capitolhillconnection

Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander took the education bureaucracy to task this week, criticizing its approach to improving underperforming schools. Federal education officials estimate five thousand U.S. schools need such help. Sara Sciammacco reports from Washington.

A Vanderbilt University professor told Congressional lawmakers that the proper education of teachers, as well as students, is the key to creating a No Child Left Behind system that will have greater impact across the country.

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker is withdrawing his special funding requests for next year’s federal budget, saying the earmark process is in need of reform.

Tennessee’s Republican Senators voted to block legislation that extends federal unemployment benefits through May 5th. However their effort came up short.

Experts say commercial real estate could be the next source of an economic collapse. But not all in Washington think the federal government needs to intervene.

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker says he’s still hopeful of a bipartisan compromise on financial reform that could “stand the test of time.” Last week the Senate Banking Committee passed a 1,300 page bill in less than half an hour along party lines.

Only three Tennessee Democrats supported the sweeping health care changes that passed the U.S. House of Representatives Sunday night.

Murfreesboro Democrat Bart Gordon is one of the new “yes” votes that White House and Democratic leaders can count on when the healthcare bill comes up for a vote in the House.

Congressional Democrats and Republicans have issued competing plans intended to reign in earmark spending. But it remains to be seen whether the U.S. Senate will be willing to go along with any restrictions.

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a $15 billion jobs bill Thursday. Every Democratic congressman from Tennessee and one Republican voted for it.