“Tennessee has proven that we can provide quality health care to our seniors while keeping them in their homes with their loved ones,” Finney said. “Every Tennessee family deserves the chance to make that choice.”

Finney sponsored and passed legislation in 2008 to create the CHOICES program, which was expanded to West Tennessee in August 2010, with the potential to nearly double the program’s capacity to 11,000. State officials want to expand the program again to cover up to 12,500 Tennesseans who could qualify by July 1 this year, and up to 15,000 by July 1, 2013.

The expansion request must be approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to media reports, allowing an additional 1,500 enrollees by June 30 would save TennCare up to $2.28 million. Increasing the limit to another 2,500 enrollees afterward would save $4.05 million.

Under CHOICES, seniors can elect to participate in Consumer Direction and choose who gives their home care and how it is given. Care providers work for the patients, who can hire, train and schedule the workers. Seniors are able to hire people they trust, at a lower cost to the state and no additional cost to the patient.

CHOICES services include help doing everyday activities like bathing, dressing, preparing meals or doing chores. Other services include pest control, household errands and even minor home modifications like wheelchair ramps and grab bars.

Finney said he plans to continue to work with state health officials in seeking the expansion of the CHOICES program, and will update constituents on its progress.

“In order to provide more walking and biking routes to schools in our area, we need to first make sure those paths are safe,” Finney said. “I’m proud of our local leaders for putting our children’s health and safety first.”

The grant will provide $21,006 to implement a School Activity Plan that will potentially impact nearly 600 students at North Parkway Middle School. The goal is to teach students safety and healthy habits by identifying opportunities and creating partnerships between schools, families, local officials, transportation officials, law enforcement, health advocates, and the community.

The Safe Routes to School Program is a statewide initiative designed to make bicycling and walking to school a safer, more appealing and healthier alternative for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Grants are administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, which selected 10 municipalities this month to receive grants totaling $1.6 million to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, signs and safe walking and biking educational activities.

To learn more about the Safe Routes to School Program, visit www.tn.gov/tdot/bikeped/saferoutes.htm.

“In order to provide more walking and biking routes to schools in our area, we need to first make sure those paths are safe,” Finney said. “I’m proud of our local leaders for putting our children’s health and safety first.”

The grant will provide $239,535 for the construction of sidewalks, crosswalks and new signage at Dyersburg Middle School. Funds will also be used to provide an educational program focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety, as well as promotional activities to encourage bicycling and walking.

The Safe Routes to School Program is a statewide initiative designed to make bicycling and walking to school a safer, more appealing and healthier alternative for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Grants are administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, which selected 10 municipalities this month to receive grants totaling $1.6 million to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, signs and safe walking and biking educational activities.

To learn more about the Safe Routes to School Program, visit www.tn.gov/tdot/bikeped/saferoutes.htm.

As the legislature begins in a few days, I wanted to let you know about some issues I’ll be working on and some pieces of legislation that will affect our communities.

No one disputes the fact that in order to have a good workforce, we must have an educated workforce; one that is properly trained with the necessary skills to do the work required by area employers and that will attract new industry to our areas. For that reason, we should pay especially close attention to bills dealing with education this year.

As most people know, there is a new teacher evaluation system in place now. Not surprisingly, many educators are concerned about the new system, how it works, and how it will affect teacher morale, student achievement, and district performance. I have been very skeptical of the new measures, and I am glad to see that Governor Haslam has commissioned a group of people to review the new system over the next five months. Of course, we want the best teachers in our classrooms, because a teacher’s work environment is a child’s learning environment. The evaluation data should be used primarily as an aid to help struggling classrooms and systems. I am hopeful that we will soon have a system that evaluates schools fairly, that is not overly burdensome on our principals and superintendents, and that doesn’t punish the many hardworking public schoolteachers of our state.

Last year, the General Assembly passed a bill allowing students to attend high school via the Internet. Unfortunately, the companies that run the schools are out-of-state corporations that benefit from the tax dollars typically used for funding local schools. This bill caused me the greatest concern of all the bills that were passed last year. I did not support it. As more students enroll in virtual and online schools, your tax dollars will continue to drain away from local schools and fill the coffers of huge corporations in other states. This is not fair. The new measure took effect this year, but Governor Haslam has indicated his willingness to review this law and its effects on local systems. I hope the legislature will do so as well.

Finally, there is some discussion that changes to the Tennessee Lottery Scholarship will be in order this year. The scholarship program has not paid for itself in recent years. Thankfully, the legislature saw fit to build up a significant reserve fund, which currently has over $300 million in it. This fund is used to shore up any losses in the program in a given year, and the fund is not expected to run out of money for another 10 years. While I agree that we will need to closely monitor how the money is obtained for scholarships, pre-K classes and capital projects, I do not agree that this is the year to cut scholarships or make them harder to get. Students who lose scholarships typically drop out of college and don’t return to finish a degree. We are blessed in West Tennessee with numerous opportunities to attend institutions of higher education. I am committed to making sure those doors remain open for students of all ages and backgrounds, so that they will have the skills necessary to enter the workforce.

Over the next few weeks, I hope to keep you updated on other matters facing the legislature this year. Until then, please feel free to call upon me any time I can be of assistance to you.

As we prepare for 2012, I wanted to take a look back at some of our accomplishments from the past year. It is no secret that 2011 was a difficult year for many Tennesseans. We all know someone who has been affected by a job loss or an inability to find work. As we remember our blessings during this time, let’s be sure to remember to keep each other in our thoughts and prayers.

Despite difficulties, however, we were still able to make a difference in the lives of thousands of Tennesseans. Please take a few minutes to see what we were able to do last year, and as always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me about any issue. I want to do everything in my power to put West Tennesseans back to work, and I respectfully ask that you help however you can by donating to our cause. It will take all of us working together to accomplish our goals, and I am thankful for your continued support.

I went with Sen. Beverly Marrero and Rep. Craig Fitzhugh to visit Dan Chadwick of Residue Regency Pad Corp in Martin. Dan’s company aided in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup in 2010.

Jobs and Economic Development
During the legislative session, we learned that more than 20,000 Tennesseans who were looking for a job stood to lose their unemployment benefits in April. I successfully sponsored legislation to extend those benefits and create an immediate return on our investment. Tennessee’s unemployment rate is still higher than the national rate, which means we have plenty of work to do. Tennesseans haven’t stopped looking for work, so we shouldn’t stop working for them.

In September, I traveled across the state with my colleagues to talk to business owners, workers and educators about what we can do in Nashville to help encourage job growth across Tennessee. I also held town hall meetings in each county in the district, and jobs were the number one topic of discussion.

Finally, I cosponsored legislation to extend the sales tax credit for 2010 flood victims, to help our residents, farmers and small business owners continue to recover from one of the worst natural disasters in our state’s history. After all, helping our neighbors is what we do in West Tennessee.

Education
In April, I held a districtwide education forum with staff from the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, along with area business and education leaders. We discussed how business leaders, teachers and parents can work together to improve the educational opportunities of area students.

Thankfully, one of those successful schools was approved for another year of funding in the Governor’s budget: Carroll Academy, which teaches students who would otherwise enter the state’s juvenile justice system. About 3,000 West Tennessee students have entered the Huntingdon school since it opened in 1994, with most receiving their high school diplomas. Successful students have gone on to college to complete a degree. Schools like Carroll Academy are a model for creative solutions to the education issues that face our state.

Serving our Veterans
For our military members still overseas, I cosponsored a bill to make voting easier by expanding the use of absentee ballots, and making them count as voter registration applications for those voting for the first time. Back at home, I cosponsored legislation to create the Tennessee Distinguished Service Medal to be awarded to members of our Tennessee National Guard and U.S. armed forces killed in the line of duty. This award gives us the opportunity to show that the people of our state recognize, in some small way, the price paid by our fellow Tennesseans.

For those that receive honors, I also cosponsored legislation to require the state treasurer to hold unclaimed military medals until owners or the families of the awarded soldier can be identified for proper return. The bill also allows the treasurer to hand over the medal to a veterans’ organization or other related organizations to take charge of finding the veteran or his or her family in order to return the medals to their rightful owners. Our citizens who have been awarded these medals not only deserve the respect of having them safely returned, but also the right for us to honor their services and bravery with this protective law.

Recognitions and Awards
I was honored to receive several awards from groups I care greatly about, including seniors, county mayors, local government leaders and safety workers. I was also named to the West Tennessee River Basin Authority, as well as a national committee of state legislators for law and criminal justice. These recognitions symbolize the hard work of the staff members, supporters and local leaders alongside whom I have the privilege of serving.

Finally, I want to mention the passing of two great men who touched the lives of thousands of West Tennesseans: The Reverend Ben Elton Cox, and Governor Ned Ray McWherter. Reverend Cox fought for civil rights across the South before coming home to Madison County and teaching our children and encouraging our neighbors to vote. Gov. McWherter was a true legend who set a national standard for rural infrastructure and fiscal responsibility. The legacies of these men will continue for generations to come in our area.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year, and I look forward to continuing to serve you in 2012.

Lowe

“I am honored to serve on this national, bipartisan committee that has taken on some of the biggest challenges our country faces,” Finney said. “I look forward to representing West Tennessee and ensuring that we have a voice in the decision-making process.”

The committee discusses and oversees a broad range of issues, including civil rights, constitutional law and juvenile justice. NCSL is a bipartisan organization that provides research, technical assistance and leadership opportunities for state lawmakers and their staffs.

Finney is one of six Tennessee members on the committee. His term will last through Jan. 2013.

“Our police, firefighters and first responders are out on the front lines of public safety every day, and we can never thank them enough,” Finney said. “This award is a great honor, but the greater honor is being able to work on their behalf.”

Finney sponsored and passed Senate Bill 1476, which created standards for local EMA directors and gave county mayors the flexibility to hire the most qualified candidate for the job. The bipartisan bill passed unanimously in both chambers during the 2011 legislative session.

EMAT is a nonprofit association whose members work in emergency management agencies, fire departments, rescue squads, law enforcement agencies and other public service agencies.

“I’m extremely thankful to be recognized by Tennesseans who have spent decades serving our country, our state and our communities,” Finney said. “It’s an honor to work for our senior citizens after all the work they have done for us.”

The award refers to Finney’s work as chairman of a joint legislative study committee on aging, with a specific focus on his work to create a Cabinet-level position for a state Department of Aging and Disability. Currently, more than 100 services for senior citizens are spread across more than 20 state departments, agencies, commissions, boards and bureaus.

Creating a Cabinet-level position would not only centralize services available to seniors, but also would ensure seniors a seat at the table with advocates for other groups ranging from farmers and teachers to bankers and insurance brokers.

“We have the resources to serve our senior citizens, but often they get bogged down in a maze of bureaucracy when they need assistance,” Finney said. “Creating a Department of Aging and Disability would improve efficiency as well as service, because our seniors would have someone fighting for them.”

Finney has been working throughout his legislative career to give seniors a stronger voice in state government. His Long-Term Care Community CHOICES legislation established home health care in Tennessee, and he has since expanded the program statewide.

TASC and TFA are statewide organizations committed to educating Tennessee lawmakers and citizens about senior centers, which create a network of professionals dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults through professional development and advocacy.

JACKSON – State Senator Lowe Finney recently received the Legislator of the Year award from the Northwest Tennessee Development District for the fourth consecutive year for his continued support of local communities and seniors.

“It is always an honor to receive this recognition from such an important organization,” Finney said. “The development district is an invaluable resource for our communities, especially in times like these, when funds are tight and our local governments have urgent infrastructure and development needs.”

The NWTDD primarily helps local governments in its district obtain grants for a wide range of projects, from downtown revitalization efforts to infrastructure needs such as sewer systems. The district is composed of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley counties.

“Whether he is working in the district or advocating for us in Nashville, Senator Finney always makes local governments his top priority,” said Carroll County Mayor Kenny McBride, who presented Finney with the award. “He is extremely aware of the challenges we face in our counties and communities, and he constantly fights to ensure that we have both the resources and control we need to serve our neighbors.”

Development districts also run Area Agencies on Aging and Disability, which help distribute state and federal dollars for programs like assisted living and medication counseling. Finney has worked tirelessly for seniors during his time in the state legislature, having passed and expanded the CHOICES program that allows thousands of Tennessee seniors to receive quality home health care at no additional cost.

“Our senior citizens should have a say regarding the care they worked their whole lives to obtain,” Finney said. “This way, our seniors can continue to live in their homes and enjoy time with their loved ones while still receiving the quality health care they deserve.”