WSJ: GOP's Business Backers Fight NRA Push to Let Employees Leave Firearms in Cars

Gun Showdown at Work

GOP's Business Backers Fight NRA Push to Let Employees Leave Firearms in Cars

By JOE PALAZZOLO,WSJ, Nov. 30th, 2012- Gun legislation in some Southern states is forcing Republican lawmakers to choose between two core values of their party: the right of business owners to control what happens on their property and people's Second Amendment right to bear arms.
.....
When Republican Debra Maggart, a staunch supporter of the gun group over her seven-year career in the Tennessee House of Representatives, decided with other members of her party to hold up a parking-lot bill introduced by Democratic Rep. Eddie Bass this year, she felt the consequences. The NRA spent tens of thousands of dollars on attack ads against Ms. Maggart, the only member of Republican leadership to face a primary challenge. One NRA flier declared: "Debra Maggart wants to shred your Second Amendment rights."

Ms. Maggart said she opposed the bill because it encompassed properties such as day-care centers and colleges. "They singled me out to bully our caucus into voting for a poorly written piece of legislation."

Ms. Maggart, a lifelong NRA member who owns a Remington shotgun, ultimately lost to the NRA-backed candidate by 971 votes in the primaries in August.

For more on this issue see:
 Judd Matheny dumped as speaker pro tem
 NRA-PVF Endorses Debra Maggart's challenger for Tennessee House District 45 
Thinking about the guns in trunks issue again 
Speaker Harwell on “guns-in-parking-lots”  
why-is-courtney-rogers-lying-to-you.

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Congressman Duncan Will Chair Sen. Alexander’s 2014 Re-election Campaign

Co-chairs are Gov. Haslam, Sen. Corker, Lt. Gov. Ramsey, Speaker Harwell and Congressmen Blackburn, Roe, Black, Fincher and Fleischmann 

“Lamar is a good Republican and good conservative who stands up for Tennesseans. We know and trust him to do what needs to be done.” – Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr.

Tennessee Republican Party, NASHVILLE—Sen. Lamar Alexander told members of the Republican State Executive Committee here today that Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., will chair his 2014 re-election campaign.

Alexander also announced that campaign honorary co-chairs will be Gov. Bill Haslam, Sen. Bob Corker, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, House Speaker Beth Harwell, along with Congressmen Marsha Blackburn, Phil Roe, Diane Black, Stephen Fincher and Chuck Fleischmann.

At press conferences with Alexander in Nashville and Knoxville, Duncan said, “Lamar is a good Republican and good conservative who stands up for Tennesseans. We know and trust him to do what needs to be done.” 

Alexander said, “Jimmy Duncan is a strong conservative voice for fiscal discipline. I am grateful that he will chair my campaign and that so many of the state’s other Republican leaders will be honorary co-chairmen.”

“Our country has serious problems to solve,” Alexander said. “We must fix the debt and move more decisions out of Washington. We must find better ways to help Americans move from the back of the line to the front in our struggling economy. It is time to stop making speeches and to start getting results.”

Alexander will be seeking his third six-year term in the United States Senate. His colleagues have elected him three times as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. In the next Congress, he will be the senior Republican on committees concerning education, health, and energy appropriations.

Alexander has served two terms as Tennessee’s governor and was chairman of the National Governors Association. He was chairman of President Reagan’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, President of the University of Tennessee and President George H.W. Bush’s Secretary of Education.

In private life, he and his wife, Honey, helped found what has become the nation’s largest provider of worksite day care.

The Alexanders have four children and six grandchildren. He is a Presbyterian elder.

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Public Hearing on BL2012-301

From: The Nashville Libertarian Party Meetup Group

Please come and speak against BL2012-301.  This is very bad legislation.

Vastland Companies owns a 4.5-acre parcel in Nashboro Village.  They purchased the land as a part of undeveloped parcels in Nashboro Village about 15 years ago.   Vastland Companies has built roughly 750 housing units under the existing PUD plan.  The Metro Planning Commission found the existing PUD should continue to be implemented as it was adopted.

BL2012-301 seeks to take away the property rights of our owners and investors without any offer of compensation.  This bill would overrule the Planning Commission and its professional staff, along with the entire process of orderly, planned development that allows for quality growth in Nashville.  Adoption of BL2012-301 will cost a Nashville business hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars. BL2012-301 also sends a message to Nashville's development community that developers cannot count on this Council and our city to protect private property rights, even when a developer plays by the rules, meets all the city's requirements and does its best to help create a better community.  BL2012-301 violates the Planning Commission’s own rules and was unanimously disapproved by the planning commission.

Vastland Companies has a pending offer on this property for a three-story development containing 96 units.  This is a 50% reduction in the height that is currently allowed and a one-third reduction in the number of allowable units.  Yet this offer was rejected by Councilwoman Johnson and the other supporters of BL2012-301.    Vastland Companies has even offered to sell the property to the city or homeowners' association at fair market value.  If they have better ideas for how to develop the property Vastland Companies is open to that option.  They have had no offers close to market value.

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Alexander names leadership for 3rd Senate bid

Alexander names leadership for 3rd Senate bid

Dec 01, 2012. WKRN, Nashville-Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has announced the leadership team for his re-election campaign for a third term, taking a step likely designed to dissuade speculation that the 72-year-old may be nearing retirement. More>>

 

Some tea-party-type, Rino hunting purist have turned on Alexander and think he should be challenged for the nomination. I am sticking with Lamar. I still have my red plaid flannel shirt. Rod

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Update on what's on the Council Agenda for 12/4/2012

You can get your own copy of the Metro council meeting agenda at this link: Metro Council Agenda. From the agenda you can link to the analysis.

Council meetings can be really, really boring if you don't know what the Council is voting on. With an agenda and analysis, they are just really boring.

Bills on public hearing: Bills on public hearing are usually zoning bills and interest to no one except the immediate neighbors of the proposed rezoning, but code text changes and some other things may also be on public hearing, which can be important. There is one resolution on public hearing concerning the minimum distance for a beer permit and thirteen bills on public hearing. Below are some bills of interest on public hearing .

One of the bills (BL2012-291) amends the code changing the definition of “recycling facility” to clarify that the conversion of material into a fuel product or asphalt is not a permitted function as part of a recycling facility.

Ordinance BL2012-292 amend the code to permit home recording studios to have up to ten clients, customers, musicians, or other visitors come to the property per day. Currently they are only allowed to have one visitor. This being Music City, we should be friendly to the music industry. This seems like a reasonable bill.

Councilman Karen Johnson has several bills concerning Nashboro Village. I have not bothered to fully understand them fully, but anything having to do with Nashboro Village can create controversy. One of the bills would change property zoned residential to a commercial zoning. One would change property now zoned residential to allow a day care facility. It also would change the zoning to allow only a two-story house instead of a four-story as currently zoned. Councilman Johnson apparently is attempting to rezone this against the wishes of the owner, which the Council seldom does. (Read more about this.)

BL2012-313 adds provisions to the code to ensure that the Metropolitan Government is providing adequate accommodations to persons and organizations under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Basically, if I understand this, it says we will not enforce our zoning ordinances that are inconsistent with the fair housing act or RLUIPA. The impact of this is that we cannot use local zoning to stop someone from building a group home in a neighborhood. That could be a group home for people that are disabled, such as a drug rehab home or home for the mentally challenged. These type homes often run into neighborhood opposition.

There are fourteen resolutions, all of which are on the consent agenda. A resolution is on the consent agenda if it passed the committees to which it was assigned unanimously. Bills on the consent agenda are usually not controversial and tend to be routine matters, such as accepting grants from the Federal or State Government or authorizing the Department of Law to settle claims against the city or appropriating money from the 4% fund. However, sometimes things that should be controversial do slip through on the consent agenda, most often bills endorsing some national liberal policy such as urging strict enforcement of the EPA’s regulation of Co2, or bills praising students for demonstrating in favor of gay rights.

Resolutions on the consent agenda are passed by a single voice vote of the Council rather than being considered individually. If one is present and does not ask to be recorded voting "no" then they are assumed to have voted "aye." However, any member of the body may have a bill pulled off of the consent agenda.

Resolution No. RS2012-488 on the consent agenda is part of the sweetheart deal with HCA and that provides $500 per new HCA employee, employed at the new HCA facility to be build on West End.

SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-489 is another bill which is part of the HCA deal. It appropriates a million dollars to the HCA deal. The justification for this is that the corporate relocation of HCA is going to create jobs and those jobs are likely to be filled by individuals residing in the “pocket of poverty.” The pocket of poverty includes the proposed HCA West End development site. This site is just west of Union Station Hotel, just north of Music Row and just northeast a couple blocks from Vanderbilt University. Maybe some of the people who will go to work at the new HCA headquarters will be Vandy graduates, so maybe they are residents of this “pocket of poverty.” I don’t know.

If I was an inquisitive Council member I would want to know the boundaries of this "pocket of poverty." I would want to know if this is money that was supposed to combat poverty but is instead being used to subsidize a well-connected wealthy company that is not likely to hire any really poor people.

None of the other resolutions on the consent agenda appear controversial.

Bills on First reading almost always pass. They are considered as a group and are seldom discussed. First reading is a formality that allows the bill to be considered. Bills are not assigned to committee or analyzed by council staff until after they have passed first reading. Here are bills of interests on first reading.

BILL NO. BL2012-320 by Councilman Claiborne is a follow up to his recent failed attempt to end lifetime subsidized health insurance for future former council members. This bill would not end it but would drastically reduce the subsidy. (read more)

Bills on Second Reading: It is on Second reading, after bills have been to committee, that discussion usually takes place. Below are bills of interest on second reading.

BILL NO. BL2012-293 is Councilman Duane Dominy’s bill that would require the fair board to issue a request for information (RFI) to gauge interest from the private sector to see if there is a private sector investors that would be willing to preserve our Fairgrounds for current uses and improve the fairgrounds if given a Twenty-Five (25) year lease. I happened to know that there is, in fact. at least one entity that would like to take over and preserve and improve the fairgrounds. The deck is being stacked to destroy the fairgrounds. This bill needs to pass. Those who want to save the fairgrounds should turn out in force to support this bill, but I don't know of any effort to encourage a big turnout. For more on this issue see here and here.

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-314 provides for a one-time early retirement incentive to employees of the Metropolitan Government eligible to retire before February 28, 2013. The incentive would be a one-time payment of $700 for each year of employment with the Metropolitan Government. As I understand it, metro cannot effectively reorganize and restructure because there are employees in jobs that need to be abolished, combined or redesigned. Also these are the more highly paid Metro employees. If these position were vacant, metro would have more flexibility to restructure and replace higher paid employees with employees with a lower starting salary. This seems to make sense.

Bills on Third Reading: Third Reading is the final reading. If a bill passes third reading it becomes law unless it is vetoed by the Mayor, which has only rarely happened. Below are the bills of interest on third reading.

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-Bill 294 by Councilman Duane Dominy simply brings a minimum level of accountability and oversight to the purchasing process. This is a bill to watch. It would require all sole-source contracts over $250,000 be approved by the council. Last meeting, after having been defeated in the B & F committee, it passed the Council by a vote of 23 "ayes," and 14 "nos." If this passes, one of the few sole source contracts that would have to come before the council is the city's contract with the Chamber of Commerce for the Partnership 2020 program.

Partnership 2020 is a public-private partnership developed by the chamber whose purpose is to recruit new businesses to the Nashville area. Metro’s appropriation for this program in recent years has been $300,000 a year. While the program serves a ten county area, Metro funds a greater share of the program than the other nine counties combined. Many feel that Metro funds the program, yet the bulk of new relocations to the Nashville area go to surrounding counties. The Chamber has an enormous amount of influence over some council members. It was a tremendous feat that Dominy was able to get this bill through second reading. See if he can push it over the finish line.

BILL NO. BL2012-295 establishing rules for handling the eggs and keeping chickens on school property. On second reading it caused several members take to the floor to speak. However, the bill passed by voice vote so I doubt it will be debated on third reading, but this is a bill of which to be aware. I know it sounds unimportant and boring but apparently it is the basis of some discord between Council members Charlie Tygard and Bo Mitchell. I don't know the real story of what this is all about.

BILL NO. BL2012-297 is part of the HCA sweetheart deal. To learn more about this, see what happened in the B & F committee and what happened on second reading.

There are no memorializing resolutions on the agenda.

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Calling all Supporters! The Fairgrounds Still Needs You!

From Save Our Fairgrounds.com:

Calling all Supporters! 

The Fairgrounds Still Needs You! 

We need your help! There is a Bill being introduced in the Metro Council which is seeking potential investors willing to preserve our Fairgrounds for current uses if given a Twenty-Five (25) year lease.

This Bill will not impact the Master Plan which is underway. We have no control over the Master Plan process. However, the passage of this bill will give us some options to preserve the property with no tax payer dollars as the council considers the fairground's future in the coming months. As supporters of the fairgrounds, we want too ensure our fairgrounds have a bright future!

Please contact your District Councilmember and each of the 5 Council-at-Large members and ask them to support Council Bill 2012-293 on Tuesday, December 4th! You can find a list of council members email address and phone numbers by visiting http://nashville.gov/council/council_roster.asp or you can send an email to all the council members asking them to support the bill at councilmembers@nashville.gov.

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Gov. Jan Brewer rejects state-run health exchange for Ariz.

Brewer rejects state-run health exchange for Ariz.

www.newstimes.com

PHOENIX (AP) â Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has decided against creating a state-run health insurance ex...

 

OK Governor Haslam, it is time to get off the fence an announce you have decided against creating a state-run Obamacare insurance exchange. 

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Krauthammer On Fiscal Cliff Negotiations: "Republicans Ought To Simply Walk Away"

Krauthammer On Fiscal Cliff Negotiations: "Republicans Ought To Simply Walk Away"

www.realclearpolitics.com

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: It's not just a bad deal, this is really an insulting deal. What Geithner offer...

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Forward! Hold on tight! We are going over a Cliff!

I had thought that a little flexibility on the part of Republicans was called for in order to avoid the tax increases and economic damage associated with the so-called “fiscal Cliff.” I was pleased to see Senator Bob Corker float a proposal for raising revenue combined with entitlement reform.

I hoped that by allowing a small amount of revenue enhancement, that we could still hold firm on tax rates and get a significant spending cut. Allowing some revenue enhancement, I thought, would allow the President and the Democrats to save face and deal with the financial crisis, which I thought all people of goodwill really wanted to do.

I could not have been more wrong in my expectation of the President response to this offer at compromise. He has proposed a whopping $1.6 trillion in new taxes, $50 billion in new spending, and no real cuts. His “cuts” are double counting and sleight of hand tricks and vague promises of future cuts. Instead of moving closer together, he has moved the goal post off the field. He has absolutely no intention of cutting spending. He has not made an offer; he has lobbed an insult. Republicans should refuse to return his phone calls. The House should adjourn for the holidays.

Buckle up! hold on tight! Let’s just go over the Cliff together and to hell with it! 

(For more on the President's proposal and the Republican reaction, read this Washington Post story.) 

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Transportation Solutions for Neighborhoods Conference!

From The Neighborhood Resource Center:

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT:

• How MTA bus routes are determined? 
• What MTA's Five-Year Plan means for your area?
• Special transportation projects for neighborhoods? 
• Traffic problems, traffic calming and sidewalks? 
• Finding day care, jobs and transportation?
• Special transportation for youth? For elderly? Info on AccessRide? 
• The East-West Connector and YOUR neighborhood? 

THEN JOIN US at the

Transportation Solutions for Neighborhoods Conference! 

Saturday, December 1st 8:30 am to 2:00 pm 

Neighborhoods Resource Center 1312 3rd Ave North Nashville TN, 37208 

No cost to attend – but you must RSVP!
Space is limited! RSVP to Melissa Gordon at mgordon@tnrc.net or 615-782-8212

Disclaimer: From time to time A Disgruntled Republican may post announcements of interest to the conservative, libertarian, or greater community. Such announcements are posted as a public service to spread awareness and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement. 

The United-Way-funded Neighborhood Resource Center is a Saul-Alinsky-type organization with an obvious liberal bias, yet they often provide quality education programs and training that would benefit any citizen activist regardless of political orientation. 

Liberal most often are successful in advocating for more expansive government and programs that result in a more wasteful inefficient government because they are better at laying the groundwork for what they want and learning out to influence the system. A citizen activist who would like to advocate for more free market approaches to transportation services or influence the future of mass transit in Nashville would benefit by attending this meeting.

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The Electoral College: Time to Scrap It?

A Debate sponsored by Conservative Fusion.

Gene Wisdom changed the date and time for The Electoral College: Time to Scrap It? 
New date and time: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 7:00 PM

Click here to see the latest changes: http://www.meetup.com/ConservativeFusion/events/91884112/

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Should TN set up its own Obamacare health insurance exchange? vote in the poll

The future of a Tennessee health exchange

Gov. Bill Haslam is still weighing whether the state should set up its own health insurance exchange under Obamacare or allow the feds to set one up. How should he decide?

Follow this link to vote in this Nashville Business Journal poll.

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Marsha Blackburn to to serve as Vice Chair of House Energy and Commerce Committee

Press release, Washington, Nov 28 - Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today was selected by Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) to serve as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction over health care, energy regulation, manufacturing, and telecommunications issues.

“I am honored to have been chosen by Chairman Upton to serve as Vice Chair on the House Energy and Commerce Committee,” Blackburn said.  “As we get down to business in the 113th Congress, issue number one will be jobs and the economy. There is a simple formula that works every time: less taxation plus less litigation plus less regulation equals more innovation and job creation.

“I look forward to leading the efforts of my colleagues on the committee as we continue our fight to protect job creators from harmful and economically destructive regulations and identify opportunities to put Americans back to work.”

“Congressman Blackburn has been a rising star since she first arrived in Congress and I’m pleased to see that she has accepted an increased leadership role," said Speaker John Boehner. "Congressman Blackburn’s experience in helping shape energy, healthcare, communications and manufacturing policy will serve Chairman Upton well as the House Energy and Commerce Committee plays an influential role in restoring stability to our economic foundation. It’s important that our conference elevates valued members who work tirelessly for American taxpayers and Congressman Blackburn is without question deserving of such recognition.”

Congratulation Marsha Blackburn, Rod

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National Review: Sen. Bob Corker's Fiscal Cliff Agenda

Some Republicans are ready to throw Bob Corker over a cliff due to his plan to avoid the fiscal cliff. You know who they are: the loud-mouth bombastic talk show host and locally, those who think all other Republicans are "Republican-in-name-only" and that they and their little group of friends are the only real Republicans left.

Well, National Review, founded by William F. Buckley Jr.,which has been the leading publication advocating conservative policies and articulating conservative ideas for over sixty years is complimentary of Bob Corker's plan.  Only the uninformed or idiots could accuse National Review of being part of the liberal RINO establishment.

Here is what National Review has to say about Bob Corker's proposed debt reduction plan.

National Review: Sen. Bob Corker's Fiscal Cliff Agenda: "Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) has outlined a debt reduction proposal in a Washington Post op-ed that [is] certainly very attractive… I think that this is a solid negotiating position for congressional Republicans…Corker has outlined a number of smart, politically viable entitlement reform ideas, and it is essential that any tax compromise be tied to structural entitlement reform.”

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Corker Calls for Fiscal Reform Before End of Year

In an op-ed in Monday's Washington Post and in several television appearances, Senator Bob Corker urged members of Congress from both parties and the White House to negotiate a fiscal reform plan, that raises additional revenue without raising tax rates and that restores solvency to Social Security and Medicare, before the end of the year. 

In the Washington Post, Corker wrote: "I have shared with House and Senate leaders as well as the White House a 242-page bill that, along with other agreed-upon cuts that are to be enacted, would produce $4.5 trillion in fiscal reforms and replace sequestration. While I know this bill can be improved, it shows clearly that we can do what is necessary, today, with relatively simple legislation... The challenge we face isn’t one of intellect, aptitude or time; it’s a test of political courage.” (read more)

On CBS's "This Morning," Corker said: "The fact is, again, we have all the information we need. No Congress is more informed. We created this fiscal cliff. We should solve it…And as long as we have two parties who are willing to do this and have the courage to address these issues, we can do this over the next three or four weeks with ease. And I hope that’s what’s going to happen."

 

Corker on CNBC's "Squawk Box": Fiscal Reform "Just Takes Courage"



My comment:  I agree with those who say we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. I don't want to see any increase in taxes. However, we are facing a crisis. If the crisis is not resolved, we may suffer more from a lowering of the US bond rating and another recession than we do from a slight increase in tax revenue.  And, we should not ignore that if we do nothing, taxes do increase when we go over the "fiscal cliff." To allow the automatic year-end tax increases and spending cuts to occur is to allow a tax increase.  The effect of inaction, is a vote for a tax increase. 

If we can negotiate and get a lot of spending cuts for a little revenue enhancement without raising the tax rates, then that is better than having the automatic tax increase that will occur with the fiscal cliff. Senator Corker's plan deserves consideration. We do not have to commit economic suicide.

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The 11/27/12 School Board Meeting

If you can wait, I will watch it and highlight the important parts and provide a little commentary. Check back for an update.

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Rep. Sherry Jones looking at Tennessee Democratic Party chairmanship

 Rep. Sherry Jones looking at Tennessee Democratic Party chairmanship
 The Tennessean, November 28th, 2012 | by Michael Cass 

State Rep. Sherry Jones, fresh off a big re-election victory, said today that she’s now considering running for the chairmanship of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

“I certainly have the experience,” Jones said. “I have the campaign experience, the fund-raising experience, the people experience to do the things that need to be done for the party.......

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The new December 4, 2012 Metro Council meeting agenda

The new December 4, 2012 Metro Council meeting agenda is now available. You can find the agenda at the link:
Metro Council Agenda

If you can wait, I will read if for you and tell you what is important that is on the agenda. If you just can't wait, here it is.

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Tonight! Totally Transparent Pizza Party and Liberty on the Rocks

From TnReports

A tasty night of training in how to slice away government secrecy!

Panel Includes Tennessee's Top Open Records Experts

• Kent Flanagan, Director of Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
• Trent Seibert, TNReport.com News Service
• Elisha Hodge, JD, Open Records Counsel, State of Tennessee

TNReport is thankful for our event cosponsor, the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government.

Additional sponsors include:

• The Beacon Center of Tennessee 
• Total Consulting Strategies

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Mafiaoza's 2400 12th Ave S
 Please contact Nicole Williams for more information, Nicole@tnreport.com.

Liberty on the Rocks meeting to follow
Immediately following the Transparency seminar, there will be a  Liberty on the Rocks meeting. LOR is social opportunity to meet and talk with other conservatives and libertarians. There is no program. It is just a chance to drink and socialize with like-minded people. We have some pretty good conversations.

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Lt. Gov. Ramsey discusses Opportunity Scholarships

Lt. Gov. Ramsey says time has come for parents to have a choice, particularly for those with children in failing schools.

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Vote now in the 2012 Lump of Coal Award poll! | Beacon Center of Tennessee

Who is the most irresponsible and/or wasteful public figure?

Vote now in the 2012 Lump of Coal Award poll! | Beacon Center of Tennessee www.beacontn.org Help Beacon award its annual dubious distinction to the person or group who, more than any other ove... The candidates are: Finalist #1: Wendy Askins, Upper Cumberland Development District Finalist #2: Nashville Mayor Karl Dean Finalist #3: Chattanooga Electric Power Board Finalist #4: Former Davidson County Clerk John Arriola  Wow! some good choices. As much as I would like to vote for Dean or Arriola, I think I am going to have to go with Wendy Askins. I followed that story closely and also read the Investigative Audit Report.  The cynical abuse of authority and thievery in that case is appalling and just unbelievable. She lived the opulent lifestyle at tax payers expense taking money intended for poor elderly. I am going to have to vote for Wendy Askins.  Rod

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Metro Council to reconsider cutting lifetime health benefit

Metro Council to reconsider cutting lifetime health benefit

The Tennessean, by Joey Garrison, Nov 27, 2012 -Fresh off a controversial vote that continued heavily subsidized lifetime health benefits for its successors, the Metro Council will soon consider legislation that would dramatically curtail the perk.

Councilman Phil Claiborne, whose bill to end health insurance for most future two-term council members went down in defeat this month by a 23-14 vote, told The Tennessean he plans to file an ordinance today that would instead reduce Metro government’s financial obligation by two-thirds.
DATABASE: Metro employees' salaries FULL ARTICLE »

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Bomb Threats Evacuate 15 County Courthouses

Bomb Threats Evacuate 15 County Courthouses
Bomb threats have evacuated 15 county courthouses across the mid-state on Tuesday.
more>>

I wonder what is behind this? Who is responsible? This has got to be more than kids having fun. 

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Judd Matheny dumped as speaker pro tem

In a secret ballot today, the Republican Caucus voted to replace Judd Matheny from his second-in-command post in the House.  They  replaced him with Rep. Curtis Johnson of Clarksville. Since Republicans have a super majority, the Caucus decision is tantamount to the election.  The vote was by secret ballot and vote totals were not made public, so no one knows whether Matheny lost by a single vote or a landslide.

Back in August, Matheny was threatening to mount a campaign to run against Speaker Beth Harwell for her post as Speaker of the House.  Matheny is associated with the more extreme elements of the tea party. They are not necessarily more conservative than other Republicans, but tend to be dogmatic and are prone to embrace conspiracy theories. They helped engineer the defeat of  Debra Maggart in her Republican primary race this year.

Much of the funding for this faction comes from Andrew Miller, a wealthy man who made his fortune in the health care industry. This faction is supportive of the guns-in-parking-lots bill and is concerned about what they see as the spread of Sharia law in Tennessee. Miller heads a group called Tennessee Freedom Coalition which supported various candidates in the primary. He is also a supporter of Lou Ann Zelenik, the anti Muslim zealot, who has tried several times to unseat Republican Representative Diane Black.

Earlier this year when the Department of Economic and Community Development hired a very qualified Tennessee native by the name of Samar Ali, who happened to be a Muslim, the Tennessee Freedom Coalition and the 9-12 group and others expressed angry opposition to Haslam. The 9-12 group took a full-page, $5000 ad in the Tennessean to denounce Haslam and several county parties passed resolutions condemning the hiring of Ms Ali. They feared her employment was a first step to imposing Sharia law in Tennessee. (To learn more about this go here, and here.)

Last year Matheny was the sponsor of a bill that would criminalize the practice of Sharia. Originally the bill was so broadly written that it would have criminalized the most benign of Muslim religious practices. The bill passes after it was rewritten and so watered down that it was pretty much meaningless and would do no harm nor good.

While Speaker pro tem really doesn't do much, and while one should not read too much into this leadership change, I think it is a positive signal that the legislature will more likely focus on important issues such as education reform and economic growth rather than fighting phantom issues such as expansion of gun rights, Agenda 21, and Sharia law.

Compiled from various news sources. To learn more, see here, here and here.

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Beth Harwell wins Unopposed In House GOP Leadership Vote

Harwell Unopposed In House GOP Leadership Vote
House Speaker Beth Harwell is unopposed for another nomination in charge of the lower chamber of the General Assembly as she heads into Monday's Republican leadership vote.
more>>
  
Beth run unopposed in the Republican Caucus and was the caucus choice for Speaker and with a Republican super majority winning the Republican choice is tantamount to election. 

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THDA Chief Grilled for 'Employee Appreciation' Spending

THDA Chief Grilled for 'Employee Appreciation' Spending

Nashville Public Radio State

lawmakers are taking the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to task for ... THDA's new director appeared before the Fiscal Review Committee Monday.

My comment: no comment

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Gov. Bill Haslam at 1st Tuesday Dec. 4th

from Tim Skow

 "Ladies & Gentlemen, the Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam"

Yes, Governor Bill Haslam is coming as our Speaker on Tuesday,  December 4th.

If you want to know where TN is going during the next Legislative Session, I'm sure he will tell us.  And.. NO DOUBT, our noted Q&A Session will be extremely insightful !!   

This VERY special event WILL SELL OUT !

Many of you have already paid 2013 MEMBER dues and got this notice a bit early.  If you haven't done so yet, you can do so via the website now and take advantage of the 2013 MEMBER price for lunch. Please know we will open up seating on a "1st come .. 1st serve" basis after close-of-business on Monday. Once we have pre-sold ALL the seats that our Hosts - Waller/Lansden - now allow, I will have to start a waiting list.

If your schedule allows, please plan to join us at 11:00AM - when we will open the doors for "Coffee & Social time".  With the crowd we will have, there will be many also attending you will want to catch up with !

As usual, we will meet at The Law Offices of Waller/Lansden - 511 Union Street -27th floor.  Remember:  Waller's parking garage is still being worked on, so please plan to find alternate parking for now.

Lunch from Alexander's Catering becomes available at 11:30AM and is now $20 for 2013 MEMBERS....  $25 for Guests ...  and $30 for anyone showing at the door without a prepaid RSVP - [ should we have any room left which is not likely].  

[If you are not already a 2013 MEMBER .. but wish to become one.. or are the Guest of a 2013 MEMBER... let me encourage you to visit our website at www.1sttuesdaynashville.com promptly. There you can REGISTER on the right side of the Front Page by leaving your Name, Phone & Email address. Going forward you will automatically get 1ST TUESDAY invites, updates and the coming commentaries from prior 1ST TUESDAY speakers. You can also prepay lunch.. be it as a 2013 MEMBER or as a GUEST by clicking on "Shopping Cart"

If you haven't already paid them, and would like your 2013 MEMBER dues to go to the NRW Toy Drive - let me know.. and we will hook up accordingly !

I look forward to hearing from you right about aDEC 4th with Gov. Bill Haslam!

Please join us at 11;00AM .. or as close to it as your schedule allows !

Thanks,

Tim Skow

Host of 1ST TUESDAY

Top Stories

Brad Staats arrested on assault charge

Congressional candidate Brad Staats arrested on assault charge

by Michael Cass, The Tennessean, Nov 26, 2012 -Less than three weeks after completing a losing bid for Congress, Republican nominee Brad Staats was arrested on a domestic assault charge after allegedly slapping his wife, Bethany. (link)  

My Comment 
I am having a hard time believing this.  I don't know them well, but I have interacted with them some in the campaign.  They seem so much in love and seemed to be such a model family.  They had a new baby born just days before the election. 

I know the current wisdom is to always to believe the charge in a case like this. I am going to withhold judgement and assume the accused is innocent until proven guilty. 

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Thousands of cancer patients are being denied access to better treatment

Is this be likely future of American health care?

Thousands 'not getting the best cancer treatment because of lack of doctors trained to use latest radiotherapy technology'

• Thousands of cancer patients are being denied access to better treatment because of a lack of trained doctors, according to an ‘alarming’ Government report.

• One in four cancer patients who receive radiotherapy in hospitals would benefit from the latest techniques But only four cancer centres out of 50 in England are currently offering the treatment.

By Jo Macfarlane, dailymail.co.uk, 24 November 2012

One in four cancer patients who receive radiotherapy in hospitals would benefit from the latest techniques, but some hospitals do not offer the treatment or provide it for only 0.1 per cent of sufferers, officials say.

But a Department of Health report found that only four cancer centres out of 50 in England offer the treatment to all those who might benefit, because many specialists are not trained in how to administer it. Read more

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