Daily Dose for May 19, 2008

Chattanooga Most Likely for VW Plant

Chattanooga Most Likely for VW Plant -- If Tennessee is going to get a manufacturing plant for Volkswagon, it looks like Chattanooga is the most likely candidate. Clarksville, TN which was also on the shortlist, recently made moves to secure the property for its TVA megasite - the likely driving attraction for the auto manufacturer, but Chattanooga, which also has a megasite, did one better by calling in Gov. Bredesen and hometown son Sen. Bob Corker for private meetings with the VW officials. The plant, according to VW, will be operational by 2010 and might produce Audis and Porsches as well as Volkswagens.

Obama Responds to TNGOP Michelle Obama Ad -- Last week, the Tennessee Republican Party, again got itself engaged in the Presidential race, releasing a video ahead of Michelle Obama's fundraising trip to Nashville that captured her famous clip saying for the first time she was proud of her country. Presidential candidate Barack Obama responded over the weekend, calling out the Tennessee Republican Party by name and warning everyone not to bring Michelle into the campaign.

Bredesen Signs Medical Liability Limits, AT&T Bill -- Gov. Phil Bredesen is beginning to help wind down the legislative session by signing a couple of key bill lawmakers have already passed into law. The first is a bill seeking to limit frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits by requiring experts to vouch for a case's merits. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mark Norris, does not provide for caps to damages, a provision Democrats vociferiously opposed. The second is the infamous compromise legislation that creates the ability for a cable company to gain a statewide franchise to sell its products. That bill, dubbed the AT&T bill gives the ability of cable providers to by-pass negotiations with local governments to provide cable TV and internet services, provided they adhere to strict rules against refusing to service low income areas.

Education Bill On Its Way -- Despite kinks between a Senate and House version of a bill addressing the lottery scholarship reserve fund, a bill is expected to come out of conference committee to be presented to Gov. Bredesen. The Senate bill allows students to keep the lottery scholarship for their freshman and sophomore years with a 2.75 GPA, while the House version allows retention with the lower GPA throughout college. Most lawmakers see the negotiation point coming down to a GOP-backed provision of the Senate bill which also earmarks some of the lottery surplus for K-12 building construction and energy efficiency.

CP on Business Lobby -- The Nashville City Paper looks at the lobbying efforts of the business industry today. Among the key victories gained this legislative session was their victory to prevent closing a tax loophole on family-owned real estate businesses. The CP notes the business lobby mostly plays defense, arguing against provisions that shake the status quo in favor of more business regulation, but the NFIB was also able to pass a provision allowing groups of small businesses to form collectives to lower insurance premiums.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |