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Daily Dose for November 30, 2007
Bredesen Wants Lottery Changes
Bredesen Wants Lottery Changes -- Gov. Phil Bredesen say he wants state officials to consider revamping the state's lottery scholarship system to include more need-based scholarships. Bredesen: "If you have 3.2 and your parents are wealthy or well off, maybe use some of that money for the 2.8 whose parents are not wealthy and can’t send them to college instead." Bredesen acknowledged that questions about who should qualify for lottery scholarships does not address the large numbers of students who lose them once they reach college because of a failure to meet retention standards and that any change the lottery system may require another constitutional amendment to modify the one allowing the lottery. More here and here.
State Executions on Hold Til Next Summer -- Governor Bredesen says that the state's executions are likely on hold until next summer. Bredesen said the state will wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the case of two Kentucky death row inmates who argue the method amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ruled in September that Tennessee’s method of lethal injection is unconstitutional and ordered the state not to execute a death row inmate using that method. Bredesen has received some criticism for not implementing experts recommendations to change the state's lethal injection cocktail from a three-drug formula to a one-drug formula.
Gov Opposes Open Meetings Changes -- Gov. Bredesen says he opposes the changes recommended by the study committee to the state's Open Meetings Laws. Bredesen: "I've basically come down on the side of you need to have open government, you need to have open records, and I would hate to see it watered down." Earlier, a study panel decided to recommend that the State Legislature change Open Meetings requirements to prohibit more than three local officials from talking in private about public business. The law currently prohibits any governmental officials from discussing public business in private.
Knox Co. Ballot May Not Be Packed with Charter Amendments After All -- The August county elections ballot in Knox Co. is expected to be packed with charter amendments for voters to decide. Thus far, there are proposals for a recall provision in the charter and now a proposal from the ethics committee to ban county employees from serving on County Commission. There is also some sentiment for convening a charter commission to go even further in changing county government—looking at recommendations for appointing fee offices rather than electing them. The Charter commission cannot be convened, however, because it requires a commissioner from each district to serve. There are no commissioners from the 4th District because of the recent fight over a County Commission violation of the state's Open Meetings Laws which kicked off several commissioners.
