The Tennessee General Assembly
Susan M. Lynn
House of Representatives
CAPITOL HILL REVIEW
A
weekly wrap-up of legislative news
Republican Leaders Unveil ‘Tennessee
Together’ Plan To Help Combat Opioid Epidemic
While
the federal government has only just commenced conversation about the opioid
epidemic, Tennessee leads the way in fighting the situation here at home. On
Monday afternoon, Governor Haslam joined with Republican leaders to unveil a
new initiative to combat the state’s opioid problem head on: Tennessee
Together.
Tennessee
Together is a multi-faceted plan comprised of legislation, $30 million in funds
through Governor Haslam’s proposed 2018-2019 budget, and other executive
actions to battle opioids through the three major components of prevention,
treatment, and law enforcement. The plan incorporates recommendations made by
Speaker Beth Harwell’s Ad Hoc Task Force on Opioid Abuse.
In
2016, there were over 1,600 opioid related overdose deaths, one of the highest
in the nation, and statistics show the numbers are only increasing. Each day in
Tennessee, at least three people die from opioid-related overdoses — more than
the daily number of traffic fatalities.
Potential legislative solutions through Tennessee Together include
limiting the supply and dosage of opioid prescriptions, with reasonable
exception and an emphasis on new patients, as well as education for
elementary and secondary schools through revisions to the state’s health
education academic standards.
Additionally, the plan suggests investing more than $25 million
for treatment and recovery services for individuals with opioid use disorder.
These services will include an increase in peer recovery specialists in
targeted, high-need emergency departments to connect patients to treatment
immediately.
Tennessee
Together increases state funding to attack the illicit sale and trafficking of
opioids through additional law enforcement agencies and training, and includes
updates to the controlled substance schedules in order to better track,
monitor, and penalize the use and unlawful distribution of dangerous and
addictive drugs — including fentanyl. Finally,
the plan provides every Tennessee state trooper with naloxone for the emergency
treatment of opioid overdose prior to paramedic arrival.
House
Republicans are dedicated to working closely with the Governor to address
Tennessee’s opioid problem as the Second Regular Session of the 110th
General Assembly continues. While steps have been taken in the right direction
over the last several years, there is still much work to do on the opioid
front.
Next
week, the Governor will deliver his annual State of the State Address where
additional details of the Tennessee Together plan are expected to be unveiled
and discussed.
Welfare Reform Initiative Gains Support
From House Republicans
This
year, House Republicans are leading efforts to reform Tennessee’s welfare
system. Last fall, the Haslam Administration announced an initiative to
reinstate the work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents who
rely on the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for
assistance.
By
reinstituting work requirements, approximately 58,000 able-bodied adults who
are not currently meeting the work requirement but still receive assistance
will now be able to capitalize on an overabundance of jobs in order to secure
meaningful employment. This will help move them along a pathway from dependency
to independence and self-sufficiency.
The
restoration of these stipulations will not impact residents who currently
depend on these key benefits in 16 Tennessee counties still designated as
distressed by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
They will also not apply to Tennessee’s senior citizens or disabled residents.
This
new welfare reform initiative not only encourages more Tennesseans to utilize
their job skills to go back to work and be productive citizens, but also
strengthens the overall integrity of the SNAP program by reinstating work
requirements
As
Republican leaders, the House GOP Caucus want Tennessee residents to have
meaningful employment so they can take care of their families and make contributions
that enable communities to continue their economic development and prosperity.
House Republican Caucus Rebrands
Earlier
this week, the House Republican Caucus announced a statewide rebranding
initiative — including a new logo and video — which recaps the successes
Tennessee has experienced since Republicans became the majority party in 2011.
Under
Republican leadership, nearly 400,000 new private sector jobs have been
created. Last September, the state unemployment rate reached a record low of
3.0 percent. The current unemployment rate is 3.2 percent — almost a full
percent lower than the national average. Additionally, the Republican-led
General Assembly has cut nearly three times as much in taxes as any other
Administration and General Assembly in state history.
Tennessee
students are also the fastest improving in the entire country, and Tennessee is
the first state in the nation to offer all kids and adults access to community
college free of tuition and fees.
Tennessee
has the lowest debt per capita, lowest overall taxes, no transportation debt,
and the lowest interest rate in state recorded history. House Republicans have
also more than doubled the state’s savings account since 2011, and the fund is
now at its highest level ever.
Recently, WalletHub ranked
Tennessee the number 1 state to be a taxpayer, based on the state’s
conservative monetary decisions, low tax structure, and other key fiscal
indicators. Other studies rank Tennessee similarly.
The
new rebranding initiative by House Republicans outlines the commitment to
Tennessee’s values, and highlights the hard work completed and still needed to
advance the state.
To
view the new House GOP Caucus logo and video, visit: www.facebook.com/tnhousegop.
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