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Middle TN congressional delegation asks for President Barack Obama’s help

Monday, May 4th, 2009

The Daily News Journal reports on the bi-partisan effort to secure a disaster declaration from President Barack Obama for Murfreesboro, TN following the Good Friday tornado.

U.S. Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and Democratic U.S. Reps. Bart Gordon, D-Murfreesboro, Jimmy Duncan, Lincoln Davis and John Tanner have joined Gov. Phil Bredesen in requesting that President Obama issue a federal disaster declaration for four counties in Tennessee to help state and local governments recover costs for damages related to recent storms.

According to their letter to President Obama, “On April 10, 2009, high winds – including tornadoes – struck several counties in our state, causing significant damage in Rutherford, McMinn, Sequatchie and Benton Counties. These disasters have placed a significant burden on state and local governments because of recovery costs. Therefore, we respectfully request that you make assistance available to these counties in accordance with the Governor’s request.”

With a disaster declaration, federal funds will cover 75 percent of the cleanup costs.

The Congressional delegation effort follows Gov. Bredesen’s own request for the declaration.

Gov. Phil Bredesen has asked President Obama to declare Rutherford, McMinn, Sequatchie and Benton Counties as federal disaster areas following the severe weather, high-winds and tornadoes that struck those counties on April 10.

Should this request for public assistance be granted, the federal program will help covers emergency response and recovery costs incurred by state and local governments.

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

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

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) seeks protections against foreign radioactive waste

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) continues his push for the Radioactive Import Deterrence Act (RID). The House bill authored by Rep. Gordon would protect our state from imported low-level radioactive wastes that were recently found leaking from a truck on its way to Tennessee. Sen. Lamar Alexander is the sponsor of the Senate version of this bill.

“Fortunately, the spill was small, and I commend the HAZMAT response team’s quick action,” said the Murfreesboro Democrat, who has led efforts to ban the practice. “However, this incident only serves as a reminder of the risks involved in disposing of toxic chemicals. By allowing companies to import and dispose of other country’s radioactive waste, we are only heightening the possibility of a harmful spill occurring.

“The fact is, foreign waste is trucked from coastal ports to Tennessee and Utah, increasing the volume of waste on our nation’s highways.”

According to Gordon’s office, the spill occurred on March 31 in Carbon County, Utah, when a leak sprung in a hose attached to a tanker transporting 3,000 gallons of low-level radioactive waste, in addition to marine pollutants, Benzene, Phenol, Butyl alcohol, PGIII, and PCBs. The tanker was transporting waste to Tennessee for EnergySolutions, the nation’s largest radioactive waste company. EnergySolutions was billed for the emergency response and clean-up.

In early January, Gordon authored the Radioactive Import Deterrence, or RID, Act, which would prohibit the importation of foreign-generated low-level radioactive waste unless the president deems the importation would meet certain national and international goals. Gordon says the bipartisan legislation is supported by 79 members of Congress.

“We are the only country in the world that imports other countries’ radioactive waste for disposal, and we dispose of it in American soil,” added Gordon. “EnergySolutions — who claims to have an ‘unparalleled safety record’ — is one of the companies arguing that international waste will not increase the likelihood of a toxic spill occurring. Not only will it increase the risk, but with limited space in the United States for this kind of waste, the last thing we should be doing is allowing other countries to dump their radioactive trash in our country.”

Posted in Environment, Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) | 1 Comment »

Daily News Journal asks Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) to kill bill

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Today’s Daily News Journal Editorial Board asks Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) to stop siding with nursing home industry lobbyists and start standing up for families of loved ones found abused in Tennessee nursing homes.

The editorial praises Rep. Kent Coleman (D-49) for killing the House’s nursing home bill that would have placed a capped value of an abused loved one’s life over the nursing home’s bottom line.

Legislation placing damage caps on nursing home lawsuits should be dead for the session after it failed in a House panel.

State Rep. Kent Coleman, D-Murfreesboro, was one of three legislators who voted against the bill in the civil practice and procedures subcommittee, effectively killing it for the year with a 3-3 deadlock.

Coleman should be commended for taking a stand against the bill, which has been dubbed the “Kill Old People Cheap Act.”

Sponsored by Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, and Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, who represents much of Rutherford County, the bill sets a $300,000 cap on punitive damages, losses that are hard to assess such as pain, suffering and mental anguish.

Tracy’s bill has been awaiting a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. He should take it off notice and tell the nursing home industry to go back and rework the legislation.

Our families deserve justice. They don’t deserve lobbyists telling a court how much our parents’ lives are worth when nursing homes are found to be at fault for their neglect and abuse. Rep. Coleman took a principled stand for our families when he killed that bill, and now it’s time for Sen. Jim Tracy to do the same.

Use the following form to tell Sen. Jim Tracy to reconsider his support for SB 2160.

Posted in Health care, Legislation, Public Safety, Rep. Kent Coleman (D-49) | No Comments »

Disaster declaration paves way for federal assistance

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

Gov. Bredesen’s request for a Disaster Declaration was quickly granted from the federal government’s Small Business Administration this week. The declaration paves the way for low interest subsidized loans to help families and small businesses recover from the Good Friday tornado.

The administration will have several staff members setting up a temporary office at the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency office at 1220 W. College St., said Jay MacKenna, a public information officer for the federalgovernment service.

Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and the following week May 4-7. The office will also be open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 2.

Those wanting phone assistance or more information can call the administration at 800-659-2955 or visit the www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Tornado victims can also apply for a loan online through a secure Web site: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

Posted in Business, Disaster Relief, Public Safety | No Comments »

A letter from Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6)

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

tornadoaerials

Here is a letter to the community from Rep. Bart Gordon on what he saw when touring the community after the Good Friday tornado.

As I visited with friends and neighbors affected by the April 10th tornadoes, I was struck by the well-organized emergency response.

Immediately, emergency workers — city, county, MTSU and the Tennessee Highway Patrol — cared for the injured, closed off streets and secured neighborhoods. Their watch continues today, with officers pulling 12-hour shifts. Right away, Emergency Medical Services workers went door to door, checking on people throughout the community.

By Saturday morning, city and county trucks were hauling off debris to the landfill, which stayed open during the weekend, and clearing streets to make them passable as quickly as possible. Like the police and EMS, their efforts began immediately.

Power lines that were strewn across streets off of poles that had fallen or snapped were repaired by Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee electric department workers who have labored night and day since that Friday afternoon. Power was restored to thousands of residents within hours and to everyone by Sunday.

One homeowner on Tomahawk Trace, who was fortunate to only sustain damage to her roof, remarked that a church group showed up at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning and by that afternoon had moved all the broken trees on her lot to the curb. Her story is echoed by many others. Local church groups, the Red Cross and volunteers here and outside of Rutherford County, some even outside the state, were quick to help storm victims.

I want to thank everyone involved in the storm’s emergency and recovery operations for their quick and well-organized response and to recognize the ongoing cleanup effort. You are an important reason why I have always been proud to call Murfreesboro my home.

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

Rutherford County Disaster Relief - Saturday April 25

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

IMPORTANT NOTE (April 23, 2009): The tornado clean-up schedule for April 25, 2009 has been canceled due to an overwhelming response from over 3,000 volunteers. Individuals who are interested in volunteering may call 615-890-1934. Thanks!

IMPORTANT NOTE: This volunteer opportunity was originally scheduled for April 18, but the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency changed the date to Saturday April 25 citing utility line safety concerns. The title of this post has been changed. Below is the original post.

If you would like to help those affected by the deadly Good Friday tornadoes here in Murfreesboro, save the date Saturday April 18. Click here to RSVP. Check back for specific time and location. Below is a message from the TNDP Chair Chip Forrester:

As you know, four tornadoes hit Rutherford County on Friday, April 10 leaving a trail of devastation and destruction. We have received calls and emails from Democrats across the state wanting to know what they could do to help. As a result, the TNDP has set up a Tornado Relief Service Day on Saturday, April 18. This is the day that the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency has identified as the major cleanup day. We will receive information on the location and exact times later this week (plan on beginning early in the morning and working until late afternoon), but we wanted to let you know that we need your help.

If you would join in this effort, please go to the “Rutherford County Disaster Relief” event page to RSVP that you will attend, and you will receive up-to-date information on the location and meeting time as it becomes available.

If you are unable to attend but would like to help out, you can contribute to the American Red Cross “Heart of Middle Tennessee” Chapter in Murfreesboro.

Posted in Disaster Relief, Events, Public Safety, Volunteer | No Comments »

Rep. Bart Gordon tours storm damage, meets with victims

Friday, April 10th, 2009

bartgordon1 U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon quickly responded to the devastating tornadoes that struck Rutherford County today:

“Today, I surveyed many of the tornado-struck areas in Murfreesboro. The damage is extensive and I have contacted the White House to convey the situation on the ground to President Obama.

“I also informed the White House that Gov. Bredesen may soon request federal disaster assistance for the affected areas. I have also sent a formal letter to the President, urging a quick response.

“I have spoken with local officials to let them know I stand ready to help the residents of my hometown rebuild their lives and restore their communities.

“Right now, my thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of those who have lost loved ones, those who have been injured and those who have lost their homes and property.”

To read the letter Congressman Gordon sent to President Obama, go to http://gordon.house.gov/PDF/Tornado_Letter.PDF.

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

Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) supports gun-toting felons

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

joecarr Last week, Murfreesboro Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) voted against a bill designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Rep. Carr was one of only five legislators who voted against the bill. It passed with wide bi-partisan support from 91 other legislators who stood up for common sense legislation to protect families from armed criminals.

“What this bill will do is keep guns in the hands of good, responsible individuals and help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and folks that the law says should not have access to firearms,” Pitts said.

The bill passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 91-5-1. Those voting against the measure included Representatives Joe Carr (R-Murfreesboro), Vance Dennis (R-Savannah), Joshua Evans (R-Greenbrier), and Eric Swafford (R-Pikeville). The legislation must now pass the Senate before it can be signed into law.

Posted in Crime, Guns, Public Safety, Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) | No Comments »