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Daily Dose for March 12, 2008
Pre-K Expands
Pre-K Expands -- According to the State Department of Education, more than 300 new state-funded pre-kindergarten classrooms will open next school year if Tennessee school districts get their wish. The state Department of Education received requests for 306 additional pre-K classes for the 2008-09 school year, under Gov. Phil Bredesen's plans to expand Pre-K funding. The expanded funding faces some opposition in the Legislature, with some lawmakers opposing additional funding for an unproven program.
Lawmakers Seek to Limit Illegals Pay -- It would be a crime for illegal immigrants to accept pay for work done in Tennessee under a proposal headed for votes in both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly. If the bill becomes law, illegal immigrants caught working in the state could be required to forfeit any earnings, face up to six months in jail and be fined up to $500, under a bill sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes. Yuri Cunza, president of Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he's concerned about how the law would be enforced - saying it would lead to profiling.
Kustoff Quits -- U.S. Attorney David Kustoff announced Tuesday that he's calling it quits on that job and returning to private practice. Appointed by President Bush, Kustoff took office in March 2006 and oversaw a number of high-profile prosecutions, including that of former state senator John Ford. Kustoff also presided over a number of high profile investigations in Memphis. The move likely will see the return of Kustoff to TN GOP politics, where he was a fixture before taking the job of U.S. Attorney, which limited his political involvement.
The People Grab -- The Chattanooga Times Free Press looks at the people issue in the border dispute between Georgia and Tennessee. Lawmakers have estimated Georgia would gain about 40,000 residents from North Carolina and Tennessee if the boundary is moved. In addition, some school systems would likely face hastles as teachers moved to get certified in the Peach State. Residents also aren't too happy about potentially having to face a state income tax in Georgia.
