Notes on the Caucus
University of Tennessee General Council
Ron Leadbetter is a glutton for punishment:
State Rep. Stacey Campfield will have a "major" opponent in next year's Republican Primary in the 7th Senate District, and it will be deja-vu for anyone who remembers Campfield's 2008 primary, because his opponent is once again the University of Tennessee General Council Ron Leadbetter. Apparently, Leadbetter wasn't pleased with one beating two years ago in the intra-party contest for the 18th District House seat, so he's decided to come back for seconds against Campfield in the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Tim Burchett. Burchett's successor, who it is said he believes privately is most likely to be Campfield, will enter a Tennessee Senate that is a thoroughly Republican body. Its committee chairs are all Republicans, it has a decidedly Republican majority, and a Republican will likely preside over it for many years to come.
I also give my thoughts on the state of leadership in the Tennessee House Republican Caucus. Labels: Republican Party, Tennessee politics
Conflicts of Interest
Tennessee House Democratic Chairman
Mike Turner sees no conflict with the possibility of serving as head of the Tennessee State Employees Association while also serving in the General Assembly, and ostensibly the Democrats' Number Two in the House of Representatives:
He would be the president of the association, and Turner does not believe that he would be lobbying for them? He might not consider what he will do to be lobbying, but if he plans to move bills or to help shepherd any legislation in the House which will have an impact on the membership over which he will be the leader, it can rightly be said that Mike Turner would be using his position as a legislator to benefit State employees, over whose union (and that is effectively what the TSEA is) he would be the head. This is singularly disappointing considering Mike Turner's seniority standing in the House. As long as he has been a member of the General Assembly, Mike Turner should know what constitutes a conflict of interest.
I don't agree with Turner's politics, but always thought well of him personally. He and I have always gotten on very well. I really thought he would be the kind of person to know better than this.
Labels: Democrats, Tennessee politics
Technically a Tax Hike
The Tennessee Department of Revenue's ability to
force people to file business taxes online is to be found-in the
"Technical Corrections" Bill:
One of the new mandates included is the requirement that Tennessee small businesses file the returns for their State sales taxes online or face a fine of up to $500. Not only is filing online not practical for certain kinds of businesses, but legislators might never have voted for this change were it a bill of its own. In searching for the source of the menacing new mandate on businesses from Nashville, I quickly learned that many legislators didn't know where the authorization to enact an online filing requirement for business taxes came from in the law. Those that did know it came from the Technical Corrections Bill, such as Reps. Mike Bell
(R-Riceville), and Joshua Evans (R-Greenbrier), were also quick to point out that they voted against the legislation.
Labels: Democrats, Duh, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
They Are Not Two
Mark 10:1-12:
And rising up from thence, he cometh into the coasts of Judea beyond the Jordan: and the multitudes flock to him again. And as he was accustomed, he taught them again. And the Pharisees coming to him asked him: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. But he answering, saith to them: What did Moses command you? Who said: Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away. To whom Jesus answering, said: Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you that precept.
But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother; and shall cleave to his wife. And they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house again his disciples asked him concerning the same thing.
And he saith to them: Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if the wife shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Our social liberal friends have told us for years that no-fault divorce is a wonderful thing. It has been so great for society. Deadbeat fathers, children born out of wedlock left and right, and a society which places so little value on matrimony that some have seen fit to try and redefine its very meaning. No one likes these words of Our Lord, but the Lord is very clear. People generally do not like to deal with this part of scripture because it is uncomfortable. Being honest about what Jesus said and meant in this passage places a great many people and most of American society under conviction.
Labels: Faith, Holy Mother Church
Revenue Enhancement
This week's question of the weekend concerns the Tennessee Department of Revenue's new mandate to business owners in this State that they
must file their business sales tax paperwork online:
The Examiner contacted three Tennessee legislators this week-Stacey Campfield, Frank Niceley, and Tony Shipley. None of the aforementioned members of the Tennessee House of Representatives could recall any legislation passed this past session which gave the Tennessee Department of Revenue the authority to FORCE business owners to file sales taxes online.
Labels: Conservatism, Local politics, Tennessee politics
Yes We Can! Wreck the Economy
Saturn vehicles aren't made in Tennessee any longer, but we know that employees at the Spring Hill GM facility where Saturns used to be made will be losing their jobs. The circulating rumor (as of yesterday) is that the GM parts-making facility in Spring Hill may also close. In the
Examiner today, I point out that Tennessee legislators and revenue officials can't be the
least bit pleased with these developments:
The loss of GM jobs in Spring Hill will already have a harsh impact on next year's State budget. If the parts-making facility also ceases operation in the near future, Tennessee political leaders and the Department of Revenue will not be rejoicing at all. Each job lost represents a taxpayer who can't contribute to the local and State enonomy through the purchase of goods and services. In some cases, the increased job losses could lead to further foreclosures, housing market depreciation, and a general drag on the economic health of the State. A total shutdown of all auto-related manufacturing in the area will likely lead to a significant increase in the demand for State-funded emergency social services, which will be hard-pressed to meet the demand in a budgetary climate that will already be riddled by forced cutbacks due to a general loss in Statewide tax revenue.
Don't you just love nationalized industry? More people out of work and States going even further in the hole, but YES WE CAN!!! These are the people who want to have their way with our health care...I can't wait.
Labels: Economy, Federal politics, Political correctness, Tennessee politics
Do Tennessee County Governments Work?
In today's
Examiner column, I ask the uncomfortable question that most State-level political leaders would rather avoid, and
all county officials don't want to discuss, thank you:
Are our county governments really effective?:
County Commission is often viewed as being unable to deliberate, and many of its members seem to residents to be blissfully unaware of many of the issues about which they are called upon to make decisions. The county mayor would like to reduce the size of the commission, ostensibly so that he can then have a legislative body which will be more likely to agree with his own plans for the county and its future-a kind of reverse "packing" of the legislative branch of county government with yes-men for the executive.
In neighboring Knox County, the public was convinced to amend the county charter to reduce the size of the Knox County Commission from 19 members to 11 after nearly four years of conflict and chaos in Knox County Government over a term limits amendment to the county charter adopted in 1994 but ignored on the advice of the State Attorney General, who at the time said that the relevant charter amendment was unconstitutional. The Tennessee Supreme Court didn't hear the case until 2006, at which time the Justices declared that the amendment was valid and constitutional.
Labels: Local politics, Tennessee politics
