Business « Rutherford County Democratic Party

Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Democrats Seek Delay In New Workers’ Compensation Mandate

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Rep. Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville)

NASHVILLE - Citing the slumping economy’s devastating effects on small-business owners, Democratic lawmakers Joe Pitts and Tim Barnes are seeking to delay until 2011 a state law that forces all building contractors to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

The law in question, sponsored by Republican House Leader Jason Mumpower of Bristol and Republican state Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro, went into effect on Dec. 31. Some building and small-business groups have said the new workers’ compensation policies are too costly for their members, especially at a time when the construction industry is in a downturn.

“Mr. Ketron and Mr. Mumpower are more worried about helping their big business buddies than on helping the self-employed guy out here trying to make ends meet,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said. “The workers’ compensation bill they shepherded through the legislature may put some small-business owners in a real financial bind or even out of business.”

Sen. Tim Barnes (D-Clarksville)

“We need lawmakers in the General Assembly who understand the challenges we face and work tirelessly to make Tennessee a better place to live and raise a family. Policies that create jobs for our communities, ensure our children are well educated and make our lives more comfortable should be at the top of the priority list, not how to take care of a special interest group contributing to your campaign.”

State Rep. Pitts and state Sen. Barnes have introduced a bill delaying the new workers’ compensation law, which forces general contractors to carry the insurance on subcontractors and other workers who were not otherwise covered. As written, the new law also applies to sole proprietors and partnerships with six or fewer employees.

“They can’t pay when they are an industry that has been devastated by this recession and their income has shrunk dramatically,” said Jim Brown, Tennessee director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, during a recent television interview with WSMV-TV in Nashville.

Efforts by Pitts and Barnes to delay implementation of the law were scuttled last year. The General Assembly, however, will convene tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 12, a special session dealing with education reforms and the workers’ compensation issue.

Many lawmakers agree the law is flawed and hope it can be delayed until all concerns can be addressed.

“I hope this next session will focus on real concerns for the state and not be a venue to score cheap political points for the November elections,” Forrester said. “We have too much riding on the future of this state to waste time on grandstanding and nonsense.”

Tags: Bill Ketron, Homebuilders Association, Insurance, Joe Pitts, NFIB, Special Session, Tennessee Contractors, Tim Barnes, Workers Compensation
Posted in Business, Jobs, Legislation, Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Small Business, Special Interests | 5 Comments »

Bill Ketron Robs Small Contractors Of Their Hard-Earned Profits

Friday, January 8th, 2010

billketron Republican Senator Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro is an insurance salesman. He has taken in over $20,000 in campaign cash from big insurance and large homebuilding special interests. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he sponsored a new state law to force small contractors and subconstractors to spend their hard-earned profits with him and his insurance buddies instead of spending it on their families in tough economic times.

Public Chapter 1041, sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Rep. Jason Mumpower (R-Bristol) was lobbied for heavily by the Tennessee Hombuilders Association (a special interest group that represents large development companies) and the Tennessee Insurors Association, who greased the wheels of government with copious amounts of campaign cash for Republican lawmakers in order to further the interests of big business over the little guy. It would require all contractors to purchase workers’ compensation insurance even if their only employee is themselves. The new law took effect January 1st, and small contractors are howling mad about it:

Gerry Fridlund, owner of Skybright Metal Roofing in Memphis, found out about the law the hard way when his insurance company sent him a bill for $4,300 last summer.

“I told them I wasn’t going to pay it,” Fridlund told NIT. “When I asked who was responsible for this I was told the Home Builders Association pushed this through. I think they wanted to stop the little guy from bidding up against the big boys. They want to squeeze the sole proprietors and make it difficult for people to start small businesses.”

The new law’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), is himself an insurance salesman who benefits from raising premiums on small contractor businesses. During his current term, special interest PACs representing large home builders, developers and insurance industries gave more than $20,000 to Ketron’s campaign war chest.

The new law’s House sponsor, Rep. Jason Mumpower (R-Bristol), has received $18,000 from special interest PACs representing large home builders, developers and insurance industries during his current term.

Its all fine with Bill Ketron, who will be sending out grossly inflated insurance bills to his customers this year. He doesn’t really care that jobs may be killed to pay for it as long as he gets paid.

Thankfully, Rep. Joe Pitts (D - Clarksville) and Sen. Tim Barnes (D-Clarksville) have listened to the voices of Tennessee’s small business owners and are seeking to delay the enforcement of the new law in Special Session of the General Assembly next week. HB1899 and its companion bill SB2055 delay Ketron’s law until July 1st of 2010. As usual, its up to Democrats to finally stand up for small business owners when republicans and their big business cronies try to sneak in sweetheart deals for themselves.

Tags: Bill Ketron, Jason Mumpower, Joe Pitts, Special Interests, Special Session, tenessee homebuilders association, tennessee insurance lobby, Tennessee Republican Party, Tim Barnes, Workers Compensation
Posted in Business, Economy, Ethics, Jobs, Legislation, Republican leaders, Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Small Business, Special Interests, Tax and Spend Republicans | 2 Comments »

Guns In Bars Shot Down, Ruled Unconstitutional

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

guns-booze-296x300 Republicans controlled this year’s session of the Tennessee legislature for the first time since reconstruction (1870’s). They took over in a time of unprecedented economic hardship and sagging revenues, adding up to a budget mess that required quick action. What did republicans do with their newfound leadership opportunities? They plugged the budget holes with the very stimulus money they protested, passed “Guns in Bars”, and headed home with their pockets full of per diem checks.

All the while, far right Tennessee Republicans made impassioned speeches about “following the Constitution”, the evils of the stimulus package (yet spent it to plug budget holes), and “limited government”. They even formed a committee to study secession.

Now a Chancery Judge has ruled that the “Guns in Bars” law is unconstitutionally vague, citing that it is problematic for police and small business owners (you know, the ones republicans claim to protect). Following the Constitution to the letter is the one thing all republicans pride themselves in and espouse constantly. This year, when they finally took power for the first time since reconstruction, they couldn’t even do that. The City Paper has the story

In her ruling, [Chancellor] Bonnyman agreed the law was too vague and “does violate the due process rights of the public in general and plaintiff gun permit holders.” The chancellor based her decision on the fact that permit holders cannot determine whether or not they are in violation of the law.

“The principle business being conducted cannot be known to the ordinary citizen,” Bonnyman said. “Inquiry would not be satisfactory or helpful.”

It’s not clear whether or not the Attorney General will appeal the ruling, which effectively eliminated the statute from the law. The legislature is likely to address a new version of the bill in the next session but it is unclear whether or not a guns-in-bar provision will see the same support.

Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas spoke out in support of Bonnyman’s decision, and said his one concern he had was that the ruling would allow the issue to “again take center stage during the next legislative session instead of the vitally important issue of keeping convicted felons behind bars.”

Posted in ARRA, Budget, Business, Crime, Economy, Guns, Legislation, Public Safety, Radical Republicans, Rep. Brian Kelsey (R-83), Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Rep. Stacey Campfield, Republican leaders, Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16), Small Business, Tax and Spend Republicans, Tea Parties | No Comments »

Gordon Helps Pass 3 Bills To Boost Small Business

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

bartgordon WASHINGTON – Congressman Bart Gordon supported three bipartisan bills today aimed at helping small businesses in Tennessee and around the country. Each bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The House approved the Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Act (H.R. 3014), which would create a loan program in the U.S. Small Business Administration to help medical professionals purchase health information technology.

“Numerous studies have shown that if doctors and hospitals started using secure health information technology systems, like electronic medical records, billions of dollars could be saved each year nationwide,” said Gordon who has been a longtime advocate for reducing the costs of practicing medicine.

Earlier this year, the President implemented a tort reform initiative that Gordon developed to reduce the number of frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits that doctors face.

The House also passed the Small Business Early-Stage Investment Act (H.R. 3738) and the Expand Entrepreneurship Act (H.R. 1842). Both measures aim to support new, promising small businesses.

“Early-stage businesses have been found to be some of the best job creators, but starting a new business is no easy task,” said Gordon. “These bills create important SBA programs that will assist small businesses in getting up and running. Helping small businesses grow is especially important for Tennessee’s economy, where more than 95% of our state’s private workforce is employed by small businesses.”

The Small Business Early-Stage Investment Act creates an SBA investment program tasked with providing grants to small businesses involved in health information technology, digital technology, defense technology, and agriculture research and development. The Expand Entrepreneurship Act directs the SBA to develop a comprehensive plan that identifies a strategy for each SBA region to create jobs through its programs.

Having passed the House, the three bills will now move to the Senate for consideration.

Posted in Business, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health care, Jobs, Legislation, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | No Comments »

Gordon Votes for Solar Tech Bill to Boost Tennessee Jobs

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

bartgordon WASHINGTON – To build upon the new solar technology jobs being created in Tennessee, Congressman Bart Gordon used his chairmanship of the House Science and Technology Committee to advance the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. The bipartisan bill overwhelmingly passed the full U.S. House of Representatives in a vote of 310 to 106 today.

“If solar power isn’t the first thing you think of when I talk about Tennessee, I’ll forgive you,” Congressman Gordon said during his opening remarks about the Solar Roadmap bill on the House Floor today. “But over the last few years we’ve really seen first-hand the major potential that solar energy has to create new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil in the process.”

The Solar Roadmap bill, H.R. 3585, would establish a comprehensive process to facilitate the research, development and demonstration of American solar technology in partnership with the private sector. The bill would also direct the Department of Energy to award grants to entrepreneurs, research agencies and academic laboratories that are leading the field in solar technology development and solar manufacturing.

“Solar technology is creating jobs throughout Tennessee and the rest of the country,” explained Gordon. “The short- and long-term roadmap that will be written as a result of this bill is modeled on the successful National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, which has been instrumental in creating thousands of jobs and helping the semiconductor technology industry advance rapidly over the past two decades.”

The Solar Roadmap bill would require the U.S. Secretary of Energy to appoint an 11-member Solar Technology Roadmap Committee to write, review and update a Solar Technology Roadmap. Moving forward, the roadmap will provide a path to make solar technology more dependable and widely available to American consumers.

“The solar technology plants in Clarksville and Cleveland, as well as Nissan’s electric car and battery plant in Smyrna, are going to be instrumental in making Tennessee a leader in the new clean energy industries that will help our country become more energy independent,” added Gordon. “This bill will help additional solar projects get off the ground and boost job growth in the process.”

The Solar Technology Roadmap Act has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In a letter of support, the Chamber wrote, “Increased research, development, and demonstration of solar technology is crucial to America’s energy security needs, and H.R. 3585 would help move one step closer to that goal.”

The bill has also been endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Solar Energy Industries Association, BP, IBM, Intel and National Semiconductor. Having passed the House, the bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Posted in Business, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Jobs, Legislation, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | No Comments »

U.S. Imposes Tax on Chinese Tires, Protects American Jobs

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

bartgordon WASHINGTON – Over the past five years, China has been violating international trade laws by flooding the United States with cheap Chinese-made tires. In response, the Obama Administration announced over the weekend that it would impose an import tax on Chinese-made passenger and light truck tires – a move that Congressman Bart Gordon urged the Administration to take in May.

“This was the right decision. Chinese tire companies have been violating trade laws, which has contributed to more than 5,000 Americans losing their jobs in the U.S. tire industry,” said Congressman Gordon. “We’ve seen the effects in Middle Tennessee – in January, Bridgestone tires announced it would stop producing passenger and light truck tires at its La Verge plant, and hundreds of workers were laid off.”

In late May, Gordon wrote a letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission, urging that Section 421 of the Trade Act of 1974 be enforced “to restore balance in international trade” of tires. “Your positive action on this matter,” as Gordon explained in the letter, “is essential to saving thousands of U.S. jobs and preserving a vital part of our industrial base.” Section 421 gives workers the right to seek import relief when there are surges of products that have caused injury to affected industries.

After examining the evidence, which showed that cheap Chinese tires in the U.S. market had increased from 5% in 2004 to 17% in 2008, the U.S. International Trade Commission recommended an import tax be imposed. On Friday (Sept. 11), the Administration announced it would act on these recommendations and impose a 35% import tax on Chinese tires, which will go into effect on September 26.

“When China joined the World Trade Organization, it agreed to live up to international trade laws,” Gordon added. “By flooding our country with cheap tires, U.S. tire companies have not been able to compete. A crack down on Chinese tire imports that unfairly undermine American workers has long been overdue.”

Posted in Business, Economy, Jobs, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | 1 Comment »

Thousands of jobs coming to Rutherford County

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Over the past few months several job creation announcements for working families of Rutherford County have given us a glimmer of hope in a recovering economic recession that began in the first part of 2008.

Thanks to a $1.6 billion federal government loan to Nissan, 1,000 workers will be hired and help position Tennessee as a leader in a green auto revolution. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, construction firms are bidding on three shovel-ready road projects, and millions more is being spent to retrain workers for these jobs of the future.

The latest is an announcement from Washington-based NCS Power that 2,000 green energy jobs will soon come to Rutherford County from their factories in China. It’s news worth celebrating, but some people aren’t happy.

Rutherford County’s Tea Party Republicans have taken to the streets 3 times in the last 3 months protesting the tax revenues spent creating these new jobs. They also protested the very incentives being provided companies to relocate manufacturing jobs here in the United States.

What’s worse are Republicans like Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) and Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) gleefully taking credit for those jobs.

“We’re going to relight Middle Tennessee,” said Ketron, who was involved with some of the discussions involving the LED business partnerships. “Tennessee is poised to be the alternative energy capital of the world.”

Ketron attended the press conference along with state Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey.

Companies like NCS Power had strong economic incentives to ship jobs to China throughout President Bush’s 8 years in office. Now months into the Obama Administration those incentives are changing, and NCS Power now sees strong incentives to move 2,000 jobs back to Murfreesboro, TN.

The fact is county Republicans have gone out of their way to oppose changes that help working families. Rep. Carr authored a bill this year demanding Gov. Phil Bredesen reject stimulus funds that extended unemployment benefits for our county’s growing unemployed as well as funds to retrain workers for these new jobs of the future.

Senators Ketron, Tracy and other county Republicans wanted four more years of Bush’s failed economic policy and years more of the results from which we’re slowly recovering.

When Nissan begins hiring 1,000 Rutherford County residents due to the massive government backed auto loan they protested, expect Sen. Ketron, Sen. Tracy and Rep. Carr to pray to God that you’ve forgotten their vocal opposition to those jobs as they gleefully take credit for the hard work it took to bring them here.

Posted in ARRA, Business, Economy, Jobs, Legislation, Taxes | No Comments »

Guns in parks could cost Murfreesboro millions

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

The price tag for that new law that will allow people to legally carry their guns into the ball parks and playgrounds is starting to add up.

If guns are allowed in Murfreesboro’s parks, the city can expect to lose Spring Fling and the $3.4 million in tourism dollars the week-long high school spring sport state tournaments bring each year.

That was the response by TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress on Monday when asked about the high school association’s stance on guns being allowed at parks where high school state tournaments are held.

“We don’t have a written policy,” Childress said. “But if anyone had a gun where our kids are, we wouldn’t be there. There is no way possible that we’d allow a gun in one of our events.

“As much as we’d like Murfreesboro to be in consideration for Spring Fling, I just don’t see how we could recommend them if guns are allowed in their parks.”

Councilman Toby Gilley says we should be able to take our guns to the ball park.

Councilman Toby Gilley: more than a day late and a dollar short.

Murfreesboro Councilman Toby Gilley is a vocal supporter of allowing people to carry guns in our local parks and has said all along that Murfreesboro should leave the new law alone.

Now that $3.5 million in revenue to local businesses is at stake, Gilley thinks his new right should now come with confusing conditions and exceptions not clearly allowed by the law he eagerly supported.

“I think we could perhaps compromise that when we have certain events here (like Spring Fling) we don’t allow them,” Gilley said. “Maybe we don’t have a blanket law having it in effect all the time. We can have it up to the event holder’s request.”

Gilley favors the city following a state law that allows people with gun permits to carry firearms into parks provided that the council takes no action to uphold its existing ban before Sept. 1.

City Manager Roger Haley, however, and Police Chief Glenn Chrisman, Parks and Recreation Director Lanny Goodwin, and Golf Course Director Tracy Wilkins recommend keeping the gun ban in place.

Since Rutherford Republicans have cited results of DNJ online polls in the past as justification for silly laws, maybe we can send Toby a message by voting in the DNJ’s new poll on this subject.

Posted in Business, Crime, Economy, Guns, Legislation | 9 Comments »

Nissan Smyrna to get $1.6 billion in federal loans

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

President Barack Obama announced today the first set of auto loans for improvements in car technology. Nissan’s Smyrna plant will receive $1.6 billion in loans from the Department of Energy program.

$1.6 billion to Nissan North America to retool their Smyrna, Tennessee factory to build advanced electric automobiles and to build an advanced battery manufacturing facility.

The federal funds could produce 1,000 new jobs in Rutherford County and protect the jobs and the area families who depend on them.

A $1.6 billion federal loan for Nissan North America Inc. to build a zero-emissions electric car and battery packs to power them could eventually create more than 1,000 new jobs at the automaker’s assembly complex in Tennessee.

Gov. Phil Bredesen issued the following statement:

“The loans announced today will have a tremendous, positive impact on Nissan and our state’s automotive industry. Best of all, this means 1,300 more jobs for Tennessee workers and expands our growing clean energy economy. I’m especially pleased these advanced vehicle technology loans will expand the existing Nissan plant in Smyrna and add a new state-of-the-art battery plant. It also complements the state’s efforts to develop electric vehicle infrastructure for the type of zero emission vehicles that will be built in Smyrna.”

Posted in 2010, Business, Economy, Energy, Gov. Phil Bredesen, Jobs, Taxes | 1 Comment »

Protecting future home owners

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

From the Office of Congressman Bart Gordon:

To date, the current economic crisis has resulted in 22,000 Tennesseans losing their homes to foreclosure. To protect future homeowners and prevent a similar economic downturn from unfolding again, the House passed bipartisan legislation today that will hold mortgage lenders accountable if they use predatory loan practices.

“To have your home taken away is one of the hardest things to go through,” said Congressman Bart Gordon, who supported the passage of the bill. “This legislation will not only protect homeowners, but it will also provide lenders with good standards to evaluate potential homeowners and their ability to fulfill their loan obligations.”

As of March, more than 61,000 homes were purchased in Tennessee with a subprime loan – loans made to borrowers with poor credit history or who provided only limited documentation of their income or assets. Subprime loan holders are most likely to default and lose their homes.

The House-passed bill, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act,” would bar originators of mortgages from steering consumers to loans they cannot reasonably be expected to repay and prohibits lenders from paying mortgage brokers for getting consumers into loans with above-market interest rates. It also requires mortgage lenders to verify that the prospective homebuyer can repay the loan by reviewing the consumers’ credit history, current income, expected future income, current obligations, and other financial measures.

“Across the country, 3 million homes were foreclosed in 2008,” added Gordon. “These subprime loans created the housing bubble that has now popped and it has affected everything – from job security and retirement savings to county and state budget shortfalls.”

The legislation imposes penalties on lenders that do not comply with the new lending standards. If a subprime loan is made to a person whose credit history has not been thoroughly reviewed and the homeowner goes into foreclosure, the lender will be held accountable for the costs associated with the consumer losing their home, including the attorney fees.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Posted in Business, Home, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | No Comments »

Rep. Donna Rowland’s boyfriend folds under pressure

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

ctbsplit

According to a Daily News Journal report, Rutherford County gun manufacturer Ronnie Barrett says he’ll now reject a worker training grant he applied for from the state.

Last week Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) and Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) rushed to the media and were quoted commending Gov. Bredesen for making the stimulus grant to Barrett Firearms.

“I commend Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Neeley for awarding this grant in Rutherford County,” state Sen. Jim Tracey, R-Shelbyville, said.

“The Incumbent Worker Grants are a good tool to keep employers and workers up to date on the latest skills training,” state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, said.

The surprising support from Rep. Carr and Sen. Tracy for this spending came days after hundreds of angry Rutherford County Republicans took to the streets of Murfreesboro to protest the $30 million in federal stimulus funds used in Tennessee to retrain workers.

In a flip-flop follow up, Barrett has refused the grant he himself applied for saying he now doesn’t want any part of stimulus money that Rep. Carr and Sen. Tracy said they’re happy to see spent in Rutherford County.

Barrett likened the grants to federal stimulus funds.

“Stimulus money doesn’t exist,” Barrett said. “That’s national debt that goes to our great-grandchilden, and I don’t want any part of it.”

Friday on WGNS 1450 AM, both Rep. Carr and Sen. Tracy again praised and defended spending stimulus funds that Rutherford County Republicans protested on April 15.

Barrett’s principled change of heart makes you wonder how Rep. Carr and Sen. Tracy can protest stimulus funds one week and praise spending them the next. Barrett is a major donor to Rutherford County Republicans and the boyfriend of Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34).

Tags: Donna Rowland, Jim Tracy, Joe Carr, Ronnie Barrett
Posted in ARRA, Business, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16), Taxes | 8 Comments »

Disaster declaration paves way for federal assistance