(October 25, 2011, NASHVILLE) – Earlier this week, Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer announced more than $16.2 million to support highway safety in Tennessee.

After reviewing the numbers, Senator Jack Johnson (R—Franklin), Representative Glen Casada (R—Franklin), and Representative Charles Sargent (R—Franklin) announced Williamson County will receive nearly $350,000 in highway safety grants.

The funds support the mission of the Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) to save lives and reduce injuries on Tennessee roadways through leadership, innovation, coordination, and program support in partnership with numerous public and private organizations.

“We continue to work with local and state agencies to make our roadways safer,” Governor Haslam said. “These grants will support the efforts of highway safety agencies and advocates to reduce the number of people killed and injured in traffic crashes in Tennessee each year.”

There are multiple elements that contribute to a sound and safe roadway system. Some of those aspects are an accurate traffic safety data collection and analysis system; well-trained and well-equipped law enforcement personnel; and effective emergency medical and trauma systems. A major part of roadway safety is educating motorists about laws and good driving behaviors.

Included below is a chart of the grants provided to Williamson County:

• 21st Drug Court Inc. -- 21st Drug Court Program $20,760.00 
• Fairview Police --  Fairview Alcohol Free Streets $19,998.00 
• Franklin Police -- Franklin Fight Against Impaired Driving $50,000.00 
• Nolensville Police -- High Visibility Law Enforcement Campaigns $5,000.00 
• TN District Attorney General -- 21st Judicial District DUI Abatement Plan/Special DUI Prosecutor -- 21st District $142,315.97 
• Williamson County Sheriff's Dept. -- Alcohol Saturation Patrols/Roadside Sobriety Checkpoints $49,300.00 
• Williamson County Trustee -- Williamson County General Sessions DUI Court $59,992.10 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides the funding for GHSO grants. The grants are awarded to agencies that successfully applied for funding based on a defined problem and statistical need. Each year, the GHSO accepts applications from agencies across the state for available highway safety funds. Applications are reviewed and scored by the GHSO and external highway safety advocates. The agencies that meet the criteria for funding received awards.

Sen. Johnson remarked, “We want to do all we can to raise awareness about roadway safety and, ultimately, save lives on Williamson County roads. These grants are a vital part of that effort.”

Rep. Sargent said, “With the growth we have witnessed, we need this type of funding to help our law enforcement personnel maintain the safe streets we have become accustomed to here in Williamson County. I appreciate the Governor and the GHSO doing all they can to promote highway safety.”

Rep. Casada stated, “These funds are very important for our law enforcement personnel as well as our county, in general. These grants certainly make a positive difference for our community and will help us secure much-needed first responder equipment while continuing our roadway safety initiatives.”

For a complete list and description of each grant, visit http://www.tn.gov/tdot/news/2011/GHSO2011-2012AwardedGrants.pdf.

(Nashville) – Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R – Blountville) emphasized his ongoing support tonight for Senate Bill 113, a crucial piece of education reform legislation sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) which passed on the floor of the Senate by a vote of 18 to 14.

The bill has now cleared the Senate committee system two times after being amended to make explicit the increased collaboration the bill fosters between teachers and their local school boards.
“Union contracts have hamstrung our local school boards for too long,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “More than a year ago our state raced to the top and planted our flag as a beacon for education reform in the nation -- but our journey is not over.”

“In 1978 the General Assembly gave a monopoly to one government union and allowed that union to strangle the hope of education reform in this state,” said Sen. Jack Johnson. “This bill rectifies that mistake and gives power back to locally-elected school boards and teachers. The passage of this measure is necessary if we mean to continue on the path of education reform we have embarked upon.”

“We have a historic opportunity to make this session of the General Assembly a landmark for the cause of reform. This bill creates a collaborative environment between teachers and their local board which will ultimately result in putting a quality teacher in every classroom.”

“This bill has been debated extensively and amended effectively,” Lt. Governor Ramsey continued. “I’m proud of the Senate for passing this measure and I trust the state House will follow suit.”

The bill as amended will end long term union contracts that local governments and taxpayers cannot afford and provides for a policy manual that would outline how every local school board will set policies on salaries, wages, benefits, including insurance and retirement benefits, leaves of absence, student discipline procedures and working conditions for teachers.

The companion House bill sponsored by Rep. Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville) is currently awaiting action in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee.

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(NASHVILLE, TN), April 18, 2011 --  The State Senate voted 24 to 8 today to give Tennesseans the opportunity to restore their voice in determining what state law should be regarding abortions.  The supermajority is two more votes than needed by the Senate to put the constitutional resolution on the ballot.  The measure, Senate Joint Resolution 127 sponsored by Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), addresses a State Supreme Court decision in 2000 that struck down provisions in Tennessee law calling for women to receive “informed consent” information about the surgery and to wait 48 hours before they receive an abortion. 

The court also ruled against a state requirement that all abortions after the first trimester be performed in a hospital. That ruling made Tennessee more liberal than the U.S. Supreme Court required in Roe v. Wade and made the right to abortion a “fundamental right” in Tennessee.

“This resolution was a long time coming,” said Senator Beavers.  “I am very pleased it has finally passed.  It will enable Tennessee to begin the process to restore the right of the people to decide through their elected legislature regarding what Tennessee law should be regarding abortions within the bounds of federal court decisions.  The only way to restore the people’s voice is to change the Constitution and give the legislature authority to write commonsense laws.”

The resolution would allow citizens to amend Tennessee's Constitution to say that the right to an abortion is only protected under the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court.  It would give the people the right, through their elected state representatives and senators, to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape, incest or life of the mother.  Beavers said the practical effect of the resolution would be to bring Tennessee back into a position of neutrality so the people’s elected representatives can decide within the bounds of federal decisions what protections can be put into place.

The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville), Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville), Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), Senator Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City), Senator Steve Southerland (R-Morristown), Senator Ken Yager (R-Harriman), Senator Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville), Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), Senator Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville), Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville), Senator Doug Overbey (R-Maryville), Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), Senator Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville), Senator Jim Summerville (R-Dickson), Senator Mike Faulk (R-Church Hill), Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson), Senator Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield), Senator Doug Henry (D-Nashville), and Senator Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge).

If approved by a super majority in the House of Representatives, citizens could expect to see the resolution on the ballot in November 2014.

     (NASHVILLE, TN), December 9, 2008 – Senate Republicans met Thursday to elect their officers for the 107th General Assembly, where they voted unanimously to nominate Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) to retain his top leadership post as Senate Speaker/ Lt. Governor.  Senate Republicans also voted to keep Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) as Senate Majority Leader and chose Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) as Caucus Chairman, a post formerly held by Congressman-elect Diane Black (R-Gallatin).

     Senate Republicans now number 20 of the 33 members of the Tennessee Senate after gaining a new seat in the November election.  Ramsey was nominated by Senator Randy McNally who credited the Lt. Governor with five new Republican gains since he was elected to the top leadership post.

     “We have strong majorities now in both the House and the Senate,” Lt. Governor Ramsey said.  “We have an historic opportunity and responsibility to make sure we do what we said we would do.”

     Majority Leader Mark Norris was re-elected by acclamation.  Lt. Governor Ramsey made the nomination saying, “Leader Norris has been extremely diligent, especially in finding the fine details and articulating them well on the Senate floor.

     The only contested election was for the Senate Republican Caucus Chairman with Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) winning that post over Senator Bo Watson (R-Chattanooga).  Afterwards, Senator Watson was elected unanimously to the position of Majority Floor Leader.

     “We have a huge task on our shoulders, but we will do it as a team,” Chairman Ketron told members of the Caucus after being elected.  “We must pay attention to what the voters have told us and keep focused on moving in the right direction.”

     Others re-elected to leadership positions in the Senate Republican Caucus were Judiciary Chairman Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) as Treasurer, Commerce Chairman Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) as Secretary  and Conservation and Environment Committee Chairman Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) as Chaplain. 
  
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