News

Senators Ketron and Tracy announce grant for Smyrna Airport

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

(NASHVILLE), May 15, 2013 -- State Senators Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said today they have been informed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) that the Smyrna Airport will receive a $31,500 state grant. The grant is available through TDOT’s Division of Aeronautics and totals $42,000 after a local match of $10,500 is added. The funds will be used for emergency repairs to the electrical vault and air traffic control (ATC) systems.

"We are very pleased this grant has been made available for needed repairs,” said Senator Tracy. “This airport is very important to Rutherford County.”

Except for routine expenditures, grant applications are reviewed by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission (TAC), which is a five member board charged with policy planning and with regulating changes in the state Airport System Plan. The Board carefully reviews all applications for grants to ensure that the proper state and local matching funds are in place and that the grants will be used for needed improvements.

“I am very pleased that these funds will be available to help with improvements and am hopeful that we will continue to see many more grants coming into Rutherford County in the future,” Ketron concluded.

Senator Ketron files bill authorizing use of student photo IDs issued by state universities for voting purposes

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:56:00 GMT

Clean up bill makes it clear local library cards are not allowed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) will present legislation in the Senate State and Local Government Committee tomorrow that would authorize the use of student photo IDs as acceptable identification for voting purposes. Senate Bill 125 also clarifies that locally issued photo library cards are not allowed under Tennessee’s voter ID law.

“This legislation allows photo IDs issued by state community colleges and state universities as an acceptable form of identification,” said Senator Ketron. “We allowed the use photo identification of faculty members of our state colleges and universities under the original Tennessee law which passed in 2011. We believe that this state issued ID has worked as a sufficient form of identification and that students should also be included.”

Ketron said the legislation clears up any confusion regarding locally issued cards which he said were not supposed to be allowed under the original law passed in 2011. This includes any library cards issued by local governments.

The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled last fall that library cards issued by the Memphis Library were an acceptable form of identification for voting purposes. The court said that the 2011 law did not clearly spell out that locally issued photo identification cards were not allowed. The state appealed that decision.

“We considered locally issued cards when debating the original bill, but after reviewing the process, decided that the safeguards were not in place to ensure the integrity of the ballot like state and federally issued identification,” said Senator Ketron. “We continue to believe that the safeguards are not in place to use these cards as acceptable identification for voting purposes.”

“This is simply a bill to make it clear that the photo identification must be state or federally issued photo ID cards, and that students attending state universities can use their photo ID when voting,” he concluded.

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Senators Ketron and Tracy Sign on Legislation to Exempt Vehicles Under Three Years Old from Emissions Testing

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:48:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Automobiles under three years old would be exempt from Tennessee’s vehicle emission test under legislation under consideration in the State Legislature and co-sponsored by Rutherford County Senators Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville). The legislation would apply to owners of vehicles in six Tennessee counties where emissions testing is required, including Rutherford County.

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 10,500 pounds in Hamilton, Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson or Wilson Counties must currently pass an emissions test prior to registration renewal. Senate Bill 1080 would exempt testing for gasoline and diesel vehicles from that requirement if the automobile’s model is three years old or newer.

“This is a big step forward in relieving this burdensome regulation on Rutherford County citizens,” said Senator Ketron. “I am pleased to lend it my full support.”

“Many citizens have spoken with me regarding this requirement,” said Senator Tracy, who is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee which will hear testimony on the bill. “I look forward to supporting it as it moves through our Transportation Committee and onto the floor of the Senate.”

The emissions regulations were put into place to control pollution from mobile sources in counties that were not meeting the eight-hour ozone Federal Standards for air quality. The mandatory testing requirement does not apply to electric vehicles, motorcycles or antique vehicles with a model year of 1974 or older.

The bill is pending a scheduled hearing in the Transportation and Safety Committee in the Senate and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee in the House of Representatives.
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Department of Labor finds $1.3 million in fraudulent claims through tracking system sponsored by Senator Ketron

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:31:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Department of Labor is working to recoup $1.3 million in fraudulent unemployment claims made to prisoners housed in jails as a result of a new tracking system to help notify and compensate crime victims. Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), who sponsored changes recently put into place to Tennessee’s Statewide Automatic Victim Information Notification Service (SAVIN), said he is very pleased the system is now working not only inform crime victims regarding their perpetrator’s status, but can also perform other important tasks like tracking fraudulent claims.

“This system was first brought to our attention by domestic violence victims,” said Senator Ketron. “It is a very important tool to provide them with information regarding their perpetrator and help them recover any possible compensation that could be available. Although the original system was approved in 2007, it was inadequately funded. Last year, we increased litigation fines on criminals by $3 to ensure that the money was in place. As a result, SAVIN is now performing very well in helping crime victims. It is also beginning to find large savings for the state in a massive fraud prevention program utilizing the same database.”

SAVIN interfaces with the Department of Labor each week before unemployment checks are issued. The Department compares those records with local jail records statewide to make sure that no one in jail is able to fraudulently claim unemployment benefits. Last year, the system indicated Tennessee paid over $1.3 million in fraudulent claims to individuals to claimants housed in local jails. Those claimants and the amount that they received have been identified and the Department is working to recover those payments. Ketron added, “But more importantly, those claims will not be paid in the first place as a result of the new system.”

“This system makes sure that we offer the best quality services to those who have suffered at the hands of a criminal. This is one way that those who are victimized are offered comfort and protection from those who have wronged them in the past. At the same time, the database is an incredible tool to help us locate fraud,” he concluded.

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Senator Ketron re-elected Chairman of Fiscal Review Committee

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:37:00 GMT

(NASHVILLE, TN), January 25, 2011 --- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) has been re-elected by his colleagues to lead the General Assembly’s Fiscal Review Committee. Ketron was elected by acclamation at a meeting on Tuesday to serve as Chairman of the joint House and Senate committee, which serves as the watchdog for all state government spending.

The bi-partisan Fiscal Review Committee conducts a continuing review of the financial operations of state government. It also reviews state contracts and is responsible for preparing and distributing the fiscal notes that show how proposed legislation would impact state and local governments financially.

“Thanks for the confidence you have placed in me,” Senator Ketron told the members of the committee after the election. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve again as Chairman of this committee. We have made great strides over the past two years and I look forward to continuing to move in the right direction.”

The work of the Fiscal Review Committee served as an impetus for a new law sponsored by Ketron last year designed to implement cost saving strategies taken from the best practices implemented by procurement officials nationwide. When fully implemented, the procurement law is expected to save Tennessee hundreds of millions of dollars over the long run.

“It is important that the taxpayers of this state know that every dollar of our state budget is spent wisely, especially in economically challenging times when we must be fiscally responsible. The Fiscal Review Committee will continue to seek ways to ensure this is happening.”

State Representative Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville) was elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee in a contested election with Representative Charles Curtiss (D-Sparta), while Jim White was reappointed Executive Director.

Senator Ketron Filed Legislation to Allow Referendums on Wine Sales in Retail Food Stores

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:04:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and state Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, filed legislation today that would let Tennesseans vote on whether to allow the sale of wine in retail food stores via a local referendum.

The referendum bill, if passed, would give municipalities in those communities that currently allow retail package stores, liquor-by-the-drink establishments or both to hold a referendum on the sale of wine in retail food stores during the next general election. The authorization law would take effect on Jan. 1, 2014 and would allow a referendum to be held after that date.

“Rep. Lundberg and I strongly believe that Tennesseans deserve the opportunity to vote on this issue,” Sen. Ketron said. “Currently, municipalities decide whether to allow retail package stores or liquor-by-the drink in their communities, so it makes sense to also take the issue of where to sell wine to the voters.”

In order to place the referendum on the ballot, a petition must be presented to the county election commission where the referendum is to be held. The petition must include signatures from 10 percent of the county’s population that voted in the last gubernatorial election. The legislation as written provides the exact ballot question that will be asked of voters.

“Tennessee loses a significant amount of revenue to our border states,” Rep. Lundberg said. “My constituents in Bristol will tell you that they often cross the state line to buy groceries, gasoline and other household necessities. Giving Tennessee’s retail food stores the ability to sell wine will make up for some of that lost revenue and add millions to our state’s coffers.”

Thirty-six states, including six of Tennessee’s border states, allow the sale of wine in retail food stores. Kentucky will soon join the list due to a recent federal court ruling which deemed its liquor laws unconstitutional. According to the Tennessee Fiscal Review Committee, state and local revenues will increase by millions of dollars if consumers are allowed to purchase wine where they shop for food. The fees paid by retail food stores’ wine licenses will cover the cost of additional Alcoholic Beverage Commission staff members.

The legislation will require any retail food store that sells wine to participate in the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s Responsible Vendor Program, which requires retailers’ employees to complete training on the responsible sale of alcoholic beverages. Retail food stores already practice mandatory carding, regardless of the customer’s age or how old he or she might appear to be.

Sen. Ketron and Rep. Lundberg believe that one of the more important pieces of the legislation is the requirement that all retail package stores participate in mandatory carding and take part in the Responsible Vendor Program. Liquor stores are currently exempt from these requirements under current state alcohol laws. This change would allow for uniform treatment of alcohol sales, regardless of where they occur.

The referendum legislation has the support of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association and the Tennessee Retail Association. The state’s retail food store industry employs an estimated 70,000 Tennesseans and remits hundreds of millions of dollars in sales, real, personal, gross receipts, and Tennessee franchise and excise taxes. Retail food stores support the communities they serve through millions of dollars in annual contributions, countless food donations, and volunteer service to nonprofit organizations, foundations, schools and hunger relief programs.

Statement from Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron regarding the Governor’s Proposal to establish a partnership with Nissan for workforce development

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:23:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- “I am very excited about the new workforce training center that the Governor has proposed today in partnership with Nissan in Smyrna. It will be a tremendous benefit to Rutherford County. It has the potential not only to create jobs in Middle Tennessee, but offers state-of-the art training opportunities for thousands of Tennesseans. Jobs and education remain at the top of our priority list. I look forward to supporting this proposal as it moves to the General Assembly for approval.

“I was also very pleased to see a proposal for continued reduction in the state’s sales tax on food. In addition, the Governor’s proposal provides tax relief for our senior citizens who depend on investment income for retirement and who pay the Hall Income Tax. While Washington talks about tax increases, Tennessee remains committed to providing tax relief for our citizens while balancing our state budget.”

Senator Ketron Announces $74,249 Grant to MTSU for Teacher Professional Development

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:16:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 19, 2012 -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said today that he has been informed by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) that Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) will receive a $74,249 grant to provide professional development to local K-12 teachers. MTSU was awarded the 2013 Improving Teacher Quality Award on a competitive basis.

“I am very pleased that MTSU will receive this award and that it will benefit local K-12 teachers,” said Senator Ketron. “This will help give them additional resources to improve student achievement. Congratulations to Dr. Angela Barlow, who will lead the project, and all of those at MTSU who helped secure this grant.”

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Statement from Senator Ketron on Governor Haslam's Healthcare Exchange Decision

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:35:00 GMT

"I am very pleased that Governor Haslam made the decision to reject state-based insurance exchanges. The federal government continues to show they have no qualms in making up new rules as they move forward.

As a businessman, I would not enter into any agreement without knowing all of the requirements. The Governor’s letter to Secretary Sebelius reiterates this citing the more than 800 pages of draft rules that have been issued since the November election. He also talks about the significant risks involved with taking on an exchange while they are still devising the rules and the fact that states have still not received appropriate information. I absolutely believe Governor Haslam made the right decision."

MTSU Poll says 81 percent of Tennesseans support voter ID law

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:48:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 30, 2012 -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said today he is very pleased that a Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) poll shows Tennesseans continue to express strong support for the state’s new voter identification law after implementation. The poll, conducted by MTSU’s Survey Group, showed 81 percent of Tennesseans continue to support the law, which took effect January 1 and has applied to numerous elections conducted since that date.

“We continue to have strong support for this law both in Tennessee and nationwide,” said Senator Ketron. “But, it is very reassuring that voters in our state continue to overwhelmingly favor it after the law has been put into practice.”

The poll showed that “four out of every five Tennessee likely voters approve of the state’s new law requiring people to show an approved photo ID before voting. Just 16 percent oppose the measure, and 3 percent are unsure.” In his detailed analysis, Dr. Ken Blake, Director of the MTSU Survey Group, wrote, “What opposition there is to the photo ID requirement is strongest among Democrats, 34 percent of whom oppose the law compared to only about 13 percent of independents and about 4 percent of Republicans.”

The poll was conducted through telephone interviews during the week of Oct. 16-21, 2012. MTSU Survey Group reported 609 poll respondents were interviewed.

Earlier this month, a Rasmussen national telephone survey reported 71 percent of voters nationwide favor voter identification. That poll also said 66% of likely U.S. Voters believe voter fraud is a serious problem in America today.

“Voters are smart enough to realize that there is a problem, regardless of claims to the contrary,” added Ketron. “I am very pleased our constitutional right to put this law into place in Tennessee was upheld last week. I also am hopeful that our Judiciary will overturn the Appeals Court decision to accept library cards after further review as our intent to only accept state- and federally-issued photo identification was clear. We considered alternative means, but after reviewing the process decided that the safeguards were not in place to ensure the integrity of the ballot like state- and federal-issued identification."

“Our right to vote is one of the most sacred symbols of our freedoms. Requiring photo ID to vote will help maintain the integrity of elections in our state and the purity of the ballot box,” he concluded.

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Senators Ketron and Tracy announce major Smyrna Airport Grant

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:19:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 23, 2012 -- State Senators Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Jim Tracy (Shelbyville) today announced the Smyrna Airport will receive a $1,871,500 state grant for engineering design and taxiway rehabilitation. The grant, which will be combined with a $98,500 local match, was recommended through the Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics.

“Our airports are essential to pave the way for economic development of our county,” said Senator Ketron. “This grant will assist in improving the airport to better serve those who utilize it.”

Except for routine expenditures, grant applications are reviewed by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission (TAC), which is a five member board charged with policy planning and with regulating changes in the state Airport System Plan. The board carefully reviews all applications for grants to ensure that the proper state and local matching funds are in place and that the grants will be used for needed improvements.

“It is important to the traveling public that we continue to improve our airport infrastructure statewide,” said Senator Tracy, who is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “It is also important to our economic development efforts as we work to bring new jobs to Tennessee. I am very pleased that the Smyrna airport will receive this sizable grant which should help tremendously with this local project.”

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Statement from Senator Bill Ketron regarding Chancellor Carol McCoy’s Decision to Uphold Tennessee’s Voter ID Law

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:37:00 GMT

Nashville, Tenn., September 27, 2012 -- “Yesterday, we had affirmation in state court, in addition to federal court affirmation in July, that Tennessee has the right to guard against voter fraud and ‘to secure the freedom of elections and the purity of the ballot box’ as our Constitution states,” said Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro).

“It should not be easier to board a plane, buy a beer or attend a national political convention than to vote in Tennessee,” he added. “As U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens said photo identification to vote is ‘amply justified by the valid interest in protecting the integrity and reliability of the electoral process.’"

“Our right to vote is one of the most sacred symbols of our freedoms. Many Americans and many Tennesseans fought and died for that right. Requiring a photo ID to vote will help maintain the integrity of elections in our state. This state court decision, like the earlier decision in federal court, supports that effort,” he concluded.

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Senator Ketron announces 2012- 2013 State Appropriations for Rutherford County

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:51:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., September 5, 2012 – State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) announced today that during the fiscal year 2012-2013 Rutherford County will receive approximately $453.9 million in state appropriations. The total amount coming into Rutherford County is $14.7 million more than last year and $38.3 million more than that approved during the 2010-2011 budget year. Also, Rutherford County will receive a portion of the federal funds included in Tennessee's $31 billion budget as adopted by the 107th General Assembly.

“In a slim budget year, this is very good news for Rutherford County,” said Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron, who is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. “I am very pleased that the largest category for an increase was education which is our best investment for the future.”

At $190.6 million, the increase for education over last year is $8.1 million and is $13.2 million more than that approved during the 2010-2011 budget year. Transportation also received a considerable boost at $6.54, which is $3.2 million more than last year’s appropriations for Rutherford County.

Other budget appropriations listed for Rutherford County in the following general categories are: $37.3 million in shared state tax collections; $108.4 million for health and social services; $15.1 million for justice and public safety; $4.8 million for recreation and resources development and $87.2 million for economic development and higher education. In addition, Rutherford County will receive $3.625 million in capital outlay, which include four improvement projects at Middle Tennessee State University.

The state budget was reduced almost $1 billion from the 2011-12 budget.

The county-by-county statistics are prepared by the Office of Legislative Budget Analysis, which works in concert with state finance officials in gathering the detailed information.

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Senator Ketron reacts to withdraw of Photo ID lawsuit, confident new law will withstand possible state court challenge

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:34:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 29, 2012 -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said today that he is not surprised by the action taken by the City of Memphis this week to withdraw their federal court lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s new photo identification. Ketron was sponsor of the legislation which was implemented in January.

“I am not surprised by the action taken by Memphis to withdraw the lawsuit,” said Senator Ketron. “It was obvious that it was not going to be successful. “

The action taken by Memphis comes after a July 24th ruling by U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger that state law does not allow identifications issued by local governments to be used for voting. Ketron maintained that the General Assembly carefully considered allowing various identification methods, like local government library cards, but decided the criteria for receiving them was too lenient “to protect the purity of the ballot box.”

Memphis has indicated they would now take their challenge to a Davidson County Chancery Court where they will base their arguments regarding the constitutionality of the state’s new voter ID law on provisions pertaining to the requirements for voting. Ketron said that he expects the new lawsuit will also be unsuccessful.

“Tennessee’s Constitution clearly gives the legislature the authority to address voter fraud,” added Senator Ketron. “I think they will find the same results in our state courts.”

The State’s Constitution in Article 4, Section 1 states: “The General Assembly shall have power to enact laws requiring voters to vote in the election precincts in which they may reside, and laws to secure the freedom of elections and the purity of the ballot box.”

“I don’t know how you can get clearer than that, added Ketron. “We feel we are on firm constitutional ground and will be successful in the state’s courts as well.”

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Senators Ketron and Tracy congratulate schools in Rutherford County for being named “Reward Schools”

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:28:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 27, 2012 -- State Senators Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) today congratulated David Youree Elementary, Homer Pittard Campus School, John Colemon Elementary, Thurman-Francis Elementary, Lascassas Elementary and McFadden School of Excellence for being named by the Tennessee Department of Education as “Reward Schools.” The status is based on the percentage of students that have proficient or advanced performance and the top five percent of schools based on student achievement growth progress.

Only 40 Tennessee schools received the designation.

“We are very proud of these students, teachers, parents and school administrators,” said Senator Ketron. “It is a major accomplishment and we congratulate them on achieving this status as a Reward School.”

The Reward School status was put into place under a new Tennessee law that was passed in conjunction with the state’s waiver from certain provisions of the “No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.” Under the new law, Reward Schools will serve as strategic partners with the Department of Education to raise student achievement levels throughout the state by analyzing and sharing their best teaching practices.

Senator Tracy concluded, “We know that we will continue to see Rutherford County and Murfreesboro schools added to this list next year and appreciate all of the efforts made by our teachers and students county-wide to improve opportunities for education success.”

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Senators Ketron and Tracy announce grant for Smyrna Airport

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:20:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 9, 2012 -- State Senators Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said today they have been informed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) that a $97,305 federal/state grant has been approved for the Smyrna Airport. The grant will be combined with a $2,495 local match.

The grant was recommended through the Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics. It will be used for airport maintenance equipment.

“This is good news for the Smyrna Airport,” said Senator Ketron. “This grant should greatly assist airport maintenance efforts.”

“The Smyrna Airport is very important to many cities in Middle Tennessee,” added Senator Tracy. “We are very pleased that they will receive these funds.”

Except for routine expenditures, grant applications are reviewed by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission (TAC), which is a five member board charged with policy planning and with regulating changes in the state Airport System Plan. The board carefully reviews all applications for grants to ensure that the proper state and local matching funds are in place and that the grants will be used for needed improvements.

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Senators Ketron and Tracy remind citizens about upcoming Sales Tax Holiday

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 23, 2012 -- The seventh annual Tennessee “Sales Tax Holiday” is set to begin on Friday, August 3 at 12:01 a.m. and will end Sunday, August 5 at 11:59 p.m. Rutherford County State Senators Tracy and Ketron said they anticipate another successful year for shoppers, especially parents who are getting students ready to go back to school.

“The sales tax holiday has been very successful, especially in helping parents meet back-to-school needs,” said Senator Ketron. “We hope all the citizens will take advantage of this opportunity for savings and shop at area businesses to help our local economy as well,” added Tracy.

Both Tracy and Ketron were key supporters of the tax relief measure passed in 2005.

During the holiday, clothing with a purchase price of $100 or less per item is exempt from sales tax. School supplies exempted include items of $100 or less like binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, ruler, and scissors. Additionally, there is no requirement that purchases be made only for students. If an item is tax exempt, anyone may make the purchase tax–free.

Computers with a purchase price of $1,500 or less, not for use in a trade or business, are also exempt from tax. Laptop computers, if priced at $1,500 or less, qualify as well as tablet computers.

For more information, please contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue online at www.tntaxholiday.com or at www.TN.gov/revenue. Citizens or merchants who have inquiries can also email salestax.holiday@tn.gov, or telephone 1 (800) 342-1003 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday.

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Senator Ketron's Statement on today's Supreme Court ruling

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:44:00 GMT

It is a sad day. The cost of Obamacare is unsustainable. It is unstainable in just what Tennessee's portion will cost our citizens. It will eat through every dollar that we need to improve education, bring in new jobs and to provide for the public safety measures needed to protect our citizens and help our state grow economically. I think what you will find as a result of this decision is that many small employers who cannot afford to pay the cost of insurance , will pay the fine because it is cheaper. That way it will be incumbent on the federal government to issue individual policies for everyone, giving them much more control over our lives. State leaders will review this decision carefully and look at what our options are as a result of this ruling. We will also be watching what happens in November after the elections which could also have the potential to turn back the back-breaking provisions of this law to the financial stability of this state and nation.

Democrat calls for Special Session reek of election politics

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:50:00 GMT

Having a daughter in college, I can strongly attest that we all care about the rising costs of a college education. I am very concerned about the number of students that have gone into debt to pay for a college education. I am equally as concerned about those who have gone into debt and have not completed their degree or do not complete their education within the desired four-year timeline. Continuing education into a fifth or sixth year and beyond greatly adds to the problem of student debt.

It is a matter that needs to be addressed if we are going to increase the number of graduates from Tennessee’s colleges and universities. The Democrats’ call for a special session on the matter, however, is very disingenuous and reeks of election-year politics.

The records show that tuition in both the Board of Regents and University of Tennessee systems have increased every year since 1984, during years of revenue surplus and those which fell short of the estimated marks. These were also overwhelmingly years in which Democrats had control of the House and Senate and the governor’s office. The governor makes the appointments to the higher education boards which control tuition hikes.

So why call for a special session this year and at this time? Special sessions outside of the January to May time frame are generally reserved for emergency situations. A special session would cost taxpayers $22,800 per day in per diem and $16,600 per week in travel costs under usual situations. However, this year the Capitol building, where the General Assembly meets, is closed for repairs and there would be much added expense to secure a facility and the equipment that would be needed to be in compliance with our open government laws.

Although the political timing is extremely suspect and the operating cost would be more than usual for a special session, my most important concern is that we address the matter carefully and look at the higher education system as a whole instead of having a knee-jerk reaction. Just because we have excess revenues that exceeded our budget estimates does not mean that we have to rush out today and spend it without looking at our needs in a comprehensive way.

Since his first day in office, Gov. Bill Haslam has conducted a top-to-bottom review of various departments of state government. As a result of these efforts, legislation was passed this year to streamline several areas of state government to make it work more efficiently and effectively. The governor has said he wants to spend the coming months examining the cost of college and ways the state could help make it more affordable.

He also wants to look at workforce development and how to ensure students are prepared for the jobs of the future. The governor has made it clear that he will be working with a wide spectrum of business, higher education and other stakeholders to look at the big picture of how we are performing to meet our core mission of giving our students the opportunities they need in a very competitive world economy. This is in addition to looking at any efficiencies we can gain in completing that task.

In regard to the call by the Democrats to accelerate the tax relief sponsored by Republicans which passed this year, the better than expected collections prompted us to further reduce the food tax from 5.5 to 5.25 percent. The goal is to phase in further reductions when we return to Capitol Hill next year. The food tax reduction is in addition to approval of legislation to phase out the state’s death tax and eliminate the gift tax this year, and passage of Hall tax relief for senior citizens last year. Under Republican leadership we have finally been able to see progress in providing some tax relief to our citizens. We will continue that effort in the next General Assembly.

At the same time, we must be very careful in how we plan for the future. Obamacare will cost Tennessee over $200 million per year unless the U.S. Supreme Court finds in favor of the plaintiffs. Plus, we need to be prepared for potential cuts from Washington if the federal government decreases expenditures to programs in order to manage their long-term debt. We must keep our state’s rainy day fund healthy to meet these challenges and others that might come in a shaky world economic market.

The people of Tennessee expect us to be prudent stewards of their tax dollars. We need to address the rising cost of tuition and continue our efforts to provide tax relief. They also expect us to do it in a responsible manner. That is what we intend to do.

Senators Ketron and Tracy announce Tire Recycling Grant

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:44:00 GMT

Nashville, Tenn., June 26, 2012 -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said today they have been informed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that Rutherford County will receive a $466,000 waste tire recycling grant for the 2013-14 fiscal year. The announcement comes after Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau released the recipients of 41 grants to help Tennessee communities recycle tires and keep them out of landfills.

“These grants are very helpful in assisting counties with their tire recycling efforts,” said Senator Tracy. “I congratulate our local officials in helping secure these funds.”

“Tire recycling is particularly beneficial to communities,” said Senator Ketron. “There are many uses for recycled tires and besides being unsightly, discarded tires can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.”

Tennessee recycles an estimated 55,000 tons of tires per year, diverting waste tires from landfills and sending them to beneficial end-use facilities. Beneficial end-use methods include utilizing tire-derived aggregate in civil engineering projects, crumb rubber for asphalt paving and molded rubber products. The majority of Tennessee’s waste tires are used as tire-derived fuel.

“Working with our local county partners is vital to the success of this program,” Haslam said. “The Solid Waste Management Fund continues to provide support to Tennessee’s communities, assisting in the diversion of waste tires from landfills for the benefit of the environment.”

The General Assembly authorized waste tire grants in the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991. The grants assist counties with the processing and transportation of tires to beneficial end-use facilities. Counties are reimbursed $1 per eligible tire and are required to provide at least one waste tire collection site. The fund is administered by the Department of Environment and Conservation, and $1.25 from the $1.35 pre-disposal fee collected is used to supplement the counties’ costs for waste tire recycling and services.

“Tennessee’s tire recycling program provides an environmentally sound disposal method, and it’s important that communities continue to focus on waste reduction as part of their overall waste management plan,” added Martineau.

Purchasing longer life tires, rotating and balancing tires every 6,000 miles, and checking air pressure monthly are excellent ways to reduce the number of scrap tires generated in Tennessee and will also save money.

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Senator Ketron announces Maury County Arts Grants

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:44:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 22, 2012 -- Local State Senator Bill Ketron announced today that four arts grants have been awarded in Maury County from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The grants have been awarded in the amount of $7,000 to the Maury County Arts Guild, $6,400 to the Maury County Public Library, $3,000 to South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance and $5,000 to Joseph Brown Elementary School.

“I am very pleased that the Tennessee Arts Commission allocated grant money for these arts efforts in our area,” said Senator Ketron. “I am sure they will put the money to good use in promoting the arts for area students and other citizens.”

The Tennessee Arts Commission’s matching grants are made possible through an appropriation of state funds by the General Assembly, federal dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by Tennesseans who buy specialty license plates. The Commission will award over 900 community grants through the 2013 fiscal year, totaling $7.5 million. The allocation process involves a review by citizen advisory panels made up of Tennesseans with expertise in appropriate disciplines and a final review by the full 15-member Tennessee Arts Commission.

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Legislation cuts in half fees for Worker’s Compensation Exemption Registry

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:29:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 23, 2012 -- Legislation that decreases by 50 percent the registration and renewal fees associated with the Worker’s Compensation Exemption Registry for construction contractors has been signed into law. Governor Bill Haslam signed the legislation on Monday after approval by the General Assembly during the final days of the legislative session which ended May 1.

The reduction in fees was part of Senate bill 2923, sponsored by Senators Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) and Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), which also clarifies that either party in a worker’s compensation dispute may bring suit in the county in which the employee resided at the time of the injury rather than where the employee resides at the time of filing suit. The bill, as amended, reduces the registration and renewal fee because of the fund balance in the Registry after the first year of implementation.

Before, the law allowed worker’s compensation cases to be filed in the chancery or circuit court in the county where the employee resides or the county where the alleged injury occurred. This bill changes that to the county where the employee resided at the time of the alleged injury or the county where the alleged injury occurred.

“This new law simply changes the venue from where the employee resides at the time suit is brought to where the employee resided at the time of the injury. The purpose of the bill is to discourage forum shopping,” said Senator Overbey. “At the same time, the legislation decreases by one-half for contractors to place themselves on the Worker’s Compensation Exemption Registry. Fees are currently double the amount needed for proper regulation.”

The fee reduction comes after the state’s financial experts predicted that $712,500 would be generated from licensed and non-licensed contractors every two years through registration with the Worker’s Compensation Exemption Registry. The assumption was well below what actually occurred as renewal fees will still yield $1,341,550 after the 50 percent reduction is implemented. The exemption allows a business owner to exempt him or herself from the requirement to carry workers’ compensation insurance on him or herself.

The Registry is composed of individuals who are sole proprietors and own 100% of the assets of the business, or an officer of a corporation, or a member of a limited liability company with at least a 20% ownership interest, or a partner in a partnership with at least a 20% ownership interest. Registration is only available to individual business owners engaged in the construction services industry.

In addition, an applicant may qualify for the exemption if the applicant and members of the same family of the applicant hold at least 95% ownership of the business. Each corporation, Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Partnership, General Partnership and family owned business may have up to 5 individuals who can qualify to be exempt. A sole proprietor can only have 1 exemption.

“When a business is overcharged for regulation, those fees need to be returned to them,” added Ketron. “There is no need to overburden them with excess fees. At the same time, it provides adequate funding to ensure our law is working as envisioned to protect workers. I am pleased this legislation has been approved and signed into law.”

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Senator Ketron announces Historic Preservation Grant for MTSU

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:43:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 3, 2012 -- State Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said today that Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is set to receive an historic preservation grant from the federal government totaling $35,000.

The grant will allow the university to digitize data for historic and architectural survey files. The grant also provides for survey data entry for the computerization of survey files.

“The people of Rutherford County are very proud of our heritage and dedicated to preserving our area's historic sites, said Sen. Ketron. "This grant will help us achieve that goal."

The grant is a result of the federal National Historic Preservation Act, which allocates federal dollars to worthy projects based on a number of strict criteria. The grants are administered by the Tennessee Historical Commission, which awards them based on the applicant's ability to demonstrate the purpose of preserving archeological sites, historic districts and structures.

"With limited federal funds, we were very fortunate to get this grant," Ketron added. “We thank and congratulate our MTSU officials for their diligence in applying for the grant and know that it will be put to good use in preserving our county's heritage.”

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Senate passes, sends to the Governor, legislation reworking state’s Cyberbullying Law

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:34:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 27, 2012 -- The Senate has approved legislation, sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Representative Charles Curtiss (D-Sparta), that revises a law passed last year regarding cyberbullying through the use of electronic devices. Senate Bill 2556 removes the words “frighten, intimidate, or cause emotional distress” to a victim in the state’s current cyberbullying law and replaces them with the word “threaten.”

Ketron said he enlisted the help of Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper and other legal experts in revising the law to meet constitutional muster, while maintaining the focus on deterring bullying through electronic means. The revision limits the offense of harassment by display of an image to cases in which the defendant communicates without legitimate purpose with the intent that it will be viewed by the victim with the malicious intent to threaten them. “It must also be in a manner in which the defendant knows or reasonably should know, would threaten a similarly situated person,” he said.

“Technology has now given way to cyberbullying and electronic messaging, which challenges the traditional schoolyard bullying,” said Senator Ketron. “Various national studies have found approximately 30 to 40 percent of students have reported they had been cyberbullied or had cyberbullied another person at least once. We met with the Attorney General, the American Civil Liberties Union and others to rework last year’s law to address cyberbullying in a constitutional and more narrowly focused manner, while still addressing the problem experienced by too many kids who are victims of this form of bullying.”

The action comes after two children within a thirty-mile radius of metro Nashville committed suicide over the past six months, with indications pointing to cyberbullying. Minors who are found guilty under the cyberbullying law would be subject to 30 days of public service work.

“I believe that this legislation addresses the constitutional concerns put forth last year and goes a step further to promote awareness in schools of the harmful effects of bullying.”

The bill requires each Local Education Agency (LEA), at the beginning of the school year, to provide teachers and school counselors with a copy of the bullying policy and its implementation process, information on prevention and strategies to address bullying and harassment when it happens, as well as relevant training on the issue. Teachers and parents would also be given information relative to bullying prevention and programs to promote awareness of its harmful effects.

Finally, the bill requires annual reports regarding the number of bullying cases brought to the attention of school officials and the manner in which they were resolved or the reason they are pending.

“The reporting provision in the bill will give us a clear picture of how this bill is working and where improvements need to be made,” added Ketron. “I am very pleased it has passed and appreciate all the parties that worked with me to improve our cyberbullying law for the benefit of many Tennessee students.”

The bill now goes to Governor Bill Haslam for his signature.

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Senators Ketron and Tracy announce new road improvements slated for Rutherford County in state’s three-year multimodal plan

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:27:00 GMT

Nashville, Tenn., April 25, 2012–Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) today released information he received from the Tennessee Department of Transportation regarding state road projects in Rutherford County which are included in the proposed in the state’s comprehensive multimodal program for 2013-15. The plan includes several projects to improve safety.

“We are very pleased that many road projects have been included in the Department of Transportation’s plans for the next several years,” said Senator Tracy. “This is important to many citizens in our area due to an increase in traffic. When completed, these projects should help make our roads safer.”

The projects include:

• State Route 1 (US-41) Intersection grade separation at State Route 96 and State Route 1 to begin in 2013
• State Route 99 / 3.4 miles of construction at Cason Lane to State Route 96 (Old Fort Parkway) to begin in 2015
• State Route 266 / Right-of-way beginning in 2013 from State Route 102 to east of State Route 840 for 3.7 miles

“Good roads are essential to our citizens, both for safety and economic development,” added Ketron. “We are very pleased that we have been able to secure these projects for future development.”

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Senator Ketron named Legislator of the Year by South Central Tennessee Development District

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:12:00 GMT

Nashville, Tenn. April 5, 2012 -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) has been recognized as "Legislator of the Year" by the South Central Tennessee Development District. Ketron received the award at statewide meeting of the organization in Nashville.

The South Central Tennessee Development District is part of an association of Tennessee's nine development districts, which are regional planning and economic development organizations. The policy boards within each district are made up of the state's 95 Counties and 340 municipalities. They assist local community organizations in a number of ways, including planning and economic development coordination, transportation, solid waste, loans and grants for water and sewer systems, housing, tourism, SBA loans, air quality, and services to the elderly.

In accepting the award, Ketron said, "I am humbled by this award and am thankful for this recognition. The partnership that has been forged with the leaders in this organization has helped us bring progress to our communities. I also want to thank the South Central Tennessee Development District for all the good work they do for our citizens."

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Murfreesboro’s National Guard Armory named for First Lieutenant William Eric Emmert

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:53:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 8, 2012 – Governor Bill Haslam has signed into law legislation sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Representative Rick Womick (R-Rockvale) naming the National Guard Armory in Murfreesboro the First Lieutenant William Eric Emmert National Guard Armory.

Senate Bill 2159 is co-sponsored by Senators Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), Ophelia Ford (D-Memphis) and Eric Stewart (D-Belvidere) and Representatives Joe Carr (R-Lascassas), Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna), Barrett Rich (R-Hickory Withe), and Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga).

“Lieutenant Emmert was a shining example of courage and the volunteer spirit for which our state is known,” said Senator Ketron. “His name will forever be associated with this Armory as new generations of Tennessee soldiers will know the sacrifices he made for freedom.”

First Lieutenant Emmert was killed in the line of duty on February 24, 2009 while serving his country in Mosul, Iraq. He was assigned to the 269th Military Police Company, 117th Military Police Battalion, in the Tennessee Army National Guard. Emmert was a cum laude graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as a counter intelligence agent during tours of duty in Korea, Germany, and Cuba. He was also a Tennessee State Trooper in Lincoln County and a member of Governor Phil Bredesen’s security detail before joining the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as a special agent in the Criminal Investigation Division.

“This is a very deserved recognition,” added Representative Womick. “Lt. Emmert’s remarkable service for this state and nation was proven in every job he undertook. I am very proud to sponsor this bill recognizing the ultimate sacrifice he made for this nation.”

Emmert is survived by his parents, Bill and Brenda Emmert. The Armory is located at 2350 Armory Drive in Murfreesboro.

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Senator Ketron receives prestigious conservation award

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 5, 2012 – State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) has been honored with a prestigious award for his work to protect Tennessee’s environment. The Good Green Deeds Award comes from the Tennessee Conservation Voters (TCV), a statewide non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of Tennessee’s environment and preservation of its natural resources.

The TCV is the legislative voice for 23 of the state’s most prominent environmental groups and the thousand of individuals they represent. The group told Ketron they were especially grateful for his support for the dedicated fees that maintain land conservation, wetlands, and farmland protection funding.

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MTSU Science Building to finally be included in the state's 2012-13 budget

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:06:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 31, 2012 – Rutherford County’s legislative delegation, Senators Bill Ketron (R—Murfreesboro) and Jim Tracy (R—Shelbyville), and Representatives Joe Carr (R—Lascassas), Mike Sparks (R—Smyrna), Rick Womick (R—Rockvale), and Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville), today praised Governor Bill Haslam for putting the proposed MTSU Science Building in the state’s 2012-2013 budget. The local legislative delegation has pushed for inclusion of the building project, including leading a group of key state leaders on a tour of the campus last year. Rep. Carr said the tour, and conversations with Governor Bill Haslam, Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R—Nashville), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Randy McNally (R—Oak Ridge) and House Finance Committee Chairman Charles Sargent (R—Franklin) was a turning point in getting the project funded in this year’s budget. Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess and Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg have also pushed for funding the project.

“We wanted to show key leaders in the House and Senate the need for this project first hand,” said Rep. Carr. “This and our conversations with Governor Haslam was the turning point in getting this project funded.”

“I am very pleased that this project has finally been included in the budget,” said Senator Ketron. “I also appreciate Mayor Burgess and Mayor Bragg for their unwavering support for this project.”

“This project has been a priority of mine for many years,” added Senator Tracy. “We thank Governor Haslam for finally seeing that it is built.”

Although the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) can make recommendations regarding projects, the Governor is responsible for inclusion in the budget. The General Assembly then is responsible for finalizing any proposed projects by passing it into law through approval of the appropriations bill.

“We have worked very diligently with the Governor, Speaker Harwell, Lt. Governor Ramsey and our Finance Chairmen to make sure that we finally see this project to fruition,” added Representative Sparks. “We look forward to seeing the results of this work.”

“This building is very important to our goal of increasing the number of graduates in Tennessee with science and math degrees,” added Representative Womick. “This project should help us obtain these goals. The inclusion of the project in this year’s budget and the support of key lawmakers pretty much ensure its passage in this year’s budget.”

“All of our delegation members have talked to key state officials about getting this project started,” added Rep. Marsh. “We are all thrilled that we will finally have the opportunity to see this building become a reality on our MTSU campus.”

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Statement from Senator Ketron

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:05:00 GMT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn., January 23, 2012 – “After careful consideration, I have decided not to enter the Congressional race for the new 4th District in Tennessee.

I have grown up believing that elected office is still one of the best ways a person can contribute to our society; and service in the United States Congress is certainly the pinnacle of civic responsibility. The most important step in launching any campaign, however, is to evaluate the impact it will have on your family. My family is my inspiration and support. My father, who was my best friend passed away 11 months ago. I made a promise to him that I would take care of my mother, my family and the business that he started 43 years ago.

Another factor which has significant weight in this decision is that my leadership position in the Tennessee Senate affords me the opportunity to positively impact the future of my district and our state. It has taken us years, working together in the legislature, to move Tennessee forward in becoming one of the best states in the country to live and work. I am honored to have played a role in these changes but feel my work is not done here. I can be much more productive by being 1 of 33, instead of 1 of 435 and starting at the bottom.

This decision-making process has been very beneficial. Running for Congress has been a public service in which I have aspired since I was young. Sometimes in life we discover that what we always thought we wanted, when weighed against other factors, is not the most important priority in your life. Running for Congress is just that scenario for me.

I will commit to join with Congressman Scott DesJarlais as we work for the betterment of our great State.”

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Statement from Senator Bill Ketron regarding the announcement that Amazon has chosen Murfreesboro as its site of choice for one of their newest facilities

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:03:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 22, 2011 -- “This is tremendous news for both Rutherford County and all of Middle Tennessee. I look forward to working with the Governor and our local officials in completing the legislative action on this matter in our 2012 General Assembly. I am pleased that the State of Tennessee and Amazon could partner with us to showcase what a great place Tennessee and Rutherford County is to do business and raise a family.”

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The text of the release from Governor Haslam is below:

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 22, 2011 – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced Amazon’s plans to open two new fulfillment centers in Tennessee, creating over 1,300 new jobs and $135 million in investment in the state. Together with existing facilities in Wilson, Hamilton and Bradley Counties, Amazon will now be creating more than 3,300 jobs and more than $270 million in investment in Tennessee.

"This is exciting news for Middle Tennessee and the entire state as Amazon continues to grow and expand its presence here," Haslam said. "We appreciate the company's significant investment and ongoing partnership to create and grow Tennessee jobs."

“We’re thrilled to create more than 1,300 additional jobs in Tennessee and are thankful to Governor Haslam and state, county and local leaders for their continued commitment to Amazon jobs and investment,” said Dave Clark, vice president, Amazon North American operations. “We’re proud to call Tennessee home and look forward to serving our customers from these new facilities in Murfreesboro and Lebanon.”

As a growing member of the Tennessee community, Amazon also announced that it is donating $20,000 to the Books from Birth Foundation for its chapters in Wilson, Rutherford, Bradley and Hamilton counties – the locations of Amazon’s current and future fulfillment centers. Books from Birth is a nonprofit organization committed to helping preschool children develop their love of learning and reading.

“Today is another great day in Murfreesboro,” said Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg. “I am so proud and excited that Amazon has chosen Murfreesboro as its site of choice for one of their newest facilities. Having Amazon create so many new jobs here will be a great boost to our economy, and will provide our citizens the opportunity to have good quality jobs with a well known, respected, growing company.”

“Having a household name like Amazon in Rutherford County just adds to our county’s portfolio of top corporate entities in our area,” said Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess. “With the national and global economies struggling to recover, this proves that Rutherford County is a destination for jobs and we wish Amazon great success in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.”

“On behalf of Lebanon, TN, I want to thank Amazon and their partners for their confidence and commitment to our city,” said Lebanon Mayor Philip Craighead. “This would not have been possible without the cooperation of the City Commission and its many city of Lebanon staff members, along with the contributions and financial support from the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority. We look forward to growing this new partnership for the benefit of our citizens, our city and for Amazon.”

“I’m pleased to see the city of Lebanon and Wilson County work together on such an important project and I look forward to welcoming Amazon and their operation to Wilson County,” said Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto. “I want to thank the Wilson County Commission, the Industrial Development Bond Board and the office of the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Wilson County for their support and efforts in bringing another internationally known corporation to the community. A project of this nature only occurs when governments, the community and the company work together for the betterment of all.”

Amazon’s new facilities are expected to be completed next fall. Amazon Fulfillment Centers in Tennessee are operated by Amazon.com.dedc LLC.

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About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. The new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes - still with all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon's new revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and powerful dual-core processor.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Key laws sponsored by Senator Ketron set to take effect January 1

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 20, 2011 -- As Tennesseans ring in the New Year at midnight on January 1, several new laws sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) will be enacted that were passed during the 2011 legislative session. Among new laws set to take effect is one protecting the integrity of the ballot box by requiring voters to present valid photo identification when at the polls. Ketron said the new law is designed to reduce voter fraud while providing exemptions for those voting absentee, overseas, in nursing homes and for the infirmed and indigent, who may not be able to obtain proper identification.

Ketron also co-sponsored a new statute set to take effect as the new year begins to require private insurance plans to include coverage of hearing aids for children. The new law, which Ketron spearheaded in the last General Assembly, requires that health insurance policies provide coverage of up to $1,000 per individual hearing aid per ear, every three years, for every child covered as a dependent by the policy holder. He recently received an award from the Tennessee Disability Coalition for his efforts to pass the legislation.

“This is a much needed law,” said Ketron. “This will make these devices more affordable so these children grow and learn.”

Ketron also joined Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) in co-sponsoring a major E-Verify law which will go into effect January 1 to help ensure that new hires are in the state legally. The new law calls for businesses with over five employees to obtain a copy of his or her driver’s license or utilize the E-Verify system.

E-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration, allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees by entering their name and a social security number. It is free to employers in all 50 states, including Tennessee where more than 4,000 businesses have voluntarily participated in the system.

Ketron co-sponsored major legislation that will begin as the new year starts to implement a statewide electronic tracking system to curb meth production in the state. The system, called NPLEx (National Precursor Log Exchange), will monitor and block illegal purchases of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine (PSE), a key ingredient in methamphetamine production.

The new law requires that as of January 1, 2012, all pharmacies must use NPLEx, which exports the data to law enforcement. NPLEx must have a stop sale mechanism in place by that time for potential purchasers over the allowable purchase limit and anyone on the meth offender registry.

Finally, Ketron co-sponsored a law that will take effect January 1 to enhance the voting procedure for those serving in the military by ensuring Tennesseans abroad who do not receive their official ballot in time can participate in an election. Tennessee ranks among the top states in the nation in the number of military personnel. The new law requires that the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is accepted for all elections in which a person is eligible to vote; and may be used for registration and as an absentee ballot request.

“I am very pleased that all of these bills will be enacted into law,” Ketron concluded.

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Democrat statistics include illegal aliens among what they refer to as “disenfranchised” voters without photo IDs

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:30:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 31, 2011 -- Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said today that numbers provided by the Senate Democrat Caucus count illegal aliens and prisoners who have lost their voting rights among the number of what they term as possible “disenfranchised” voters under Tennessee’s new photo ID law. The formula, which Democrats released to certain media outlets last week, uses the 2010 U.S. Census to estimate how many voters do not have a photo ID.

“The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States,” says Census information posted on the U.S. Census website. “So even if you are not a U.S. citizen but you live and sleep in the U.S. most of the year, you will be counted in the census.” In addition, the Census count includes foreign students and those who are incarcerated in correctional facilities and who may have lost their voting rights if convicted of certain crimes.

Utilizing the Census as their source, the Democratic Caucus formula claimed that Tennessee has 689,301 people of voting age who don't have a driver's license or photo on their driver's license.

“The whole reason for the law was to ensure that only eligible citizens vote in an election in Tennessee,” said Chairman Ketron. “We had tried to determine the criteria the Democrats used to make that their calculation. We knew the number was wrong but until we saw their data did not know that they included ineligible voters and others who already have authorized identification cards until it was released to the media. Now we understand why the statistics were so grossly out of line.”

“We don’t know whether their calculations are designed to sensationalize the number of people who may truly need photo identification or if they believe we should really open up our election process to illegal aliens. I would hope not -- but both of these scenarios are concerning in protecting the integrity of elections in Tennessee. ”

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, there are over 140,000 illegal aliens in Tennessee.

Senator Ketron said the formula devised by Democrats also did not take into consideration those voters who had other forms of voter identification which would not be considered in a Census count. According to the Tennessee Division of Elections, voters can use the following current or expired identification as long as it contains a photo: Tennessee driver’s license, U.S. passport, federal or state government-issued employee identification, U.S. Military ID, Veteran Identification card, and a state-issued handgun carry permit. In addition, the law makes exception for voters who vote absentee by mail, residents of a licensed nursing home or assisted living center who vote at the facility, those who are hospitalized, citizens with a religious objection to being photographed, and voters who are indigent and not able to obtain a photo ID without paying a fee. Those who do not have photo identification will be allowed to vote by using a provisional ballot and given an opportunity to show their identification within two days after the election.

“Nothing in that raw census number tells you whether or not a person has an expired license with a picture on it, a veterans card, or an old passport, all of which are approved identification for voting purposes,” added Ketron. “We want every single eligible voter in Tennessee to be able vote, including those who need photo identification. However, we take exception to the misinformation being distributed by opponents of law.”

“Our election officials are working hard to educate voters regarding the facts of the new voter ID requirement. There are 95 town hall meetings in every county in the state tomorrow. This is in addition to scores of meetings to educate the public that have already taken place. They should be commended for their tremendous efforts. Any statement to the contrary is ludicrous. We will continue to work to ensure that every Tennessee voter’s vote is counted and not suppressed by an ineligible voter who commits fraud,” he concluded.

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Census links: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/how-we-count.php, (see foreign citizens in the U.S.), http://2010.census.gov/campus/pdf/FAQ_CensusOnCampus.pdf (see Not a U.S. Citizen)
Pew Hispanic Center: http://pewhispanic.org/

Geise appointed Executive Director of Legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 19, 2011 – State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Representative Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville) today announced that Lucian D. Geise has been appointed Executive Director for the Tennessee General Assembly’s Fiscal Review Committee effective November 1. Geise, who was unanimously confirmed by the committee today, is currently a Senior Legislative Attorney in the Legislature’s Office of Legal Services.

“As lead counsel for the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Geise brings a wealth of knowledge about the budgeting process to this position,” said Senator Ketron, who is Chairman of the Committee. “I am very confident in his ability to provide accurate information regarding the financial impact of legislation to our state budget, as well as providing wise counsel regarding the other financial matters that come before our Committee.”

Geise graduated cum laude from the University of Memphis and received his Juris Doctor from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Before coming to the legislature, he served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.

The Fiscal Review Committee is composed of six senators and nine members of the House of Representatives. The speaker of each house and the chairman of the Finance, Ways and Means Committee of each house serve as ex officio members.

“The Director of Fiscal Review also provides key information regarding our state’s contracts,” added Representative Johnson, who is Vice-Chairman of the Committee. “It is critical that we have a director who has the experience and qualifications to carry out these duties. Mr. Geise fulfills all of these qualifications.”

The Fiscal Review Committee was created by statute in 1967 as a special continuing committee of the General Assembly. The Committee is responsible for preparing fiscal notes for all general bills or resolutions which are introduced in the General Assembly that have a fiscal effect on state or local government. In addition, the Committee conducts a continuing review of the fiscal operations of state departments and agencies.

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Local example of ineligible voting cited by Ketron in press conference with former Rutherford County Democrat Chairman

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 05:00:00 GMT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn., September 26, 2011–State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) held a press conference today regarding the need for voter photo identification, citing the ineligible voting of a high ranking official in the Rutherford County Democrat Party. Former Rutherford County Democratic Chairman Jonathan Fagan joined Ketron in advocating the need for the new law.

“There has been much in the media lately regarding the frequency of ineligible voting, with many Democrats and media sources reporting that there is little or no fraud in Tennessee,” said Senator Ketron. “This is not factual. Today we are bringing forth a prime example of ineligible voting by a ranking local Democrat officer.”

Ketron said after he wrote an editorial in the Daily News Journal regarding the need for the new photo identification law in August, Vice-Chairman of the Rutherford County Democrat Party, Tony Pegel, published an opposing viewpoint guest editorial scoffing the new law. Ketron was later contacted with information regarding Vice-Chairman’s Pegel’s history of voting from 1994 to 2010, despite the fact he was not qualified as an eligible voter under Tennessee law.

“Mr. Pegel stated I had been ‘misleading’ citizens in my editorial regarding the number of felons who had voted ineligibly in Tennessee,” added Ketron. “In fact he knew better since at that time he had already petitioned to have his rights restored after voting ineligibly for 16 years. He is not the only one. We had over 10,000 ineligible felons on our voter rolls before the Election Coordinator encouraged county election officials to purge the rolls in accordance with Tennessee law.”

Under state law, a person convicted of a felony must check the box as provided on the form, which Mr. Pegel did in accordance with the law. Then they must state what they were convicted of separately so the election official can see if they are qualified under Tennessee law to vote. Ketron said it was his understanding from looking at the records that Mr. Pegel did not list the nature of the felony, nor did election officials at the time do what they were suppose to do in ensuring that he was an eligible voter.

Mr. Pegel then proceeded to vote in elections from 1994 until the election rolls were purged for ineligible voters in 2010. He petitioned to have his rights restored, which was approved in April.

“This is not about restoration of voting rights for felons. There is a process for that. This is about following the laws we have on the books. That was not what happened for the 16 years here as he was ineligible under Tennessee law.”

“For him to scoff at our efforts to make sure voters are indeed eligible to vote, and call them misleading, while knowing that he had recently been purged because he had been voting ineligibly, is indicative of the problem we face and proves the point that we needed reform in making sure our elections are fair and legal.”

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Event to Honor State Senator Ketron

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:39:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., September 16, 2011 -- Families will be honoring State Senator Bill Ketron at an event Wednesday, September 21st at 2pm. Their children now have access to hearing aids, due to the passage of legislation in Tennessee requiring that insurance companies cover them. Countless families and many statewide agencies, including the host of the event, the Tennessee Disability Coalition, labored in support of this legislation. The event has been organized to show their appreciation for Senator Ketron’s leadership in passing hearing aid coverage for children, which was signed into law by Governor Haslam in May.

Morris Hamby, the constituent who initially contacted Senator Ketron to discuss the need for this law, will be in attendance with his son, James. Hamby will co-present a certificate of appreciation to Senator Ketron, with Tamala Bradham, Ph.D., CCC-A, a pediatric audiologist and advocate on behalf of this law.

The event will be held in the Senate Library, across the hall from the Senate Chamber in the State Capitol Building, Nashville, TN 37243. It will be open to the public, and press are encouraged to attend.

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Ketron and Matheny named Marshall County GOP legislators of the year

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:38:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 17, 2011 -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Representative Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma) were recently named by the Marshall County Republican Party as “Legislators of the Year.” The presentation was made by GOP Chairman Billy Spivey and Vice-Chairman Janet Heckle.

Ketron is Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus and Matheny is Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives, placing both lawmakers in top leadership posts in the Tennessee General Assembly. Both legislators were first elected to the legislature in 2002.

“Both of these legislators are grounded in the conservative principles that have made our nation the greatest nation on earth – limited government, free enterprise, individual freedoms and traditional values,” said Spivey. “They have a tremendous list of accomplishments in the General Assembly. We particularly wanted to recognize them, however, for their work on the anti-terrorism law passed this year which spells out their sacrifices in standing up for the safety of Tennesseans.”

The “Material Support to Designated Entities Act of 2011” now makes the provision of “material support” a Class A felony and helps to close the prevention gap left by a post 9-11 anti-terrorism statute passed in 2002. The bill supports the work of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in continuing the collaboration between federal and state law enforcement authorities.

“We are honored to be recognized by this distinguished group from Marshall County,” said Ketron and Matheny. “This show of support is greatly appreciated.”

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Senator Ketron reminds citizens about upcoming Sales Tax Holiday

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:50:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 22, 2011 -- Local businesses and consumers will get a boost from Tennessee’s “Sales Tax Holiday” set to begin on Friday, August 5 at 12:01 a.m. according to State Senator Bill Ketron (R – Murfreesboro). The holiday ends Sunday, August 7 at 11:59 p.m.

“This is the six-year anniversary of the sales tax holiday which has been a tremendous success,” said Senator Ketron, who was a key supporter of the initiative. “During tough economic times, it is even more important to stimulate sales to local businesses, while providing citizens sales tax relief. The holiday is particularly geared toward ‘back to school needs,’ but it applies to clothing and many other items, which helps consumers of any age.”

During the holiday, clothing and school supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less per item will be exempt from the state sales and use tax. Clothing includes such items as shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves, hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms and scarves. School supplies include items used by a student in a course of study. It also includes binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, ruler, and scissors.

For more information, please contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue online at www.tntaxholiday.com or at www.TN.gov/revenue. Citizens or merchants with inquiries can also email salestax.holiday@tn.gov, or telephone 1 (800) 342-1003 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday.

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Senator Ketron to sponsor Caylee Anthony Act in Tennessee Senate

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:23:00 GMT

Legislation Will Make it a Felony to Not Report Missing Child

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 12, 2011 – Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said today he will be the Senate sponsor of the Caylee Anthony legislation filed yesterday in the House of Representatives by Rep. Tony Shipley (R-Kingsport). The bill, which comes on the heels of the Casey Anthony verdict last week, aims to strengthen state law to make it a felony for a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker to not notify law enforcement of the disappearance of a child within 24 hours.

“I am very pleased to be sponsoring this proposal with Rep. Shipley,” said Senator Ketron. “The Casey Anthony trial has shined a bright light on the gap in many state’s laws, including Tennessee’s, regarding the reporting of a missing child. It should be unacceptable under our state law to not report a child’s disappearance as it hampers efforts to return them to safety, or in the most severe circumstance where death occurs, it greatly impacts law enforcement’s investigation.”

Ms. Anthony failed to report her daughter missing to local authorities for a month and Florida law does not provide any penalties for this inaction. Tennessee law also has no penalty associated with a failure to report a missing child. The Shipley/Ketron bill makes it a class E felony to not report a missing child.

Ketron was formerly President of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation associated with the National Exchange Club. He helped establish 122 child abuse prevention centers, including those located in Jackson, Memphis, Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tennessee. He was attending a national symposium of that group last week when the verdict was delivered. He said he immediately received dozens of email messages from constituents asking for legislative action to be taken.

Ketron also said he has spoken with Department of Children’s Services Commissioner Kate O’Day regarding the need for the legislation at a meeting in his legislative office today.

The full text of Senate Bill 2123 can be accessed here.

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New laws sponsored by Senator Ketron to take effect today

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:16:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 1, 2011 – Two new laws sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), one to protect the rights of employees to vote on whether or not they want to unionize by a secret ballot, and the other to strengthen the state’s anti-terrorism statues, are among a host of new public acts scheduled to go into effect in Tennessee today. Ketron also co-sponsored comprehensive legislation approved by the General Assembly this year aimed at curbing meth production that will take effect as the new month begins.

July 1 is a common enactment date for implementation of new laws mainly because it marks the beginning of Tennessee’s new fiscal year.

The “Secret Ballot Protection Act” makes denial of secret-ballot elections illegal under Tennessee law, subject to a Class C misdemeanor offense. Ketron said it is a “counter measure to dangerous federal card check legislation that has been proposed in Congress.”

“The right to a secret ballot is sacred whether it is in the voting booth or in the workplace,” said Senator Ketron. “The card check system is not only un-democratic and un-American, but could hamper our ability to attract new business or drive those who are already here out of the state. We are working diligently to bring jobs to Tennessee by creating a business-friendly environment. This legislation aims to counter any future proposal that would subject employees to intimidation by allowing unions to organize simply by persuading a majority of employees to sign a union representation card.”

The anti-terrorism law scheduled to take effect today updates Tennessee’s Terrorism Prevention Act that was passed shortly after the 9-11 terrorist attacks to make the provision of “material support” a Class A felony. The law defers to designations already made by the U.S. Secretary of State and the Department of the Treasury. Ketron says it “helps to close the prevention gap left by the 2002 statute.”

“It should be a priority of ours to protect the citizens of our great state – there will be no prosperity without security,” Ketron added. “The law we passed provides a fair and even-handed approach that gets to problem of material support on the front end and provides our local law enforcement authorities with more tools to fight homegrown terrorism.”

Public safety is also the impetus behind a separate measure co-sponsored by Ketron and ready to take effect July 1 that stiffens penalties for making methamphetamines in the presence of a child and implements a statewide electronic tracking system to curb meth production in the state. The system, called NPLEx (National Precursor Log Exchange), will monitor and block illegal purchases of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine (PSE), a key ingredient in methamphetamine production, although pharmacies have until January 1, 2012 to comply with reporting provisions of the new law. The new law also sets amounts of pseudoephedrine that can be purchased and strengthens penalties against those convicted of smurfing, or shopping for the product in multiple locations.

“This legislation is a big step in attacking the meth problem that is sweeping many communities in Tennessee,” said Ketron. “This was a collaborative effort between many parties, including law enforcement officials, pharmacists, and others. We believe it will truly make a difference in identifying those who manufacture this dangerous drug to curb the flow of meth in Tennessee.”

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Senator Bill Ketron pleased with selection of Jessica Robertson as the state’s first Chief Procurement Officer

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:52:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 27, 2011 -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said today he was very pleased that Jessica Robertson has been appointed by Governor Haslam as Tennessee’s Chief Procurement Officer. Ketron and Representative Charles Curtiss (D-Sparta) were sponsors of the law passed last year creating the position along with the Tennessee State Procurement Commission, a state protest committee and an advisory committee on procurement.

“Ms. Robertson has strong experience in this area and is an excellent choice for the position of Chief Procurement Officer,” said Ketron who is Chairman of the Fiscal Review Committee, the legislature’s financial watchdog panel. “I am very pleased to see this position filled so we can begin the work of restructuring the way we contract for goods and services to implement the cost-saving strategies needed to make sure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively.”

Ketron said that based on evidence from other states, he is hopeful the state will save hundreds of millions of dollars for the taxpayers over the long run by applying best practices and modernizing how state government manages the procurement of goods and services under the leadership of the new Chief Procurement Officer. He said one of the biggest untapped advantages is to use the state’s clout as a volume buyer to leverage more competition.

“We can take advantage of state government’s ability to be a volume buyer in order to generate more competitive bidding,” added Ketron. “I look forward to working with Ms. Robertson and her staff as this new law is fully implemented. We are in the ‘new normal’ in financial times right now and, if we are going to move forward, we must restructure state government from the way we currently know it. This position is a huge step in the right direction to accomplish those goals.”

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Numerous anti-crime bills will take effect July 1

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:21:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 20, 2011 -- Numerous anti-crime bills are among a host of new laws scheduled to take effect on July 1. The General Assembly passed several bills cracking down on illegal drugs, sex offenders, gang violence, terrorism, and domestic violence before adjourning the 2011 legislative session that will take effect as the new month begins, as well as two key bills dealing with the court process.

“We made significant progress in attacking crime this year,” said Senate Judiciary Chairman Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), whose Committee hears legislation dealing with crime, corrections and the court process. “We passed several major public safety initiatives that will take effect in July, including legislation to fight meth use in our state, and new laws to tip the scales towards the side of justice for victims of crime.”

Key anti-drug bills passed this year includes a new law sponsored by Senator Beavers that stiffens penalties for making methamphetamines in the presence of a child and implements a statewide electronic tracking system to curb meth production in the state. The bill also sets amounts of pseudoephedrine that can be purchased and strengthens penalties against those convicted of smurfing, or shopping for the product in multiple locations. Although the bill takes effect on July 1, pharmacies have until January 1, 2012 to connect
to the system.

A separate bill, sponsored by Senator Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville), which takes effect on July 1, ensures that those who shop in multiple counties for meth precursors can be appropriately prosecuted for the crime in any county where the purchase was made. Another measure, sponsored by Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), gives consumers important health information regarding vehicles which has been used in the manufacture of methamphetamines.

Drug felons will find it more difficult to get welfare benefits under a bill passed this year and which takes effect on July 1. The new law, sponsored by Senator Tracy, prohibits an adult convicted of a felony for possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance from being eligible to receive Families First program benefits. The new law applies to welfare recipients convicted on or after July 1, 2011 and extends for a period of three years unless the individual receives treatment for substance abuse.

Major legislation, sponsored by Senator Ken Yager (R-Harriman), is set to take effect on July 1 eliminating pretrial diversion for the most dangerous criminals in Tennessee. No felony crimes would be eligible for pre-trial diversion under the legislation.

“The new law centers on defendant accountability in the judicial system and also speaks to the constitutional rights of victims to have their voices heard,” said Senator Yager. “Under previous law, victims had no voice in a pre-trial diversion situation.”

The court process was also the focus of a new law which will be enacted into law on July 1, which is known as the “common sense” or “good faith exception” to the “exclusionary rule” regarding suppression of evidence under the fourth amendment, or unreasonable search and seizure. The new law allows a judge to give a jury access to evidence or facts obtained as a result of a search or seizure which contains a minor technical error.

“This new law attempts to balance the scales of justice to a standard embraced by the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Leon and Herring v. United States to allow the judge and jury to weigh all the facts and still administer justice in an objective manner,” said Senator Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), who sponsored the bill.

In other crime-related action, legislation is set to take effect to ensure that random killings, like that of the “Beltway Sniper,” are subject to the death penalty in Tennessee. The bill, sponsored by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville) adds “murder at random” to the list of statutory aggravating circumstances for the purpose of sentencing.

In legislation combating gang violence, a new law takes effect on July 1 which authorizes judges to allow a district attorney to use a wiretap when the interception may provide evidence of criminal gang-related activities in aggravated burglaries. This legislation, sponsored by Senator Doug Overbey (R-Marvyille), adds home invasions to the list of gang-related activities where a wiretap may be authorized.

The legislature passed an anti-terrorism bill due to take effect on July 1 that updates and strengthens the Tennessee Terrorism Prevention Act that was passed shortly after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. The “Material Support to Designated Entities Act of 2011,” sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) makes the provision of “material support” a Class A felony and helps to close the prevention gap left by the 2002 statute.

Domestic violence legislation, sponsored by Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville), takes effect on July 1 defining and clarifying the crime of attempted strangulation. The new law provides clarity regarding this lethal force, which is one of the best predictors of future homicide in domestic violence cases.

A bill approved this year set to take effect in July broadens the offenses for assault and criminal homicide committed against pregnant women to include the fetus, regardless of the viability of the victim. The new law, sponsored by Senator Beavers, ensures that perpetrators are punished for offenses committed against the unborn child.

Several bills are set to take effect in July strengthening penalties against sex offenders, including:

A bill sponsored by Senator Overbey to ensure that law enforcement officers posing as minors can be used to prosecute cases where sexual predators use electronic means to solicit those under the age of 18.
A bill sponsored by Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) to add juveniles convicted of the most violent sexual offenses to the state’s Sex Offender Registry.
A new law sponsored by Senator Bell to require registered sexual offenders setting specific standards regarding notification to their registering law enforcement agency before they leave the country and upon re-entering.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Tracy to ensure that an adult authority figure who has inappropriate sexual contact with a minor child by touching or kissing the child on the lips, is held accountable for his or her actions.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Gresham to prevent criminals or sex offenders from serving in housing facilities in Tennessee’s colleges and Universities

“Some of these anti-crime bills had been pending for many years,” added Beavers. “I am very pleased with the legislation passed this year, especially considering tight budget constraints we faced.”

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Senator Ketron announces Maury County Arts Grants

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:06:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 17, 2011 – Local State Senator Bill Ketron announced today that three arts grants have been awarded in Maury County from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The grants have been awarded in the amount of $5,000 to the Maury County Arts Guild, $4,000 to the Maury County Public Library and $5,050 to Joseph Brown Elementary School.

“I am very pleased that the Tennessee Arts Commission allocated grant money for these worthy arts efforts in our area,” said Senator Ketron. “I am sure they will put the money to good use in promoting the arts for area students and other citizens.”

The Tennessee Arts Commission’s matching grants are made possible through an appropriation of state funds by the General Assembly, federal dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by Tennesseans who buy specialty license plates. The Commission will award over 950 community grants through the 2012 fiscal year, totaling $7.3 million. The allocation process involves a review by citizen advisory panels made up of Tennesseans with expertise in appropriate disciplines and a final review by the full 15-member Tennessee Arts Commission.

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Senators Tracy and Ketron announce $67,850 in Rutherford County Arts Grants

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:51:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 17, 2011 – State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) announced today that eight Rutherford County arts organizations will receive a combined total of $67,850 in grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The organizations include Kids for the Creative Arts, Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities, Children’s Museum Corporation of Rutherford County, Tennessee Opportunity Programs, Main Street Murfreesboro, International Folkloric Society Planning Council, Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Center for the Arts will receive grants for the fiscal year 2012 which extends from July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012.

“I am delighted that the Tennessee Arts Commission allocated grant money for these worthy efforts in our area,” said Senator Tracy. “These grants will be used to promote the arts in our community.”

The Tennessee Arts Commission’s matching grants are made possible through an appropriation of state funds by the General Assembly, federal dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by Tennesseans who buy specialty license plates. The Commission will award over 950 community grants through the 2012 fiscal year, totaling $7.3 million. The allocation process involves a review by citizen advisory panels made up of Tennesseans with expertise in appropriate disciplines and a final review by the full 15-member Tennessee Arts Commission.

“I am very proud of the arts organizations we have in Rutherford County,” added Senator Ketron. “I hope these funds will help them in providing their services to area citizens during the coming year.”

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Senator Ketron proud to be a part of this morning's historic tort reform bill signing

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:52:00 GMT

Governor Haslam speaks after signing HB2008, The Tennessee Civil Justice Act of 2011.

Governor signs E-Verify legislation to ensure new hires are in the state legally

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 8, 2011 – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has signed into law legislation sponsored by State Senators Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and Representative Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) calling for Tennessee employers to use the “E-Verify” system to ensure that new hires are in the state legally.

"This bill represents significant progress in addressing illegal immigration in Tennessee,” said Senator Ketron. “With unemployment at 9.6 percent, illegal workers definitely have an impact on our job market. It also has implications for our border security and places additional burdens on taxpayers for government services.”

The legislation requires businesses with over five employees to obtain a copy of a new employee’s driver’s license or utilize the E-Verify system, but provides a safe harbor for employers who use E-Verify if the worker is later found to be in the country illegally. E-Verify, an Internet-based system

operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration, allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees by entering their name and a social security number. It is free to employers in all 50 states, including Tennessee where more than 4,000 businesses have voluntarily participated in the system. The E-Verify system is 97.4 percent accurate.

The signing of the new Tennessee law comes after the Supreme Court ruled in May in favor of an Arizona law that requires businesses to verify the employment eligibility with E-Verify. The practical effect of the decision is to uphold the right of states to require employers to use the E-Verify program.

There are more than 140,000 illegal immigrants in Tennessee, with over 110,000 in the state’s workforce according to conservative estimates.“

“This new law provides an avenue to stop the influx of illegal aliens who come here fraudulently for employment. I am very pleased Governor Haslam has signed this bill into law."

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2011 Legislative Session was Extremely Productive

Mon, 30 May 2011 05:00:00 GMT

by Senator Bill Ketron

Those in public office are often told “don’t argue with those who buy ink by the barrel,” and for many years I have listened to that advice. I have let many articles and editorials that are not correct go by as I have found that citizens are very responsible and look to many sources to get their information, a fact that speaks well of the voters of this state. However, I take great exception to the editorial placed in this paper that left out key information provided to them beforehand regarding the actions of the recently adjourned session where much good was accomplished for Tennessee.

Enough said about that.

Let’s talk about what really happened during the 2011 legislative session. For the first time in three years, we balanced the budget on a recurring to non-recurring basis. It is not only balanced, but was reduced substantially at 3.7% smaller than last year. And unlike most government operations, we started by cutting ourselves with elimination of several duplicative oversight committees, resulting in a savings of $850,000 in taxpayer money. We also finished our work five weeks earlier than last year, which saves the taxpayers about $450,000 in related expenses.

We stepped up to take care of our senior citizens by rolling back the tax burden on those who have saved for retirement and pay Hall Income Tax on their investments. Raising the exemption level for those who must pay this tax will aid middle class people who live modestly and give them a break on their hard earned retirement savings.

On the jobs front, something liberals will never understand is that businesses, not government, create jobs. Legislation that was passed this year will help to remove barriers that get in the way of job creation, allowing business owners and entrepreneurs to flourish. This effort includes two bills I sponsored to strengthen Tennessee’s status as a “Right to Work” state and legislation to improve the worker’s compensation law which was implemented last year.

Several keys bills, which I sponsored or co-sponsored and have been pushing over the past few years, were approved by the General Assembly this session. These include a bill to preserve the integrity of elections by requiring photo identification to vote; a measure to preserve secret ballots in union elections; a bill I co-sponsored with Senator Tracy to allow students to use their HOPE scholarships in the summer; and a E-Verify law I co-sponsored with Representative Carr and Senator Tracy to help curb illegal immigration.

Moving to education, a well educated workforce is critical not just to the personal success of our students, but to attract new and better paying jobs to our state. Our new Republican majority in the legislature not only supported and passed the Governor’s tenure reform and charter school agenda, we also took the initiative in several areas of education reform to build on reforms made last year by the First to the Top initiative to help students succeed.

In addition, I was also very pleased that two measures I sponsored to curb cyber-bullying were passed. Students must have a productive environment to learn.

My colleague, Senator Tracy, also passed a major bill that has been pending for two years to provide statewide guidelines to govern the use of unmanned traffic cameras and to protect citizens from potential abuse.

There were many measures passed this year strengthening our laws against child sex offenders, and a major bill to end the practice of pre-trial diversion for felony charges, both of which will go far to protect the safety of Tennesseans. We addressed illegal drugs on several fronts, including a key bill to help ensure that those who manufacture methamphetamines will not have access to the precursors used to make the dangerous drug.

There is no prosperity in Tennessee, without security. Despite the best efforts of many to thwart legislation to strengthen our laws against homegrown terrorism, we succeeded in passing an anti-terrorism bill, which I sponsored, that updates Tennessee’s Terrorism Prevention Act that was passed shortly after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. There has been much misinformation published regarding this bill. The “Material Support to Designated Entities Act of 2011” now simply makes the provision of “material support” a Class A felony and helps to close the prevention gap left by the 2002 statute. This will help give our local law enforcement agencies the tools they need to prevent homegrown terrorism.

In looking towards next year, our delegation is working with administration officials to allocate funding for a new science building at Middle Tennessee State University. Representative Carr and I are also continuing to work on legislation he sponsored in the Senate which calls for state and local law enforcement to determine the legal status of an individual in question in the course of a lawful stop by looking at Georgia’s new law on this issue.

The fact of the matter is that this was an extremely productive year, despite the best efforts of those who would rather our citizens believe otherwise. I am very proud of the work of our General Assembly this year, especially our legislative delegation. The changes enacted this year will help move this state forward in job creation, education reform and public safety.

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Ketron pleased with work of 2011 legislative session

Sat, 21 May 2011 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 21, 2011 -- Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) said he is very pleased with the work of the 2011 legislative session that ended today, which is one of the earliest completion dates in the last decade. Ketron said the work of the legislature in the areas of education and tort reform poises the state to be the number one location in the Southeast to bring new jobs to Tennessee.”

“Government does not create jobs, businesses do,” said Chairman Ketron. “We are restructuring the way we approach attracting businesses who are the creators of jobs. In his first four months in office, Governor Haslam has instructed departmental heads to eliminate waste, improve government efficiencies, and remove any unnecessary bureaucratic barriers which have stymied entrepreneurship. That, in conjunction with the tort reform legislation passed this year and the education initiatives to make sure we have an educated workforce, will go far to move Tennessee forward in creating new high quality jobs.”

Ketron said he was also pleased with the passage of major legislation which he sponsored or co-sponsored that he has been pushing over the past several years including a bill to preserve the integrity of elections by requiring photo identification to vote; a measure to preserve secret ballots in union elections; a bill to allow students to use their HOPE scholarships in the summer; an E-Verify law to help curb illegal immigration; and a measure to make sure health insurance covers devices for hearing-impaired children.

He also pointed to the successful passage several new initiatives he sponsored this year including legislation to strengthen Tennessee’s anti-terrorism statutes; two bills to strengthen Tennessee’s status as a “Right to Work” state; legislation to improve the worker’s compensation law implemented last year; two measures to curb cyber-bullying; and a bill to prohibit election administrators from hiring family members. He also helped secure funding to purchase property for a new Columbia State Community College Building which has outgrown its present facility.

In looking towards next year, Senator Ketron said he is working with administration officials to allocate funding for a new science building at Middle Tennessee State University. He also said he is continuing to work on legislation he sponsored in the Senate which calls for state and local law enforcement to determine the legal status of an individual in question in the course of a lawful stop.

“The Middle Tennessee State Science Building remains a priority and we are working closely with the administration to get this needed project funded,” Ketron added. “On the immigration legislation, we are going to take a careful and comprehensive look at what Georgia has done on this matter before moving forward with the bill next year.”

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Bills strengthening Tennessee’s cyberbullying law progress in State Senate

Thu, 05 May 2011 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 5, 2011 -- Two separate bills sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), strengthening Tennessee’s law against bullying and cyberbullying through the use of electronic devices, received approval in the State Senate this week. The action comes after several highly publicized cases of cyberbullying nationwide.

“Technology has now given way to cyberbullying and electronic messaging, which challenges the traditional schoolyard bullying,” said Senator Ketron. “Both of these bills are designed to help curb this problem.”

Various national studies have found approximately 30 to 40 percent of students have reported they had been cyberbullied or had cyberbullied another person at least once.

The first measure, which was approved by the Senate Education Committee, clarifies that Tennessee’s elementary and secondary school laws dealing with harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyberbullying applies to after-school activities that create a hostile educational environment.

Present law prevents bullying or cyberbullying in schools; however, the law is not clear regarding incidents that occur off campus. Senate Bill 488 expands the current policies of local education agencies (LEAs) to include cyberbullying or bullying through the use of electronic devices by adding other forms of electronic communication to Tennessee’s law dealing with the matter.

“A safe and civil environment is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards,” said Senator Ketron. “This legislation ensures that Tennessee’s bullying law extends to such off-campus activities as sports events, school buses, bus stops and other school-sponsored activities, regardless of whether or not it is done by electronic means.”

The second bill, which was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, calls for those convicted of using electronic devices to bully to serve up to 30 hours of community service work for transmitting or displaying an offensive image where there is a reasonable expectation the victim will see it. Senate Bill 487 would apply in cases where there is a malicious intent to frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress to the victim.

Tennessee first passed its bullying law in 2005. Since that time, it has become model legislation for other states. In 2009, the legislature approved a law to require each LEA to adopt a policy that prohibits harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

Research indicates that approximately 160,000 students avoid school every day for fear of being bullied.

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Legislation sponsored by Senator Ketron aims to ease professional licensing process for military spouses

Wed, 04 May 2011 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 4, 2011 -- Military spouses transferring into Tennessee should find the state’s licensing procedures a bit smoother following legislation passed by the State Senate today putting into place a system to expedite their professional- licensing process. The bill would apply to a wide variety of professions, including architects, contractors, real estate agents, cosmetologists, barbers, healthcare professionals, or basically any profession for which the state requires a license.

Senate Bill 1039, sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), requires Tennessee’s licensing boards to establish a procedure to expedite the issuance of a license, certification or permit to perform professional services regulated by each board to the spouse. It would apply to military spouses who are currently licensed in a profession in another state, as long as they relocate with their husband or wife and have been transferred in the line of duty.

“Most decisions to stay in the military are made around the kitchen table and not in the personnel office,” said Senator Ketron. “To retain our trained and experienced military we must retain the family. This bill helps spouses with some complications that arise as a result of military service and that is a delay in obtaining a professional license upon being transferred.”

Ketron said professional-licensing requirements often differ among states, limiting career advancement or deterring re-entry into the work force for military families moving to new locations. Military spouses relocate on average of every two to four years. Over 70 percent of those surveyed say they either want or need to work. However, delays of four to six months are commonly incurred in getting a license. Ketron says this has a detrimental impact on the military spouse’s ability to find employment due to the frequency of military moves.

“This bill is to support our troops and their families and ease a burden that presents a significant problem,” added Ketron. “Sometimes spouses become discouraged and give up their careers in health professions, law, finance and education to take lower paying jobs for which they are frequently over-qualified. We need to do everything we can to help expedite the licensing process so this does not happen.”

The bill now goes to Governor Bill Haslam for his signature.

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U.S. Humane Society in Tennessee Names Senator Ketron “Legislator of the Year”

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 06:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The U.S. Humane Society in Tennessee has named State Senator Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and Representative Janis Sontany, D-Nashville, “Legislators of the Year” for 2010. The announcement was made by Humane Society’s Tennessee Director Leighann McCollum as members from across the state attended meetings on Capitol Hill in Nashville on Tuesday.

McCollum credited Ketron and Sontany for sponsoring several important bills to help animals, calling them “a great friend to animals and the Humane Society.” Ketron was the sponsor of legislation passed by the General Assembly last year to strengthen penalties against those who are convicted of animal cruelty and to stiffen punishment against criminals who use dogs as weapons.

Ketron is also the sponsor of legislation to increase penalties against cockfighting or animal fighting pending action in the General Assembly this year. The link between animal cruelty and other forms of violence is a national concern.

“Animal fighting has other crime implications like gambling, drugs, and organized crime,” Senator Ketron told Humane Society members. “Other states like North and South Carolina have driven animal fighting, like cock fighting, to Tennessee due to increased penalties imposed in their states. We need to address this problem in Tennessee.”

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Sen. Ketron re-elected Chairman of Fiscal Review Committee

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 25, 2011--State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) has been re-elected by his colleagues to lead the General Assembly’s Fiscal Review Committee. Ketron was elected by acclamation at a meeting on Tuesday to serve as Chairman of the joint House and Senate committee, which serves as the watchdog for all state government spending.

The bi-partisan Fiscal Review Committee conducts a continuing review of the financial operations of state government. It also reviews state contracts and is responsible for preparing and distributing the fiscal notes that show how proposed legislation would impact state and local governments financially.

“Thanks for the confidence you have placed in me,” Senator Ketron told the members of the committee after the election. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve again as Chairman of this committee. We have made great strides over the past two years and I look forward to continuing to move in the right direction.”

The Fiscal Review Committee conducts a continuing review of the financial operations of state government. It also reviews state contracts and is responsible for preparing and distributing the fiscal notes that show how proposed legislation would impact state and local governments financially. The work of the Fiscal Review Committee was the impetus behind a new law sponsored by Ketron last year designed to implement cost saving strategies taken from the best practices implemented by procurement officials nationwide. When fully implemented, the procurement law is expected to save Tennessee hundreds of millions of dollars over the long run.

“It is important that the taxpayers of this state know that every dollar of our state budget is spent wisely, especially in economically challenging times when we must be fiscally responsible. The Fiscal Review Committee will continue to seek ways to ensure this is happening.”

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Senator Bill Ketron takes oath of office

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 11, 2011 -- State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) took the oath of office on Tuesday in Nashville as the 107th General Assembly was gaveled into session. The oath was administered by Supreme Court Justice William Koch, Jr. during the organizational session which is expected to conclude after Saturday’s inauguration of Governor-elect Bill Haslam.

"I appreciate the people of district 13 in Maury, Lincoln, Rutherford and Marshall Counties for entrusting me to represent them in our State Senate,” said Senator Ketron, who was recently elected to a key leadership position as Senate Republican Caucus Chairman. “I appreciate their confidence and I will continue to work very hard to earn their trust.”

Other organizational tasks that will be taken up this week include the election of the state’s constitutional officers on Wednesday. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, January 15 at 11:00 am on the Legislative Plaza.

The General Assembly will recess for three weeks after the organizational session ends before beginning the regular legislative session to allow for office assignments and to await budget details.

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As several states struggle to get ballots to military, Tennessee’s new law makes it easier for troops deployed overseas to vote

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 21, 2010 – As several states struggle to get ballots to those serving in the armed forces, Tennessee’s new law is working to make voting easier for troops who reside in the state and who are deployed overseas. The new law, Public Chapter 636, sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), took effect on August 20. Ketron said election commissions across the state are encountering no evident problems thus far during the law’s first election after implementation.

“It is outrageous to even think that any of our men and women who serve us in harm’s way might not have their votes counted,” said Ketron. “However, that is what occurred in the past in Tennessee and is unfortunately the case in many other states during this election. This new law works to ensure that those who preserve our freedoms are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.”

Tennessee’s new law authorizes county election commissions to e-mail ballots to members of the armed forces and other citizens temporarily living outside the United States who are entitled to vote and who have submitted valid applications for ballots. Ketron says this expedites the process so the voters have more time to make decisions and return their ballots on time. The new law also requires Tennessee to develop a database that voters overseas can use to see if their ballots have been received by their county election commissions and their votes are counted.

The legislation helps the state comply with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, which took effect last October. That law requires election officials to send out ballots to military members serving overseas at least 45 days before the elections.

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) recently announced agreements with officials in Alaska, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Wisconsin and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where problems enforcing the MOVE Act have occurred. The DOJ has referenced an agreement with North Dakota, has filed suit against Guam and is reported to be looking into ballot delays in Illinois. The Military Voting Project (MVP) has also claimed in published media reports that it uncovered MOVE Act violations in several other states.

Tennessee was among states under DOJ action in 2008 when Justice officials stepped in to help ensure that military service members and other U.S. citizens living overseas had an opportunity to vote in the state’s February 5 federal primary election. The DOJ entered into agreement for emergency procedures with Tennessee’s former election officials under Secretary of State Riley Darnell after the state failed to mail requested absentee ballots to the state's military in sufficient time to ensure the ballots were counted.

“Failure to get ballots to our servicemen and women who serve us overseas cannot be tolerated in Tennessee,” added Ketron. “We need to do everything in our power to make it easier for our soldiers to vote and to have those votes counted -- and that is what this new law does. Thus far, implementation has gone smoothly.”

According to the Pew Center on the States, about half of overseas voters failed to vote or to have their votes counted because of voting rules in 2008.

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Senator Ketron announces grant for Marshall County’s Berlin Springs Pavilion

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 1, 2010 – State Senator Bill Ketron said today he has been advised by Commissioner Jim Fyke that Marshall County will receive $11,000 in grant money for the Berlin Springs Pavilion. The grant is part of the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) which is distributed by the Department after being selected in a careful scoring process.

“Our parks are very important to our community and am very pleased that we will be receiving this grant,” said Senator Ketron. “I look forward to seeing the improvements that will come as a result of this grant.”

The grants are awarded based on revenue generated by the Real Estate Transfer Tax. The purpose of the grants is to help expand recreational opportunities in Tennessee’s communities.

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Small business endorses Bill Ketron in Senate District 13

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

NFIB/Tennessee supports pro-small business candidate in Nov. 2 general election

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 30, 2010 – The National Federation of Independent Business, Tennessee's leading small business association, has endorsed incumbent Bill Ketron (Murfreesboro) in the race for the 13th Senate District.

The endorsement was made by NFIB/Tennessee SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise) Trust, which is comprised exclusively of NFIB members. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2. Senate District 13 includes Lincoln, Marshall, Maury and part of Rutherford counties.

“Senator Ketron is an outstanding supporter of small business in Tennessee,” said Jim Brown, state director of NFIB/Tennessee, noting his 100% NFIB Voting Record from 2009-10 and strong support for small business in committee. “Bill Ketron demonstrated outstanding leadership in achieving a bipartisan solution that will address unfair bidding and employee misclassification in the construction industry, while ensuring small subcontractors will be able to continue pursuing their livelihoods.”

“Bill Ketron consistently supports free enterprise in the Tennessee General Assembly and has earned the strong backing of the small business community in Senate District 13.”

Ketron said, “I am grateful for the support of NFIB, the Voice of Small Business. I am particularly pleased with the passage of Senate Bill 3591, which will protect thousands of small contractors and subcontractors, in the 2010 session. Tennessee is a great state in which to do business, but we must continue to cut red tape, keep taxes low and pursue commonsense tort reform to make our environment better for small business.”

NFIB’s endorsement is critical to the Ketron campaign. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to go to the polls. NFIB has pledged it will activate its grassroots network on behalf of the Ketron campaign. NFIB’s political support is based on the candidates’ positions and records on small business issues.

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Senator Ketron announces grant to improve Lewisburg Community Walkway

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 26, 2010 -- State Senator Bill Ketron said today that he has been informed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) that a $64,800 grant has been approved for the Lewisburg Community Walkway. Ketron said the grant is part of a comprehensive community effort to connect community facilities and encourage more pedestrian traffic in Tennessee.

According to TDOT, the Lewisburg Community Walkway Project is designed to improve pedestrian access to Lewisburg’s downtown district and also nearby Rock Creek Park. The project will include the construction of more than a thousand feet of new sidewalks that will provide connectivity between the downtown area and the Lewisburg Greenway. It will also replace sidewalks that are in poor condition and will further Lewisburg’s continuing efforts to revitalize its downtown area.

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

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Senator Ketron announces grant to improve Mt. Pleasant Community Walkway

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 26, 2010 -- Local State Senator Bill Ketron said today that he has been informed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) that a $259,200 grant has been approved for Phase II of the Mt. Pleasant Community Walkway Project. Ketron said the grant is part of a comprehensive community effort to connect community facilities and encourage more pedestrian traffic in Tennessee.

“As sponsor of the legislation to provide more physical education in our schools, I am particularly pleased that we will receive this grant,” said Senator Ketron. “Walkways like ours in Mt. Pleasant encourage more citizens, especially our youth, to become active and appreciate outdoor activities. I congratulate our local officials for their role in this grant and look forward to seeing more area citizens enjoying this walkway after this project is complete.”

According to TDOT, Phase II will extend the walkway along Greenwood Street and First Avenue linking the city’s elementary, middle, and high schools with a nearby park and athletic field. The project will also connect several neighborhoods, allowing children and other residents to safely access schools and recreational areas. The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

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Sen. Ketron and Rep. Carr to lead trip to Arizona

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:00:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, TN -- July 19, 2010 -- Several Republican legislators are headed to Arizona later this month to deliver a resolution to Governor Jan Brewer showing Tennessee’s support for their new immigration law. The Republican lawmakers, led by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Representative Joe Carr (R-Murfreesboro), will also meet with sponsors of the Arizona law and attend an educational seminar which details provisions of the new law.

Carr and State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) were lead sponsors of House Joint Resolution 1253, which passed the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this year commending Arizona for their bold move on immigration policies. That resolution became law without the governor’s signature on June 22. The Arizona act allows law enforcement officials to require citizenship documentation on any citizen that is detained or arrested. Arizona spends over $2.7 billion every year on illegal immigrants. The two Murfreesboro legislators are planning to introduce similar legislation in Tennessee next year.

“We have a couple of purposes for this trip,” said Senator Ketron. “We want to speak with the sponsors of the bill about the some of the details of this new law. Plus, we want to get a closer look at how the matter is being handled since it was passed into law, including what educational tools are being utilized to help law enforcement implement these measures.

“We also want to show Arizona that Tennessee is in support of their new law,” added Representative Carr. “The resolution in support of this new law was overwhelmingly passed by the House of Representatives and our State Senate. Individual states and cities across the country are tired of the inaction by the federal government to do their job in protecting our borders.”

Ketron and Carr said the trip, which may include up to 8 Republican legislators, would not be paid for at government expense. The lawmakers will leave on August 30 and return on August 31.

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Reference: House Joint Resolution 1253

Tax Holiday Set for August 6-8

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:58:00 GMT

(NASHVILLE, TN, July 8, 2010) -- Local businesses and consumers will get a boost and some sales tax relief from Tennessee’s “Sales Tax Holiday” according to local State Senators Jim Tracy and Bill Ketron, who were key supporters of the initiative passed by the General Assembly in 2005.

The first holiday, which is set by law to begin on the first Friday in August, began the following year in 2006. This year’s sales tax holiday is set to begin on Friday, August 6 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 8 at 11:59 p.m.

“During tough economic times, it is even more important to stimulate sales to local businesses, while providing citizens sales tax relief,” said Senator Ketron. “It is especially needed this year.”

“The holiday is particularly geared toward back to school needs, but it applies to clothing and many other items, which helps consumers of any age,” added Senator Tracy. “I am very pleased this legislation has provided some relief for citizens since its implementation in 2006.”

During the holiday, clothing and school supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less per item will be exempt from the state sales and use tax. Clothing includes shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves, hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms and scarves. School supplies include items used by a student in a course of study. It also includes binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, ruler, and scissors.

For more information or for details on exempted items consumers and retailers can visit the Sales Tax Holiday Web site at http://tn.gov/revenue/salestaxholiday/ or call 1-800-342-1003.

CONTACT: DARLENE SCHLICHER 615- 741-6336
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Senator Ketron receives state award from Election Officials

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:58:00 GMT

(NASHVILLE, TN), State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) was recently honored with an award from the Tennessee Association of County Election Officials (TACEO) for his work on the Voter Confidence Act. Ketron received the award at the group’s annual meeting in Nashville this week.

The Association consists of county election officials statewide and is an educational forum for the exchange of ideas relative to the administration of elections. The Association offers an opportunity for members to suggest and participate in the implementation of improvements in or to Tennessee’s election laws.

“I am very honored to receive this award,” said Senator Ketron, who is Chairman of the State and Local Government Committee which hears legislation regarding Tennessee’s election laws. “I look forward to continuing to work with our election officials to increase voter participation and ensure a fair electoral process in Tennessee.”

Contact: Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email: darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

Senator Ketron presents Senate Proclamation as Opry pays tribute to the Statler Brothers

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:08:00 GMT

(NASHVILLE, TN), -- On Thursday evening, March 25, 2010, the opening show of the 2010 Opry Country Classics Season paid tribute to one of the most famous and beloved country music acts of all times, the Statler Brothers. In addition to being honored by fellow musicians, the Statler Brothers were also honored by the State of Tennessee through a Senate Proclamation signed by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, Speaker of the Senate.

The Proclamation recognized the Statler Brothers as an American institution, which has endured for over five decades, performed for four Presidents and sold more than fifteen million records. Senator Bill Ketron presented plaques to Jimmy Fortune, Langdon Reid and Wil Reid in honor and commendation of the Statler Brothers’ stellar career and significant role they played in the growth of the country music industry.

During the show, the Statler Brothers, Country Music Hall of Famers, were honored by fellow musicians, including Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, as well as reigning international Bluegrass Music Award Entertainers of the Year, Dailey & Vincent, who recently paid tribute to the Statlers by releasing the Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers album. Also taking the stage during the tribute show were Jimmy Fortune (a Statler Brothers member) and Wilson Fairchild, a country duo made up of Wil and Langdon Reid, the sons of Statler Brothers members Harold and Don Reid.

Contact: Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email: darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

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Chapel Hill Elementary School 5th grade class plants 300 trees at Henry Horton State Park

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:00:00 GMT

(CHAPEL HILL, TN) – One hundred and twenty five fifth graders from Chapel Hill Elementary School planted 313 native tree seedlings on the border of the Duck River in Henry Horton State Park on Thursday February 19, 2010. The project is a part of a larger watershed education project sponsored by the Friends of Henry Horton State Park (FHHSP) and Tennessee Environmental Council (the Council).

One hundred and twenty-five fifth grade students and Chapel Hill Elementary School teachers planted Tulip Poplar and Shumard Oak seedlings. Both trees are native to Tennessee and the Tulip Poplar is Tennessee’s state tree. They planted the trees to help reduce erosion and stabilize the area. Each student and participant also took home a tree to plant. Also attending the event in Henry Horton State Park (HHSP) were Senator Bill Ketron; County Commissioner EW Hill; David Owenby, Director of Public Affairs for Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; Mike Robertson, State Park Regional Manager; Randy Whitworth (HHSP Superintendant); Stacey Cothran and Teresa Dugger (FHHSP) and John McFadden and Kevin Burke (the Council).

Senator Ketron praised the students, “This is really a good thing you have done. You’ll be able to come back to the park in 20 years to have a picnic under these trees with your family. You’ll feel better today at school because of what you have done and from spending time here in the park.”

This event was part of the “Protecting Our Watershed” educational curriculum the students have been working on since the fall. Students began the project in October 2009 with a trip to the park to study the water quality of the Duck River. Students learned about the biology, chemistry and habitat of the river system and learned about the history and benefits of Henry Horton State Park. Students sampled the aquatic insects which allowed them to determine the quality of the water as some insects live only in clean water. Students found mayflies, snails, isopods, and the class favorite - crayfish. Based on the aquatic insects found, the students determined that the river was fairly clean.

Students then followed up with some chemical testing of the water, looking at the water pH and dissolved oxygen. PH and dissolved oxygen are both considered “indicators” of pollution and are commonly used to determine if water quality problems exist. The ranges for pH and dissolved oxygen were acceptable for good water quality.

Finally, students assessed the streamside habitat by looking for the different types of vegetation, trees, bushes and grasses. When a stream side has all three types of vegetation it’s considered healthy without the three types of vegetation the habitat is considered unhealthy. The students noted that some areas along the Duck River did not have the three stream side vegetation types, specifically missing trees and smaller bushes. Students learned that trees are the most important vegetation layers, because they shade the water helping to keep it cool, and also help to reduce stream bank erosion as their roots hold the soil in place.

Once the students had determined that there were issues with the stream side vegetation they participated in a brain storming session, led by the Tennessee Environmental Council’s executive director and aquatic biologist John McFadden, to determine what could be done to address the lack of vegetation on the river bank. The students put forth many ideas, including not mowing in the area next to the river, putting up fences to keep people out and planting trees. The idea of planting trees along the river in some of the areas in the park was advanced to park staff, FOHHSP, and the Council; who helped organize the tree planting event on February 19, 2010.

The response to the event was enthusiastic Cindy Gabard 5th grade Chapel Hill Elementary teacher said, “These kids will remember this the rest of their life.” Randy Whitworth (HHSP Superintendant) agreed adding, “This is one of the all time best things that have ever happened in Henry Horton State Park”.

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The Tennessee Environmental Council educates and advocates for the conservation and improvement of Tennessee’s environment, communities and public health. The Council’s Tennessee Tree Project has a goal of planting 1 million native trees in Tennessee by 2010. The Council’s Duck River Opportunities Project engages volunteers in stream bank restoration and other projects to protect the Duck River which was named by National Geographic as one of the four most biologically rich places in the world.

Friends of Henry Horton State Park is a 501c3 charity whose sole purpose is to enhance park offerings at HHSP in Chapel Hill, TN and to educate the public about nature and conservation of our resources. The group was awarded the “2009 Tennessee Sustainability Award” by the Tennessee Environmental Council for their innovative and outstanding lead removal project in Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill, TN.

The “Protecting Our Watershed” educational curriculum is a collaboration of Tennessee Environmental Council and Friends of Henry Horton State Park, which offers students an opportunity to learn the importance of clean water to their community and takes students through a six-step process to evaluate a section of the Duck River in Henry Horton State Park, to identify opportunities to improve the river’s health, choose a specific project designed to address any opportunities or threats, and take concrete steps to address issues to improve the health of the river. This program offers prospects for learning in Science, Math, Social Studies/Civics, English, Computer Studies, and Art.

Senator Ketron with 5th grade students from Chapel Hill Elementary

Innovative bill to boost job growth in Tennessee signed into law today

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:00:00 GMT

(NASHVILLE, TN), August 4, 2009 – Governor Phil Bredesen today signed innovative legislation sponsored by Senators Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) and Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) designed to grow jobs through a program that would provide capital to small businesses. The bill creates the TNINVESTCO Program to provide benefits to small, medium-sized, and start-up businesses that do not enjoy the same economic development incentives that have been provided to the larger companies that invest capital in Tennessee.

“The overwhelming majority of jobs in this state are created by small businesses,” said Senator Doug Overbey (R-Maryville), who sponsored the bill. “We are a state of entrepreneurs, but there is a lack of adequate capital to take those ideas and grow a business. This bill will give them that opportunity.”

The bill, SB 1203, authorizes tax incentives for private investors to create a pool of capital totaling $120 million. That money will be divided among professional investment firms. These Tennessee-based firms will then invest the money in small businesses located and headquartered in Tennessee. The money must remain invested in Tennessee for ten years.

“This is an instant opportunity to help soften the blow of unemployment in Tennessee,” Ketron said. “Many small businesses in our state are on the edge of doing something big, but need capital. This bill provides a viable alternative for them to get the capital needed to grow and create jobs.”

Under the plan, investors receive a tax credit against insurance premiums taxes that spread over years three through ten of the program. Even though the capital will be available for small businesses immediately, there are no tax credits for investors until 2012. Capital returned to the state must first go to the General Fund. Once enough money has been repaid, the remaining funds will be deposited in the Rural Opportunity Fund.

“Throughout the ten years the money is invested and even beyond, the state will reap the benefits of job growth from these small businesses,” added Overbey. “This is a great opportunity for economic development in our state.”

“Additionally, experts in this field have told us that this legislation will be a model for other states. It’s great for Tennessee to be a leader in looking after and assisting small and start-up businesses,” Overbey said.

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Senator Ketron looks on as Governor Bredesen signs the bill into law