Daily Dose for March 28, 2006

Daily Dose

Bredesen's Health Care Plan -- Governor Bredesen unveiled his health care intiative called "Cover Tennessee" last night in a special speech before the General Assembly. The plans perks center on being both affordability and portability, because Tennessees will have modest copays and be able to take the plan from job to job. The plan has three parts: (1) CoverTN, a partnership between small business and the state in which employers kick in $50 a month towards health insurance and the state matches that amount. (2) CoverKids, a plan to provide health insurance to uninsured children in homes with incomes up to $50,000 a year for a family of four. (3) AccessTN, which creates an at risk pool which will provide health insurance to adults who can afford to buy it but who may not be able to obtain it due to pre-existing medical conditions. Bredesen also unveiled a new public-health initiative, Project Diabetes, to combat the explosion of diabetes and obesity in our state. The prevention plan, initially to be funded at $15 million a year for the next three years, will work through local schools to help children and young adults improve their exercise and eating habits. You can read the entire speech at the Chattanoogan or for more summary, check out the Tennessean, Nashville City Paper, and Commercial Appeal.

SC-EC Cans Dead Voter Precinct -- The Shelby County Election Commission has voted to dissolve the infamous Precinct 27-1, consolidating it with an adjoining precinct. Precinct 27-1 came under fire in the special election of State Sen. Ophelia Ford after several dead voters were discovered to have voted there. Shelby Co. Election Commissioner Greg Duckett has said he believes a poll worker or someone with election expertise was behind the fake votes, and in recent weeks the TBI has taken handwriting samples from at least one Precinct 27-1 poll worker. "On its face, someone committed an illegal voting act...Until it's resolved ... we as a body felt it was important that no one affiliated with that ward and precinct works for the organization," Duckett said.

Sens. Wilder, Cooper Subpoenaed -- Tennessee Lt. Gov. John Wilder and state Sen. Jerry Cooper have been subpoenaed as potential witnesses in a bank fraud trial that begins next week. The case revolves around the sale of lumber mill property owned by Sen. Cooper. The defendant in the case is charged with falsely claiming his property for sale contained a railroad spur. Sen. Cooper help sell the land at an inflated price after promising that the Tennessee Department of Community Development would issue a grant to build the spur. However, the spur was never built. A bank in which Lt. Gov. Wilder held an interest, financed the loan that allowed for the sale.

Eminent Domain Eminent Debate -- The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that both Republicans and Democrats in the House have teamed together in the hope of strengthening a bill that would prohibit cities and municipalities from rampant seizures using the process known as eminent domain. Five Democrats joined on with and amendment the eminent domain bill making its way through the legislature. The amendment pushed by Rep. DuBois that would give property owners 30 days to go to court to appeal an eminent domain decision. After losing a motion to table the amendment, the House adjourned, but DuBois says he thinks his amendment will pass on Thursday. State Rep. Stacey Campfield has been blogging the eminent domain debate, including his general frustration that the bill does not go far enough to stop seizures for corporate parks.

Morrison Running for Congress -- Democrat Bill Morrison, a Southwind middle school history teacher and army reserves veteran, says he will run for Congress in the 7th Congressional District against Rep. Marsha Blackburn. In his release, he says he is a moderate Democrat who will push a fiscally responsible agenda that does not benefit the rich at the expense of programs that feed and educate our children and provide healthcare for the sick, elderly, or poor.

Lanier Will Run in 31 -- Area attorney Christian Lanier will seek the state House seat in District 31 as a Republican, which is being vacated by Rep. Bo Watson, who is running for the State Senate. Former Rhea County 911 director Charles Riggs has also filed to run as a Republican.

WKRN to Start Political Blog -- Nashville-based ABC affiliate WKRN will hire a second blogger to round-up political news and blogs from across the state. A.C. Kleinheider will run the blog at VolunteerVoters.com.

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