Update from Senator Bob Corker
September 2, 2011
Eliminating Costly Unfunded Mandate on Road Signs
Senator Corker joined Senator Lamar Alexander and Tennessee Congressmen Scott DesJarlais and Chuck Fleischmann on Tuesday in welcoming the Department of Transportation’s proposal to eliminate numerous compliance deadlines for replacing old road signs that would have imposed an unfunded mandate on states, costing Tennessee an estimated $50 million. Under the new proposal, communities would only be required to comply with new sign visibility standards when replacing old signs, rather than by arbitrary 2015 and 2018 deadlines.
In June, Corker and Alexander introduced legislation to stop this unfunded mandate, giving state and local governments the flexibility to replace signs in accordance with the new standards at the end of their normal life cycle. DesJarlais and Fleischmann introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“Everyone wants our roads to be as safe as possible, but these arbitrary deadlines assigned by Washington amounted to an unfunded mandate on local governments at a time when they can least afford it. The Department of Transportation’s decision to address our concerns and eliminate these costly deadlines is a common sense one that will help local governments in Tennessee and around the country who are making tough decisions to balance their budgets. Rather than force Tennessee communities to shell out $50 million they don’t have, it’s much more reasonable to let them replace road signs only when they need to be replaced. I thank Senator Alexander, Congressmen Fleischmann and DesJarlais, Governor Haslam, and all the state and local officials who supported this successful effort,” Corker said.
Urging Withdrawal of Premature and Costly EPA Regulations
Senator Corker welcomed the White House’s decision today asking the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw premature and costly updates to 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards and reconsider them in 2013 as set forth by the Clean Air Act. The EPA estimates compliance costs for meeting the proposed higher air quality standards could be as much as $20 billion to $90 billion a year. In July, Corker joined Senate colleagues from both parties in a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson expressing significant concerns with the regulations' impact on businesses and state and local governments and requesting the agency “continue its ongoing statutory review of new science, due in 2013, and not finalize the reconsideration at this time.”
“Hyperactive regulations from Washington are adding to economic uncertainty facing consumers and businesses and harming efforts to establish an environment for economic growth and new job creation,” Corker said. “I’m pleased the White House has agreed to withdraw these premature and burdensome new rules, recognizing the reality that state and local governments, families, and industries critical to the economy simply can’t afford the tens of billions of dollars in compliance costs. Given the challenges we face economically, it only makes sense to wait until 2013 before considering any appropriate changes to rules implemented just a few years ago.”
Logging 3,400 Miles and 30 Counties in August
Senator Corker spent August traveling throughout Tennessee, logging 3,400 miles and visiting 30 counties, to talk with constituents about Washington’s out-of-control spending, debt and its effect on economic growth and job creation.
This week he made stops in Cocke, Davidson, Greene, Hamilton, Knox, Marion, McMinn, Wilson and Sullivan counties.
Monday, August 29
Senator Corker traveled to Kimball on Monday for a meeting of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce.
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Senator Corker greets members of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce in Kimball |
Tuesday, August 30
Tuesday morning in Wilson County, Senator Corker addressed a joint meeting of the Mount Juliet, Lebanon, and Donelson/Hermitage Rotary Clubs. Later in the day, he visited Knoxville to meet with members of the East Tennessee Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, a national association with 75 chapters representing more than 23,000 merit shop construction and construction related firms with nearly two million employees.
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Senator Corker speaks at a joint meeting of the Mount Juliet, Lebanon, and Donelson/Hermitage Rotary Clubs in Wilson County |
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Senator Corker addresses members of the East Tennessee Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors |
Wednesday, August 31
Senator Corker began Wednesday in Chattanooga where he participated in a meeting of the Hamilton Place Rotary Club. Later that afternoon, Sen. Corker was in Etowah for a meeting with the local area chamber of commerce.
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Senator Corker speaks during a meeting of the Hamilton Place Rotary Club in Chattanooga. |
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Sen. Corker addresses members of the Etowah Area Chamber of Commerce. |
Thursday, September 1
On Thursday morning, Senator Corker met with members of the Cocke County Partnership, a service-based organization consisting of the Newport/Cocke County Economic Development Commission, the Newport/Cocke County Chamber of Commerce and the Newport/Cocke County Tourism Council. In the afternoon, Corker visited Greene County to address members of the Greeneville Kiwanis Club. Finally, Corker traveled to Sullivan County to visit the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Northeast State Community College’s primary off-location facility for training a qualified workforce for the region’s manufacturing sector.
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Senator Corker greets Cocke Co. Partnership President Don Hurst at a partnership meeting in Newport. |
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Senator Corker speaks during a meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Greeneville. |
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Senator Corker visits the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Sullivan County. |
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