Lowe in the News

July 27 - STATE EMPLOYEES ENDORSE FINNEY IN SENATE RACE

JACKSON – The Tennessee State Employees Association has announced its endorsement of State Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) for State Senate District 27...
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July 25 - JACKSON SUN HIGHLIGHTS ARSENAL MEETING ON LISTENING TOUR

State Sen. Lowe Finney met with American Ordnance and U.S. Army officials at the Milan Army Ammunition Plant on Monday in an effort to save local jobs...
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July 23 - FINNEY STARTS "LOWE LISTENS TO YOU" TOUR IN MADISON CO. SATURDAY

JACKSON – State Sen. Lowe Finney will hold the first of his three county “Lowe Listens to You” tours on Saturday, July 24, across Madison County to meet with residents and hear what’s on their minds...
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July 13 - FINNEY CONGRATULATES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANTS

NASHVILLE – State Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) congratulated officials in Bruceton, Gibson County and McKenzie for successfully procuring $100,000 each in federal energy efficiency grants announced this month...
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July 8 - TENNESSEE TEACHERS ENDORSE FINNEY

The Tennessee Education Association announced this week its endorsement of State Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) for the State Senate District 27 race...
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July 7 - TENNESSEE FIREFIGHTERS ENDORSE FINNEY

JACKSON – The Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association endorses State Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) in his State Senate District 27 race...
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June 30 - MILAN ARSENAL CLOSURE WOULD RESULT IN $202 MILLION HIT TO TENNESSEE ECONOMY

MILAN, Tenn. – The relocation of 600 production jobs from the Milan Army Ammunition Plant to an Iowa company would result in a total $202 million negative impact on the Tennessee economy and more than 2,400 lost jobs, according to a report released this week from the Milan and Carroll County Chambers of Commerce...
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June 24 - JACKSON SUN SUPPORTS SEN. FINNEY'S EFFORTS TO SAVE MILAN ARSENAL

The Jackson Sun supported Sen. Finney's efforts to protect jobs at the Milan arsenal in a June 24 editorial...
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June 22 - GOV. BREDESEN EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR SEN. FINNEY’S EFFORTS TO SAVE MILAN ARSENAL

MILAN, Tenn. – Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tuesday that he would work with State Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) and other federal and state lawmakers to keep more than 500 ammunition production jobs at the Milan Arsenal...
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June 9 - SEN. FINNEY FIGHTS TO KEEP JOBS IN, NUCLEAR WASTE OUT

State Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) is calling on Gov. Phil Bredesen and Tennessee’s Congressional delegation to join him in fighting to keep 500 manufacturing jobs in Gibson and Carroll counties...
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June 9 - LEGISLATURE APPROVES SEN. FINNEY’S OPEN GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN FINANCE BILL

A bill sponsored by State Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) requiring corporations to publicly disclose political financial contributions received final approval in the House on Tuesday...
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June 7 - FINNEY HONORED BY TENNESSEE NATIONAL GUARD

JACKSON – State Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) was honored Sunday for his support of the troops during a ceremony for the 194th Engineer Brigade of the Tennessee Army National Guard...
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May 30 - A MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE FROM SEN. FINNEY

This Memorial Day, families across Tennessee will welcome the beginning of summer. As we gather with our families and neighbors around grills and campfires, it’s important to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day...
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May 28 - SEN. FINNEY FIGHTS FOR FARMERS IN BUDGET TALKS

State Sen. Lowe Finney will propose $10 million be added to the state’s agriculture enhancement grant program when the state Senate takes up the budget next week...
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May 20 - JACKSON SUN SUPPORTS SEN. FINNEY'S SALES TAX RELIEF EFFORTS

The Jackson Sun editorialized Thursday in support of Sen. Finney's efforts to provide a sales tax break on home appliances and building supplies for flood victims...
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May 19 - SEN. FINNEY SPONSORS SALES TAX BREAK FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

NASHVILLE - NASHVILLE – Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) co-sponsored an amendment Tuesday to allow flood victims to be exempt from sales tax for purchases of major appliances and home building supplies...
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April 21 - SEN. FINNEY CONGRATULATES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANTS

NASHVILLE – Sen. Lowe Finney celebrated the announcement Wednesday of three federal energy efficiency grants worth a combined $279,863 in State Senate District 27...
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April 16 - SEN. FINNEY WINS TWO LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

NASHVILLE - Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) was named 2010 Legislator of the Year on Thursday by both the Northwest and Southwest Tennessee Development Districts...
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April 9 - SEN. FINNEY DETAILS LOCAL RACE TO THE TOP FUNDS

According to state Department of Education estimates, Madison County Schools will receive $4.2 million in local Race to the Top funds...
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March 29 - SEN. FINNEY CELEBRATES RACE TO THE TOP VICTORY

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus celebrated the news Monday that Tennessee has been announced as a winner in the federal Race to the Top educational grant competition...
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March 26 - VETERANS JOB ASSISTANCE PASSES LEGISLATURE

NASHVILLE – This week the General Assembly passed a bill by Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) and Sen. Tim Barnes (D-Adams) to help Tennessee veterans obtain jobs by expanding preference-points eligibility to all veterans...
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March 25 - SEN. FINNEY SUPPORTS BAN ON NUCLEAR FOREIGN WASTE

A Senate committee Tuesday passed a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) to stop 20,000 tons of foreign nuclear waste from potentially being stranded in Tennessee by prohibiting nuclear waste downblending...
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March 19 - SEN. FINNEY SPEAKS WITH COLLEGE LEGISLATORS

The Jackson Sun covered Sen. Finney's address to members of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature on Thursday night at Union University...
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March 18 - PER DIEM FREEZE PASSES COMMITTEE VOTE

A proposal by Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) to freeze legislators’ daily expense rate for the next four years unanimously passed a Senate committee Wednesday...
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March 15 - JACKSON SUN SUPPORTS CHOICES ACT

The Jackson Sun editorial board recently wrote of its support of the Choices Act of 2008 that Sen. Finney sponsored to give more seniors high-quality home care...
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March 10 - SEN. FINNEY MEETS WITH BUSINESS LEADERS

Sen. Finney spoke to business and professional leaders in Carroll County recently about the state legislative session. The Carroll County News-Leader had the story...
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March 9 - SEN. FINNEY SUPPORTS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR MILITARY SPOUSES

NASHVILLE – Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) and Sen. Tim Barnes (D-Adams) want to help Tennessee military families by extending unemployment benefits to individuals who leave their jobs to accompany their spouses on a military transfer...
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March 8 - SEN. FINNEY LISTENS TO FARMERS AT CARROLL COUNTY AG FORUM

HUNTINGDON – Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) met with a group of farmers from across Carroll County Monday morning for a light breakfast and a farm and agriculture forum at the Carroll County Co-op...
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March 5 - SEN. FINNEY CALLS FOR PER DIEM FREEZE

Sen. Lowe Finney is calling for a freeze on lawmakers’ per diem rate until 2014, saying that legislators shouldn’t receive an increase in per diems until Tennessee’s economy fully recovers...
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February 22 - SEN. FINNEY WANTS MORE SCHOOLS LIKE CARROLL ACADEMY

From Jackson's WBBJ-TV: "We don't need less Carroll Academies. We need more," said Randy Hatch, Senior Administrator of Carroll Academy in Huntingdon. That is just what the state of Tennessee could receive thanks to Senator Lowe Finney...
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FEBRUARY 15 - SEN. FINNEY LISTENS TO FARMERS AT GIBSON COUNTY AG FORUM

TRENTON – Farmers from across Gibson County turned out on an icy Monday morning for a light breakfast and farm and agriculture forum hosted by Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) at the Ed Jones Agriplex...
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JANUARY 27 - CARROLL ACADEMY RECEIVES FUNDS TO STAY OPEN FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Carroll Academy, a school for at-risk youth, will stay open after the state announced Thursday that it will provide funds for the coming school year. The Huntingdon school currently teaches about 75 students who would otherwise enter the state’s juvenile justice system. Without the state’s $650,000 appropriation for the 2010-11 school year, the school would have been forced to close...
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JANUARY 24 - REFORM THAT MATTERS FOR ALL TENNESSEANS' FUTURES

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned from special session Thursday after passing long-overdue and significant education reform for the students in our state. We focused on two themes: accountability and achievement. Tennessee ranks near the bottom on nearly every educational measure, and we are doing something about it. The Tennessee First to the Top bill significantly changes K-12 education in Tennessee...
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JANUARY 21 - SEN. FINNEY: COLLEGE REFORM WILL HELP ECONOMY

Sen. Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, cosponsored a higher education reform bill passed Thursday that aims to help more Tennesseans earn degrees and obtain better jobs. "Education is the state's most powerful economic tool," Sen. Finney said. "By removing barriers to education, we build bridges to a better economic future."...
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JANUARY 20 - GUEST EDITORIAL: ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE KEY THIS SESSION

Just as citizens sit down with their family budgets and make hard decisions, the state must do the same. Gov. Phil Bredesen has led this state responsibly through both good economic times and the difficult ones we are in now, but we must do more. In everything we do, we must require accountability...
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JANUARY 15 - SEN. FINNEY HELPS LEAD APPROVAL OF RACE TO THE TOP APPLICATION

Sen. Lowe Finney, helped lead the passage Friday evening of the Tennessee First to the Top Act of 2010 bill. The bill will now go to Gov. Phil Bredesen as part of the state's application for $485 million in federal funds for education. The Senate approved an amendment sponsored by Sen. Finney to establish a teacher professional development fund...
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MAY 27 - SENATOR FINNEY MEETS MEMBERS OF GUARD AT FORT SILL

Senator Lowe Finney met Wednesday with Tennessee National Guard troops in Fort Sill, Okla., as they prepared to leave for the Middle East. The 1/230th Unit from Jackson mobilized to Fort Sill in March to begin training for the mission. Members of the Unit will return home for a short visit with family members before deploying to Iraq in the coming days...
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MAY 14 - SEN. FINNEY SAYS SOLAR FARM WILL MEAN JOBS FOR WEST TENNESSEE

A model solar energy project will "sweeten the pot" for businesses to bring good-paying jobs to the West Tennessee megasite, Senator Lowe Finney said Thursday. He joined Governor Phil Bredesen as he unveiled plans for the $62.5 million Volunteer State Solar Initiative. The initiative will include the West Tennessee Solar Farm in Haywood County on the new industrial megasite, a roughly $30 million investment. "This project will put West Tennesseans to work, building and running it...
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APRIL 14 - EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS ARE WAY TO FUTURE JOBS

Sen. Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, has the best interests of Tennessee's high school students at heart with his latest legislation. It should be passed by both houses and signed into law by Gov. Phil Bredesen. Finney's latest legislative initiative, Senate Bill 1084, requires a study of cooperative career and technical programs between high schools and the state's technology centers or other two-year institutions. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on Thursday...
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APRIL 13 - PASS FINNEY'S VITAL MEGASITE LEGISLATION

Sen. Lowe Finney, a Jackson Democrat, has introduced important legislation that deserves passage by the General Assembly and a signature from Gov. Phil Bredesen. The legislation would effect the formation of regional megasites, including the one in Haywood County, if passed into law. Currently, a megasite is defined as "an area of at least 1,000 contiguous acres certified as being suitable and available for development for significant economic and industrial development." Finney's bill would...
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March 24 - SEN. FINNEY PRAISES BREDESEN FOR WEST TENN. MEGASITE FUNDING

The budget presented Monday night by Gov. Phil Bredesen contains $27 million for a "megasite" to draw a major business facility - and the jobs that come with it - to West Tennessee, Sen. Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, said. "I am pleased to see this big boost for West Tennessee," Finney said. "I have been fighting for this for two years....
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March 04 - SEN. LOWE FINNEY APPLAUDS ANNOUNCEMENT OF BRIDGE REPAIRS IN CARROLL, GIBSON COUNTIES

State Senator Lowe Finney praised Governor Phil Bredesen's announcement that the state will replace rural bridges in Carroll and Gibson counties with the first wave of state economic recovery funding. Sen. Finney had previously met with Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely in 2007 and 2008 in support of these bridge projects. The Governor announced that among its first wave of infrastructure developments, the department will replace two sets of bridges in the 27th District...
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January 18 - "BAILING OUT" RURAL AMERICA

President-Elect Obama has unveiled the major themes behind his "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan". There are many pieces, we know it will be costly, but we also know that no other viable options to revive our economy are even being seriously considered. Republican leaders have voiced early support for this plan. So far, I like what I hear. The President-Elect has indicated support for any projects which would be "ready to go" within 90 days; there are dozens of programs in Tennessee that would quite reasonably fit within this category...
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January 15 - FINNEY APPOINTED TO KEY SENATE COMMITTEES

State Senator Lowe Finney was appointed to serve today on two key Senate committees, ending the first full week of the 106th General Assembly. Finney will serve as the Vice Chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee...
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OCTOBER 15 - MEET THE SENATOR

The son of a second-grade teacher, state Sen. Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, admittedly has a bit of a soft spot for educators. Before the legislative session begins next year, Finney will have visited several schools in Carroll, Gibson and Madison counties to listen to teacher concerns. Finney talked and ate lunch with teachers at Malesus Elementary on Tuesday....
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SEPTEMBER 17 - FINNEY ASKS STATE TO PROBE GAS PRICES

State Sen. Lowe Finney has asked Attorney General Bob Cooper to investigate whether West Tennessee consumers are being unfairly charged excessive gas prices in the wake of Hurricane Ike, according to a press release. Finney, D-Jackson, said in a Sept. 15 letter to Cooper that many constituents have expressed concerns over gas prices that went up dramatically in just a few hours following the storm in the Gulf Coast...
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SEPTEMBER 17 - GO AFTER THOSE WHO MAY BE PRICE GOUGING

Two of our area representatives - Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, and Sen. Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, are doing the right thing by asking the state attorney general, Bob Cooper, to look into reports of price gouging. We urge Cooper's office to act quickly and to punish aggressively those found to be guilty of this despicable practice. Since Hurricane Ike hit over the weekend, there have been more than 500 complaints of price gouging from across the state...
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