Norris seeks final legislative approval of homestead exemption amendment

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

BILL HILES for the Dyersburg State Gazette

Sen. Mark Norris intends to work on getting his proposed constitutional amendment on a homestead exemption on the state's 2006 ballot if he is re-elected in November.

"I expect to be working on the process of getting the homestead exemption for seniors on the ballot," Norris, R-Collierville, said during a recent interview. "We got it passed in the 103rd General Assembly and I need to get it passed by two-thirds majorities in each house to get it on the ballot for the 2006 governor's election."

Norris' proposal would freeze property appraisals for senior citizens at the amount appraised in the year they turn 65.

"The Tennessee Constitution currently prohibits distinctions between taxpayers based on age or income," Norris said. "Article II, Section 28 requires that all property be taxed according to its value and that such taxes be equal and uniform.

"Each respective taxing authority shall apply the same rate to all property within its jurisdiction, and elderly tax relief obligations shall not be imposed upon counties, cities and towns," he continued. "My legislation proposes the constitutional referendum necessary to permit tax relief for seniors; to 'freeze' the property tax, and protect against future reassessments and property tax hikes."

He said a constitutional amendment is needed because the Legislature passed a similar law in the 1980s that was found unconstitutional because it discriminates against a class of taxpayers by favoring the elderly.

Norris, 49, said there also is unfinished business to be addressed in the next legislative session.

"I'll also continue to pursue efforts to assure access to affordable healthcare for all Tennesseans," he said. "We made good progress during the last session, but there's still more to do."

Norris said there are four components to assuring affordable healthcare:

* Prescription drug reform.

* TennCare reform.

* Workers' Compensation reform.

* Tort or liability reform.

"A lot of people don't realize the interrelationships of these four topics with healthcare reform," he said. "But they all are elements in making affordable healthcare more affordable."

He said the Legislature made progress on prescription drugs, workers' compensation and TennCare in 2004, but work is still needed on liability reform.

"We've studied caps on damages, but we haven't passed a bill yet," Norris said. "That's unfinished business we need to address this year."

He said a bill he sponsored last session sets the stage for providing health insurance for uninsurable Tennesseans left out of TennCare, the state's health insurance program for indigent and uninsurable patients.

"Last session I passed enabling legislation for a new high-risk insurance pool for uninsured Tennesseans," he said. "I'm trying to get to those who do not qualify for TennCare, but can't get insurance. This is the biggest part of my Senate workload -- trying to help these people get health coverage."

Norris said there is federal financial assistance for states to provide pooled risk funds.

"We just got a $1 million grant from the federal government to help establish this fund," he said. "We couldn't have gotten that grant without having my (enabling) bill passed."

Norris said representing a county so far from his home has not been a problem.

"I've been made to feel at home in Dyer County," he said. "I've worked with the Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce, with (Dyersburg) Mayor (Bill) Revell on I-69 and with (Dyersburg Electric System Manager) Jimmy Williamson on the Cates Landing Mississippi River port."

He said I-69 will be "the biggest economic development project in the history of West Tennessee, maybe in the history of the state."

Norris noted that his introduction to real problems that led to his involvement in workers' compensation reform came during a March 2003 meeting in Dyersburg with area human-resources professionals.

"There's a real triangle between Dyersburg, Jackson and Memphis in terms of economic development," Norris said. "I'm optimistic that during this next four years we'll be able to make improvements in economic development and in education in the state because we have our budget under control and I've enjoyed working with (Democratic) Gov. (Phil) Bredesen."

Norris picked up Dyer County as part of his district as a result of redistricting required by the results of the 2000 federal census. Tennessee's Constitution requires that house and senatorial districts be redrawn after each federal census. Other component parts of Norris' district are a portion of north Shelby County, Tipton County and Lauderdale County. He is ending his first four-year term in the Senate.

Norris faces Democratic Party nominee Pete Parker of Dyersburg in the Nov.2 general election.