 2007
State Has $1.3B Extra
State Has $1.3B Extra -- For the fourth straight year, tax revenues have grown faster than the economy, producing $600M in unexpected nonrecurring revenue plus another $700M in recurring revenue above projections. Volatile corporate taxes are responsible for much of this year's increase. Economists suggested that the Legislature invest much of the rainy day fund and Bredesen officials reacting to the budget numbers seemed to endorse the idea - along with funding the changes to the BEP. Economists are predicting a modest slowdown in the economy in the coming year. Bredesen's original budget proposal already spent some of the state's non-recurring surplus dollars. More here, here and here
Lamar Files English Only Workplace Bill -- Sen. Lamar Alexander has filed a bill that would shield employeers who declare English as the only workplace language from potential lawsuits. Alexander says there have already been cases where employers have been sued under equal opportunity statutes for not allowing languages other than English to be spoken on the job. The number of charges filed with the EEOC alleging discrimination based on English-only policies has risen from 32 in 1996 to about 200 in 2006. Alexander: "In America, requiring English in the workplace is not discrimination; it's common sense."
With Exemption for Small Biz, Living Wage Passes in Shelby Co -- The Shelby Co. Commission passed a living wage ordinance similar to the City of Memphis, which requires companies contracting with the county to pay their employees at least a living wage - estimate at $12/hr. The ordinance was set to fail with the objection of one Democratic Commissioner, but a last minute amendment exempted local companies who employee less than 10 people. The ordinance will be up for a final reading May 21.
Legislature Okays Metro Election Move -- The Legislature cleared the way Monday for the Davidson County Election Commission to change the date of Metro’s runoff election this year, which happened to fall on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
Permanent Ban on Felons Holding Offices Passes -- Elected officials convicted of felonies involving their office or official duties would be permanently banned from seeking or holding elected office again in Tennessee under a bill approved Monday night. The permanent ban on holding office that the bill imposes would apply only to officials convicted of crimes involving their offices, but House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh says he thinks the bill would have a retroactive effect - a thus apply to lawmakers convicted in TN Waltz.
