The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page B1

LOCAL NEWS GAYLORD HOTEL OVER THE YEARS Go online to Tennessean.com to see a slideshow of 35 years of the WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 THETENNESSEAN BREAKING NEWS ON YOUR CELL Text TNNEWS to 44636 (4INFO) for breaking news updates as they happen. Gaylord Opryland Resort. Dean unsure on vouchers Mayor wants to focus on charter schools school district when a state voucher program was on the table last year, hadn't revealed his stance publicly amid the state's latest voucher talks. The nine members who sit on the governor's task force have met over the past 11 months to finalize a report that will recommend what a voucher system in Tennessee might look like. The report's release is expected as SCHOOLS, 6B pointed task force is set to unveil regarding a possible voucher system.

"I think we have a lot of work to do in the charter school area," the mayor added. "We've had a lot of reforms. Some of them need to be tinkered with and improved, and we need to digest them to make them work before we start changing the whole way schools are funded." Dean, who raised concerns about removing public funds from Metro's By Joey Garrison The Tennessean Mayor Karl Dean, one of Nashville's leading backers of publicly financed, privately led charter schools, doesn't have the same support for a state-administered voucher program, he indicated Tuesday in advance of the Tennessee General Assembly's next session. "I do not, by nature, at this point support vouchers," Dean told an audience gathered for a luncheon sponsored by the Nashville chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, stressing he still doesn't want to "prejudge" findings a Gov. Bill Haslam-ap- Karl Dean is skeptical on vouchers.

SCHOOL WINS NFL GRANT DesJarlais hit with ethics complaint Watchdog group says lawmaker blatantly lied about call to mistress By Paul C. Barton Tennessean Washington Bureau WASHINGTON A watchdog group Tuesday filed a complaint against Rep. Scott DesJarlais with the Office of Congressional Ethics, accusing him of "blatantly lying" about a telephone conversation with a former patient and mistress before he was re-elected Nov. 6. In making its filing, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington referred to the October release of a transcript of a telephone call that DesJarlais, a licensed physician in Tennessee since 1993, had with a female patient more than 10 years ago in which he urged her to have an abortion, concerned she might be pregnant Titans tight end Jared Cook (89) skips rope with Sycamore Middle School eighth-grader Michael Otts during an NFL Play 60 event Tuesday, photos by george walker iv the tennessean Fitness a game-changer DesJarlais Sycamore Middle welcomes Titans players, $10,000 grant with his child.

DesJarlais said he had no knowledge that the call had been recorded and blamed the media for getting that wrong. But another transcript, that of his 2001 divorce proceedings, shows DesJarlais acknowledged recording the call in an effort to discern whether the mistress and patient was indeed pregnant, CREW said as part of a 44-page complaint. The divorce transcript also shows that the woman testified under oath that she was pregnant "and was fairly confident that DesJarlais was the father," CREW said. But she has refused to disclose the DESJARLAIS, 4B Go to Tennessean.com to read previous coverage on Rep. Scott DesJarlais.

By Randy Moomaw Gannett Tennessee PLEASANT VIEW Sycamore Middle School Principal Lisa Young was all smiles Tuesday afternoon. She had a good reason to be happy, because the Pleasant View school was the recipient of a $10,000 national NFL Play 60 Super School grant. The grant was awarded to 34 schools throughout the country, with one school in each NFL market and two at-large winners. Sycamore was selected as the Tennessee Titans' winner. Schools were judged by their show of NFL pride and demonstrated commitment to youth health and wellness.

Winners of the contest were chosen by the NFL. "Seeing the enthusiasm of these kids for something that promotes a positive outlook and healthy lifestyle is worth it," said Young, noting she was HEALTHY, 4B Sycamore Middle School eighth-grader Christopher Alonso waves a Titans flag as he cheers for Titans players visiting the school. Council is still missing the point on health benefit ill right? The council can't do a thing about what goes on in Legislative Plaza. But they can clean up their own shop. Others who voted to keep the perk say Claiborne's approach to maintain it for this group but forbid it down the road is "hypocritical," and they are right.

Yet not one of them has stepped up and filed legislation to stop this blasted system once and for all. This has been one of the better Metro Councils on most things. But not on this. On this issue, it's quite simple: This isn't just about money. It's about morality.

Gail Kerr's column runs on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. She can be reached at 615-259-8085 or gkerr tennessean. com. The Metro Council still doesn't get it. Taxpayers do not want to keep paying for their health insurance until they die.

Anything short of putting a screeching halt to this perk is failure. Councilman Phil Claiborne, who lost at his attempt to remove the health care for life benefit for future council members and their spouses, is going to try again. But instead of filing legislation that removes the perk entirely, now and down the road, he's floating a bill that would make future council members pay more for lifetime health insurance. While he should be commended for trying, his new bill still misses the point which is a simple one. Part-time citizen council them don't).

Over time, an actuary study said this perk will cost taxpayers $10 million. It is fair and right that council members should be offered Metro's health care plan while they are serving in office. And, an argument can be made that it is also fair and right that former council members be grandfathered in and allowed to keep their health insurance. But starting now, this council should take a stand. Once they leave office, health insurance should leave with them.

Start with yourselves and end this unfair gravy train now. The law dates back to the 1990s, when the council voted to give any member who has served eight years health care for life, at a cost of 25 percent of the premi um to the council member and 75 percent to taxpayers. Claiborne's original bill would have removed the perk for future council members but kept it for themselves (a month after cutting the pension benefits of future city employees). It failed, 23 to 14, and the council is getting hammered over it. His new bill would shift the cost.

Future council members would pay 75 percent of premiums for life, and taxpayers, 25 percent. Current council members could opt out if they wanted. A chicken approach if ever there was one. Some council members who voted to keep health care for life argue that state legislators enjoy better perks than council members. So two wrongs now make a members should not receive any taxpayer-subsidized benefit for the rest of their lives.

It's just plain wrong. Claiborne hangs his argument on reducing the cost of government. It costs taxpayers $300,000 a year to provide health care to the 32 retired council members, their spouses and current council members who opted in (all of REPORT NEWS 259-8068 OR FAX 259-8093 OR E-MAIL LOCALTENNESSEAN.COM EVENT LISTINGS NOWPLAYINGNASHVILLE.COM For a limited time only Jumbo 10-12 oz. Maine Lobster Tail 31.99 18 oz. New York Strip Steak 31.99 6 Colossal Sea Scallops 27.99 STONEjYRrVEft LEGENDARY STEAKS Limited Time Offerl $20 off Dinner Enjoy $20 OFF with the purchase of two dinner entrees Expires 1 2091 2.

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