Hello, this is State Senator Paul Bailey coming to you from Nashville with another capitol update. Last week Governor Bill Lee delivered his State of the State address and present his budget proposals to the General Assembly.

His proposed budget continues Tennessee strong fiscal responsibility, promotes job growth and improvements to education, expands real opportunities and enhances public safety.

I look forward to working with Governor Lee in the coming weeks to consider his proposals and pass a strong budget that works for all Tennesseans and specifically, focuses on rural economic development.

Legislation I’m sponsoring to aid firefighters who have gotten cancer as a result of their employment passed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee last week. The bill creates a presumption that any conditions or impairments of full-time firefighters caused by certain cancers occurred while on the job and establishes Workers Compensation benefits.

A High school classmate of mine Barry Brady, who was a captain in the Sparta Fire Department was diagnosed one year ago with colon cancer as a result of his over 27 years of service to our community.

There is indisputable evidence that firefighters experienced cancer at much higher rates than the general public. The brave men and women who selflessly keep our community safe while fighting fires deserve everything we can do to help them, especially with insurance coverage for condition suffered on the job.

This bill seeks to help them get this needed and much deserved assistance. It is the least we can do. This bill will now advance to the Finance Ways and Means Committee for a vote before being considered by the full Senate.

I look forward to keeping you updated on legislative issues in the coming weeks. And if you haven’t liked my Facebook page, I encourage you to do so at Paul Bailey for Senate.

As always if you have any questions, please contact me at the information on your screen below. And don’t forget to encourage someone today. And until next time, this is Paul Bailey with your capitol update.