What, Not All Government Is Evil?

The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University has way too long of a name. They also have a list of the top 50 spiffy “government innovations” of 2009.

Two are from Tennessee!

Creating Homes Initiative
State of Tennessee
Tennessee’s Creating Homes Initiative combines state leadership, regional housing development/funding experts, and local partnerships to develop affordable, supportive homes for people with mental illness. Since 2000, $250,000,000 has been leveraged, resulting in the development of 7,200 housing units.

Higher Education Initiative
City of Kingsport, TN
The Higher Education Initiative revitalized an ailing economy in the northeastern Tennessee city of Kingsport by improving the overall education level of its labor force.

Very cool.

So what’s this “government innovations” list all about? According to the website:

The Innovations in American Government Awards was created by the Ford Foundation in 1985 in response to widespread pessimism and distrust in government’s effectiveness. The awards program acts as a significant force in restoring public trust in government by promoting public sector creativity and excellence.

The Name Game

While you were all worried about who was taking over the White House yesterday, Governor Phil Bredesen (D) was busy appointing a bunch of people you’ve never heard of to a bunch of advisory boards you’ve never heard of.

For example, Mether Joe Jones is now officially a member of the Tennessee Board of Barber Examiners. So, you know, good job there, Mether.

Did you know that the state of Tennessee has a Polysomnography Professional Standards Committee?

Polysomnography is “a diagnostic test during which a number of physiologic variables are measured and recorded during sleep.” It is most commonly found in sitcoms.

These are the kind of things you will only learn here at the Planet.

I would also like to point out that Governor Bredesen appointed someone named Happy Birdsong to the Keep Tennessee Beautiful Advisory Council because once you found out there was someone named Happy Birdsong, how could you not?

Today's Bad News Is Brought to You by the Number Three

And the top three states for the biggest fall-off in tax revenues thanks to economic disaster that President Bush is leaving behind…

1. Florida
2. Arizona
3. Tennessee

Projections of this year’s state budget deficit are now reaching $1 billion.

Blame Bush

With the State’s tax revenue still swirling around the economic toilet bowl, Governor Phil Bredesen will ask all State departments to develop plans to cut their budgets by 10% or more. That’s up from the 3% cuts he originally requested.

Blame Bush

It now looks like the State’s tax revenue is going to fall $800 million below projections. Raising the state sales tax should not be an option. We just tripled cigarette taxes last year. Assuming we drain half the State’s rainy day fund, that’s still $425 million we have to cut. Ouch.