In State of the State address, Haslam challenges Tennessee to ‘be the best’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam is using his eighth and final annual address to tout the state’s achievements and challenge Tennessee to “be the best” in the nation in jobs, education and government efficiency.

In his State of the State address Monday, the term-limited Republican noted the lowest recorded unemployment in state history, gains in education and more than $500 million in tax cuts.

He said Tennessee is on pace to be two years early in meeting its goal of 55 percent of residents with higher education degrees or certificates by 2025. He announced the Complete to Compete program to offer resources to ensure those students start strong, stay on track and graduate.

He touted his $30 million plan to combat opioid abuse, TN Together. Democratic lawmakers say $250 million is needed.

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Haslam chokes up a bit "It's been my life's greatest honor to lead the state I love for the past seven years"

— Chris Conte (@NC5_ChrisConte) January 30, 2018

See the speech here.

http://tnga.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=fd25f4e4-6469-482c-944a-b632c6005e90

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Republican Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday unveiled his $37.5 billion annual spending plan for Tennessee. The new budget proposal for the year beginning July 1 includes $170.9 million more in overall funding compared with the current year. It also uses $216.6 million less in state money and eliminates 335 state positions, all of them open except for six.

The plan includes the following new money:

-$211.8 million more for K-12 education, including $55.1 million for teacher pay raises.

-$197.6 million for capital investments, including $109.2 million for improvements and $88.4 million for maintenance, largely focusing on the state’s current real estate.

-$140.3 million more in state funding for TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program that covers more than 1.4 million people, including $51.4 million due to medical inflation and program utilization, $36.7 million for development of a new eligibility system and $17.1 million due to increased pharmaceutical costs.

-$128.3 million more for job growth investments, including $80 million to recruit new businesses and support workforce training, marketing and education; $12.5 million to aid in rural development; $12 million for the last of a three-year commitment to aid St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital; $10 million for the second of three years of broadband accessibility grants; and $3.2 million for film, television and interactive media incentives.

-$99.1 million more for higher education, including $37 million for pay raises, $28.6 million for operational costs and $10 million for student assistance awards.

-$50 million to bring the state’s Rainy Day Fund to $850 million.

-$30.7 million in bonds for wastewater improvements at the Memphis Regional Megasite.

-$30 million to help fund Haslam’s proposal to fight opioid abuse, TN Together. Through $14.5 million in state funding, the plan includes $10.2 million for treatment, $2.2 million to hire 10 new Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents dedicated to opioid casework and more than $1.8 million for prevention. An additional $14.5 million in existing funding and federal money is also available.

-$25.8 million for pay increases for state employees.

-$10.5 million to pay a better rate to providers of children’s services, mental health services and care for the developmentally and intellectually disabled.

-For the current, not upcoming, budget year, economic development money of $20 million will go to automotive supplier DENSO and $18 million to Tyson Foods to expand operations in Tennessee.