 |
|
|
|
November 14, 2008 A Message from Mark….. Since the election of our new majority nine short days ago, I have been working with my colleagues in the Senate and House to smooth the transition in January 2009. Of particular importance is the legislative election of a new Secretary of State, Treasurer and Comptroller in January. We intend to implement an open process through which the best qualified applicants can be fairly evaluated so that all interested Tennesseans have access, and members of the General Assembly have the opportunity for appropriate input and introspection before casting these important votes. Meanwhile, as the economy continues to struggle, the Bredesen Administration appeared before our Fiscal Review Committee in Nashville this week. While there was talk about how bad things are on the economic front in Nashville, I worked to make things better by meeting with the Canadian Ambassador in Memphis during his first visit to Tennessee. Canada is Tennessee's largest trading partner full of potential for business opportunities and the creation of new jobs in our state. The Ambassador came from Washington, D.C. at my invitation. Among other activities, which included meetings in the Medical Center at LeBonheur and St. Jude as well as Federal Express, I hosted a business roundtable luncheon for Ambassador Wilson and top executives from some of Tennessee’s leading companies with operations or customers in Canada, like Buckeye Cellulose, Buckman Laboratories, Pinnacle Airlines, and Medtronic, and Canadian companies, like Circle K, American Yeast, CN Railway, and West Fraser Timber doing business here in Tennessee. We talked about free and fair trade, logistics, infrastructure, border security and relief from regulatory burdens that cost jobs. At the end of his visit, the Ambassador and those with whom he met had a better appreciation for the abundant opportunities which exist for increased trade and commerce between Tennessee and Canada. Sincerely yours,
|
