On Politics

Be our guests
Pigeon Forge Tourism is hosting its 22nd Annual Salute to the State Legislature on Friday and Saturday. As many as 90 of the 132 members of the general Assembly are expected to be in town with family to enjoy a show at Dixie Stampede on Friday night.

Hail to the chief
Sounding more Presidential all the time, U.S. Senator Bill Frist responded to Wednesday’s announcement by the Department of Economic Analysis that the state’s economy grew by 3.1% last year, much better than the national average of 2.1%. “Today’s numbers show that the economy is continuing to pick up and that there is momentum for strong economic growth in Tennessee. With higher incomes, hardworking Tennesseans will have more money available to meet the needs of their families,” said Frist. “While this is all positive news, we must not be satisfied until all who want a job can find one. I will continue to work with my colleagues to pass legislation that removes barriers and encourages job growth in Tennessee and across the country.”

License and Registration
Governor Phil Bredesen proposed legislation that will make Tennessee’s driver’s license policy the toughest in the nation. Bredesen’s new amendment will restrict drivers’ licenses to only US citizens and lawful permanent residents. Tennessee will be the only state in the nation with this strict new policy.
“Protecting Tennesseans is my highest priority,” Bredesen said. “When it became clear to me the federal government was not going to provide some uniformity on this issue as I had hoped, I felt it was necessary to take a strong stand to ensure we’re providing the highest level of safety to our citizens, both in homeland security and in public safety.”
The amendment does not alter the intent of the administration’s original legislation to create a “certificate of driving” for individuals who do not meet the criteria for a driver’s license. These new certificates will not be a valid form of identification, but will merely allow qualified individuals to operate a motor vehicle in Tennessee.

Meanwhile in west Tennessee
The county commission in Rhea Co. voted 8-0 in March to ask the state government for support in keeping gays and lesbians out of Rhea county. After heavy criticism the vote was rescinded two days later. The county was the site of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925.