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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE May
24, 2007
Lawmakers Offer Alternate State
Budget Plans;
House Passes Tough
‘Jessica’s Law’ in Floor Vote
NASHVILLE (May 24) – The
House of Representatives this week scrutinized competing state budget
proposals and praised the merits of each. Gov. Phil Bredesen submitted
his appropriations bill in February. Leaders from both political
parties have since advocated their ideal state budget as this session
moves toward adjournment, according to Rep.
Jim Hackworth, D-Anderson
County.
The budget plan
supported by majority party lawmakers is an updated version of
Bredesen’s bill. Provisions favored by the majority party include
funding the Basic Education Program (BEP) at a higher level than the
governor originally requested. This plan also pays for 60 percent
of the BEP, about 10 percent more than Bredesen’s appropriations
package.
“State employees,
including teachers, receive a 3 percent pay raise under this proposal.
And all citizens could see the sales tax on groceries reduced from 6
percent to 5.5 percent. On the other hand, the cigarette tax still
increases from 20 cents to 60 cents for each pack,” said
Hackworth.
The 40 cents cigarette
tax increase is essential for funding the governor’s “BEP 2.0”
initiative, or newest education funding plan for K-12 schools. In
addition to funding 60 percent of BEP at $476 million, this proposal
banks $80 million in recurring dollars for second-year allocations.
Education especially
benefits from this good stewardship of taxpayer money. The plan
also provides much-needed money for other priorities. For the
majority party, these include:
- Restoring the highway fund
on a recurring basis;
- Funding the $87 million
anti-crime package that focuses on gun crimes and gang
activity;
- Funding the addition of 64
new assistant district attorneys and district staffs;
- Funding supplemental bridge
benefits for retiring public safety officers;
- Providing funding for
community improvement grants; and,
- Setting the “rainy day
fund” at $750 million by June 2008.
In contrast, minority
party members delivered their own budget proposal. Its basic
premise is reducing the sales tax on groceries by 1 percent. At
the same time, the state’s “rainy day fund” contribution is reduced from
$253.3 million this year to $36.9 million.
“The minority party
budget plan ignores the state’s fiscal realities by elevating politics
over common sense. Their budget collapses on itself going into the
second year. The numbers just don’t add up,” said
Hackworth.
Unlike the majority
party’s plan, this rival state budget cuts off new money for restoring
the recurring highway fund; raising Highway Patrol trooper salaries;
raising state employee and public school teacher salaries; purchasing
the Cumberland Plateau for conservation; and, awarding community
improvement grants.
“Despite their efforts
on the chamber floor to denounce the $100,000 community improvement
grants offered to every House member, 43 minority party members applied
for the grants. Only three minority party legislators refused,”
said Hackworth.
Community enhancement
grants can be distributed to nonprofit and neighborhood associations, in
addition to local governments. This money goes for little league
equipment, cultural museums, summer camps, elementary school programs,
and other approved projects that are under funded in various Tennessee
jurisdictions.
Only one “Jessica’s Law”
measure passed in final action this week, although nine similar bills
were filed at the start of session. The successful bill’s major
provision increases sentences for convicted child rapists to a minimum
of 25 years in prison.
The bill was later
amended by the House Budget Subcommittee, which added $1.9 million for
global positioning system (GPS) devices. Child sex predators released
under community supervision are required to wear tracking devices for
the rest of their lives.
“Offenders on probation
are also required to notify the state’s sex offender registry of their
current addresses and other pertinent information,” explained
Hackworth.
The Bredesen
administration previously included $7.7 million in the proposed
2007-2008 appropriations bill to cover the costs of longer prison
sentences for child rapists and concurrent increases in the inmate
population of child sex offenders.
The “Tennessee Jessica
Lunsford Sexual Predator Act of 2007” is named for Jessica Lunsford, a
nine-year-old Florida girl who was abducted, raped and murdered three
years ago. Investigating authorities determined that the suspect was a
child sex predator with multiple convictions.
“He hadn’t updated the
sexual offender registry after moving to the victim’s neighborhood.
That community didn’t know about his other convictions,” said
Hackworth.
CONTACT:
Kenneth Townsend, Press Secretary, House Democratic Caucus, at
615-741-6620 or email
kenneth.townsend@legislature.state.tn.us.
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