Getting it Dunn

Getting it "Dunn"

June 18, 2008

Dunn co-sponsors bill to give seniors more home and community-based care options

“I was honored to be a part of passing the comprehensive reform this year,” said Rep. Dunn. “These changes will allow our seniors to age in place with dignity, improve the quality of care, and use our tax dollars more efficiently.”

Rep. Dunn thanks Gov. Bredesen for signing into law a long-term health care bill which provides alternatives to nursing homes. Bill co-sponsored this legislation.

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March 12, 2008

Dunn proposes innovative program
for parental involvement in education

NASHVILLE – Representative Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) announced this week that he has proposed a low-cost, innovative program that will lead to more parental involvement in the education of their children. Rep. Dunn is urging the state Department of Education, in a resolution, to develop appropriate lesson plans to be used by parents that would accompany the books provided through the Books from Birth program.

“The first teacher for every child is a parent, and I think that a program like this can have a very positive effect on young children,” stated Rep. Dunn. “It’s a low-cost, commonsense approach that would increase parental participation.”

The Governor established the non-partisan, not-for-profit Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation® in 2004 to serve as a resource to Tennesseans establishing and sustaining county Imagination Libraries. Initially charged with conducting the Imagination Library statewide rollout, raising funds, and training volunteers, Foundation staff now serve Imagination Library organizers by providing fundraising, public relations, and other support.

“This program would provide parents with the tool to make Books from Birth, an already successful program, even more beneficial,” concluded Rep. Dunn.

Bill holds a press conference on his proposed legislation to increase parental involvement in the early education of their children.

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March 12, 2008

Dunn pushes for excess lottery funds for Knox Co. schools
Proposal could stave off property tax increases

NASHVILLE – Representative Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) recently renewed his call for Tennessee lawmakers to take a serious look at a proposal that would send millions in excess lottery funds to school districts for K-12 capital outlay projects. House Republicans promoted the legislation last year, only to have it sent to an oversight committee for further review, effectively killing it for the year.

Now, with the lottery reserve fund increasing, and several key endorsements from the Tennessee School Boards Association, County Mayors' Association Executive Committee and the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, Republican leaders are looking to breathe new life into the proposal. In addition, several school systems and county commissions across the state have passed resolutions in support of the bill. Representative Dunn noted that in addition to the statewide endorsements, the Education Association in Knoxville and the Knox County government are also in support of the proposal.

By June of 2008, Tennessee lottery reserves are expected to reach $425 million. The proposal would set a $250 million threshold to secure the lottery scholarship fund, making all the reserve money above that available for K-12 school construction. Not only is it needed, Republicans contend, but the people of Tennessee approved the idea as part of the constitutional referendum creating the state lottery. Dunn pointed out that Knox County stands to receive approximately $8.5 million, an amount that could stave off a property tax increase.

“This is a proposal that our school districts desperately need,” stated Representative Dunn. “So many of our schools are overcrowded or in dire need of repair. Our county alone has 141 portables. It is difficult for our children to learn in this environment. Something needs to be done, and I think we’ve found the answer.”

“We need to move our classrooms into the 21^st century, without burdening our local governments,” added House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower (R-Bristol). “This money will be used to update our classrooms so that our children continue moving forward, without forcing local governments to raise property taxes.”

The two representatives went on to explain that the excess dollars would be made available to local school system funding bodies on a grant basis in the ratio of a school district’s average daily membership to the state’s total average daily membership. These funds would supplement, not replace, other resources for capital projects in schools. By conservative estimates, the proposal would provide $180 per pupil for capital improvements at the $425 million funding level.

“Bottom line, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be discussing this legislation this year,” concluded Representative Dunn. “This helps both our children and our taxpayers. It’s a win-win for all involved.”

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March 4, 2008

Rep. Bill Dunn proposes “Good Samaritan” law

NASHVILLE – Representative Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) has proposed a bill that would create an offense for failing to report or notify law enforcement upon witnessing a crime that resulted in serious bodily injury or death. Dunn says that the legislation, if passed, will go a long way in ensuring citizens’ safety. The legislation has already unanimously passed the Senate, and is scheduled to be heard in a House subcommittee this week.

”Often, very violent crimes go unreported, and the person who committed the crime gets away with it,” said Representative Bill Dunn. “Then these violent criminals are on the streets because no one stepped forward.”

In Knoxville, a young couple was carjacked, tortured, and murdered. While several persons witnessed the random act of violence, none reported it. “There must be consequences for not notifying the police when a murder is being witnessed,” stated Dunn.

Recently, a 14 year-old in Rutherford County girl was allegedly raped on a school bus. The incident caused an outrage within the community, when no one on the bus, including the bus driver, reported what they had seen occur on the bus ride. The girl and her parents eventually reported it to a school resource officer.

“The incident in Rutherford is extremely unfortunate and very tragic. There were multiple witnesses to the crime, none of whom felt compelled to step forward,” added Rep. Dunn. “Hopefully with the passage of this law, they will.”

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October 10, 2007

Dunn to harness technology to bridge gap
between elected officials and public

NASHVILLE – Representative Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) is looking for a way to harness technology to solve some of the problems associated with the recent dust-up over the Sunshine Law in Knoxville. Dunn says he believes that with technology expanding the way people communicate, using this technology could solve some of the problems with the Open Meetings Act.

“With the technology available today, we need to update the Open Meetings Act,” Dunn stated. “We need to make it easier for officials to conduct business, while balancing the public’s right to know. I believe that this can largely be solved using technology to bridge that gap.”

Dunn is working on a bill that would allow elected bodies to set up websites where they can instant message one another. These “conversations” would be available for the public and the media’s viewing. Dunn says this method of letting the sunshine in is even more beneficial to the public since the average citizen often has difficulty attending called meetings.

“Two elected officials could carry on a conversation at their convenience and at the spur of the moment if needed, knowing that the public will have full access to their discussion,” stated Dunn. “Our main goal is to not burden one party or the other, but make it easier for all parties involved.”

The issue gained widespread attention after Knoxville News-Sentinel editor Jack McElroy filed a lawsuit against the Knox County Commission for violation of the Open Meetings Act. A legislative study committee has been examining the issue and is expected to bring legislation for the next session.

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March 22, 2007

Representative Bill Dunn receives
‘Legislator of the Year Award’ from ETDD

NASHVILLE – Representative Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) was honored this week by the East Tennessee Development District, an organization that is united under the Tennessee Development District Association. The ETDD held their annual conference with the TDDA in Nashville on Wednesday, naming Dunn ‘Legislator of the Year.’

“The ETDD and the Tennessee Development District Association do a lot of positive things in the local community,” stated Rep. Dunn. “It was an honor and a privilege to receive the ‘Legislator of the Year’ award from them. I hope that in the future, we can continue this positive relationship because of the great benefit to the people of Tennessee.”

Tennessee’s Development Districts serve local governments by assisting with development, planning, and advocacy. The TDDA focuses on assisting communities with economic development while also carrying out all plans for physical, economic, and resource development.

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