capitolhillconnection

Governor Phil Bredesen is flying over West and Middle Tennessee to see the impact of flood damage the historic weekend rains. He’s expected to request federal help in the next 24 hours.

Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker helped delay the debate over reforming the nation’s financial system Monday. Democrats failed to get the 60 votes needed to begin discussion on the bill.

A new report says almost half of Tennessee’s young adults are too obese to qualify for military service. The study, by a group of retired military officials, warned members of Congress that the nationwide trend is a threat to national security.

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.