Hitting the Hill

SHERRI GARDNER HOWELL
BLOUNT TODAY
APRIL 13, 2005

Tuesdays on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C., are "Tennessee Tuesdays" for Sen. Lamar Alexander and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Their offices host a breakfast reception for Tennesseans visiting the nation's capital, a chance to give a quick update on legislative issues, greet constituents and pose for photos.

For the 41 members of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce delegation, April 5th's Tennessee Tuesday was the beginning of a day filled with briefings and precious time with the power-brokers who can have a hand in shaping the county's present and future.

The Chamber sponsored a two-day excursion to D.C., a trip with the dual purpose of sharing the issues of county concern with the area's legislators and networking with each other. The group flew out on Independence Air on Monday, April 4, and returned Tuesday night. The carefully planned agenda hit target areas in terms of high priority items: transportation, clean air non-attainment and funding for major projects such as The Center for Appalachian Arts and Culture, Tuckaleechee Heritage Museum and a research business park.

Fred Forster, president and CEO of the Blount Partnership, and Kathy DeLozier, executive vice president of chamber programs, coordinated the trip. Forster said the trip gave chamber members a chance to meet with their elected officials and discuss issues of general and specific concern. In addition, presenting a thoughtful and informed approach to the issues is appreciated and noticed by the legislators.

The offices of Sens. Alexander and Frist and U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. helped with the itinerary. Congressman Duncan hosted a luncheon that included presentations and questions and answers not only with him, but with Candida Perotti Wolff, assistant to President Bush on legislative affairs, Ann Pope with the Appalachian Regional Commission and Jeff Taylor of the National Park Service.

Much of the information gleaned from the meetings and presentations helped the visitors to delve into the process surrounding funding and approval for bills such as the highway transportation reauthorization bill, which has passed the House of Representatives but must still face the Senate. The bill includes several major projects for Blount County and East Tennessee.

The most frustrating meeting was with Robert Meyers of the Environmental Protection Agency on the subject of clean air attainment standards. Meyers told the gathering that the "good" news is that "you're not alone" in dealing with the non-attainment designation. Meyers explained the process and steps that led to the decision to place an area in non-attainment, but would not be specific on Blount County's situation. Blount County is considering suing the EPA because of the designation.

With stacks of business cards in hand, notes to review and legislation to keep an eye on, members of the group returned to Blount County prepared to move issues of importance to the county forward.

On the trip were: Darrell Akins, Joy Bishop, Wilson Borden, Starr Bragg, Teri Brahams, Mark Cate, Cathy Cate, Lois Cameron, Melissa Copelan, Todd Davis, Doug DeLozier, Kathy DeLozier, Bill Eanes, Fred Forster, Bill Hammon, Herb Handly, Doug Hardwick, Virginia Hardwick, John Hinkle, Jennifer Hodson, Sherri Gardner Howell, Dale Huddleston, Kirk Huddleston, Tommy Hunt, Howard Jackson, Robin King, Maribella Koella, Lea Anne Law, Bill Marrison, Shawna McConnell, Dr. Timothy McConnell, Allen Neel, Phyllis Moyers, Dave Ogle, John Randolph, Rick Shepard, Helen Short, Chris Soro, Carl Van Hoozier Jr., Andy White and Joe Zappa.

Assisting the Chamber with sponsorships were AkinsCrisp Public Strategies, Ruby Tuesday, Inc., ALCOA Inc., APAC-Tennessee/Harrison Division, Maryville College, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and Vulcan Materials.