2017

I’m writing to you today from my Gallatin office where Dave and I just hosted our annual sendoff luncheon for our 6th District U.S. military service academy appointees. It is always a privilege for me to be able to meet with these students and their families, treat them to a special reception in their honor, and personally thank them for their commitment to serving our country. Before I head back to Washington next week, I wanted to share these quick updates with you:

Traveling Soon? Then You’ll Want to Read About This Letter

If you’ve flown out of Nashville International Airport recently, or just turned on the news, you may have noticed that the security lines at our nation’s airports are becoming a real problem for travelers. Most Tennesseans don’t mind being a little inconvenienced if the system actually works to keep them safe, but it doesn’t. An internal investigation released last summer found that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had a 96% failure rate in detecting weapons and fake explosives. When travelers are waiting upwards of 90 minutes to board a plane, and they’re not even any safer as a result – it’s time to do something different. That is why I sent a letter to the TSA this week highlighting the need for privatization of airport screenings.

TSA states publicly that it “contracts security screening services at commercial airports to qualified private companies” yet, today, only 22 airports have established such contracts. My letter demands to know why. Congress must ensure that the TSA’s culture and policies aren’t standing in the way of allowing businesses the ability to compete for these opportunities. The unacceptably long wait times at airports across the country cannot become the new normal. There’s a better way forward and it’s called the private sector.

Working to Defund Sanctuary Cities

Sanctuary cities flout our laws and put their own citizens at risk. We need only look at the tragic, 2015 murder of Kate Steinle in San Francisco to see the grave danger of allowing cities to ignore federal immigration policy. Last year, the House passed a standalone bill by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) to defund sanctuary cities with my support, but the problem is, we know that bill faces a Democratic filibuster if it is ever brought up for debate in the Senate.

Sometimes, if you want to get a conservative measure enacted into law, you must attach it to broader pieces of legislation. So that’s exactly what I did last week. When the House took up the Energy & Water Development appropriations bill, I went to the House floor and offered an amendment that ensuring that NO funds from that bill would be given to sanctuary cities. Some of my colleagues scratched their hands and asked why I would bring up sanctuary cities on an energy and water bill. My answer is simple – amnesty for lawbreakers impacts every aspect of our society; our jobs, our security, and in the case of Kate Steinle, a young, innocent woman’s life.

I’m proud to tell you that my amendment passed the House of Representatives. You can watch a video of my remarks on the House floor at the time of the vote HERE. Unfortunately, the underlying bill to which my amendment was attached ultimately failed because of a poison-pill amendment offered by House Democrats. That’s why I’m committed to continuing to bring up this issue again and again – because when cities put their citizens at risk in defiance of federal law – there’s no reason in this world to continue spending federal money there.

Saint Thomas Health has announced changes in leadership at Saint Thomas DeKalb, Highlands and Stones River Hospitals. In a statement made by Gordon Ferguson President and CEO of Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and Regional Hospitals, Ferguson said  “These communities and hospitals are very important to Saint Thomas Health and our goal is to strengthen them for continued service.  We are nearly one year into the transition of ownership and, overall, things have gone very well.  We have a new CEO at Saint Thomas River Park.  We’ve had two successful Joint Commission surveys at Saint Thomas Stones River and River Park and we’ve made significant capital investments in the hospitals.  Recent surveys of the community have shown that the ownership and management by Saint Thomas Health is perceived very positively.
There are, though, additional opportunities for consolidating operations and leadership and we need to make changes. For this reason, after much thought and prayer, we have made the decision to bring Saint Thomas DeKalb, Highlands and Stones River Hospitals under one chief executive officer.  This means that Sue Conley and Bill Little will be leaving their roles as CEOs for these hospitals.  We are very grateful to Sue and to Bill for their years of service to Capella and, more recently, to Saint Thomas Health and the communities served by these three hospitals.”
Leadership changes will take effect immediately and Saint Thomas Health has begun a search for the new CEO.  In the interim, Craig Norris, who was previously Chief Operating Officer at Saint Thomas River Park Hospital, will serve as interim CEO for Saint Thomas DeKalb, Highlands, and Stones River.  
Conley also serves the Cannon County and Dekalb County Communities as President for both the Cannon County Chamber of Commerce and the Dekalb County Chamber of Commerce.

A Milton woman was arrested over the weekend on DUI and possession of drug paraphenalia charges.  According to Murfreesboro Police Reports, Police stopped a 1998 Red Dodge Pickup driven by 24 year old Melissa Yvonne Bryson after they allegedly witnessed her drive over the double yellow line and on the hash marks for a considerable distance.  Bryson also hit a curb before she came to a stop in a parking spot.  Bryson couldn’t perform the field sobriety tests and during a search of her car, they found a marijuana pipe in the back seat.  Bryson will appear in Rutherford County General Sessions Court July 26th to answer to the charges.

Recently the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department reports the following warrants were served.
Reid Colby Hartley on violation of probation with a court date of May 17th
Lorrie Morgan Bynum simple possession of schedule 2 drugs.  Bynum’s court date was May 10th
Nathan Alexander Butts was arrested after being found on South McCrary Street.  Butts had outstanding warrant out of Marshall County.
David Andrew Nettles was served a Violation of Probation notice in the booking room of the Cannon County Jail.  Since the violation was a State Violation he will answer to the charge June 2nd in Cannon County Circuit Court.
 

Remembering loved ones is one of the most healing parts of the journey through grief and loss. Alive Hospice is holding a live butterfly release in Murfreesboro that will help members of the community celebrate the lives of dear loved ones on Saturday, May 28.
This Friday, May 13 is the last day to place orders for butterflies for the May 28 event. Order online at AliveHospice.org/butterfly or by calling 615-346-8326.
This event, which has become an Alive Hospice tradition in Murfreesboro, will be begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 28 at Alive Hospice’s Murfreesboro Office (in the garden patio area), located at 1639 Medical Center Parkway. It is open to anyone in the community who has lost a loved one. Families are encouraged to attend together at this child-friendly remembrance gathering.
The morning will include refreshments, inspirational readings and the opportunity for families and individuals to release butterflies together.
Butterflies may be ordered for $30. Funds raised through this event will go toward the building of The Residence at Alive Hospice — Murfreesboro, which is slated to open in early 2017. It will be the first facility of its kind in Murfreesboro and will add a much-needed layer of care and support for Rutherford and surrounding counties. The facility will expand Alive Hospice’s services, which presently include home-based hospice care as well as grief support services at its Medical Center Parkway office.

Those interested in attending the Cannon County Republican Party Reagan Day Dinner this Saturday needs to go ahead and reserve your spot as the event is about filled to capacity.  Organizers state that tickets have sold fast and are almost sold out.  
The guest speaker will be State Senator Dr. Mark Green. Senator Green is the doctor who treated and interrogated Saddam Hussein when he was captured during the Iraq War. Senator Green also authored the book “A Night With Saddam”.
Ticket prices are $25 each or $200 for a table of 8.  The event will take place at 6:00 at the Cannon County Senior Center.  
For more information and to purchase tickets go to the website cannoncountygop.com

The Center For The Arts in Murfreesboro is holding auditions for their production of the musical “1776”  Auditions will be tonight from 6:30-9:30 with the production dates of July 8th-24th.  The production is directed by Cyndie Verbeten and Kate Adams.  
Those auditioning please prepare 32 bars of a Broadway song in the style of the show. An accompanist will be provided. Cold readings from the script will be assigned by the director as needed.   They are looking for: 22 men – ages 21 and up 2 men – ages 16 – 25 and 2 women – ages 24-45.  Audition times Sunday: 6:30-7:00P for women and 7:00-9:30 tonight for men.  Monday’s auditions will be 7:00 to 7:30 for women and 7:30-9:30 for men. Callbacks will be held on Tuesday, April 26th 6:30 – 9:30 pm at the discretion of the director.  For more information check out the website at boroarts.org

Tennessee business leaders’ pessimism about the current economy appear to be stabilizing, though their outlook for the future isn’t strong, according to the latest online survey by MTSU’s Jones College of Business.
The statewide Tennessee Business Barometer index remained stable in April, registering 144 compared to 146 in January and 325 for the inaugural survey last July. The quarterly index is a collaboration between Middle Tennessee State University and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry to capture the mood and outlook of business leaders through online surveys.
While business leaders showed more optimism about their current situations in the latest survey, that was offset by a drop in confidence in the future economy as well as the ability for their own business to prosper and grow, according to Dr. Tim Graeff, MTSU professor of marketing and coordinator of the index through the MTSU Office of Consumer Research.“Business leaders are more upbeat about the Tennessee economy than they are about the overall national economy,” Graeff noted.
The survey showed concerns about rising health care costs, political and economic uncertainty, difficulties with finding qualified employees, and the potential for increasing regulation remain foremost on the minds of business leaders.
The index is computed by adding the percentage of positive responses to each question and subtracting the percentage of negative responses. The overall index score is totaled from four sub-indices: current economic situation, future economic expectations, business/firm performance and employment outlook.
The current online survey of 83 business leaders from across Tennessee was conducted between April 1 and April 16. The margin of error is 10.7 percent. Respondents include business owners, vice presidents, senior managers, and managers at firms of various sizes. The next Tennessee Business Barometer survey is planned for July 2016.
 

One driver was charged with DUI during a sobriety checkpoint Friday held in memory of a Boy Scout killed by a drugged motorist, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday.
The checkpoint was conducted to remember Clifton Braunwalder, 13, of Lascassas, who was struck and killed by a drugged driver while changing the tire on the family car April 10, 2014 on Interstate 24 near Sam Ridley Parkway.
Sheriff’s deputies were joined by Smyrna Police with assistance by the Tennessee Highway Patrol in the two-hour checkpoint on U.S. Highway 231 North (Lebanon Highway) on the Walter Hill Bridge.
Cpl. Mark Mack, who coordinated the checkpoint, said two impaired drivers were stopped from driving and one driver was cited for alcohol violations. Six drivers were cited for not wearing seat belts and two drivers were charged with driving on revoked or suspended licenses. Eight drivers were cited for other traffic violation.
“We got the word out and it has deterred people from driving impaired, maybe causing them to think more responsibly,” Cpl. Mack said.
Sheriff Robert Arnold, who participated in the checkpoint, said he hopes impaired drivers will not drive.
“We urge drinking or drugged drivers to have a designated driver, call a friend for a ride or take a cab,” Sheriff Arnold said. “Don’t drive impaired.”
Members of the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy Alumni Association helped by counting the 385 cars stopped during the checkpoint.
 

A well known area medical doctor  who operates a practice in Murfreesboro was arrested Sunday for DUI.  According to Murfreesboro police reports, Police responded to Haynes Drive in reference to a motor vehicle accident.  When police got there they made contact with 60 year old Mark Josovitz who was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and had an odor of an intoxicant on him.  Josovitz who runs a practice out of Murfreesboro, was unable to perform the field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for DUI.  Josovitz allegedly went to see a woman after he became intoxicated.  When the woman called police on a domestic disturbance complaint that’s when Josovitz was located a few blocks away having already been involved in a wreck.  A second domestic harrassment report was made Monday after Josovitz allegedly called the school in which the woman was employed at several times and made some what was termed as alarming text messages to her.  The woman text Josovitz and told him not to have anymore contact with her.  Murfreesboro Police advised the woman on how to file charges of stalking and harrassment.