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House Passes Gordon Bill Banning Nuclear Waste Imports

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009


WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved Congressman Bart Gordon’s bipartisan legislation to ban the importation of foreign radioactive waste. Gordon’s bill, the Radioactive Import Deterrence (RID) Act, H.R. 515, would prevent foreign-generated radioactive waste from being processed in Tennessee and disposed in the U.S.

“The United States stands alone as the only country in the world that imports other countries’ radioactive waste for permanent disposal,” Gordon said as he explained his bill on the House floor. “The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is currently considering the importation of 20,000 tons of Italian waste. Other countries are reading the signs that the U.S. is poised to become a nuclear dumping ground, permit applications are also pending for the importation of Brazilian and Mexican waste.”

The Italian waste importation would be the largest importation ever of foreign-generated radioactive waste. If the permits for the Italian, Brazilian, and Mexican waste importations are approved, the nuclear waste shipments would be sent to Tennessee for processing and later disposed in Utah.

Gordon has led the effort in Congress to stop these importations and ban the practice of allowing other countries to dispose their radioactive waste in the U.S. The bipartisan RID Act would prohibit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from authorizing the importation of foreign-generated low-level nuclear waste for disposal in the U.S. unless the President deems the importation would meet critical national or international goals.

“This waste is generated all over the United States, but finding permanent disposal sites has proved difficult,” said Gordon. “Foreign waste threatens the capacity we have set aside in this country for the waste generated by our domestic industries—our medical facilities, university research labs and utility companies. It is critical that Congress protect that capacity. Today’s vote brings the RID Act one step closer to becoming law.”

One site, located in Utah, stores 99% of the United States’ low-level radioactive waste. Gordon’s bill would preserve the limited disposal space at this site for domestic companies that generate low-level radioactive waste. Having passed the House, the bill now moves to the Senate.

Posted in Energy, Environment, Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | 1 Comment »

Guns In Bars Shot Down, Ruled Unconstitutional

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

guns-booze-296x300Republicans 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 »

TN’s Fire Departments Strengthened With Help From Gordon

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

November 18, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation to strengthen the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. Congressman Bart Gordon strongly supports the AFG program, which has awarded federal grants to fire departments throughout Tennessee to purchase new equipment.

“The AFG program was established in 2000 to help local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations purchase equipment. Since then, Tennessee’s fire stations have received more than $108 million in grants,” said Gordon

The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act was authored and approved by the House Science and Technology Committee, which is chaired by Gordon. The bill lowers the matching funds requirements for the AFG awards, which will allow more fire stations to apply for the grants. Grant recipients would be required to match 10% of the grant’s funding, and the bill allows the Administrator of the program to waive or reduce the matching requirements for applicants that have demonstrated economic hardship.

The AFG program has awarded 1,331 grants to emergency response organizations in Tennessee since its creation.

“Countless lives are saved every day by the courageous efforts of first responders, firefighters and EMTs. The AFG program has helped fire stations get the resources they need to better respond to emergencies,” said Gordon. “The bill we passed today will make it easier for fire departments in Middle Tennessee and across the country to obtain grants from this program.”

Posted in Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | No Comments »

Vanderbilt, Belmont Students Team Up To End Nuclear Dumping In Tennessee

Friday, November 6th, 2009

12NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Students at Vanderbilt University and Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. have spent two weekends braving the rain, cold temperatures and early morning hours to encourage fellow Tennesseans to sign a petition aimed at ending nuclear dumping in Tennessee.

Through a program known as Bulk Survey for Release, or BSFR, millions of pounds of nuclear waste from across the United States is permitted to be dumped in ordinary Tennessee landfills. No other state allows the commercial dumping of nuclear waste in ordinary landfills.

“More than 80 percent of Tennessee voters are concerned about the BSFR process,” stated Harvey Fischer, Chairman of Families for a Clean Tennessee. “It is not a surprise that students at both of these universities are concerned about the future of Tennessee and are working to end nuclear dumping-why should they get stuck with other states’ nuclear waste?”

Through their efforts at Vanderbilt home football games and at other public venues around Nashville, the students have collected more than 3,000 signatures representing broad opposition to the state’s Bulk Survey for Release program.

Families for a Clean Tennessee is asking concerned citizens to email and call their legislators. For more information or to email your legislator directly from their Web site, visit http://www.cleantennessee.org

Posted in Environment, Public Safety | No Comments »

Gordon Gaining Traction with Nuclear Waste Ban

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

bartgordonThe following editorial has gone national, being printed in the Jackson Sun, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and even Columbus’ Coshocton Tribune …

DON’T LET U.S. BE GLOBAL NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP

Published: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.

If a friend asked to dump his garbage in your yard because he knew you would know what to do with it, what would you say? Probably, no thanks. That’s what the U.S. should say to countries that want to send their nuclear waste here for processing and storage.

Thankfully, Sen. Lamar Alexander and U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon are sponsoring legislation in Congress to keep other countries’ nuclear waste out of the U.S. …

The controversy arose when a private Utah company, EnergySolutions, asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for permission to bring in 20,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste from Italy. The company would process the waste in Tennessee and store the resulting 1,600 tons at a private facility 80 miles west of Salt Lake City. The NRC said it has applications from Mexico and Brazil to do the same thing.

The U.S. handles its own nuclear waste based on a regional system established by Congress in the 1980s. Current laws don’t address importing nuclear waste from other countries. …

The problem with allowing the waste to come to the U.S. is that America will become the world’s dumping ground for nuclear waste. That’s because no other country will accept the stuff. This is not a “world leader” designation America needs.

– The Jackson, Tenn., Sun

Posted in Energy, Environment, Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6), Watchdog Alert | 1 Comment »

Business owner challenges ‘guns in bars’ law

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

A Nashville businessman is challenging a new law Republicans spent a lot of time trying to get passed this year. Restaurant Owner Randy Rayburn says lawmakers who spent all that time on Capitol Hill getting this crazy “guns in bars” law passed have “told more fairy tales than the Brothers Grimm.”

The case will center on claims that the law would create a public nuisance that threatens the safety of the public, and violates the constitutional rights of restaurant/bar owners, patrons and employees.

Randy Rayburn, owner of the Sunset Grill, Midtown Cafe and Cabana, said advocates pushing the law falsely claimed that nearly 40 other states had similar laws. He said the law creates increased liability for him and other owners and is a matter of public safety.

“They’ve told more fairy tales than the Brothers Grimm,” Rayburn said. “Tennessee is the only state that has a law that specifically authorizes gun permit carriers to carry their weapons into establishments that serve 50 percent or more alcohol.”

Posted in Guns, Legislation, Public Safety | No Comments »

Second right-wing domestic terrorist attack in the United States in two weeks

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Today was a very sad day for America with news of another fatal act of domestic terrorism within two weeks. This time the targets were visitors to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. According to several news reports, the terror suspect was driven by a noted anti-Semitic, right-wing ideology.

Last week, another right-wing domestic terrorist driven by a fanatic ideology entered the church of abortion Dr. George Tiller and shot him dead. Shortly after Dr. Tiller’s murder, a local conservative leader explained how murder of abortion doctors is justified in the mind of anti-abortionists.

Shortly after today’s domestic terrorist incident FOX News anchor Shepard Smith took a moment to ponder the level of hate expressed by FOX News’s more extremist viewers. Watch this video for a glimpse into their current state of mind.

In April, Department of Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano was attacked on right-wing radio by conservatives for issuing the following warning on the potential for violence from right-wing hate groups. It is now clear DHS was right to warn law enforcement.

Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.

From time to time, extremists on both ends of the political spectrum can come to define a movement’s beliefs and hopes for our country’s future. It is our great hope that hatred and the resulting domestic terrorism from right-wing extremists is an aberration and a distortion of the values and beliefs of American conservatives. Our country has plenty of shared enemies and even more shared beliefs and values, and none are greater than our shared love for our country.

Please pray for the family of the victim of today’s senseless act of domestic terrorism, and pray for our country.

Posted in Abortion, Crime, Public Safety, Terrorism, Watchdog Alert | 1 Comment »

Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) opposes safe and energy efficient home construction

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) tried to exclude Rutherford County from a bipartisan bill that would create statewide building construction safety standards and promote energy efficiency savings for working families.

Several rural counties in Tennessee have no home construction safety standards for one-family and two-family dwellings. The bill would protect residents from builders who place families at risk to maximize their own profits.

Rep. Rowland said establishing basic safety and energy efficiency standards in Rutherford County to protect the lives of homeowners and save them money on energy costs would present an unnecessary burden on home builders. After hearing Rep. Rowland’s argument today on behalf of her major donors, Rep. Rowland’s House constituents voted against her amendment, and it failed.

Rep. Kent Coleman (D-49) and Rep. Curt Cobb (D-62) are co-sponsors of the bill. Here is what the bill would do to protect working families and save them money:

Beginning July 1, 2010, this amendment applies the statewide building construction safety standards established by the state fire marshal to one-family and two-family dwellings, unless the local government has adopted the International Residential Code for such dwellings. Under present law, one-family and two-family dwellings are exempt from the statewide standards. The full text of this amendment establishes a process for appointment of deputy building inspectors to conduct safety standards compliance inspections of one-family and two-family dwellings.

Also, beginning July 1, 2010, this amendment requires that the statewide building construction safety standards must include energy efficiency standards. This amendment prohibits the state fire marshal from including in the standards a mandatory requirement that one-family and two-family dwellings have sprinklers; provided, however, that local governments will be authorized to adopt more stringent standards for such dwellings.

Posted in Home, Public Safety, Rep. Curt Cobb (D-62), Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Kent Coleman (D-49) | 1 Comment »

Tornado roundtable focuses on technology

Monday, June 8th, 2009

The Daily News Journal reported today on a tornado roundtable hosted by elected officials.

U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Murfreesboro, was among the politicians who called for the tornado roundtable discussion, which included Nashville T.V. meteorologists and his fellow House Science and Technology Committee member Lincoln Davis.

The congressman pointed out early in the discussion that the number of tornadoes in Tennessee have increased over the past several years.

“Our state [Tennessee] has led the nation in tornado fatalities over the past 10 years, but we do have the weapon of technology” he stated. “A better understanding of why tornadoes form and better ways to detect them will increase warning times, decrease false alarms, and in turn reduce tornado injuries and deaths.”

Posted in Disaster Relief, Public Safety, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | No Comments »

Rutherford County Republicans vote to pollute Tennessee waterways

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

A Republican sponsored bill (HB 1204 / SB 1331) that would have allowed the coal industry to pollute Tennessee’s waterways narrowly failed in the state House today 49 - 42. The bill’s House sponsor says he is not sure if he’ll try to refile the bill.

Rep. Joe McCord (R-8) admitted today on the House floor that the bill was written and given to him to sponsor by the coal industry. The bill would have allowed selenium levels from coal production to reach unacceptable levels (7.5 ppm) in Tennessee lakes, rivers and streams. Watch this video to see what selenium waste has done to aquatic life.

Rep. McCord and several of his Republican colleagues repeatedly claimed the bill would bring Tennessee up to the latest EPA standards for selenium levels in U.S. waterways. The EPA, however, never adopted the proposal which Republicans falsely claimed were the latest standards.

Furthermore, the scientist who helped draft the 2004 proposal for the EPA on selenium levels has since reported that his findings were wrong and that the bill as written would in fact kill nearly 80% of fish in Tennessee waterways, one reason the proposal was rejected by the Bush Administration’s EPA in the first place.

Despite these facts, Tennessee Republicans persisted on behalf of the coal industry, including those representing Rutherford County.

The audacity of Tennessee Republicans to pass off junk science and misrepresent the truth in the state legislature as the basis of their support for poisoning Tennessee waterways is embarrassing and immoral.

Tennesseans are called upon to be good stewards of God’s creation and to protect it for generations to come. Tennessee Republicans demonstrated today yet again whose side they are on when it comes to that calling. Tennessee Republicans sided with the interests of the coal industry over protecting our environment and our great state’s cultural heritage of hunting and fishing.

Here is how our state’s delegation voted on the selenium bill:

Posted in Environment, Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Curt Cobb (D-62), Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Rep. Kent Coleman (D-49), Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16), Special Interests, Wildlife | 4 Comments »

Rutherford County receives federal disaster declaration

Friday, May 15th, 2009

A federal disaster declaration requested by Gov. Phil Bredesen for Rutherford County has been approved providing reimbursements  for local government bodies and public utilities from Public Assistance Program funds .

“Federal disaster assistance will help lessen the burden on local governments in these four counties,” said Bredesen. “I appreciate President Obama’s approval of these disaster declarations to help speed the recovery from the April 10 storms that struck Tennessee.”

As in previous disasters, the state will provide half of the local share of matching funds required by the federal reimbursement program. The total amount will be 12.5 percent of the total cost incurred by local governments. Utility companies are required to provide the full 25 percent match for federal funds.

Gov. Bredesen’s request for a disaster declaration from the federal government’s Small Business Administration in April was quickly granted. The declaration paved the way for low interest subsidized loans to help families and small businesses recover from damage caused by the tornado.

Also read:

Posted in Disaster Relief, Gov. Phil Bredesen, Public Safety | No Comments »

Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-48) booze bill brings ‘pandemonium’ to House floor

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

carrmumpower1

Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-48) booze bill ran into more problems hours ago in the Tennessee legislature. Rep. Carr had to delay his bill until next Wednesday after several amendments to protect voters caused what one of his colleagues described on the House floor as “pandemonium.”

Rep. Carr’s booze bill as written denies voters the right to decide if they want liquor distilleries in their county. The bill would retroactively make a vote for liquor stores a vote to also allow the liquor industry to manufacture “intoxicating liquors” in the county without the explicit approval of voters.

Rep. Kent Coleman (D-49) amended Rep. Carr’s booze bill granting the right for voters to make these decisions themselves through a local referendum. Rep. Carr tried and failed to kill Rep. Coleman’s amendment. It was the only amendment Rep. Carr targeted.

Several of Rep. Carr’s own Republican colleagues, including Rep. Maggart (R-45), Rep. Lynn (R-57) and Rep. Floyd (R-27), filed amendments to exclude their counties from the consequences of Rep. Carr’s sloppy booze bill. Rep. Curt Cobb (D-62) filed an amendment that would prevent distilleries from selling their liquor near churches, a move that angered the liquor lobbyists who support the bill.

This was the third time Rep. Carr delayed his bill due to confusion in the House. Rep. Curry Todd (R-95) complained to the House Speaker that the bill was taking up too much valuable time on an already crowded legislative calendar. Rep. Carr spent nearly 45 minutes of the House’s time today defending his booze bill. Rep. Jason Mumpower (R-3) stood by Rep. Carr’s side advising him through the entire fiasco.

Rep. Carr’s booze bill comes to the House floor for a vote yet again next Wednesday.

Also read:

Posted in Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Rep. Kent Coleman (D-49), Special Interests | 3 Comments »

Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-48) Moonshine Bill heads to the House floor next week

Friday, May 8th, 2009

ketroncarrtoon

With the Senate’s passage of the Moonshine Bill, the focus now shifts to Rep. Joe Carr’s version in the House and the liquor interests Carr said his bill was for.

Two attorneys for IASIS Healthcare in Franklin, TN have asked Republican Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13) and Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) to push legislation to allow liquor manufactures across the state of Tennessee.

IASIS Healthcare Secretary and General Counsel Frank Coyle and IASIS Healthcare Operations Counsel Heath Clark were vaguely identified in an April 30, 2009 article in the Daily News Journal as “entreprenuers” who Sen. Ketron said sought his legislative help to bring distilleries to Tennessee, promising him one would locate in Rutherford County.

Both Clark and Coyle are not registered as lobbyists with the state of Tennessee.

Clark used to work for Bass, Berry & Simms, a legal and lobbying firm that represents the liquor industry, including Kentucky-based distilled spirits manufacturer Brown-Forman. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Sen. Ketron failed to get a bill passed for Brown-Forman back in 2006 that would have allowed a $10 million liquor museum in downtown Nashville. Interestingly enough, the current legislation sponsored by Sen. Ketron and Rep. Carr could allow Brown-Forman to pursue those plans without ever establishing its own distillery in Rutherford County or elsewhere.

As written, Sen. Ketron’s bill would allow a licensed distillery to operate a still of any size within zoning guidelines. That would include a very small “craft” still. Brown-Forman could easily have their $10 million museum in association with a small “craft” distillery through Sen. Ketron’s new bill without all the fuss of paying lobbyists and drawing attention to a previous failed effort.

On April 23 we reported that Rep. Joe Carr announced his intention to help the two IASIS attorneys bring a liquor distillery to Rutherford County. When asked who these people were by his colleagues, Rep. Carr had no idea but assured the House they were not contributors to his campaign. You can watch the embarrassing exchange in this video.

The reason Rep. Carr had no idea who his bill was for is now clear thanks to an article in Daily News Journal. Rep. Carr’s bill wasn’t by request of any voter in his district. It was requested by Sen. Ketron who asked Rep. Carr to sponsor a House version, and Rep. Carr did it without asking important questions or doing his homework.

The voters of Rutherford County deserve to know more about who is really behind Sen. Ketron and Rep. Carr’s effort to bring a liquor manufacturer to Rutherford County. What does IASIS think about their moonlighting attorney’s seeking this legislation?

Rutherford County deserves to know where they plan to put a liquor distillery, and we deserve due diligence before our lawmakers do the bidding of the liquor industry. Instead, Sen. Ketron and Rep. Carr are playing games and hiding the true interests behind their legislation.

Posted in Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Special Interests | 2 Comments »

Rutherford County Republicans focus on guns and booze as recession priorities

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Sam Stockard at the Daily News Journal hit the nail on the head. In the middle of one of the worst recessions to hit our nation, Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13) and Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) spend most of their time working hard for the liquor industry and making sure people can take their guns to the saloon.

This could be called the Year of Guns and Booze in the state Legislature.

During one of the worst economic years in history, legislators have put their focus anywhere but on the budget. In addition to a load of bills dealing with weapons, including allowing conceal-carry permit holders to take their guns into bars, restaurants and state and local parks, legislation allowing new distilleries and wine in grocery stores is getting notice.

Two local legislators are sponsoring a bill to make it easier for distilleries to open.

Rutherford County deserves leaders in the Senate and House that work hard for our families, not special interests.

Posted in Ethics, Guns, Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Rutherford County Republican Party, Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13) | 2 Comments »

More delays for Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-48) moonshine bill

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

ketroncarr1

It’s been a bad stretch of road for Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-48) bill to bring more whiskey, vodka and other distilled spirits flowing into Tennessee.

Rep. Carr introduced his House version of the bill on April 23. When asked who the bill was written for by his House colleagues, Rep. Carr had no idea, and the embarrassing exchange is all over YouTube. The questions got so tough that Rep. Carr rolled the bill to the next calendar. Rep. Carr also made a startling admission on the floor of the House on what his bill will do for the state of Tennessee.

FINCHER: OK, so they’re is going to be more liquor and more whiskey and more vodka running around out here in our state because of this bill, correct?

CARR: I wouldn’t assume so, I would assume that would, uh, you could assume that. Yes sir.

Did you read that? Rep. Carr said you could safely assume his bill will bring “more liquor and more whiskey and more vodka running around out here in our state.” The Rutherford County Democratic Party commends Rep. Carr for his moment of honesty.

It would have also been easy for Rep. Carr to say his moonshine bill was written for the voters of Lascassas, but Rep. Carr knew that would have been a lie, and he told the truth. The Daily News Journal recently reported who the bill was really for.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, will ask the House of Representatives to approve the legislation today. Carr said he agreed to sponsor the house version of the bill at the request of Ketron.

Now we know why Rep. Carr was so clueless about a bill he sponsored but knew nothing about. On his second attempt recently, Rep. Carr again rolled the bill for another two weeks.

It’s a shame the people of Lascassas don’t have a Representative who will support whatever they ask for without question. Instead, Rep. Carr is busy working for Sen. Ketron and the liquor industry that funds his campaign while Rep. Carr actively seeks a reduction in unemployment benefits for the growing number of unemployed voters in his district.

The people of Lasscasas deserve a Representative that stands up for them.

Posted in Public Safety, Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Special Interests | 2 Comments »

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