Oak Ridge Today

Anderson County Democrats to hold reorganization meeting

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The Anderson County Democratic Party will hold a Biennial Reorganization Convention to elect new leaders on Saturday, March 30, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. Doors open for registration at 12:30 p.m., and the start time is 1 p.m., a press release said. Participants must be there by 1 p.m., or participation will not be allowed. Lunch and beverages will be provided, the press release said.

Local Democrats will elect a new chair, vice chairs, secretary, treasurer, and the Executive Committee for Anderson County to a two-year term. All Democratic residents who are eligible voters of Anderson County are urged to attend to discuss the party’s agenda and events for 2019-20, the press release said.

About the reorganization, Chair Megan McNees said: “The party reorganization is a vital part of the county party system. It provides our membership with the chance to voice their opinions and to have them be heard. These elections will have a direct impact on party governance and by extension the 2020 elections. Now, more than ever, it’s so important to be active in your government. It’s every citizen’s duty to pay attention and get involved. Attending our reorganization is an easy first step.”

During the reorganization, attendees will evaluate the effectiveness of their county party’s bylaws and leadership, the press release said. Each county party determines its own needs, elects new leaders, and enacts reforms to build a stronger grassroots organization, the release said.

This press release was submitted by Megan McNees.

Democratic Women’s Club hosts picnic Saturday at Clinton’s Jaycee Park

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The Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club will host a picnic for Democrats across the county at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 23, at Jaycee Park, 314 Nave Street in Clinton.

The club will provide hotdogs, condiments, drinks, and paper products. Those attending are invited to bring side dishes and desserts to share, a press release said.

For more information, send an email to Ann Mostoller at [email protected] or call Mary Matheny at (865) 483-8937.

This press release was submitted by Kay Brookshire.

State representative to speak at Democratic Women’s Club

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John Mark Windle

State Rep. John Mark Windle will be guest speaker at the Oct. 23, 2017, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. (Submitted photo)

 

State Representative John Mark Windle will be the guest speaker at the Monday, October 23, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. The club will host a pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. in the Club Room of the Clinton Community Center, 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton.

Windle, a Democrat representing District 41, which includes Morgan, Jackson, Overton, and part of Fentress Counties, will discuss what to expect in the next session of the Tennessee General Assembly. He will also address the electability of Democratic candidates.

Windle was elected to the state house in 1990, and he served as majority floor leader from 1997-2000. [Read more…]

Dr. William Culbert to discuss Affordable Care Act on Aug. 22

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William Culbert

William Culbert

William Culbert Jr., MD, a family practice physician who is an advocate of the Affordable Care Act, will be the guest speaker at the Monday, August 22, dinner meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. The club meets at 6 p.m. in the Club Room of the Clinton Community Center at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton.

Dr. Culbert will speak on “Progress with the Affordable Care Act and Next Step.”

Culbert has written several guest newspaper columns supporting the Affordable Care Act and the comprehensive health insurance reforms that the federal law, also known as Obamacare, brings.

Board certified in family practice medicine, Culbert has been a physician with Covenant Health Systems in Anderson County for 17 years. He is a 1996 graduate of Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee, receiving his MD degree. [Read more…]

Haslam makes case for Insure Tennessee

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Bill Haslam during Presidential Visit at Pellissippi State

Governor Bill Haslam is pictured above during a visit by President Barack Obama at Pellissippi State Community College on Friday, January 9. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

Governor says his plan provides health care coverage to more Tennesseans at no cost to the state

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Govenor Bill Haslam on Monday evening addressed a joint convention of the 109th General Assembly as legislators began an extraordinary legislative session to consider his Insure Tennessee plan.

The proposal, a two-year pilot program to provide market-based health care coverage to more than 250,000 Tennesseans who currently don’t have access to health insurance or have limited options, does not create any new taxes for Tennesseans and will not add any state cost to the budget, the governor’s office said.

“Two years ago, the General Assembly made two requests of us,” Haslam said in a press release. “First, to bring a unique and specific plan to Tennessee that met the needs of our citizens and was financially responsible for our state and the country, and secondly, to bring that plan back to the General Assembly for a vote.

“I have done both of those things. This plan is overwhelmingly supported by Republicans and Democrats in our state. Tonight, I am asking for your vote to help Insure Tennessee.” [Read more…]

Democrats host picnic at Gibbs Ferry Park on Saturday

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Anderson County Democrats

Anderson County Democrats are pictured at a picnic in June 2012. (Submitted photo)

The Anderson County Democratic Party and Democratic Women’s Club will host an annual picnic from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Gibbs Ferry Park.

All who are interested are invited to bring family an friends, join the festivities, and meet Democratic candidates seeking office in upcoming elections, a press release said. Hot dogs with condiments and cold drinks will be provided.

“Please bring a side dish, chips, or dessert to share,” the release said.

Gibbs Ferry Park is on Highway 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton, along the river. The park has a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a boat ramp, and fishing pier.

House spending bill avoids government shutdown, provides fiscal certainty, Fleischmann says

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U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann

Chuck Fleischmann

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill funding the federal government for 2014, avoiding government shutdowns for the rest of the fiscal year and providing some fiscal certainty for the weak economic recovery, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann’s office said in a statement Wednesday.

“For too long Congress has jumped from crisis to crisis, and that is neither good for the economy nor the American people,” said Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge. “The bill, which passed the House today with bipartisan support, provides zero new funding for Obamacare, protects all current pro-life policies, and provides real fiscal oversight. This bill was a compromise and is not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction and holds the line on spending priorities.”

The vote for the $1.1 trillion spending bill, which will fund the government through October, was 359-67, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats opposed in the Republican-led House. The legislation now goes to the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, and it is expected to pass it easily this week. [Read more…]

Corker also says ‘no’ to budget deal

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U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

Both U.S. senators from Tennessee have now said “no” to the two-year budget deal expected to be approved by Congress, an agreement that would avoid a second government shutdown in mid-January.

Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, said he will vote against the budget deal because it “busts budget caps without making meaningful changes to mandatory programs.”

Earlier Wednesday, Sen. Lamar Alexander, who is also a Tennessee Republican, announced that he too would oppose the budget bill.

The legislation passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday in a 332-94 vote. U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge, supported it. [Read more…]

Alexander will oppose two-year budget bill being considered by Senate

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said he will oppose a two-year budget agreement that cleared a key Senate hurdle on Tuesday and is expected to keep the government open through 2015.

The bill passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday in a 332-94 vote. It’s now being considered in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, and could win congressional approval this week.

“I will vote against the budget agreement because it avoids the federal government’s most urgent need: reducing the growth of runaway entitlement spending,” said Alexander, a Tennessee Republican. “Instead, it spends savings that should be used to strengthen Medicare, pensions, and the air transportation system.”

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge, supported the legislation last week.

Passage of the bill is likely to offer relief to federal employees and government contractors in Oak Ridge—and to the businesses that support them. Many reported impacts during the last partial government shutdown in October. [Read more…]

House-passed budget could avoid second shutdown; Senate may vote this week

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Y-12 National Security Complex Sign

A bipartisan budget bill being considered in Congress could avoid a second government shutdown and provide relief to federal employees and government contractors in Oak Ridge, including at the Y-12 National Security Complex, which was prepared to furlough up to 3,600 workers during the first shutdown in October.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a budget bill that could avoid a second government shutdown in mid-January, a development that will likely offer some relief to federal employees and government contractors in Oak Ridge—and to the businesses that support them.

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican, said he supported the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 in the House on Thursday.

“Tonight, the House took a modest step toward reforming spending and setting our government on a more stable path,” said Fleischmann, a second-term congressman whose district includes Oak Ridge.

But the bill still has to pass the deeply divided Senate, which is preparing to take up the budget bill this week. The Washington Post reported that Democrats are still trying to come up with the 60 votes necessary to break a GOP-led filibuster in the Senate. [Read more…]

Budget cuts cause concern in research community, including at ORNL

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Thom Mason

Thom Mason

The budget deal that Congress approved earlier this month to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling kept in place automatic budget cuts known as sequestration.

But those across-the-board cuts are causing concern in the scientific community, including at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

In August, ORNL Director Thom Mason said the lab had been, up to that point, mostly immune from the cuts because of steps that UT-Battelle, the managing and operating contractor, had already taken to cut costs, including through workforce restructuring, reduced staff and overhead budgets, and benefit changes.

“We’ve just been doing everything we can to prepare for lean budgets,” Mason said. [Read more…]

Alexander calls for resignation of U.S. Health Secretary Sibelius

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

Kathleen Sebelius

Kathleen Sebelius

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius should be asked to resign because of the “disastrous rollout of Obamacare,” Sen. Lamar Alexander said Tuesday.

“No private sector chief executive officer would escape accountability after such a poor performance,” said Alexander, a Tennessee Republican.

The Affordable Care Act of 2010, commonly known as “Obamacare,” set up health care exchanges, and the new HealthCare.gov website that rolled out Oct. 1 was designed to allow people to sign up for them. But the site has been plagued by technical problems, although officials have said they would be fixed by the end of November.

Alexander expressed skepticism that the problems would be resolved that quickly. [Read more…]