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TN Department of Education Announces School Counselor InstituteEducating the Whole ChildNASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to announce the fifth annual Tennessee School Counselor and Administrator Leadership Institute beginning next week in Murfreesboro. This year’s theme, “The 360 Approach: Educating the Whole Child,” addresses the critical need of ensuring that our students are both college- and career-ready. read more [Link]
Governor Bredesen, Commissioner Kisber Announce Expansion of VW Supplier in TennesseeSL Tennessee, LLC to Invest $35 Million and Create 300 New Jobs in Clinton NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber today joined with executives of SL America to announce a $35 million expansion of SL Tennessee, LLC, a company subsidiary operating in Clinton, Tenn.. The expansion will create 300 new jobs and add ... [Link]
Devaney Statement on Tennessee Democrat Reps Voting to Raise U.S. Debt Limit Another $1.9 TrillionNASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney issued the following statement after Tennessee Democrats voted to raise America’s debt limit by $1.9 trillion which follows a vote in December to raise the debt limit by $290 billion: “Tennessee Democrats just don’t get it,” said Devaney. “Once again, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have won out over hard-working families ... [Link]
Recreation Initiative Program Grant Cycle Announced; Workshop Slated for March 3NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is soliciting Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program grant applications from local governments that do not currently have parks or recreation departments. TRIP grants help communities create recreation opportunities for citizens by assisting with the establishment of a parks department. Applications are due April 15, 2010, and award recipients will be announced in ... [Link]
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Apr
11
Gordon calls for Iraqi’s to finance reconstruction – not U.S.
By John Rodgers | Filed Under Bart Gordon
In a column, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Murfreesboro) says Iraq’s oil revenues should pay for reconstruction in their own country – not U.S. taxpayers.
Gordon says that since 2003, the U.S. has spent almost $50 billion on rebuilding Iraq. Meanwhile, within the next 18 months, Iraq is expected to garner $100 billion in oil revenues, plus the $25 billion it has in U.S. bank accounts.
Combine that figure with expected oil revenues, and the case can easily be made that Iraq has the financial ability to do more for itself. Meanwhile, America’s national debt stands at $9.4 trillion, which equates to a $30,000 debt for every man, woman and child in the United States.
When he served as Deputy Defense Secretary in 2003, Paul Wolfowitz said of Iraq, “We are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon.” Five years have passed, yet the United States is still footing the bill for reconstruction while the Iraqi oil business is thriving.
While the United States pours billions of dollars into Iraq, gas prices at home are soaring to well over $3 a gallon. While we aid businesses in Iraq, American jobs are going overseas and Tennessee ranks 11th in the nation in home foreclosures. While we rebuild communities in Iraq, families across Tennessee still struggle to rebuild after February’s deadly tornadoes.
Given all that America has sacrificed for this war, the Iraqi government should be willing to do more. Our men and women serving abroad deserve to return to a Tennessee and a nation more prosperous than the one they left. But that may not happen if the United States continues to fund reconstruction in Iraq without considering the financial consequences for generations to come.
Should the U.S. stop financing Iraqi reconstruction or at least ask the Iraqis to share a greater piece of the pie?
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