Dakota Galban (he, him, his), chair of the Davidson County Democratic Party says Jones was "simply speaking up on behalf of victims of gun violence."

by Rod Williams, April 8, 2023- Below is "his" statement in context, from a email newsletter fund raiser.

The actions taken today by the Republican supermajority in the House of Representatives sets a dangerous precedent.

This afternoon, Representative Justin Jones was expelled for simply speaking up on behalf of victims of gun violence. In an instant, the voices of over 70,000 Davidson County residents were silenced on a single party-line vote with no due process.

Democracy in Tennessee must be defended. The Davidson County Democratic Party stands firmly behind Representative Jones and will do all that we can to aid in his re-election to House District 52.

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Ouster of Tennessee Dems catapults lawmakers to national fame and left-wing heroes.

by Rod Williams, April 8, 2023 - The ouster of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for disrupting floor proceedings and leading a demonstration from the floor of the House chamber has made national news and has even been reported by some foreign press. The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, CNN, BBC, the UK's Daily Mail, Vogue, TV networks and hundreds of other news media have covered the story. Almost any news show, newspaper, news magazine or political blog one can think of has covered the story.

The ouster of the three has turned them into martyrs of the left as I feared would happen. (link) Now, they are likely to be reappointed by the legislative body of the county they represented. I fully expect the Metro Council to return Justin Jones. I am unsure if the State House can refuse to seat him if he is appointed to the vacant seat by the Metro Council. While I would have voted with my fellow Republican for ouster were I serving in the House, I am not sure that that was the best course of action. A simple admonition, and censor may have been the best course of action and then if such action occurred again, oust them.

Their behavior was certainly unacceptable, but strategically it might have been preferable to take less drastic action. I tend to think the three house members, while true-believer radicals, exploited a tragedy to make a point and to raise their stature in the progressive community and unfortunately, the House Republicans played right into their hands. 

Below is a sampling of news reportage of the event. 

National Review, April 6: Tennessee House Votes to Expel Two of Three Democrats Involved in Gun-Control Protest. 

“What they did is they hijacked the House floor which has never been done in our history,” Sexton told National Review of the three lawmakers. “They pulled out a bullhorn. They weren’t recognized. They were ruled out of order and they led a protest from the House floor with a bullhorn to those in the balcony. They shut down the proceedings of the House. We had to go into recess due to their actions.”

“They disregarded the Sergeant at Arms asking them to leave the well at multiple occasions and they really didn’t stop yelling in their bullhorn until I had to clear out the balcony because of behavior that was caused blatantly by those three members,” continued Sexton. “Those actions that they did on the House floor deserve expulsion.”

USA Today, Opinion by EJ Montini, Arizona Republic: Anti-‘cancel culture’ Republicans in hiding after expulsion of Tennessee lawmakers.

Politico, April 7: Ouster of Tennessee Dems catapults lawmakers to national political fame. "By kicking out two Black lawmakers from the state legislature, Tennessee Republicans unwittingly made them national heroes of the left while handing Democrats a major fundraising and organizing opportunity."

NPR, April 7: Tennessee House votes to expel 2 of 3 Democratic members over gun protest

The Guardian, April 7: Two Democrats expelled from Tennessee house over gun control protest

Joe Biden and Barack Obama condemn expulsion of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson from Republican-controlled state house ...Joe Biden called the move “shocking, undemocratic and without precedent” in a statement. “Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action'”

Former president Barack Obama joined in the condemnation, tweeting: “This nation was built on peaceful protest. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice – especially when they’re doing it on behalf of our children.”

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Councilman Freddie O'Connell says Rep. Justin Johnson, Rep. Justin Jones, and Rep. Gloria Johnson are, "house members who sought to elevate the urgency of the potential for state action."

by Rod Williams, April 8, 2023- Councilman Freddie O'Connell, a candidate for mayor, in his recent newsletter calls the disruptive actions of Rep. Justin Johnson, Rep. Justin Jones, and Rep. Gloria Johnson, "house members who sought to elevate the urgency of the potential for state action." Here it is in context:

This was Nashville's first mass shooting at a school. May we never have another.

 What has been extraordinary for me to witness has been the response of young people and their parents demanding stronger protections from gun violence from the state legislature. For my part, I hope that the governor and General Assembly can produce a bipartisan red flag law before this session adjourns.What has been extraordinary for me to witness has been the response of young people and their parents demanding stronger protections from gun violence from the state legislature. For my part, I hope that the governor and General Assembly can produce a bipartisan red flag law before this session adjourns.

So far, the state's reaction has included seeking to expel three state house members who sought to elevate the urgency of the potential for state action. 

Below is the video of the House member-led protest: Go to timestamp 47:17 and skip the ad to see the floor-led demonstration. Justin Jones used a bullhorn to lead protestors in chants of "no peace; no justice," "power to the people," and other chants.  It seems he is doing his best to incite a riot.

A democratic legislative body cannot function if protestors interrupt the proceedings and do not allow the body to calmly deliberate. If every member of the body used the chamber to "elevate the urgency of the potential for state action," nothing would get accomplished.  We must have rules of procedure in order to have democratic governance.

Even if you think the vote to oust the House members was strategically unwise or too punitive, to say the three did nothing wrong and were simply "house members who sought to elevate the urgency of the potential for state action," is a mind-blowing defense of anarchy. 

One who has no more respect for the democratic process than O'Connell, certainly does not deserve to be elected mayor. 

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The state House expel three Democratic lawmakers over their actions interrupting a floor session and using a bullhorn to lead chants for gun control. Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, was expelled by a vote of 72 to 25 after 90 minutes of debate. Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, was not expelled after the resolution to oust her failed by one vote. Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, was expelled by a vote of 69 to 26.

by Rod Williams, April 6, 2023 - Above is the full debate on the House resolution to expel Rep. Justin Johnson, Rep. Justin Jones, and Rep. Gloria Johnson. Skip the ad and start at timestamp 28:25.

For the full Tennessean coverage of today's events with more video of action off the floor, including video and pictures follow this link. 

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Where is Andy Ogles?

by Rod Williams, April 5, 2023- Ever since controversy erupted over Congressman Andy Ogles inability to account for funds he raised to develop children's burial garden Congressman Ogles has been keeping a low profile. 

Ogles missed Columbia's Mule Day this year. With roots going back to 1840, Mule day is a really big event in Maury County. It draws upwards of 200,000 people from twenty states and has an economic impact estimated at about $3 million. It is a festival with parades and mule races, and arts and crafts, and beauty contest, and concerts. It is actually a multi-day event and took place this year March 27 thru April 2.

Columbia is the county seat of Maury County and Andy Ogles was mayor of Maury County from 2018 to 2022.  Maury County is in Ogles 5th Congressional District. One would have expected Ogles to be there. Not only did Ogles skip Mule Day, but he also cancelled a recent speaking engagement with Mom's for Liberty.

The recent tragedy of the school shooting in Nashville has knocked almost everything else off the news recently, but Andy Ogles troubles are not going away.  Keeping out of sight is not going to make the story of the missing funds for a memorial burial garden go away.  

The sad story of missing funds raised to develop a memorial burial garden is not Ogles only problem. Ogles has been caught misrepresenting his credentials, his major in college, his employment resume and other questionable things. Some of this can be found here, here, and here. 

Ogles needs to not hide but needs to address the issues. If he cannot, it may be time to resign.

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Tennessee state Sen. Heidi Campbell announces campaign for Nashville mayor

 Tennessee state Sen. Heidi Campbell announces campaign for Nashville mayor

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House moves to oust Justin Jones and two others over disrupting the House proceedings and leading anti-gun protestors in chants from the floor.

 

Representative Justin Jones leads gun control protestors in chants from the House floor.

by Rod Williams, April 4, 2023- Leading a mob in chants with a bullhorn from the floor of the chamber should never be acceptable behavior from a member of the body; the House should be a deliberative body. There should be an expected level of decorum. However, ousting is a drastic step and less severe measures should be taken first. The Speaker should call attention to the behavior of Jones and his colleagues from the podium and admonish them and warn that a repeat of such behavior will result in more drastic action.  

I know Jones is an activist and does not respect decorum. I was once at a Marsha Blackburn event where he disrupted the meeting during the prayer and had to be physically removed from the room. Then there was the time when a House Representative was engaged in dialog with protestors and Justin Jones threw a cup on hot coffee on the Representative.  I understand that the leopard is unlikely to change his spots with a mere warring and admonition from the speaker. 

Still, I would support something less drastic than ouster. To oust him will make him a martyr and a hero to the left. He may become an in-demand radical like Al Sharpton and get his own show on MSNTV and a teaching job at TSU.  I would support a resolution censuring the three and stripping Jones of his committee assignments. 

Of course, I have not had to serve with Jones and legislators may be at the end of their rope in dealing with him.  If in the opinion of fellow House members, he is beyond redemption, then it may be appropriate to oust him. 

If Jones was the only one who used the bullhorn and was the leader of the three and the House determines he must be ousted, maybe only he should be ousted and the other two simply admonished. 

The House should be calmly deliberative before taking action. 

To read more on this issue follow this link, and this link.  Below is a copy of the resolution to oust Jones and two other Representatives from the chamber. 

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Metro Nashville to backstop $150M-$250M of Titans stadium bonds with general fund

By Jon Styf | The Center Square, Mar 30, 2023 - Metro Nashville plans to backstop between $150 million and $250 million of the $760 million in revenue bonds taken out by the Metro Nashville Sports Authority for a new estimated $2.2 billion Tennessee Titans stadium if the deal is approved in April by both the sports authority and the Metro Nashville Council.

Financial details of the deal were presented to the sports authority Tuesday after a similar meeting scheduled for Monday with the city’s finance committee was postponed following the Covenant School shooting that left seven dead.

The backstop was necessary, board members were told, because it would help the bond rating and give additional assurances to investors.

“We’re really proud of that number,” said Metro Nashville Finance Director Kelly Flannery. “It’s a departure from what we’ve done.”

The presentation included details on the $2.9 billion in projected taxes that will go into a fund to pay off the sports authority bonds and pay for capital improvements at the potential stadium, scheduled to open in 2027. Flannery added that the bond market is not moving in a favorable direction.

"Time and market will kill this deal,” she said.

The $2.9 billion tax fund capture includes state and local sales taxes in the stadium and 50% of those in a newly drawn 130 acres around the stadium along with a $3 ticket tax for stadium events and a 1% hotel tax year-round for all of Davidson County.

The sports authority is scheduled to vote on the stadium documents at a 10:30 a.m. special meeting Tuesday at Geodis Park. Metro Nashville's council could have a final vote on the deal as soon as April 18.

The presentation also detailed the 130-acre zone drawn around the stadium, which is expected to include a previously planned Station East development on what is now a truck stop. The 250,000 square feet of retail at the development will be included in the 50% tax capture.

Development Consultant Erin Talkington of RCL Co said she helped decide where to draw the line on the 130 acres and has been part of talks with developers for the 66 acres of Metro Nashville-owned land in the development.

Station East is scheduled to have 1,400 residences, 1.2 million square feet of office space, 600 hotel rooms and a three-acre park. The first of the Metro development is set to open in 2027 along with the stadium.

“We’re talking about a really significant push to have a place that attracts spending from new residents, a place that serves the unmet demand, a place that maybe than the surrounding neighborhoods have more food and beverage options,” Talkington said, calling it “retail spending that also serves the stadium visitors.”

The Metro staff and consultant presentations called the tax fund projections conservative and gave several variations of the fund if all of the taxes were flat, the projections used for bonds and a separate line if taxes followed current trends, where the hotel tax increased by a compounded annual rate of 10.9% since 2010.

The sports authority also heard a presentation from CSL Marketing on potential events at the new stadium. CSL’s Ben Wrigley showed a presentation of a potential 38 annual non-NFL events at the stadium, including 16 concerts.

Researchers have found an average NFL stadium holds 4.9 ticketed non-NFL events per year from 2000 to 2019. Wrigley pointed to 10 days of concerts at Nissan Stadium in 2023 and estimated that could increase by six with a new stadium. Wrigley repeated he felt an indoor stadium would allow for concerts all year and proposed that a country artist could do a residency at the stadium.

The 2023 number includes four days of CMA Fest and three days of Taylor Swift, who is doing her sixth tour as a headliner and first since 2018. Adele’s and Garth Brooks’ 2023 residencies at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas are taking place at a 4,100-seat theater.

"The difference between an outdoor stadium and an indoor stadium is essentially zero in terms of events," Sports economist Victor Matheson, who has studied event totals at NFL stadiums, previously told The Center Square. "The reason for that is that all the big tours all go out in the summer specifically so they can use all the outdoor stadiums in the country rather than the limited number of domed stadiums."

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Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles and Christmas card featured on SNL's Weekend Update

 Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles and Christmas card featured on SNL's Weekend Update

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Williamson County Republican Party Convention, April 18th

 

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Why small steps are first steps for Democrats, Republicans on gun reform

Former Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam 

by former Tennessee governors Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen, Guest Columnists, USA Today, March 31-  ... As we all struggle with the aftermath of this tragedy, the openness and respect in political dialogue the two of us have been trying to promote has been, for this issue, quickly submerged in a swamp of intransigence and impasse.  ...

The murderer was heavily armed with multiple assault rifles and that has naturally been a focus of discussion. 

Democrats take it as an article of faith that an assault weapon ban is the only sane response. Republicans believe deeply in the importance of preserving the right of people to possess firearms.  It becomes quickly clear that there is hopeless disagreement on strategies surrounding assault rifles.  And so we’re reduced to offering “our thoughts and prayers,” but nothing else, to victims and their families.

... agreeing that we do have a problem. There is no other developed nation in the world that has anywhere near the mass shootings we do. The assault rifle issues are at an impossible impasse, but if we disengage there for now and turn our attention instead to smaller steps, doable and still useful, there are possibilities.  

We could start with “red flag” laws —... might have been effective in the shooting we just had; the shooter was under treatment for mental health issues and yet still obtained and possessed multiple guns.

Another small step might be making gun owners take more legal responsibility for securing their weapons.  

Our first hope is of course that out of this tragedy will come ways to better protect our children and schools. But we have a second hope as well — that if we handle it wisely and show some successes, our response could become an inflection point where America starts to relearn how to talk with one another and solve problems. (link)

Rod's Comment: I agree with the gun reform proposals from two of our former governors. There proposals are two modest, common-sense recommendation that I can support. I respect and admire both Haslam and Bredesen.  More Democrats and Republicans need to reason together rather than rush to their respective corner and shout insults. Due to fair use considerations, I cannot repost the essay in its entirety. Please read it at this link. The highlighting is mine.

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