SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012 Jackson Expands Regional Headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee (Insurance News)

Jackson National Life Insurance Company announced the expansion of its regional headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., incorporating a new Information Technology (IT) center and the addition of 20 new Systems and Programming (S&P) staff. The expanded IT operations will support Jackson's growth and technology initiatives, such as automated business processes across the company's various departments. Jackson will be recruiting for qualified IT professionals to enhance the nationwide technology operations of the organization; the new IT center currently has 20 open positions available in S&P to address needs in Internet development and document systems programming activities. In addition, Jackson said it will focus on finding local talent with experience in Java programming, as well as candidates with network administrator and other infrastructure-related experience."Technology plays a key role in Jackson's success, given our sophisticated financial products and demand for award-winning customer service," said Mark Clark, senior vice president and CIO of Jackson. http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=336064

Department of Agriculture unveils new Ag, forestry industry magazine (C. Online)
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture recently unveiled the premiere issue of Tennessee Ag Insider magazine, a comprehensive guide to the states farms, food and forestry. The department unveiled the magazine to the public March 20th at the annual Ag Day on the Hill celebration at Legislative Plaza in Nashville. The yearly magazine serves as a primer for government and business leaders and consumers about the impact of agriculture and forestry on the states health, environment and economy. We are fortunate to have such a diverse and rich industry that contributes not only to our economy but our quality of life, Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson said. W ere proud to join with nationally renowned publisher Journal Communications and the agricultural community to spotlight some of the challenges and opportunities within the ag and forestry sectors. The magazine, which is free to the public, is also intended to educate Tennessee consumers about their food source, while introducing and giving a voice to the states farmers who provide that food http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2012/03/24/tennessee-department-of-agriculture-unveils-new-ag-and-forestryindustry-magazine/

Radnor Lake is at a crossroads (Tennessean/Paine)

As TN's first natural area nears 40th anniversary, its popularity brings need for more protection No road signs show the way to Radnor Lake State Natural Area, but people find it. Lots of them. Like the migrating birds and wildlife the area is meant for, human beings are drawn to the lake and the rugged woods bisected by a crumbling piece of Otter Creek Road. This is a gateway park to a million visitors a year now, said Greer Tidwell, president of Friends of Radnor Lake. If we can expand properly and staff it properly, it could be a gateway park to a million and a half visitors a few years from now. As the states first natural area approaches its 40th anniversary, its at a crossroads. Theres a race to swaddle Radnor in additional protective layers as more people are pulled to the sights and sounds there. Land is the issue and money. Scattered properties that are key to the health and beauty of Radnor remain in private hands in a high-priced part of town. Now Piedmont Natural Gas wants to build a pipeline through the natural area, digging into the watershed that drains into Radnor Lake. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/NEWS11/303250090/Radnor-Lake-crossroads?odyssey=mod| newswell|text|News|p

Youth detention staff getting termination notes (Associated Press)

Employees at the Taft Youth Development Center in Pikeville will soon be getting 90-day termination notices in anticipation of a state budget that doesn't include any funding for the juvenile detention center. Although the state budget hasn't yet passed, the Department of Children's Services has plans to close the 90-year-old facility that officials have said will save the state $8.5 million. The state plans to move the 16- to 19-year-old inmates to other youth development centers around the state. Department of Children's Services spokeswoman Molly Sudderth told The Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/GVYJ4W ) that officials have met with Taft staff pending the release of notices to about 150 employees remaining at the center. A new adult prison in Bledsoe County could hire some of the Taft employees. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38881241?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Rehab center to reopen in April with fewer beds (Associated Press)

A drug rehabilitation facility in Dickson County will reopen in April at a greatly reduced capacity after the state lifted its suspension of admissions that followed the deaths of three patients and concerns about its quality of medical care. The Tennessean reports (http://tnne.ws/GWobST ) that New Life Lodge in Burns will accept only adult patients when it reopens and will have a capacity of 70 beds instead of its previous capacity of 228 beds. Last year, the newspaper reported that two patients died in 2010 and that a teenager in state custody died about a week after leaving New Life Lodge. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health lifted its suspension of admissions on March 6. In a notice sent to the center in January, the department noted six pages of noncompliance with state standards, including a lack of policy for reporting significant occurrences and failure to train staff to address medical, mental health, and alcohol and drug needs of the patients. In response, New Life Lodge Executive Director Randal Lea said officials reviewed all their policies and hired a new medical director and a new director of nursing. The facility also assigned a new clinical director to oversee the intake and admission departments. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38880019?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Baumgartner now under federal investigation (Associated Press)

After pleading guilty to a state charge of official misconduct, former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner is now under a federal investigation. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Kristin Helm told The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/GMX4Lg ) that investigators are continuing their probe into Baumgartner, specifically looking at possible federal violations in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office. Baumgartner, whose prescription painkiller abuse was detailed in parts of a TBI file, pleaded guilty last year to one charge of official misconduct in a deal that allowed him to avoid jail time. He also got to keep his pension. His plea agreement barred the filing of additional state charges, but did not preclude federal prosecution. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38881799?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

TN Republicans push social issues (Tennessean/Sisk)

With election ahead, Republicans try to prove conservatism Abortion. Evolution. Guns. As Tennessee lawmakers rush to the finish of the two-year legislative session, Republican leaders say they want their first term in control of the state Capitol to be remembered for their efforts to create jobs and reform schools. But social issues are making their way to the top of the agenda, forcing debates that have garnered national attention and opened the GOP to renewed attacks from Democrats. The flurry of activity reflects the power of socially conservative voters in Tennessee and the pressure Republicans are under to deliver for them before they go home for the year. Bills dealing with sex, religion and guns may spark controversy. But they also give Republican lawmakers a chance to show where they stand and could help them head off the biggest challenge they face to re-election this year a primary opponent who accuses them of having done too little to advance conservative causes. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/NEWS02/303250065/TN-Republicans-push-social-issues-? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Social issues take spotlight in Tennessee legislature (Times Free-Press/Sher)

Some issues dear to the hearts of Tennessee social conservatives have been front and center in the Republicanled General Assembly, with some controversial measures putting lawmakers in the national spotlight. Among them are abortion, abstinence-based sex education, the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, public displays of the Ten Commandments and an attack on a 1992 United Nations environmental sustainability initiative. Monday, the 2

House is scheduled to take final action on the Academic Freedom Act. It allows teachers to discuss with students "weaknesses" in evolution, climate change and other scientific theories within the state's science education "framework." Though it was amended by Senate Speaker pro tem Bo Watson, R-Hixson, and passed on the Senate floor last week, scientists and national science education groups still call the measure a back-door attempt to let faith-based "creationism" and "intelligent design" theories into public schools. Watson has called such objections "red herrings." House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner, of Nashville, last week sharply criticized those measures, saying moderate Republicans are nervous about some of the "extremist" measures coming from their more conservative members. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/25/social-issues-take-spotlight-in-legisature/?local

City girl Harwell beats Ramsey in tainted milk-off (Tennessean/Sisk)

Tuesday was Ag Day when just about every farm organization in the state comes up to the state Capitol and an annual rite of Ag Day is the milk-off. This milking contest pits two lawmakers in a bid to see who can squeeze the most milk from an udder in a minute. Rural lawmakers often take up the challenge, but this years contest featured a marquee matchup: House Speaker Beth Harwell, a Nashville city slicker, versus Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, a mountain boy who brags about being raised on a dairy farm. Organizers decided to up the ante by using goats instead of cows. Goats are always good for a crowd. Ramsey was the clear favorite before the contest, and he appeared to sense it. Looking cool and composed outside the milking pen, he unlinked his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves. Harwell, meanwhile, seemed a little nervous, quietly gazing at the pavement during the pre-contest ceremonies. After the requisite trash talking, the two speakers got down to business, crouching at a pair of milking benches and taking hold of their goats. Ramsey appeared to take an early lead. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/NEWS02/303250062/City-girl-Harwell-beats-Ramsey-tainted-milkoff?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Hundreds in Nashville want justice for teen (Tennessean/Young)

Shooting death of Florida boy touches nerve About 600 people attended a Nashville rally Saturday at the base of Capitol Hill calling for justice in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Most of the attendees were cloaked in hooded sweatshirts, but it was 17-year-old Michael Dunning who really stood out. At 6-foot-3, Dunning, a junior at Cane Ridge High School, towered over his mother, Tonya Dunning, and sister, Markia Dunning, 19. He wore a plain gray hooded sweatshirt and carried an Arizona-brand sweet tea in one hand and a bag of Skittles in the other. Trayvon Martin, who was killed while walking home from the store, carried the same two items at the time of the shooting last month in Sanford, Fla., officials said. The fact that my son is the same age as this boy is just devastating for me, Tonya Dunning said. This could easily have been my child. The case of Trayvon Martin has fueled racial debates throughout the country. Many argue that the boy was shot because he was black and dressed in a certain way, wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Rallies like the one in Nashville have popped up across the country. Many of them are calling for the arrest of Trayvons alleged shooter, a neighborhood watchman. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/NEWS01/303250057/Hundreds-Nashville-want-justice-teen? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Shelby County budget looks good, Luttrell says (Commercial Appeal/Moore)

Retreat offers preview of fiscal 2012-13 plan, which includes 1 percent pay increases Shelby County will be able to pay down some of its debt and give employees a 1 percent pay increase without raising property taxes during the coming fiscal year, county Mayor Mark Luttrell told County Commissioners Saturday. Luttrell gave a budget preview for fiscal 2012-13, which begins July 1, to commissioners during their first retreat, a half-day event organized by Commissioner Melvin Burgess. The proposed raise for employees will absorb pension and insurance increases. "When you look at the fiscal stability of Shelby County, it's pretty good," Luttrell said. "We are going to be giving you a balanced budget with no tax increase and we're paying our debt down." The county's debt, which stood at $1.8 billion early in 2007, is now at less than $1.5 billion and should steadily drop, said Mike Swift, the county's chief financial officer. "If we stay within the plan it will be at below $1 billion by 2022, 10 years from now," Swift said. Luttrell and and Bill Orgel, chairman of the unified school board, both discussed the ongoing merger of Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/25/budget-looks-good-luttrell-says/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Bob Corker: Health care law is a failure (The State Column)

3

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., today made the following statement regarding the two-year anniversary of the presidents health care law. On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the health care bill into law. Corker voted against the bill when it passed the Senate and has supported legislation to repeal it. I havent met a thinking person on either side of the aisle who believes this law will work as passed. Theres no question that it increases health care costs for individuals, states and businesses, and its expense is going to be very harmful to our country, Corker said. TennCare estimates the health care law will increase TennCare enrollment by 242,291 at an additional cost to Tennessee of $1.125 billion from 2014-2019, or $225 million per year. http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/bob-corker-health-care-law-is-a-failure/#ixzz1q85CvVW b

Fleischmann calls lack of funding for Chickamauga Lock "unacceptable" (Nooga)

Standing atop the decaying walls of the Chickamauga Lock, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann railed on President Barack Obama for not including any funding for maintenance or replacement of the 72-year-old lock in his 2013 budget. "The president has put out a big, fat zero, and that's unacceptable," Fleischmann said. Alongside the congressman was Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Fleischmann also sits as one of the committee's 58 members. In brief remarks, both Fleischmann and Shuster said reforming the Inland Waterways Trust Fund would be necessary to find a solution for covering costs of the eventual replacing of the lock, a yearslong effort now projected to be completed in 2018 for a cost $693 million. The trust fund pays for half of the construction and rehabilitation of waterway projects across the country. The majority of current funds are being placed toward the Olmsted Lock and Dam along the Kentucky and Illinois border, which Fleischmann and Shuster both said was over budget and in need of control. http://www.nooga.com/154456/fleischmann-calls-lack-of-government-funding-for-chickamauga-lockunacceptable/

Milkman Scottie Mayfield on a mission, bow tie and all (TFP/Carroll)

Scottie Mayfield dumped the cow, but he kept her colors. So far, spurning the red, white and blue of most Republican campaign materials, Mayfield is embracing the yellow-and-brown ubiquity of Mayfield Dairy in his first run for office. The 61-year-old Athens, Tenn., native is challenging first-term U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, RTenn., in a quest to become the first non-Chattanooga resident to win Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District since the 1890s. Mayfield Dairy's trademark cow is the only thing missing from "Mayfield for Congress" materials. Experts said the campaign brochures, bumper stickers and posters signal Mayfield's efforts to capitalize on his career as the pasteurizing plant's bow-tied spokesman. "I don't think we considered anything else," Mayfield campaign strategist Tommy Hopper wrote in an email. "It made sense for all the obvious reasons." Those reasons -- homespun name recognition and the happy vibes associated with milk and ice cream -- may come in handy when voters compare Mayfield's views with Fleischmann's, assuming they're able to do so. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/25/mayfield-milkman-on-a-mission-bow-tie-and-all/?local

Rutherford County at 'epicenter' of 4th Congressional District campaign (DNJ)

DesJarlais, Stewart already spending a lot of time here Still officially in Tennessees 6th Congressional District for the rest of the year, Rutherford County is already a key battleground for the November election between Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais and Democratic state Sen. Eric Stewart who are competing for the new 4th Congressional District. Six months away from the August primary, DesJarlais and Stewart, in a sense, are already staking claim to the county as part of the 4th District, which will stretch from here to Bradley County on the other side of Chattanooga once the new district lines take effect in 2013. Nobody has surfaced as primary competition for either candidate in the August election. The Jasper physician, for instance, attended Nissans late February Infiniti celebration where he praised the companys innovative techniques and ability to create new jobs. The Smyrna plant is building the Infiniti JX, the first luxury Nissan built anywhere besides Japan. Stewart, meanwhile, made his presence known at the ceremonial groundbreaking of Amazon.coms new distribution center in south Murfreesboro on Thursday. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120325/NEW S01/303250019/Rutherford-County-epicenter-4th-CongressionalDistrict-campaign

FEMA offices open, but few seeking help (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Hardy)
4

FEMA employees sat in Chattanooga's Fire Station 7 on Saturday talking, snacking, joking about picking up some Jim Beam after work. They had a lot of time on their hands; during the two hours a Times Free Press photographer and writer were on the scene, absolutely no one showed up asking for help recovering from storms and tornadoes. Nor did anyone need to. Applicants for FEMA aid register online or by phone. If an applicant comes to a FEMA disaster recovery center, he or she is handed a phone or computer. Visitors to the FEMA center can pick up a guide on how to apply for a grant, though it warns that "In response to the Post Katrina Emergency Reform Act of 2006, FEMA is in the process of updating our policies and programs. ..." Since Thursday, the federal organization has set up nine such centers. President Barack Obama declared 10 Tennessee counties disaster areas following the storms of Feb. 29 to March 2. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spent about two weeks assessing damage after the storms before requesting federal aid March 14. Three days later, FEMA visited the state. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/25/femaoffices-open-but-few-seeking-help/?local

Feds may close some courtrooms; Jackson on list of possible closures (AP/Nuss)
The U.S. government is considering closing dozens of courtrooms, including a federal courtroom in Jackson, as part of an effort to cut costs. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that 60 federal court facilities in 29 states could be on the chopping block. Most of the courtrooms are in buildings that house other federal agencies including post offices, and many are located in remote areas. Critics say closing them could make it more difficult for people to get to court proceedings. Six of the 60 court sites that could be closed are located in Arkansas. Texas and Georgia each have five sites on the list of possible closures. Officials are even considering shuttering the location where judges hold federal court in Alaskas capital city, Juneau. Jackson is ranked 16th on the list of federal court sites up for possible closure. Other Tennessee sites on the list include Winchester (No. 20), Cookeville (No. 36) and Columbia (No. 39). There are 674 federal courthouses and facilities around the country, according to David Sellers, a federal courts spokesman. The 60 sites being considered for closure do not have a resident judge. Instead, judges based in larger cities travel to these smaller locations as needed. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120325/NEWS01/303250007/Feds-may-close-some-courtrooms-Jacksonlist-possible-closures?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Court's health ruling could shake fall elections (Associated Press/Kuhnhenn)

The Supreme Courts ruling on the constitutionality of President Barack Obamas health care overhaul is likely to shake the presidential election race in early summer. But the winners in the court will not necessarily be the winners in the political arena. No doubt, a decision to throw out the entire law would be a defeat for Obama. His judgment and leadership, even his reputation as a former constitutional law professor, would be called into question for pushing through a contentious and partisan health insurance overhaul only to see it declared unconstitutional by the court. But it would not spell certain doom for his re-election. In fact, it would end the GOP argument that a Republican president must be elected to guarantee repeal of the law. It also could re-energize liberals, shift the spotlight onto insurance companies and reignite a debate about how to best provide health care. If the court upholds the law, Obama would be vindicated legally. Republican constitutional criticisms would be undercut because five of the nine justices were nominated by Republican presidents. But opposition would intensify in the political world. Without legal recourse, Republicans would gain new energy to argue that the only path to kill the law would be to elect a Republican president and enough GOP candidates to control the House and Senate. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/NEWS02/303250071/Court-s-health-ruling-couldshake-fall-elections?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Health care law not resonating with public (McClatchy/Levey)

As President Barack Obama and his allies gear up to defend the landmark health care law he signed two years ago, they confront an unforgiving math problem: Just a tiny fraction of Americans has experienced a major benefit from the law. At the same time, tens of millions have continued to see insurance premiums and medical bills rise as they did before the legislation was signed. That reflects the design of the complex law, which delayed many key provisions in a bid to hold down costs and minimize disruptions while new systems are put in place to expand coverage. The law will not guarantee insurance to all Americans until 2014, and may take many more years to rein in health care costs. But the president and congressional Democrats nonetheless had hoped that a handful of early benefits such as allowing adult children to remain on their parents health plans until age 26 would rally the public behind the law by now. That hasnt happened, surveys indicate. The law is still not real for the vast majority of Americans, said Mollyann Brodie, polling director for the nonprofit Kaiser Family 5

Foundation. Two-thirds of Americans say they havent been personally affected by the law, according to the latest Kaiser tracking poll. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/25/health-care-law-not-resonating-public/?local

With no employee pay cap TVA boosts base salary for top managers (TFP/Flessner)
Since Congress removed the pay cap for employees of the Tennessee Valley Authority seven years ago, the base salary for 155 of the utility's top managers has risen above the $174,000 annual pay given members of Congress. TVA is shelling out nearly $30 million a year more for its top brass than it did before TVA's board was restructured and the limit on TVA salaries was removed by Congress in 2004. Despite the extra cost, proponents of the change insist it has helped TVA attract and retain top managers and allowed the federal utility to operate more like a private business. "For TVA to compete for the best talent with other utilities, it needs to pay competitive salaries and that just wasn't possible in the past," said Dr. Warren Neel, executive director of the Corporate Governance Center at the University of Tennessee, who has served on the boards of 15 publicly traded companies. "For the past decade, TVA has been set up and is operating more like a private company, and I think that leads to better performance." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/25/tva-boosts-topsalaries/?local

ORNL's classified side moves into the spotlight (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Munger)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory was born as part of the supersecret project that developed the first atomic bombs. After World War II was won, the gates were opened, much of the work was made public, and over the decades the lab broadened its base mission to do open research in virtually every field of science. The lab, however, never fully stopped doing secret stuff, and in recent days that role has gained new attention. An explosive cover story in Wired magazine by James Bamford, author of "The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America," provides an expanded view of the National Security Administration's transformation over the past decade to become "the largest, most covert, and potentially most intrusive intelligence agency ever created" and big new efforts including an extraordinary data center in Utah to expand its spying capabilities. Here's the story teaser: "Deep in the Utah desert, the National Security Agency is building the country's biggest spy center. It's the final piece of a secret surveillance network that will intercept and store your phone calls, emails, Google searches ... (Watch what you say.)" http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/25/ornls-classified-side-moves-into-the-spotlight/

TVA plan to cut trees in right-of-ways raises ire of residents (N-S/Coleman)

Juanita Davis-Braswell said Thursday that she was praying for rain Saturday morning. "I'm praying it will rain hard all day long," she said. Davis-Braswell wasn't asking for divine intervention to water plants. She wanted to stop a TVA contract crew from cutting trees in its transmission line right of way that separates a subdivision and the Summit Medical Group at Deane Hill. Her prayers were answered. TVA opted to postpone cutting the line of cypress trees because of inclement weather, but the planned cutting is an example of what has become a growing issue: How best to maintain the 16,000 miles of rights of way for TVA's high-voltage transmission lines. TVA and local tree advocates are at odds on how to solve the problem. To cut or to trim, that's the question. Travis Brickey, spokesman with TVA, said that to maintain a reliable, cost-efficient and safe transmission-line system, TVA crews are now cutting down rather than trimming any tree that is or can grow to 15 feet or taller. Brickey said some have criticized TVA for cutting rather than trimming. "We have to look at cost. TVA owns and operates 16,000 miles of transmission lines, and our savings translate into ratepayer savings," he said. "If we trimmed, obviously, you're doing more of a rotation coming back through and doing more trimming, and those recurring costs add up." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/25/tva-plan-to-cut-trees-in-right-of-ways-raises-of/

Layoffs will hurt Milan (Jackson Sun)

One of the largest contracts Ram Jack general contractors ever received came from American Ordnance for construction work inside the Milan Army Ammunition Plant. It is unlikely that will happen again. Jacob Bolton, coowner of the Ram Jack franchise in Milan, said the days of large contracts for work at the arsenal have likely ended as American Ordnance prepares to halt production of ordnance for the U.S. military and reduce its presence at the arsenal. Bolton and other Milan business owners fear some businesses will lose thousands in 6

annual revenues and may have to cut employees after American Ordnance lays off hundreds of workers by the end of this year. The losses wont only come from a drop in business at the arsenal but from a tightening of the local economy as a result of the job losses at the arsenal. American Ordnance employs nearly 650. The company has told workers it will lay off 400 full-time and 100 part-time employees by the end of this year, as it moves manufacturing of rifle-fired grenades, mortars and other military ordnance to its plant in Burlington, Iowa. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120325/NEWS01/303250006/Layoffs-will-hurt-Milan-Loss-500-jobsarsenal-could-take-30-1M-from-Gibson-Carroll-merchants?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Long-unemployed face bias on job hunt (Associated Press/Singer)

States prohibit ads requiring a current job Few job seekers who fail to get an interview know the reason, but Michelle Chesney-Offutt said a recruiter told her why she lost the chance to pitch for an information technology position. Chesney-Offutt, 54, who had been laid off from her IT job in Illinois, said the recruiter who responded to her online resume two years ago liked her qualifications and was set to schedule an interview. But he backed away, she said, when he learned she had been out of work for 13 months. The employer he represented would not consider applicants who were unemployed for more than six months, she said. What they dont consider is that these are not normal times, said Chesney-Offutt, who was unemployed for nearly three years before landing a job. As high unemployment persists more than four years after the start of the Great Recession and nearly three years after it was officially declared over many who have struggled for years without work say they face discrimination. Nearly 13 million Americans, or 8.3 percent, were unemployed in February, the U.S. Department of Labor says.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/NEWS08/303250076/Longunemployed-face-bias-job-hunt?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Chattanooga area employers eye penalties to get workers in shape (TFP/Martin)

Not motivated to lose 15 pounds this year or run two miles today? It may cost you greenbacks. To stem rising health insurance premiums and improve their bottom lines, more and more companies are reaching for financial incentives -- money in health savings accounts, gym memberships and even higher premiums -- hoping it will motivate their workers to lose weight and lower their blood pressure. Healthier employees use fewer sick days and take less time off, resulting in greater productivity. Many company wellness programs began with the carrots -- money, rewards and gift cards. But in the last few years, the stick has become increasingly popular, with higher employee premiums and money taken out of paychecks if workers do not have their cholesterol checked or reach targeted health goals. The use of penalties doubled from 2009 to 2011 and is expected to double again this year, according to a recent nationwide survey of hundreds of companies. W orkers in the Chattanooga region are subject to a variety of penalties and incentives from their companies: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee charges employees $25 per pay period --about $600 a year -- if they do not participate in the company's workplace wellness program http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/25/employers-eye-penalties-to-get-workers-in-shape/?local

Cheating probe finds little amiss in Nashville's schools (Tennessean/Hall)

A lengthy nationwide investigation of cheating on standardized tests published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution today briefly mentioned Metro Nashville schools at the end. The Atlanta Journal Constitution requested schoolby-school test data from 50 states and the District of Columbia for its Cheating Our Children project, posted Saturday at AJC.com and printed in todays newspaper. Reporters launched the investigation last year after a Georgia state investigation toppled school administrators in Atlanta over teacher cheating. Metro Schools officials released a pre-emptive response to the project on Friday, calling the newspapers methodology flawed. The article said test scores in Nashville have hit improbable highs and lows. Reporters mathematically predicted how grades at each school should perform year over year based on past scoring, then flagged any that scored outside that prediction. Sixth-graders at Two Rivers Middle School ranked among the 10 worst in reading scores in the state in 2010, for instance. One year later, as seventh-graders, they skyrocketed to among the top 25 percent, the article said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/NEWS04/303250056/Cheating-probe-finds-little-amiss-Nashville-sschools?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

MORE

OPINION Editorial: In records bill, lawmakers fail transparency test (News-Sentinel)

Shifty legislative maneuvering was used last week to further a measure that would place Tennessee teacher evaluations behind a veil of secrecy. If approved, the bill would deprive parents and the rest of the public the chance to monitor the new evaluation system. Gov. Bill Haslam has said he likely will sign the bill if it lands on his desk. Accountability and transparency have been cast aside. The bill exempts from the Tennessee Public Records Act all records containing the results of individual teacher evaluations. Sponsors of the bill contend that the evaluation system implemented this year should be an "internal tool" to help teachers improve. House Education Committee Chairman Richard Montgomery, R-Sevierville, said he could envision parents pressuring school systems to place their children in classes led by teachers with good scores. We fail to see why Montgomery thinks something is wrong with parents wanting their children to have good teachers. Teacher personnel files are open to the public for review, though some information such as a Social Security number gets redacted when an inspection occurs. Teacher evaluations should be part of that file, so parents and the public can review them. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/25/editorial-in-records-bill-lawmakers-fail-test/

Clay Bennett Political Cartoon: Stand Your Ground (Times Free-Press)

http://media.timesfreepress.com/img/news/tease/2012/03/23/120325_Stand_Your_Ground_t618.jpg? ba5b5b122dd3d37cc13d83e92a6a0ec0d5bfa32a

Editorial: Tracy wrong to cut open debate on eval records (Daily News Journal)
State Sen. Jim Tracy apparently pulled off a legislative sleight of hand last week when he sponsored a bill 8

closing public access to teacher evaluation data. The measure passed the Senate State and Local Government Committee with a 7-0 vote, but it never received a thorough public debate because Tracy used a caption-bill mechanism to move the measure to the Senate floor. As a result, Tracy, a Shelbyville Republican who represents much of Rutherford County, left the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and other open government advocates flat-footed and unable to discuss the matter with the legislators involved before it went to the committee. In caption bills, an amendment can replace the original intent in the bills caption as long as it is covered by a section of state law noted in the initial legislation. According to Tracys office, the bill was filed in 2011 and was able to carry the amendment, which was filed with the State & Local Government Committee a week before it was heard. The purpose of the evaluation system is to help improve teacher performance, Tracy said in a written statement to The DNJ when asked why he sponsored the measure as a caption bill. It was not put in place to bring public attention to what should be an interoffice intervention to improve their professional skills. I dont think anyone would care for their job evaluation and any recommendations for improvements to be published in the newspaper. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120325/OPINION/303250009/Editorial-Tracy-wrong-cut-open-debate-eval-records

Tom Humphrey: Tennessee gets a 'C' in integrity survey of state governments (NS)
Tennessee got a grade of "C" last week in a "state integrity" national rating of state governments, an averaging of some areas wherein our fair state warrants an "A" and others wherein it warrants an "F." The review was conducted by the Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity and Public Radio International. No state got an overall "A" (eight got an overall "F") and Tennessee's numerical score of 77 was actually eighth best in the nation. Since the topic involves transparency and openness, first a disclosure note: Yours truly was interviewed months ago, as the project was getting under way, by the lady who did the Tennessee research and reporting. She paid for lunch. Mostly, I suggested other people she should interview and places to find state government information. The list of questions the project managers required to be answered by the researchers on the lay of the state government landscape was, at the least, comprehensive and perhaps exhaustive in the details required. That said, the Tennessee rating seems about right. Our state government does do many things well. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/25/tom-humphrey-tennessee-gets-a-c-in-integrity-of/

Lamar Alexander: Double energy research, end subsidies (Tennessean)

This week, the U.S. Senate is likely to vote on President Obamas plan to end oil subsidies and extend windpower subsidies. If we really want to lower fuel prices, we should instead double energy research. To pay for it without adding to the federal debt, we should stop wasteful, long-term subsidies to both Big Oil and Big Wind. Look at shale gas, now being produced thanks to energy research. The U.S. suddenly has a 100-year supply of natural gas at one fourth the prices in Europe and Asia. This will lure manufacturing jobs and provide cheap fuel for cars and trucks. I drive an all-electric Nissan Leaf and pay about $3 to travel 100 miles better than spending an equivalent of $20 on gasoline. Last month, researchers announced a way to double the density of lithium ion batteries, hastening arrival of $20,000 electric cars that get 300 miles per charge. The U.S. should launch a series of mini-Manhattan Projects, with the same focus and determination of the World W ar II project, this time with the goal of discovering ways to find more energy and use less of it. The U.S. has research universities and national laboratories that no other country has. They can advance research on cheaper solar, better batteries, recapturing carbon from coal plants, biofuels from crops we dont eat, better ways to dispose of used nuclear fuel, offshore wind, green buildings and fusion. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/OPINION03/303250046/Double-energy-research-end-subsidies? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Guest columnist: Include moderates in debate (Tennessean)

Its a dirty word, probably not fit for a general circulation newspaper, and it has become the most pejorative of political labels. Moderate. Im sure there are some moderates in Tennessee, and if so, I understand why they lay low and dont engage in debate. I can hear them thinking, What is to be gained to get into a fight with these folks? Theyre crazy. Public political debate naturally favors the extremes; soundbites, shallow slogans that pass for policy or philosophy, and deliberate ignorance of the facts are useful tools to hammer home a point, to make it memorable; makes sense to me, theyre a lot like headlines. And then, I assume; we look past the headlines and evaluate the intent. But we know what assume means In a world where compromise is considered foolish at best and generally traitorous, how can we have hope? Even on the local politics level, where non-partisanship 9

used to be the rule, the tenor of debate pushes us to the extreme. According the most recent Gallup polling, over the past 20 years, Americans have increasingly identified themselves as conservatives, with 40 percent of Americans calling themselves conservative or very conservative. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120325/COLUMNIST/303250045/Include-moderates-debate? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Guest columnist: Court must strike down 'Obamacare' (Tennessean)

On Monday, the National Federation of Independent Business and 26 states will go before the U.S. Supreme Court and argue that the health-care law President Obama signed into law a couple of years ago should be struck down. This is a big deal. Usually, the court sets aside one hour for oral arguments. It allowed 90 minutes for Bush vs. Gore 11 years ago. Its allotted six hours over three days for Obamacare. The issue here is whether the government can force you to buy health insurance. Im the state director of NFIB, the nations leading small-business association. We say W ashington doesnt have the constitutional authority to force anyone to buy anything. The district and appellate courts agreed with us. Our members want reform that makes health care more accessible and more affordable, but this law is bad medicine. Its a deeply flawed piece of legislation that small-business owners dont want and cant afford. For starters, we believe the health-care law is unconstitutional. W e believe the so-called individual mandate, which says citizens have to buy an approved health insurance policy or pay a penalty, oversteps the governments authority and violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120324/OPINION03/303240010/Court-must-strike-down-Obamacare-? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|s

Times Editorial: An epic health care battle (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

The Affordable Care Act has just turned two years old, yet tomorrow begins the Supreme Court challenge that will determine whether the ACA lives and thrives, or shrivels, or dies. For all the ways that it would secure the promise of affordable, comprehensive health care for most all Americans, it is regrettable -- indeed, almost incomprehensible -- that the ACA faces this legal battle. As the huge stakes in this lawsuit suggest, however, the battle will be epic, a rarity for the decades. While the Supreme Court customarily allots just an hour for the cases it hears, it has set aside three days for hearings on the ACA. A big chunk of that time will be devoted to the issue of constitutionality of the ACA's mandate for all non-poor Americans to obtain insurance. Another will revolve around its severability clause, which, if upheld, would allow other parts of the law to remain in force even if the purchase mandate was found to be impermissible under federal interstate commerce precedents. This battle was always predictable. Republicans fought tooth-and-nail to defeat the creation of the nation's two other vital leavening social benefits -- Social Security and Medicare. Their fight to keep health care under the unbridled control of the nation's most cold-blooded for-profit industries -- the rich health insurance and pharmaceutical insurance industries which fill their campaign coffers -- was to be expected. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/25/0325f-t1-an-epic-health-care-battle/?opiniontimes ###

10