Committing to support Governor Bredesen’s budget is important. He proposed an additional $20 million for worker training last year, he’s proposing an additional $14.8 million this year for training and technology infrastructure.

A competitive array of reasonable and prudent incentives is essential to Tennessee’s ability to compete for jobs. Ask lawmakers to stand up for the reasonable use of incentives, especially when the media criticizes the concept of
incentive aggreements.

Dollar figures associated with incentive packages attach present value to potential future revenues. That is, Tennessee uses a combination of worker training, new infrastructure and credits on future tax payments that would ultimately not come about but for the investment Tennessee companies make. Ask lawmakers to help constituents understand Tennessee’s approach.

In the first 11 months of 2005, the number of temporary disability cases in which the Tennessee Department of Labor negotiated a satisfactory agreement for workers and
employers rose 61% vs. same period in 2004.

In those cases in which both sides acknowledge some level of work-related injury and the issue goes to mediation for a final settlement, the State has seen an increase in non-court resolutions by 23%.

Lawmakers should resist any effort to rollback the progress made under Worker’s Comp reform.

A Skilled workforce may be the single most effective job creation tool available to Tennessee.

Support Governor Bredesen’s $232 million dollar improvement to the education budget and ECD’s $14.8 million for training and infrastructure.

An expanded Pre-K program may be the single most important step we can take in building a better workforce in Tennessee. Ask lawmakers to support Governor Bredesen’s expansion of Pre-K.