Daily Dose for April 17, 2008

Bredesen: Executions Can Resume

Bredesen: Executions Can Resume -- Gov. Phil Bredesen says that in light of the Supreme Court's recent rulings on lethal injections, that process can continue in TN. Saying that TN's execution procedure is very similar to Kentucky's which faced the Supreme Court scrutiny and was determined not be constitutionally suspect, Bredesen confirmed executions can continue - and AG Robert Cooper will file an appeal in the 6th Circuit where the latest execution was held up pending the Supreme Court case. More here and here.

Gov Announces DCS Layoffs -- Gov. Bredesen announced that the state may have to lay off 160 administrative staffers at the Department of Children's Services because of cutbacks in federal funding. Bredesen, a Democrat, said rule changes at the federal level are likely to cut $73 million out of the department's annual $109 million targeted case management system. Bredesen says he is trying to preserve the case managers because that is the core of what DCS is about, while lobbying federal elected officials to roll back the cuts.

Council Hits Back Herenton -- Memphis, which already has the highest municipal property tax rate in the state, could face a 17% increase if Mayor Willie Herenton gets his way. That is very unlikely to happen, though, according to the Memphis City Council, which would have to approve the hike. Some councilmembers support dipping into the city's reserve fund to cover the budget shortfall this year, but Herenton opposes that plan, saying it would hurt the city's bond rating. Several councilmembers, however, say that they are deeply concerned about increasing taxes on homeowners who are already facing foreclosures.

Shelby Appeals to Her Own -- Shelby Co. Mayor A.C. Wharton appealed to members of the Shelby Co. state legislative delegation for approval of at least one of the two local tax options to be authorized by the State Legislature. One of the proposals calls for a 2% tax on meals and drinks in restaurants, atop the existing 9.25% state and local sales tax. The other, an $8/mth privilege tax on all county employees. Wharton and County Commissioners Mike Carpenter and Steve Mulroy told the delegation that the county cannot "cut its way out" of a projected $23M to $29M budget deficit because most of the $1.1B budget is spent on schools, justice and law enforcement, repaying debt and environmental protection regulations that are mandated by the state and federal governments. State Rep. Brian Kelsey was skeptical: "It's hard for me to be sympathetic to a tax increase," but the presentation drew some support among Democratic lawmakers.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |