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Current Issues

2008 Regional Legislative Agenda

Blount County Chamber, Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership & Oak Ridge Chamber "State Legislative Agenda"

Priorities
Education-Diploma Project

Revision of high school graduation requirements and the curriculum standards
American Diploma Project intitiatives that call for Tennessee's commitment to four key principals.

These principals:
Require all high school graduates to take challenging courses that prepare them for life after high school-including at least four years of mathematics

Align high school standards and assessments with the knowledge and skills required for success after high school.
Streamline the assessment system so that the tests students take in high school also serve as readiness tests for college and work.
Hold schools accountable for graduating students who are ready for college or careers, and hold postsecondary institutions accountable for student's success once enrolled.

Transportation - Three key highway projects that impact multiple counties

Timely completion of 475/Knoxville Parkway
Prompt Completion of Pellissippi Parkway to Hwy 321
Completion of the widening of SR58/95 in Anderson and Roane Counties.

Economic Development - High Tech Incentives for new-economy, research and development, and technology companies

Recommend adjusting the required number of jobs created to qualify for the Jobs Tax Credit for high-tech (agricultural science, materials science, media technology, nono-technology, renewable energy and research and development) businesses if the business invests $500,000 and hires 5 new employees at an average salary of 150 percent of the county's average wage. In non-economically distressed counties, these companies would qualify for the $2000 Job Tax Credit.
Urge the Legislature to allow the Emerging Industry Tax Credity to be applied to federally designated empowerment zones in those counties the state defines as non-economically distressed.
Recommend redefining"qualified business enterprises" for economic development incentive purposes to inlcude high-tech businesses that employ or align with the core competencies of the state's research institutions.

2007 Regional Legislative Agenda

The Chambers of Anderson County, Blount County, Farragut/West Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Oak Ridge and the Roane Alliance are committed to working together to improve the economic strength and quality of life of our area. For the past 20 years, one of the strategies used to help accomplish this objective has been the annual creation of a “State Legislative Agenda.”

The regional legislative agenda focuses on a small number of key issues or concepts which the chambers take common positions and collectively bring to the attention of regional legislators, the entire General Assembly and the Administration.

The 2007 Agenda focuses on the issues of:

Raising Tennessee’s educational standards.
Accelerating construction of key regional road projects.
Maintaining Tennessee’s economic competitiveness.

Below is the summary and status of each issue addressed in the regional legislative agenda: Educational Standards and Regional Road Projects are addressed in the 2008 Regional Legislative Agenda and in the Education Section and Infrastructure Section on the web site.

Business Support/Job Killer Bills
The employers of Tennessee are focused on growing their businesses and industries to strengthen Tennessee’s economy and to create new jobs for Tennesseans. A good business climate and public policy system must be in place. The Blount Chamber continues to lobby against bills that are unfair to businesses and that require unfunded mandates by the government. The Chamber opposes any bills that will have a negative impact on job creation and retention, otherwise known as JOB KILLER bills.

Support Tennessee’s current right-to-work laws (Employment at Will)
Summary: Tennessee is known as an “Employment-At-Will” state. Generally, this means that an employer may legally hire, suspend or discipline any employee at any time and for any reason. However, employer may not discriminate against any employee on basis of race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, or disability.

Status: Currently monitoring bills this session. Will update when a bill moves out of committee to the floor. The Blount Chamber successfully lobbied against any changes in Tennessee’s current Right to Work/Employment at Will laws during the 105th General Assembly. For more information on bills introduced during the 105th General Assembly, visit http://www.tnchamber.org/ or http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/.

Business Issues

Workers Compensation
Summary: The Chamber supports meaningful workers' compensation reform. The state passed a landmark reform bill in 2004 and the chamber continues to monitorworkers comp legislation. Activity around workers comp legislation remains slow this session as many bills have been referred to the Workers Comp Advisory Council for recommendation.

Status: We encourage Chamber members to stay engaged in this debate and encourage legislators to support HB3710 by Fizhugh (SB3271) by McNally as these bills move through the General Assembly. The Chamber will keep you informed as committees hear these bills. For more information see www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills.

Air Quality Non-Attainment Status
Summary: The Blount County Chamber opposes any changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) for ozone. Blount County is currently disignated as non-attainment for EPA ozone standards along with six other counties in East Tennessee. Many changes have already been made to reduce emissions. The Chamber does not feel it is in the best interests of our nation for the federal government to lower current ozone standards. Doing so could provide a major blow to our national economy and further encourage businesses to depart for other nations with less burdensome regulations.

Status: The Chamber contacted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in late September to request EPA to not change the current Ozone Standards. We recommended that EPA continue to implement countermeasures to our air pollution challenges and maintain the current ozone standards. We were unsuccessful in our efforts. The EPA announced in March 2008 that they will change the standards from .84 parts per million for ozone to .75 parts per million. More than 30 counties in Tennessee will fail to meet the new standards. In the Knox region of seven counties many changes have already been made to address emmission reductions They include: Emmission reductions by TVA, lower speed limits on federal highways, free bus rides in Knox County on air-alert days, idling reduction, biodiesel innitiatives and pollution reduction at truck stops through electric comfort stations. Additional measures will be considered to address the new standards. The new standards require a new State Implementation Plan by 2011. The Regional Clean Air Coalition will monitor and provide input into the plan along with the local county goverments impacted by the change in standards.

Small Business Investment Act HR 3567 (Federal Issue)
Summary: The Chamber opposes the Senate's companion bill to H.R. 3567, The Small Business Investment Act. We oppose changes to the definition of a small business for the purposes of venture capital investment. The redefinition strips the elements of independent ownership and control that identify small business ownership under the current law. The change would be inequitable for actual small businesses and would not help address the misidentification of large firms as small businessees for Federal procurement purposes.

Status: There has not been much current activity on the bill according to Adam Melenkivitz with the American Small Business League. The Chamber Board issued a letter to Senator Corker and Senator Alexander requesting them to oppose the Senate's campanion bill to H.R. 3567. The Small Business League will also present our position in Washington the week of October 29th. Currently referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. For more information: Contact Adam with the American Small Business League adam@asbl.com or http://www.asbl.com/

Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act – HR 1873 (Federal Issue)
Summary: Reauthorizes the programs and activities of the Small Business Administration relating to procurement and other purposes. The Blount Chamber lobbied to include a provision in the Senate version to include removing all Fortune 1000 companies from the federal database of small businesses and recommended an annual recertification provision that would require all firms with existing federal contracts to recertify their status.

Status: No current activity on the bill this year. Contacted Senator Alexander and Corker with our request. 5/11/2007 Bill has been referred to Senate Committee: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. For more information, visit http://www.asbl.com/ .

Fair Share Bills (State and Federal Issue)
Summary: Fair Share bills would mandate employers to spend a set amount on health care benefits. Instead of encouraging employers to manage health care costs, the bills actually encourage maintaining above average health care costs. Additionally, the bills do not address provider access to affordable health care insurance.

Status: The Chamber is monitoring Fair Share Bills during this legislative session and will update information as bills are introduced that may come to the floor for a vote. The Blount Chamber successfully lobbied to avoid the passage of any Fair Share bills during the 105th General Assembly. The Chamber will continue to lobby against bills that are unfair to businesses and that require unfunded mandates by the government. For more information on specific bills introduced during the 105th General Assembly, visit http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills Visit http://www.uschamber.com/ on federal issues involving unfunded mandates by the federal government.

Right-to-Work Laws/”Employment at Will” (State Issue)
Summary: Tennessee is known as an “Employment-At-Will” state. Generally, this means that an employer may legally hire, suspend or discipline any employee at any time and for any reason. However, employer may not discriminate against any employee on basis of race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, or disability.

Status: The Chamber will monitor bills that threaten the "Employment at Will" status for Tennessee. We will update information as bills are introduced this session and alert chamber members when a bill comes out of committee for a vote on the floor. The chamber successfully lobbied against any changes in Tennessee’s current Right to Work/Employment at Will laws during the 105th General Assembly, for more information on specific bills introduced during the 105th General Assembly, visit http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/. The Tennessee Chamber plans to continue to support no changes in the next legislative session.

Support the Knoxville Metropolitan Airport and American Airlines Request to Fly NonStop from Chicago to Beijing, China (Federal Issue)
Summary: The McGhee Tyson Airport will benefit from a daily nonstop flight and will compliment its existing Chicago to Shanghai service.The service will provide increased local customer choice and services and bring more competition to help lower rates for travelers.

Status: The Chamber supports the request and contacted Secretary Peters of the U.S. Department of Transportation. No decision has been reached.

Education Issues

BEP 2.0 (State Issue)
Summary: Governor Bredesen unveiled a new way for calculating how the 136 different school systems receive funding through the Basic Education Plan (BEP). The Governor reworked the formula and called it BEP 2.0. The new formula reimburses the 136 school districts in the state based on physical capacity models and was calculated using each local government’s property tax rate and sales tax rate. The Blount Chamber is not in favor of the new formula.

Status: Public Chapter 367 took effect 7/1/2007. The law will change the formula. Blount County, Maryville and Alcoa will receive reduced amounts from the state with the implementation of the new formula. For more information, visit http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/ or www.state.tn.us/education

No Child Left Behind (Federal Issue)
Summary: The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) reauthorizes and amends federal education programs established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The focus of NCLB is for historic school reform based on accountability, flexibility, research-based education and parent options. President Bush would like to make sure that the NCLB gets reauthorized in 2007.

Status: Still under study. For more information, visit www.state.tn.us/education or http://www.uschamber.com/

Make Education the State’s Top Priority. (State and Federal Issue)
Status: See 2008 Regional Legislative Agenda. For more information see http://www.www.tnchamber.org/, www.state.tn.us/education or http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/.

Infrastructure Issues

Alcoa Highway (State Issue)
Summary: The Alcoa Highway project consists of four different projects. The Blount Chamber supports the completion of the entire project which serves as the most direct route from Knoxville to McGee Tyson Airport in Blount County. All projects will widen the existing road to three lanes in each direction. Specifically, the Chamber supports the redesigned Alcoa Parkway section of the highway located in Blount County. The portions of SR-115 and SR-335 to the proposed interchange at McGee Tyson Airport would be widened to eight lanes. The proposed section is 5.5 miles in length.

Status: An environmental impact study had to be redone and is currently underway. Alcoa Highway Right of Way is programmed for 2010 for $28-30 million dollars. From Blount County line to Maloney-the proposed construction start date is 2010. For more information, visit http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/, http://www.knoxtrans.org/ or http://www.cityofalcoa-tn.gov/business .

Completion of Pellissippi Parkway to Highway 321. (State Issue)
Summary: TDOT proposes to extend and construct Pellissippi Parkway from SR 33 to SR 73 (US 321). The completion of Pellissippi Parkway is approximately 4.4 miles. The project was included in TEA-21 as a high priority project.

Status: Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act. A public input meeting was held on February 19th.at Heritage High School. TDOT projects the EIS to be completed within 18 months. More public imput meetings will be held during the process.

For more information contact: http://www.tdot.state.tn.us or
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Suite 700, James K. Polk Building
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-0332

Pellissippi Parkway Extension EIS Project Vicinity Map

475/Knoxville Parkway.(State Issue)
Summary: The proposed Knoxville Parkway would connect I-40/-I-75 southwest of Knoxville to I-75 north of Knoxville. The Parkway is proposed as a divided highway that could only be accessed by interchanges.

Status: Supplemental Draft Impact Study is currently under development by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Additionaly, the project has been selected as a pilot for a toll road feasability study. For more information, visit http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/ or http://www.knoxtrans.org/ .

Widening of SR 58/95 in Anderson and Roane Counties (State Issue)
Summary: The widening is needed for business development. Phase III, the 4.2 mile section and Phase II, the 2.82 mile section must be funded and a construction schedule approved to complete the project.

Status: Right of Way and Utility Process currently underway. Construction anticipated in upcoming year. For more information, visit http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/ or http://www.knoxtrans.org/ .

321 Scenic Highway Study (State Issue)
Summary: The 321 Scenic Highway Task Force was awarded by a $125,000.00 matching grant for the preperation needed to establish a Corridor Management Plan for HWY 321 Corridor. Seven Counties in Tennessee will participate-Blount County included. The The need for the project is to protect the natural, cultural and historic integrity of the corridor and enhance the visitor experience to the area and Great Smoky Mountains National Park by determining long range transportation needs and design criteria for the Corridor.

Status: A firm has been hired to conduct the study. Matching funds are needed to award a contract by the seven participating counties. Efforts are underway to secure matching grant funding.

Additional Links:

Federal:
http://www.uschamber.com/ – US Chamber of Commerce and Federal Issues
http://www.senate.gov/ Federal Senate Bills and Members
http://www.house.gov/ – Federal House Bills and Members
www.alexander.senate.gov/ Senator Alexander Newsletter
www.corker.senate.gov/ Senator Corker

State:
http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/ – Tennessee Department of Transportation – State Road Projects
http://www.state.tn.us/ – Tennessee State Government
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/ Tennessee State Bills/Public Chapters and Members
www.state.tn.us/education Tennessee Department of Education
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills -Tennessee State Bill Research
www.state.tn.us/tourdev/ Tennessee Department of Tourism

Local:
http://www.cityofalcoa-tn.gov/business - City of Alcoa
http://www.maryvillegov.com/ – City of Maryville
http://www.blount.tn.org/ - Blount County Government
http://www.knoxtrans.org/ – Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization – State Road Project

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