U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) have released statements on President Obama’s issuance of a “major disaster” declaration for the state of Tennessee, which triggered the release of federal funds to help individuals recover from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that occurred in Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, DeKalb, Hamilton, Jackson, McMinn, Monroe, Overton, and Polk counties from February 29 to March 2, 2012:
“I’m pleased that the president responded so quickly to the governor’s request, and our support of that request, by issuing a major disaster declaration for these counties in Tennessee. This federal support won’t make anyone whole, but it will help people and businesses get back on their feet,” said Alexander
Senator Corker also applauded the disaster assistance “I thank Governor Haslam for seeking aid for those recovering from the severe storms, and I appreciate the administration’s quick approval of the governor’s request that was supported by our congressional delegation. As communities continue to repair and rebuild, I hope this assistance will help Tennesseans in need,” Corker said.
On March 15, Senators Alexander and Corker and Representatives Duncan, DesJarlais, Black and Fleischmann sent the following letter to the president in support of Governor Haslam’s request that the president declare a major disaster in Tennessee:
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the State of Tennessee, we respectfully request that you declare a major disaster pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act due to the severe storms, straight line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began on the morning of February 29th through March 2, 2012.
Governor Bill Haslam has submitted a request for Individual Assistance for Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, DeKalb, Hamilton, Jackson, McMinn, Monroe, Overton and Polk counties, as well as Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assistance statewide. We strongly urge you to approve Governor Haslam’s request, and we hope you will consider our State’s request as soon as possible.
The storms that swept through Tennessee beginning February 29, 2012 claimed three lives, damaged hundreds homes and left families across the state in need of immediate shelter. According to the preliminary damage assessments there is over $18 million in damages to homes, and several workers have also lost their jobs due to damage to businesses. Tennessee has suffered 5 declared disasters in the past 12 months, and several counties are still struggling to recover.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency since the beginning of this incident, and we are grateful for their efforts to respond to Tennessee’s needs. Our offices can provide you with any additional information should you have any questions.
Survivors affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding Feb. 29 through March 2 should apply now for federal assistance.
Federal funding is available to affected individuals in Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, DeKalb, Hamilton, Jackson, McMinn, Monroe, Overton and Polk counties.
Individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency can help eligible applicants with temporary housing assistance, uninsured personal property losses and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other disaster-related expenses and serious needs. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not covered by insurance.
Storm survivors should register with FEMA, a process that takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Registration is available online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362). Help is available in many languages. Disaster applicants who use TTY should call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 800-621-3362.
The toll-free FEMA registration numbers are available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time.
Survivors also can apply for federal assistance directly through Web-enabled mobile phone devices or smartphones. Registration through the mobile site involves three steps:
Go to m.fema.gov and click “Apply Online for FEMA Assistance.” You will be directed to www.DisasterAssistance.gov;
Click on Start Registration; and fill out the registration form.
FEMA will ask for the following information:
The telephone number where applicants can be reached;
The address where applicants lived at the time of the disaster and the address where they are staying;
Their Social Security number;
A general description of damage to property and other losses;
The name of the insurance company and policy number or agent if the property is insured; and
Bank account routing information (for direct deposit of funds) or address for mail delivery (optional).
People whose property suffered any storm damage are encouraged to document damage with photographs and to save repair receipts. Damage also should be reported to the insurance company.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all of Tennessee.

Two tax relief bills that aim to keep senior citizens in Tennessee during their retirement years have begun moving through the State Senate in a week that was filled with action on some of the most important bills of the 2012 legislative session. One bill continues an incremental approach in phasing out Tennessee’s Hall Income Tax for senior citizens, while the other would provide relief by raising the inheritance tax exemption level to $1.25 million with the objective of reaching a $5 million level in subsequent years.
Hall Tax Relief — The Hall Tax is imposed on individuals and other entities receiving interest from bonds, notes and dividends from stock. Enacted in 1929, this tax collects approximately $190 million in revenue, with about one-third going to local governments. Last year, legislation was passed to provide Hall Tax relief to citizens age 65 and older by raising the standard income exemption from $16,200 to $26,200 for single filers and from $27,000 to $37,000 for joint filers.
Of the individuals who pay the tax, 48 percent are age 65 and older. Many of the seniors live on fixed incomes and rely on investment income as their “nest egg” for retirement.
Senate Bill 2535 further raises the exemption for citizens 65 years of age and older to $36,200 for single filers and $47,000 for those filing jointly beginning January 1, 2013.
The Senate Tax Subcommittee also approved Senate Bill 2535 that would require annual adjustment on July 1 each year, to the maximum allowable income exemption levels, for single and joint filers of the Hall Income Tax who are 65 years of age or older. The adjustment would apply to the percent change of the consumer price index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Inheritance Tax Relief — Similarly, Senate Bill 3762 takes a first step towards providing inheritance or estate tax relief, which is also called the death tax. Currently, the tax applies to estates worth more than $1 million. Tennessee has a higher inheritance tax when compared to its neighbors, which range from 5.5 percent to 9.5 percent.
Retirees have told lawmakers that the death tax is a key reason for them relocating outside Tennessee. There is also great concern that the inheritance tax places a heavy financial burden on family farms and family businesses. The bill is included in Governor Bill Haslam’s legislative package.
Reduction of Sales Tax on Food — In addition, the Senate Tax Subcommittee recommended key legislation to reduce the state portion of the sales tax on grocery food from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent, with the goal of lowering it to 5.0 percent in three years. Senate Bill 3763 has been a goal of many Republicans in the General Assembly over the past several years. This year it was included in Governor Bill Haslam’s legislative package and is funded in the budget, which gives it a major boost towards passage. The first reduction in the sales tax on food was sponsored by Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) who is also supporting passage of the measure to reduce the tax this year.
Legislation replaces Court of the Judiciary with new panel
The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation to address concerns regarding the transparency and effectiveness of the Court of the Judiciary, the body charged with investigating and disciplining judges. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Mike Faulk (R-Church Hill), seeks to exercise the legislature’s constitutional duty to remove judges for misconduct and the Judiciary’s obligation to police its own members.
The bill follows hearings initiated by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) to investigate the practices and procedures of the judicial oversight body. It also comes after recent reports in Knoxville and Nashville regarding judicial misconduct that exposed some deficiencies of the body and its effectiveness in exercising the legislature’s obligation to remove judges guilty of misconduct.
The Court of the Judiciary was created by the legislature to investigate and, when warranted, act on complaints against judges. Currently, six of the eleven-member board is appointed by the Supreme Court and three are selected by the Tennessee Bar Association. The Court has broad jurisdiction to internally investigate, hear and determine charges sufficient to warrant discipline or removal of a judge.
Senate Bill 2671 abolishes the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary and replaces it with a new body, the Judicial Board of Conduct. Under the bill, appointments would be made by the Tennessee Judicial Conference, the Speakers of the House and Senate, and the Governor. Furthermore, it provides for a less restrictive standard that must be met for a complaint to move forward, as well as more transparency in regards to its reporting to the legislature and to the public. The Board would have the authority to take action against state judges and could endorse punishment, including removal.
“This bill moves us in the right direction,” said Senator Beavers. “Simply sitting by and doing nothing would be a travesty to many Tennesseans who hope to have fair and impartial judicial proceedings.”
The bill now goes to the full Senate floor for final consideration.
Prescription drug abuse legislation approved by Senate Judiciary Committee
Legislation that would curb prescription drug abuse in Tennessee was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Senator Mae Beavers this week. Tennessee ranks second in the nation in regard to the overutilization of prescription pain medications. The bill would require doctors or their designees to check the state’s Controlled Substance Monitoring Database for patients’ prescription history before prescribing an opioid or benzodiazepine substance.
Opioids are painkillers such as morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, hydrocodone and oxycodone. Statistics from the Tennessee Drug Diversion Task Force show that 56 percent of patients who receive opioid prescriptions have filled another opioid prescription within the previous 30 days. Benzodiazepines are depressant drugs such as alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, lorazepam and triazolam. Young adults ages 18 to 25 have the highest annual rates of prescription drug abuse.
Over the last ten years, more than 8,000 Tennesseans have lost their lives from drug overdoses. Last year, there were more deaths in Tennessee due to drug overdoses than motor vehicle accidents, homicide or suicide.
Senate Bill 2733, which is included in Governor Bill Haslam’s legislative package, requires pharmacies to collect a patient’s prescription information and report that information to the database within seven days. Currently it must be reported within 40 days. The bill also enhances penalties for doctor shopping from a Class A misdemeanor offense to a Class E Felony when it involves 250 or more pills. The stiffer penalties allow law enforcement officials to go after dealers who distribute the drugs illegally.
Under the legislation, information from the database regarding patients’ prescription information can be released to law enforcement officials if they are engaged in an investigation or through a court order. With appropriate board approval, doctors’ and pharmacists’ prescribing / dispensing information could also be released to departmental investigators to help identify those medical professionals who are contributing to Tennessee’s prescription drug problem.
The bill now goes to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee for consideration.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced today the federal government will provide Individual Assistance in Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, DeKalb, Hamilton, Jackson, McMinn, Monroe, Overton and Polk Counties under a disaster declaration for the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding of Feb. 29 to March 2, 2012, with a federal designation of DR-4060.
“My goal is always to make sure we get the needed assistance to as many families as possible,” Haslam said of the disaster assistance he requested. “I’m very pleased the federal government has taken this step to provide needed relief to those individuals and families impacted by these storms.”
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
Individuals in Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, DeKalb, Hamilton, Jackson, McMinn, Monroe, Overton, and Polk Counties are now eligible for federal assistance, and residents who sustained losses in these counties can begin applying for assistance immediately through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
More information on FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is available at www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm.
For more updates regarding the state’s response, visit the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s website at www.tnema.org.

After forty five years of service to the City of Smithville, including sixteen years as mayor and six years as alderman, Cecil Burger has decided to call it quits once his term expires June 30.
Mainly because of his health, Burger will not be seeking re-election as aldermen this summer. “I’ve got a little health problem and I’ve decided that I might not be able to do the job I should”, said Burger.
In twenty two years, Burger never lost an election, having first been elected mayor in 1990. He served eight terms, sixteen years in that office until 2006 when he chose instead to run for alderman. Burger will be completing his third term as alderman this year.
He began his career with the city in 1966 as secretary-treasurer, which also meant overseeing the city’s public works operation and city employees. He served as city judge for the first couple of years as well. Burger retired from the secretary-treasurer position in 1989 but came out of retirement fifteen months later after being elected mayor in 1990.
During his time with the city as an employee, Burger served under dozens of aldermen and nine mayors starting with Othel Smith, John Bill Evins, Charles Gentry, Edward Frazier, Gary Gus Johnson, Hilton Conger, Waniford Cantrell, Dewey Love, and Bruce Medley.
In an interview with WJLE, Burger said he appreciates all the support he has received during his career with the city. “The people have been good to me and I appreciate it very much. They supported me well and I’d still help them if I could,” said Burger.
“We (city) grew a right smart while I was mayor and we tried to serve the whole city. I don’t know of anything special (we did) only trying to do our work with everybody. I had a lot of good help. I appreciate my friends who have helped me out all these years. They helped me when I was mayor and still do. I have plenty of friends. I’ve tried to treat them like I wanted to be treated,” said Burger.

A former local banker has been arrested on a federal indictment charging him with bank fraud while he worked as an officer at the Progressive Savings Bank in Cookeville.
Kelly Gassaway is accused of defrauding the bank by diverting funds from customers’ accounts and using the proceeds to pay his own bills in an alleged scheme which occurred from April to November, 2009. A federal grand jury issued a nine count indictment against Gassaway last week.
According to a report in the Herald Citizen, Gassaway allegedly made false entries in bank books, reports, and statements in order to use various types of accounts belonging to seven bank customers to pay his own creditors, the indictment alleges. Some of the checks were for amounts over $1,000 and some for several hundred dollars.
Gassaway was arrested by federal agents on Tuesday, March 13 and was taken to federal court in Nashville. He was later released on his own recognizance pending trial in the case.
FBI Agent Derrel Martin of the Cookeville office investigated the case.

Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) said today she is pleased that Governor Haslam has requested aid for the February 29 – March 2 tornadoes, straight line winds and severe storms that ravaged 10 counties, including DeKalb County which she represents. The request also specifically asks for Individual Assistance, including the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Small Business Administration Disaster Recovery Loans and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, DeKalb, Hamilton, Jackson, McMinn, Monroe, Overton and Polk Counties.
“DeKalb was one of the worst areas hit,” said Senator Beavers. “A declaration would help those who suffered damage recover from these storms.”
Beavers said Governor Haslam requested President Obama declare a disaster under Tennessee’s Emergency Management Plan in accordance with the Stafford Act. Preliminary assessments indicated the most severe impacts were to individuals, households and businesses. The disaster caused the sheltering of more than 350 families, as well as 2 deaths in Cumberland County, 1 death in Dekalb County, 33 patients seen in local Emergency Rooms in three counties and over $18 million dollars in damage to homes. Business damages have also caused numerous workers to suffer the loss of their jobs.
Total expenditures statewide are expected to exceed $36.1 million.
“Those who suffered damages need this assistance to help them get back on their feet,” she concluded.

Smithville Mayor Taft Hendrixson will be challenged for re-election again this year.
Hendrixson, who is seeking his fourth term, will face opposition from Jimmy W. Poss, who currently serves as a seventh district county commissioner in the city election on Tuesday, June 19th.
Hendrixson was first elected mayor in 2006 and he was re-elected in 2008 and 2010.
Poss will be making his first attempt at an elected city public office.
Meanwhile, Incumbent Alderman Stephen White is seeking re-election. Also in the race for alderman are Scott Davis, Jason Judd Murphy, and Tim Stribling.
White was first elected in 2000 and will be looking for his seventh term as alderman.
Davis, Murphy, and Stribling are making their first runs for elected public office.
A mayor and two aldermen will be elected on June 19th. Each term is for two years. The terms of office for those elected will begin on July 1st.
Noon today (Thursday, March 15th) was the qualifying deadline.
Incumbent Alderman Cecil Burger is not seeking re-election. Burger will be ending his career as a city public official, completing his third term as alderman this summer. He was first elected to that office in 2006. Prior to that, Burger served as Mayor from 1990 to 2006, a total of eight terms. He also formerly worked for the city, having served 23 years as the city secretary-treasurer and at one time, city judge.
Early voting for the Smithville Municipal Election will be May 30 through June 14. Meanwhile, May 21 is the voter registration deadline for the Smithville City Election.
Voters who don’t live in Smithville but own property in the city may vote in the municipal election under certain conditions.
The Smithville Charter allows Property Rights Voting. The property must be a minimum of
7500 square feet and the person owning the property must reside in DeKalb County. Proof of ownership and residence must be shown by the following means: (1) A certified copy of the deed and the execution of an affidavit that the person still owns this property and (2) A copy of the most recent DeKalb County real property tax notice, and (3) Proof of residence in DeKalb County. Property rights registrants are entitled to vote but not to hold any municipal office or serve on any municipal board or commission. Proof of ownership and registration form must be provided to the Election Commission office by the May 21 registration deadline.
Meanwhile, Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley reminds voters who have moved since registering to vote that the election commission office needs your current address on file.
“Updating the record is a simple process. All the voter needs to do is fill out a change of address form, which is available at the election commission office,” said Stanley. To see if you need to update your record, simply check the address on your voter registration card. If it is different than your current address, you need to update the information with the election commission.”
“Updating the address will make your voting experience go much easier and quicker.” Stanley said,” and will not slow down the line at the polling place during early voting or election day.”