July 2nd, 2009
Tennesseans on this Independence Day are just as much in the forefront of the struggle for freedom as their Revolutionary War ancestors
As families across the state gather on this Independence Day to observe the founding of our nation’s freedom with picnics, fireworks, parades and other special events, may we all remember those who have fought and are still fighting for the cause of freedom. We have much to be proud of in Tennessee regarding our state’s rich heritage in protecting and defending the precious rights we enjoy as Americans.
As we look back on our nation’s struggles in the American Revolution, even before Tennessee became a state, our ancestors had already begun bravely to answer the call of freedom. It started at Kings Mountain, which was one of the most decisive Patriot victories of the Revolutionary War. Tennessee rebels left their homes, marched hundreds of miles over mountainous terrain and were victorious over British troops, forcing them into a series of maneuvers that eventually led to the surrender at Yorktown.
This early example of heroics set the path for Tennesseans, whom time and time again would show that, when our homes and our liberties are threatened, our volunteers will go forth to meet the threat head-on. For that reason, Tennesseans went to war again, marching off to New Orleans in 1812 to crush another British threat to the South and making a Tennessee General, Andrew Jackson, the only national hero to emerge from that war.
When Tennessee was called upon for 2,800 soldiers in the next major U.S. confrontation with Mexico in 1848, an overwhelming 30,000 came forward, and hence forth, Tennessee has been known as the Volunteer State.
In 1861 Union was torn with the War Between the States. Tennesseans became leaders for both sides of the struggle. Our state became a major battle ground of the war that followed, and not one of Tennessee’s citizens was left untouched.
When a united America once again called upon Tennessee during the war with Spain in the late 1800’s, the the Volunteer state rose to the occasion, filling the ranks of service from Cuba to the Philippines.
As the 20th century dawned, Tennesseans responded to freedom’s call in the first and second World Wars. Likewise, many young Tennesseans fought bravely in the jungles of Vietnam. The men and women who fought in these wars, like those stationed overseas today, are not just American heroes, but heroes to many nations.
In fact, it was a Tennessee artillery battalion that was among the first to reach the Euphrates River in Iraq during the Gulf War and the first flag to be raised over liberated Kuwait City was the flag of Tennessee.
In the current conflict in Iraq, more than 12,000 brave citizen soldiers and airmen from the Volunteer State have answered the call to active duty. Tennessee is the model state in the nation for the number of citizen soldiers, truly living up to our “Volunteer” name.
I’m proud of our service men and women. They are persons of character and conviction, and they are literally changing our world. Our prayers continue to go out to them for their safe return.
Tennesseans serving in Afghanistan and Iraq today are just as much in the forefront of the struggle for freedom as their ancestors were at Kings Mountain, whose victory we celebrate on this Independence Day. As long as America is blessed with such heroes, the efforts of the Founding Fathers will not have been in vain, and the fruits of their labors will be preserved for future generations.
Best regards,
Doug Overbey
State Senator
Posted in Featured News, In The News, Press Releases |
June 11th, 2009
(NASHVILLE, TN), June 10, 2009 — Legislation sponsored by State Senator Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) was approved today in the State Senate urging the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors to enter into a long-term contract with Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). The resolution, SJR 622, was approved unanimously after all members of the State Senate signed on to co-sponsor the measure.
“I was very pleased at the overwhelming bi-partisan support of our State Senate on this Resolution,” said Senator Overbey. “Approximately 500 jobs are dependent on restarting the smelter which, in turn, is dependent upon completing this contract. This Resolution sends a message to Congress and the TVA that Tennessee believes it is critical to finalize this contract.”
Alcoa has been in operation in Blount County since 1913, nearly three decades before the TVA was established. Currently its Tennessee Operations, which involve the manufacture of primary aluminum and aluminum can sheet, employs approximately 1,600 persons. The company has an economic impact of more than $3 billion dollars annually in Blount County and East Tennessee.
In March, Alcoa announced a temporary curtailment of its Primary Metals facility and employee layoffs due to economic condition. According to Alcoa officials, a key driver in their ability to restart the plant is whether or not they have a competitive long-term power contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Alcoa and the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority are currently in good faith negotiations regarding the contract.
“The smelter’s power cost is in the top 15 percent of all smelters in North America,” added Overbey. “It is vital that TVA realize the economic impact Alcoa has on Blount County and all East Tennessee.”
The bill calls for the resolution to be delivered to TVA’s Board of Directors and each member of the Tennessee Congressional delegation.
Posted in Featured News, In The News, Press Releases |
May 6th, 2009
(NASHVILLE, TN), May 5, 2009 — The State Senate approved comprehensive legislation sponsored by Senator Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) on Monday that would benefit Tennessee consumers who utilize the services of debt management specialists. The legislation, named the “Uniform Debt Management Services Act,” provides guidance and regulation to the consumer debt management industry while also providing fairer services to debtors.
“As the recession has deepened, we are finding more and more consumers turning to debt management companies, which have tripled in number over the past few years,” said Senator Overbey. “There have been frequent instances or accusations of abuse by consumers who utilize these services. This legislation regulates the industry in uniformity with other states, while protecting consumers.”
Congress passed bankruptcy reform legislation in 2005 mandating counseling by a private agency before an individual may enter into bankruptcy. Debt settlement is the option that lies on the continuum between credit counseling and bankruptcy. It is most often used by consumers who may not qualify for credit counseling or who do not qualify under the new rules of bankruptcy or prefer to honor their debts to the best of their ability rather than declare bankruptcy. Debt management services primarily include negotiating a reduction of the consumer’s non-secured consumer debts in exchange for a faster repayment plan.
The legislation, HYPERLINK “http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0812″ SB 812, requires a debt management company operating in Tennessee to obtain a license and supply information about their practices, fees, educational materials and employee qualifications. A company must also post a surety bond or another security to safeguard any money that it receives from individuals for payment of creditors. In addition, the debt management company must provide a disclosure to consumers that this may not be the best option for them and that it may affect their credit rating.
“We need credible counseling services for those facing massive debt,” added Overbey. “However, we don’t need an unregulated industry that might prey on those who are already in deep financial trouble.”
The new act gives the Department of Commerce the right to take enforcement action against anyone who violates the act. It also creates a consumer right of action and treble damages for certain circumstances involving abuse.
“When consumers turn to these companies for help, they need greater assurance that they will receive the appropriate debt counseling and assistance. I am pleased that our State Senate has approved this legislation and hope that we will have full reciprocal participation from all states in the near future,” Overbey concluded.
Contact: Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336
Posted in Featured News, Press Releases |
January 23rd, 2009
State Senate
State of Tennessee
Here are highlights from the past week in the Tennessee State Senate. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about matters being considered by the General Assembly. You can also get information about the General Assembly, including the text of bills and floor and committee calendars, by accessing the legislative web site at www.capitol.tn.gov. Please bear in mind that this update is principally related to actions of the State Senate. Contact information;
Telephone: 615-741-0981
Facsimile: 615-253-0224
Email: Sen.Doug.Overbey@capitol.tn.gov
State Senate organizes business as
106th General Assembly convenes
(NASHVILLE, TN), January 15, 2009 — The 106th General Assembly was gaveled to order this week in Nashville as the state’s 132 lawmakers took the oath of office, elected officers and organized to begin the business of the 2009-2010 legislative sessions.
Families and friends crowded the Senate chamber and watched as the sixteen newly elected or re-elected members of the State Senate took the oath of office, which was the first order of business during the organizational session.
On a personal note, I was honored to have my wife, Kay; daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Ryan Thomas; and, many friends from Sevier and Blount Counties present in the Senate Chamber and gallery for the event.
The second order of business was the re-election of Senator Ron Ramsey as Lt. Governor. Ramsey, who also serves as Speaker of the Senate, is serving his second term as Lt. Governor.
General Assembly elects new
Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Comptroller
The opening week of the 106th General Assembly was also marked by election of the state’s constitutional officers, the secretary of state, treasurer and comptroller. The state’s constitution provides that the legislature selects the three offices in a joint session during the organization session of each General Assembly, which occurred on Thursday.
Elected and sworn in were Tre Hargett as Secretary of State, David Lillard as State Treasurer, and Justin Wilson as Comptroller. Hargett will serve a four-year term, while Lillard and Wilson will serve two-year terms as provided by the Constitution.
The secretary of state has oversight over elections and businesses in the state. The comptroller audits state agencies and county governments to ensure they are run well. The treasurer keeps track of the state’s coffers, its investments and its pension funds. The three officers also serve on several key boards together, such as the State Building Commission, which maintains all state-owned public buildings; the Funding Board, which helps guide budgeting; and the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, which builds affordable housing.
Hargett is a former State Representative and served as House Minority Leader before becoming Director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. Lillard, an attorney and past president of the Tennessee County Commissioners Association, has extensive experience in municipal finance issues, securities and bonds, and investment oversight. Wilson is former Deputy Governor of Tennessee and has vast experience with fiduciary matters in law, business and charitable organizations.
Preview of the 2009 Legislative Session —
Financial issues to dominate legislative session
With organizational tasks out of the way, the 106th General Assembly can now get to work on the important issues facing Tennessee as we start this new legislative session.
Topping this year’s agenda will be consideration of a balanced budget in one of the worst financial years faced by lawmakers in a long time. Tennessee’s year-to-date collections for five months are currently $407.8 million below the budgeted estimate. The state could be left to deal with as much as $780 million to a $1 billion shortfall by the end of the budget year in June.
There are still many unknown factors regarding finances remaining for the year ahead, including the level of financial aid that might be forthcoming to the states from the federal government. Such aid would provide the state with a “softer landing” in light of the cuts needed to bridge the gap in revenue shortfalls for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
One comparison for aid that could be sent to states is a stimulus package disbursed in 2003 which included increased matching rates in federal programs that were stretched out over a two-year period. President Obama has also indicated he will put forth an infrastructure-building program to states to stimulate job growth. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has a backlog of projects that are in need of construction.
Tennessee could benefit from more than $268 million in federal money from such an economic stimulus bill. The plan under discussion has a total package of $12.8 billion to go to states for the infrastructure-building program. Such an infusion could stave off other efforts to raise road money. It is estimated that almost $12 billion is needed for road projects in Tennessee for the next decade. Presently, the state’s Department of Transportation only spends the funds that are available through its dedicated revenues derived from gas taxes, highway user fees, and federal funding.
Similarly, one of the most concerning trends affecting our state’s budget is the rising unemployment rate. Most lawmakers agree that Tennessee must be aggressive in bringing new jobs to better weather the economic storm. This makes economic development and job creation a top priority of the upcoming legislative session. Job losses have accelerated to around 7 percent. That number could rise to 8.5 percent to 9 percent before the economy turns around according to the state’s leading economists. Almost all sectors of jobs are in decline, bringing forward the issue of how the state’s unemployment fund will fare if the economy does not turn around.
Expect the solvency of the fund to be a topic for discussion this session when the General Assembly convenes. Tennessee’s unemployment fund had a balance of about $517 million as of November. Experts say a drop below the $400 million level would cause great concern.
Finally, legislation is expected to be introduced again this year to provide a two-thirds majority to override Tennessee’s constitutional amendment that requires state spending to stay within the rate of growth of Tennessee’s economy. Called the “Copeland Cap,” this amendment to the state’s constitution was approved by Tennessee voters in 1978. It stipulates that state spending cannot grow faster than the rate of growth of the state’s economy, measured by the growth of incomes of Tennesseans. The goal is to keep spending growth at a level where the people’s income growth can afford it without a tax increase. Currently the cap can be overridden with a simple majority vote.
The state’s economic downturn and the rise in unemployment provide legislators with serious challenges. The General Assembly has adjourned until February 9, 2009, to assign offices and await budget details. The governor is expected to deliver his budget address at that time.
Posted in Featured News, Press Releases |
August 12th, 2008
Dear Friend,
Last Thursday was a great night for our campaign. This was a tough and spirited primary, and I am convinced that the difference for us was the support I received from people like you. Let me thank you for all the phone calls, letters, emails and other means you used to spread our message to your friends and neighbors. Kay and I could not have done it without you.
Please know that I will continue to listen to your thoughts and concerns and work to see results produced. That’s why I ran in the first place — to bring effective leadership to the State Senate. I can’t promise to be perfect – I’m not — but I can promise to stand up for you, speak out for you, and make my vote count for you at the Capitol.
Once again, Kay and I are grateful for all you have done for our campaign. When we started this journey, no one gave me much of a chance. However, you believed in me and worked to ensure that in the end — the choice was clear. All I promise is to produce results — not just make statements. Thank you again for your support and may God bless you.
Sincerely,
Doug
p.s. If you have a yard sign, please take it up for now and put it back out on October 1st for the November 4th general election. Thanks!
Posted in Featured News, In The News |
August 6th, 2008
By Doug Overbey, Candidate for State Senate
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Originally published by the Daily Times
EDITOR’S NOTE: State Rep. Doug Overbey spoke Tuesday with about 30 supporters on the steps of the Blount County Courthouse about his motivation for running for the 8th Senatorial District seat.
“Number one is to continue to stand up for Blount and Sevier counties’ share for our state education funding dollars.
“We cannot afford any longer to have someone at the state Senate who sits quietly at his desk and decides to vote with the majority of the Senate when that’s against the interest of the taxpayers from Sevier and Blount counties. It’s important to stand up and let your voice be heard and make your vote count.
“Secondly, we need to continue to stand up to make sure that we can afford to heat our homes and fuel our cars. We don’t need to support legislation in this day and time that would automatically raise the cost of your gas 34 cents a gallon or $10 a tankful.
“Now maybe that’s not important to somebody that can put a quarter of a million dollars of his own funds into a campaign, but, as I’ve knocked on door after door after door, that’s not where everybody else in Blount and Sevier counties are. They’re hurting right now with high gas prices, and adding 34 cents a gallon or $10 a tankful will continue to hurt, and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“Finally, and this is near and dear to mine and Kay’s heart, as the father of three daughters, the parents of three daughters, we need to stand firm for family values.
“And to me protecting family values means to fight for the unborn, newborn and those born with disabilities. We have to look out for those who cannot look out for themselves, who cannot speak out for themselves and stand firm for our families in this day and time.
“Now, Kay wanted me to tell you all this. We believe everyone — everyone here, everyone in these counties — have gifts from God. God bestows all of us gifts. And I think public service is a gift. And I think through background, education and training, the good Lord has shown his favor to allow me to be in public service. And I want to takes those gifts to the state Senate.”
Posted in Featured News, In The News |
July 5th, 2008
Dear Friends,
From now until election day, you may get asked why someone should vote for me over Raymond Finney and I want you to have an answer to that fundamental question. Here’s what I suggest you tell them:
It boils down to two things: schools and jobs. If you care about schools and jobs, you need to vote for Doug. In 2007, Raymond voted to cut state funding for our local school systems. Millions of dollars left Sevier and Blount Counties and the Maryville and Alcoa school systems and ended up in Memphis and Nashville. Doug opposed that and is working to restore our fair share of state funding for our schools.
As far as jobs, just this past May, Raymond was named one of the five worst legislators in the General Assembly by BusinessTn magazine, because he has sponsored legislation that would take jobs out of Tennessee, hurt businesses in our state, and increase the costs of energy to heat our homes and run our businesses. He was the only Republican on that list. On the other hand, this past week Doug was rated as the most effective Republican representative in the legislature by the Knoxville News-Sentinel. So, if you care about our schools and jobs for our children, you’ve got to vote for Doug.
Please also tell your friends and family that I don’t run away from a battle. I believe my vote counts in Nashville, while Raymond told the Chamber of Commerce just the other day that his vote on the school funding issue didn’t matter. I believe such a comment is irresponsible.
For the past eight years as your Representative, I’ve fought for making health care more accessible and available, solving the medical malpractice crisis, protecting our seniors living in long term care facilities, making sure our trauma centers receive adequate funding, providing a safe haven for newborns, protecting our children from Internet predators, and helping our disabled Veterans.
If you will help me in this election, I’ll continue to stand up for you and be a Senator you can be proud of.
Sincerely,
Posted in Featured News, In The News |
