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“Economy and Liberty Job One”
The second half of the 106th General Assembly begins Tuesday.
When we convene in regular session at noon, we must complete the task started in 2009 -- balancing the budget.
Unlike the federal government, although we can borrow for capital expenditures, we can neither borrow nor print money for government operations. Unlike Congress, we are constitutionally mandated to balance at year's end.
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 Sen. Norris addressed the TN State Employees Association during their 2010 Day on the Hill
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There will also be a "special session" called by the governor to address three issues: two regarding education reforms and one regarding implementation of a new workers' compensation statute adversely affecting some sole proprietors.
While some may question whether a special session on education is prudent given the magnitude of the financial challenges we face, the response by others is that it is precisely because of these challenges that we must take up separately the education reforms the governor is now prepared to consider.
Much of what the governor seeks involves reforms designed to qualify Tennessee for federal funding under the Race to the Top program implemented as part of the American Recovery and Relief Act. |
 On January 30, 2010, the Memphis Medical Society surprised Sen. Norris with a special award in appreciation of his dedication and service to their mission. The Society's President, Dr. Clarence Watridge, presented the award at their annual banquet
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State applications are due Jan. 19. Some of the issues involve reforms sought by Republicans for many years, even without federal incentives, and there is concern about excessive federal involvement.
But the governor has assured us that he will timely present his budget just as though no special session were called, and he will not interfere with our efforts to balance the budget and adjourn as soon as possible.
Due in part to the longest recession in U.S. history, it will be an exceptionally difficult legislative session. Although balancing the budget is the overriding challenge, and education reform will initially take center stage, there will also be other legislation addressing law enforcement, state sovereignty and "loose ends" from the previous session.
Most will be pre-empted by price tags we cannot afford. Some will be little more than election-year posturing.
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The biggest issue is the budget.
As Senate majority leader, it has been my sometimes-unpleasant responsibility to bluntly repeat the facts about unprecedented reductions in government expenditures that must, and will, be made to address the economic downturn we face.
The facts are these: Tennessee has now had 18 consecutive months of declining revenue in the worst economic downturn in modern history. The state was $1.2 billion in the red a year ago, and it may be $1.5 billion now.
With $227 million in cuts implemented in 2009, we approved another $526 million in cuts that were postponed until now through the use of federal stimulus money. That funding runs out this year.
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 On March 2, Sen. Norris hosted the 2010 class of Youth Leadership
Dyer County and took questions
from the students at the end of
their day on the Hill. |
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As reported in last week's Wall Street Journal, many states that benefited from stimulus funds are now burdened by the loss of them. Another $350 million in reductions may be necessary.
I have previously been criticized in this newspaper for being "snippy" when it comes to warning about budget cuts. I do so out of a pragmatic sense of concern for those who may still be ill-prepared for some of the forthcoming consequences.
So I'll quote the governor instead: "I'm going to have to deal with it mostly from the side of cuts in things. ... (T)he easy stuff is all gone at this point. You're really down to some really painful choices."
One week ago, we laid John Wilder to rest. He served this state as lieutenant governor, longer than anyone in history anywhere in the United States. His last eight years in office were my first eight years in the Senate.
One of his great concerns was the economy and the state budget. He could recite the upward trajectory of state spending from the days when the budget barely broke a billion dollars through each governor's administration until today's budget exceeding $29 billion.
On his desk for the taking was always a small stack of parchment-colored copies with this quotation by Thomas Jefferson: "I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers. ... We must make our choice between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude."
Let us choose economy and prosperity. Each of the last three great recessions has been followed by tremendous expansion and prosperity. Adoption of a reality-based budget now will position us for prosperity once again.
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Thank you for making this possible.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Norris
Senate Majority Leader
Your opinion and input is important. Please register here for my email newsletter, Norris News. Email me at sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov, or call toll free at 800.449.8366 ext. 11967.
Thank you for visiting. Come back often!
![Sen. Norris was visited by officials from the Town of Collierville on March 8, 2010. He met in the Senate chamber with (from left) Development Director Jason Gambone, Alderman Tom Allen, Mayor Stan Joyner, Alderman Tony Sarwar, and Town Administrator James Lewellan. [Special thanks to the state's Office of Photographic Services for this shot.]](/images/Collierville-officials-3-8-10.jpg)
Sen. Norris was visited by officials from the Town of Collierville on March 8, 2010. He met in the Senate chamber with (from left) Development Director Jason Gambone, Alderman Tom Allen, Mayor Stan Joyner, Alderman Tony Sarwar, and Town Administrator James Lewellan. [Special thanks to the state's Office of Photographic Services for this shot.]
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