“Governor Haslam tonight has once again laid out a bold vision for Tennessee. It is a vision of fiscal responsibility that stands in stark contrast to Barack Obama and his spread-thrift allies in Congress. Unified Republican government in Tennessee has heard the citizens’ call for more jobs, less spending and smaller government and continues to deliver as promised. I look forward to an efficient legislative session which delivers a balanced budget that not only meets our state’s immediate financial needs but also cuts taxes and puts money away for a rainy day.”

“The laws of the state of the Tennessee are only as good as the judges who interpret them. It is critical that we identify individuals of keen intellect, sound judgment and personal integrity capable of rendering prudent decisions in agreement with our laws as written,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “David has the mind, talent and experience to separate the wheat from the chaff to find Tennesseans the very best judges available. I am extremely pleased he has agreed to serve.”

David Golden joined Eastman Chemical Company in 1995 as an attorney eventually rising to the position of Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary. Golden has responsibility for Eastman’s Legal, Corporate HSES, and Global Public Affairs and Policy Departments, which has personnel in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He also has overall responsibility for Eastman’s Ethics & Corporate Compliance program.

A native of Albany, Georgia, Golden holds a B.S. degree in accounting from Brigham Young University and a J.D. degree, also from Brigham Young University. He completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2012.

The Judicial Nominating Commission was created in 2009 when Lt. Governor Ramsey reformed the process for selecting Tennessee’s appellate judges to provide more transparency and accountability in the judiciary. The new commission has 17 members and is responsible for making judicial nominations to state appellate courts and the state Supreme Court when vacancies arise.

Eight of the seventeen members of the commission are appointed by the Speaker of the Senate. Eight of the members are appointed by the Speaker of the House. One member is jointly appointed by the Speakers of the Senate and House. As provided by statute, each of the states’ three grand divisions must be equally represented on the commission.

The commission nominates three candidates for judicial vacancies as they occur. The governor can then appoint one of the nominees as a judge or ask for a slate of three more nominees.

“The most important job I have as Speaker of the Senate is appointing the committees that hear and deliberate the legislation before us as representatives of the people of Tennessee,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “Placing the right people in the right places is crucial to making sure not only that good legislation rises to the top but that all legislation gets a fair hearing.”

“The Senate is comprised of extremely talented individuals. I am confident that the committees I have appointed today will succeed in keeping government small, taxes low and the legislature running on time.”

The Senate has nine standing committees and four select committees: Commerce and Labor; Education; Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources; Finance, Ways and Means; Health and Welfare; Government Operations, Judiciary; State and Local Government; Transportation and Safety; Ethics; Delayed Bills; Rules; and Calendar.

Click on the link below for the full list of committee assignments:
http://ltgov.tn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/108thCommittees.pdf

“By funneling federal tax dollars to abortion providers in Tennessee, Barack Obama has proven once again why he needs to be defeated for a second term. Tennessee has taken a stand against Planned Parenthood’s pro-abortion shell game and defunded these organizations for a reason.

This money is a clear attempt to subvert the actions of state government and prop up a culture of death on the decline. The need for pro-life leadership in the White House has never been stronger.”

“Tennessee deserves a quality judiciary with judges who adhere to the law on the bench and in their private lives,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “With this new board, Tennessee will finally have a true check against judicial misconduct. Holly Kirby is widely respected for both the quality of her legal mind as well as her superior integrity.”

Kirby graduated with honors from the University of Memphis in 1979 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. In 1982, she graduated third in her class from the University of Memphis School of Law where she was a Herff honors scholar and notes editor of the Law Review.

After serving as a clerk to Judge Harry W. Wellford on the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, she joined the Memphis law firm of Burch, Porter & Johnson, becoming the firm’s first female partner in 1990.

In 1995, Kirby became the first woman appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Judge Kirby has since been retained on the Court of Appeals in three statewide elections.

The Board of Judicial Conduct was created to replace the Court of the Judiciary which was dissolved by the General Assembly earlier this year. The board will police the professional and ethical lapses of the judiciary by making it more difficult to dismiss complaints against them.

The new Board is also required to submit annual reports to the General Assembly on its findings, restoring the legislative oversight of the judiciary required by our state constitution.

The mission of the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission is to equip Tennesseans to make sound financial decisions when it comes to planning, saving and investing.

“As my grandfather once told me, it’s not what you make — it’s how much you keep,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “Citizens who make sound personal financial decisions keep their families strong and contribute to the overall economic health of the state. The Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission is providing the state with a truly incalculable service.”

“I am thankful that a man like Ward Mayer is willing to take time out of his busy schedule and share his experience in furtherance of this great cause,” Ramsey continued.

Ward Mayer was named one of Registered Rep. Magazine’s Outstanding Brokers of 2005 and was chosen to participate in the Barron’s Winner Circle in 2007 at their Best Practices Summit in New York. He attended the University of Memphis and received a BS in Accounting from the Fogelman School of Business. Mayer currently serves as a Managing Director and financial advisor with Raymond James|Morgan Keegan in Memphis.

Mayer also serves on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Inter-faith Association of Memphis and is the past President of the Board of the Memphis-Shelby County Humane Society.

The commission was established in 2010 by the Tennessee General Assembly as a non-profit organization which is exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3). The Commission is administered by the Tennessee Treasury Department.

“Miles Burdine is a man of unquestionable integrity and unassailable character,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “Judges in this state need to know that there are men of honor like Miles watching and holding them accountable. Miles will be a great addition to this board.”

A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Miles Burdine served over 30 years with the United States Marine Corps and Reserves retiring at the rank of Colonel. During his tenure in the armed forces, Burdine receive the Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal and two Combat Action Ribbons.

Currently President & CEO of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Burdine has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of the national management program for chamber of commerce executives.

The Board of Judicial Conduct was created to replace the Court of the Judiciary which was dissolved by the General Assembly earlier this year. The board will police the professional and ethical lapses of the judiciary by making it more difficult to dismiss complaints against them.

The new Board is also required to submit annual reports to the General Assembly on its findings, restoring the legislative oversight of the judiciary required by our state constitution.

“These bills draw a line in the sand in the battle against synthetic drugs. No longer will criminal chemists be allowed to move a molecule a two to escape prosecution for poisoning children. This legislation will keep the law ahead of the pushers and drugs out of the hands of our kids. I was proud to be on hand as this landmark legislation was signed into law.”

“A true jobs agenda is compromised of elements that help both job creators and job seekers. Government cannot create jobs but it can help remove burdens from employers and help the unemployed find work. This bill does both,” said Ramsey. “Nothing cures both social and economic ills like good paying jobs. This reform will inject accountability and fairness into our unemployment system further nurturing the pro-jobs, pro-business climate for which Tennessee is known.”

Senate Bill 3658 addresses many of the complaints Lt. Governor Ramsey received during his Red Tape Road Trips last summer. The road trips took Ramsey across the state meeting with business owners about how to eliminate red tape from government and make Tennessee the best state in which to own and operate a business. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin).

“Our state unemployment system was always intended as a bridge from one job to the next for people out of work through no fault of their own,” Sen. Johnson explained. “By strengthening the work search requirement and the definition of misconduct, we are restoring the intent of the system and making the lives of our small business owners easier. It’s a win for both job seekers and job creators.”

The Unemployment Insurance Accountability Act of 2012 strengthens the definition of employee misconduct to ensure that those who have been fired for cause no longer receive benefits. The act also enacts new work search requirements for unemployment beneficiaries. Those collecting unemployment benefits must provide detailed information regarding contact with at least three employers per week or must access services at a career center. The act also provides for random audits to ensure the integrity of beneficiaries’ job searches.

“Tennesseans gave Republicans a mandate to transform state government into an efficient, transparent entity that puts a premium on customer service. The state will now have the ability to hire, promote and retain the best and brightest, finally giving Tennesseans the government they deserve. By taking on the third rail of Tennessee politics, Gov. Haslam and our Republican majority have succeeded on ground where our predecessors feared to tread. This landmark reform is incontrovertible proof that it matters who governs.”