Governor Identifies 450 Transportation Projects for Funding

Projects to be funded through Recovery Act, Bridge Bonding and Traditional Funds

NASHVILLE– Governor Phil Bredesen yesterday released a final list of projects to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Recovery Act), proposed bridge bonds and TDOT’s regular funding mechanisms. The three-tiered program represents more than 450 projects statewide touching every county in Tennessee.

“The Recovery Act is fundamentally about creating and retaining jobs during one of the toughest economic times our nation and state have faced since the Great Depression,” said Governor Bredesen. “This three-tiered program represents a record investment in Tennessee’s transportation system. The Recovery Act, along with the bridge bonding and TDOT’s regular program, will put thousands of Tennesseans to work rebuilding and strengthening one of Tennessee’s largest economic drivers, our transportation system.” [Read more]

House Republican Caucus Weekly Wrap

Week of March 23-27,2009

• Budget proposal presented to lawmakers
• Stimulus funds will foot much of the TennCare bill
• Higher Education may dodge a bullet
• Unemployment Insurance
• Testimony on “wine in grocery stores”
• Is the Tennessee Plan constitutional?

After months of uncertainty while the United States Congress wrangled over details of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Governor presented his initial budget proposal Monday night to a Joint Convention of the House and Senate. Because of the unprecedented economic situation facing Tennessee, the Governor is proposing a multi- year approach, and laying out possibilities for the next four years. He explained that much of the ARRA money, which totals approximately $5 billion over two years for Tennessee, comes with strings attached and has essentially already been earmarked by Congress.

According the Administration, about “two-fifths” of the money are “Tennessee” funds—monies that will allow the state some leniency regarding where to use them—while the remainder are “Congressional” funds that have multiple strings attached. [Read more]

McMillan to run for Governor

Kim McMillan makes it clear: she’s running for governor. “These are tough times but I believe in the future of Tennessee because I believe in the people of Tennessee,” said McMillan, Tennessee’s first female House Majority Leader and former member of Governor Bredesen’s cabinet.

“For almost a year I’ve been listening to the needs of our neighbors and families and loss is on everybody’s mind– loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of health insurance, loss of retirement security. I know that tough times call for leadership that lifts us up and brings us together,” she added.

“I’m running for governor because I believe I can bring Tennessee together, and I know that together we can do more than just make it through – we can make it better.”

McMillan filed papers to establish an exploratory committee for the 2010 governor’s campaign last spring. “The people of Clarksville and Montgomery County have been good to me and that’s why I met with my hometown paper to make my intentions clear. I want to make sure they know that I’m in this race and I’m in it all the way.”

McMillan teaches political science at APSU.