Meetings in Murfreesboro and Smyrna

State legislators will convene for the 111th Tennessee General Assembly at noon on January 14, 2020 in the state capitol chambers.

The Rutherford County delegation and the county commission will have two community meetings this week and the public is invited to attend. Both are at 6:00PM.

• The first is Monday (1/6/2020) night in the courtroom of the historic Rutherford County Courthouse on the Murfreesboro square.
• The second is Wednesday (1/8/2020) evening in the Smyrna Town Centre, 100 Sam Ridley Parkway.

Who Will Be There

Members of the Rutherford County delegation, comprised of our two state senators and four state representatives, will discuss topics of local interest with the Rutherford County Commission. This coming Wednesday night's meeting is open to the public and includes House Speaker Cameron Sexton, along with Rutherford County's state delegation as well as County Commission members.

In a joint press release, the group said the purpose of the event is to get ideas from the public and create dialogue between elected officials at the state and local levels.

To start that interaction, NewsRadio WGNS contacted Rutherford County's two state senators and four representatives about topics they feel should be covered in the upcoming General Assembly. Here are the thoughts of those who responded:

State Senate

Shane Reeves: "In the 2019 session, I introduced 33 bills (17 of which were healthcare focused). I am planning on continuing that theme this upcoming session with a number of bills that are focused on ensuring that Tennesseans have access to quality, affordable and transparent healthcare options. Three of those bills are the following:

• Co-Sponsoring a bill that streamlines the front end process of our state's CON requirements. The government does not need to be putting barriers in place for healthcare providers to do business in our state
• The federal government just raised the age to smoke tobacco and vaping products to 21. I will be working with Governor Lee's office to craft a Tennessee specific piece of legislation
• Finally, I will be sponsoring legislation this year to create an All Payer Claims Database that will create price transparency in the healthcare industry.

This and more to be forthcoming in the next few weeks"

Dawn White: "This year the General Assembly will prioritize the passage of a conservative balanced budget that highlights education, job creation and public safety, issues that are extremely important to the residents of Rutherford County. We will look to continue efforts to increase access to vocational education so that our students can be equipped with the skills needed to get high-paying jobs. Criminal justice reform will also be a major issue for lawmakers to consider during the 2020 legislative session. The goal of any reform will focus on reducing Tennessee's recidivism rates, while maintaining strong protections for public safety and supporting crime victims."

State Representatives

Charlie Baum: "This year in the legislature, we are preparing to address several issues facing Tennesseans. Health care remains a top concern for many in our state, so we are continuing to look at ways to lower costs, increase access, and improve quality. Criminal justice reform will also be a major issue this year - looking at ways to reduce recidivism by educating and training those incarcerated and expanding rehabilitation services for offenders who are addicted to drugs.

I will also be working to provide relief to school districts like ours in Rutherford County that are tasked with keeping up with constructing school buildings at a rate of nearly one per year. We're looking at state funds but also at removing barriers to allow the local government to utilize all of their resources. I am also working on a bill that will raise the bar on school safety requirements to insure our students, teachers, administrators, and athletic event attendees have the resources available to help save lives during emergencies.

Transportation continues to be an issue for Rutherford County citizens, and I will keep pushing for long-term improvements to our infrastructure."

Mike Sparks: "The 2020 legislative session I expect to be as successful as last year. We passed tax cuts, invested in more road funding, invested more in treatment for mental health and drug addiction and increased funding for teacher raises. I'm very proud that after 14 years of work we finally obtained the $52 million needed to fund Jefferson Pike widening which starts this Summer. WGNS radio deserves much credit since the station has been discussing that project for many years. Jefferson Pike is no doubt one of the most dangerous roads in our state. For me, the issue of drug addiction, mental health, and criminal justice reform will be a major focus. I've stated for years that there is a severe disconnect in government and there is a lack of voices and lobbyists for "We The People." With Governor Bill Lee at the helm our community and state are very blessed"

Bryan Terry, MD: "As the chairman of the Health Committee and as a member of the Insurance Committee, I expect the General Assembly to continue to focus on patient protections and consumer driven health care. Measures to improve access with a continued focus on rural health and health care delivery systems will be some of our main priorities. Additionally, as chairman of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(TANF) working group, my colleagues and I will continue to examine fiscally responsible ways to utilize the $732 million dollar reserves in the TANF fund. Some possible solutions include opioid treatment, workforce development, child care, and transportation.

As many may be aware, I've been leading the fight to improve the DMV and better address inadequacies related to service, especially in Rutherford County. The Lee Administration has taken notice and I expect improved staffing and additional changes to unfold this session. Finally, under conservative leadership, Tennessee has seen tremendous strides, especially in the economy. Tennessee ranks first in the nation in small business growth and we are in the top 4 in wage growth. While this is obviously great news, our citizens continue to have unique needs. I believe there will be a focus on utilizing the conservative principles that have made us successful at the state level emphasized to help foster additional success locally."

WGNS Welcomes State Delegation Every Last Friday

As NewsRadio WGNS celebrates its seventy-third anniversary, the station is again inviting all of our elected Rutherford County state officials to be on the radio the last Friday of each month during the 111th General Assembly. At the beginning of the broadcast, they will tell what is happening in the capitol chambers and then take phone calls from constituents during the second half-hour.

Those broadcasts will be on January 31, 2020, February 28, 2020, March 27, 2020, April 24, 2020, and May 29, 2020. If the 111th General Assembly takes more time, additional radio dates will be added.

The program is from 8:10-9:00AM on the last Friday of each month, January through the conclusion. The program is aired live on AM 1450, FM 100.5, FM 101.9, worldwide at www.WGNSradio.com and saved as a podcast on the radio station's website.

In the Volunteer State, the General Assembly meets for 90-days over a two-year period. Tennessee is about to begin the final half of that segment.