Daily Dose for March 21, 2006

Daily Dose

Kroll Report Back on THP -- Governor Bredesen released a report yesterday that he commissioned following a Tennessean investigation into the Tennessee Highway Patrol in an attempt to remove political influence from the Highway Patrol. The report by Kroll, Inc., a company with ties to Bredesen fundraisers, released an analysis of the problem that calls for the following changes: (1) fair and transparent hiring and promotion process with test scores published and background checks; (2) establishment of a Bureau of Professional Standards and placing the THP under the authority of the POST Commission; (3) moving Title & Registration to the Revenue Department, as well as moving the POST Commission and law enforcement training to the Department of Commerce and Insurance. More on the THP overhaul from the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, Tennessean and Nashville City Paper.

Capitol Protest Locks in Legislators -- A group of about 500 protesters from the group American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) blocked access to legislative parking garages and demanded an audience with Governor Phil Bredesen yesterday. The protest which was in support of more access to home care rather than nursing homes, let some legislators locked in the State Capitol. One protestor said this was the goal, since it was akin to the elderly being locked in nursing homes. Gov. Phil Bredesen called the protest "an extreme publicity stunt" and said the group wasn't seriously interested in meeting with him, since he had met with them before. The protest raised confusion about who should manage the crowd, pitting the Tennessee Highway Patrol against Metro Nashville police. House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh said the Metro police should have acted faster and promised to take any traffic tickets lawmakers got to Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell. State Sen. Tim Burchett said Metro was 'gutless' by refusing to control the protestors and allowing them to continue to block access to the legislative parking garage. Metro, however, stepped up arrests of protestors blocking the garage at 5:40 p.m. By 8:30 p.m., Metro Police officers on the scene said about 80 to 90 protesters have been issued citations for blocking roadways. About seven to 10 of those were actually taken into custody, with one being charged with assault. More from Nashville City Paper, Knoxville News-Sentinel and blogging Rep. Stacey Campfield.

TN Congressmen Split on Selling Land -- Sen. Lamar Alexander came out strong against the Bush administration's plan to sell 3,000 acres of Cherokee National Forest in East Tennessee. The plan is part of the Bush administration's 2007 budget request. Sen. Bill Frist and Rep. Bill Jenkins say they are still studying the issue. Rep. Zach Wamp says he agrees with Alexander and will oppose the request in the House. His colleague Rep. John Duncan from Knoxville disagrees, saying the federal government already owns plenty of land - roughly 657 million acres - so selling a little shouldn't be a problem. Duncan said he favors putting some of the government's property back on the tax rolls, calling the proposal a reasonable way to help the economy.

Recall Rare in TN -- Most state and local officials are exempt from recall provisions, but a dozen or so city's have provisions in their charters that allow for recall of city officials. With an effort to recall the Mayor of Tennessee's largest city underway, the Memphis Commercial Appeal looks at recall history in Tennessee, including the recall in 2004 of Bristol Mayor Kelly Graham, the 1954 recall bid of Oak Ridge City Council chairman Waldo Cohn, and a 1946 recall vote against Knoxville Mayor Cas Walker.

Bill Would Extend Right to Self Defense -- A hearing today is scheduled in both the State House and Senate for a bill that would extend the right to shoot to kill for self-defense purposes. The state Senate's newest Republican Sen. Don McLeary sponsored the bill which would make it easier to use a self-defense argument when someone feels threatened, extend self-defense to places other than the home, and prevent some civil lawsuits. The bill provides that anyone who brings a civil action against a person found to be "immune from prosecution" because of self-defense would have to pay attorney’s fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income and all expenses incurred in defense of the action. Currently, the victim of a self-defense shooting can bring civil lawsuits agaisnt the shooter even if they were determined to be immune from prosecution.

Watson to Run for Fowler's Seat -- State Rep. Bo Watson will run for the seat vacated by Sen. David Fowler. Watson says he is running becuase "the Hamilton County leadership needs to be able to pick up the phone and talk to someone who understands these issues." Other candidates considering running for Fowler's seat are Wayne Cropp, former Hamilton Co. GOP Chair, and Jim or Anne Hall, both Democrats from Signal Mountain. Rep. Watson's decision opens up House District 31. Charles R. Riggs, former director of the Rhea County 911 program, and former State Rep. Jim Vincent are two rumored candidates to fill the Watson's House seat.

Ethics Complaint Against Matheny Dismissed -- The Ethics Committee has dismissed a complaint against Rep. Judd Matheny on charges that he served as a consultant to a Tullahoma company in violation of a new provision in the State's ethics laws. Matheny charged Democrats in the state House brought the complaint against Rep. Matheny after he criticized Dept. Gov. Dave Cooley's involvement in the Tennessee Highway Patrol scandal.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |