Herron Votes For Balanced Budget, No New Taxes

DRESDEN, Tenn. — After many rounds of hard negotiations, Tennessee lawmakers approved a balanced state budget this month with no new taxes.

 

State Sen. Roy Herron said the bipartisan budget is fiscally responsible and ensures a commitment to children and an investment in jobs by further developing the West Tennessee Megasite.

 

“We came together, made some tough decisions and balanced the budget in a way that doesn’t raise taxes, creates job opportunities and protects our children’s health and education,” said Herron, who is also running for U.S. Congress in the 8th Congressional District. “It’s the kind of leadership Tennesseans expect in Nashville and that they deserve in Washington.”

 

Some had proposed a budget that cut funding to the Governor’s Office of Children’s Care Coordination, a program that works to lower the infant mortality rate statewide. Tennessee has the 47th worst infant death rate in the country. Sen. Herron stood firm on ensuring that those funds would be restored in the final version of the budget.

 

“When my colleagues voted to cut that program, I had no choice but to stand up for what I believed to be right,” Herron said. “If you’re pro-life, than you should be for these babies and this program.”

 

On jobs:

Sen. Herron led the way in creating jobs for Tennesseans by pushing for further development of the West Tennessee Megasite, a site designed for large-scale industrial projects that are expected to generate millions of dollars in corporate investment. The development is situated in an area of the state with high unemployment, where it is poised to make a big impact.

 

“For the last several years I’ve been working with Gov. Bredesen and colleagues in the senate and house to create the West Tennessee Megasite, a project that will mean thousands of jobs for West Tennesseans in the years to come,” Herron said. “This site is designed for large-scale industrial projects, and it can be, and I believe will be, the leading site, not just in Tennessee, but in the entire Southeast.”

 

On education:

At the beginning of the legislative session, lawmakers worked together to secure support for the Race to the Top program. This contest for federal dollars is pivotal to providing our children with crucial support.

 

“I’m tired of seeing Tennessee near the bottom of every education ranking. I want better for our children, and I’m happy to report that our successful application secured us $500 million for Tennessee in education dollars over the next four years,” Herron said. “A quality education begins with quality teachers in every classroom, and these funds will give teachers the support they need.”

 

The Race to the Top program will focus on four key areas: adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace; building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals how to improve instruction; recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals; and turning around their lowest-performing schools.

 

On taxes:

Herron voted for a balanced budget that holds taxes down.  

 

“I cast my vote this session for a constitutional amendment that would forever ban an income tax in Tennessee,” Herron said. “It’s the fifth time I have voted against an income tax during my service in the state legislature.”