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Daily Dose for April 20, 2006
Daily Dose
Bredesen Vows Veto of 'Election Year Bills' -- Democratic Goveror Phil Bredesen called two Republican proposals making their way through the General Assembly "election year jockeying." The first bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Norris would restore TDOT funding cut when Bredesen came into office and dedicated $44 million in funding to road projects across the state. Bredesen characterized the effort as "an election-year scramble to cater to" the Tennessee Road Builders Association. A second bill, which would restore some high risk patiets to the TennCare program was sponsored by Sen. Jim Bryson, Bredesen's Republican challenger in the upcoming election. The bill would allow 68,000 people back onto the TennCare rolls. Bredesen said the proposal is "downright frightening" and "turns back the clock on many of the reforms to TennCare that we have won with great difficulty" with a cost "in the $200 million range if we are lucky." However, the House sponsor of the bill, the General Assembly's only doctor, Rep. Joey Hensley disputed the governor's cost estimate. "The governor is just wrong," said Hensley. "He is the one who is trying to scare people here...I say his Cover Tennessee [Bredesen's health care plan] is election year scrambling." More from the Nashville City Paper.
Ford Ousted -- Indicted Sens. Ward Crutchfield and Kathryn Bowers were among the six state Senators voting against a resolution sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey to oust Ophelia Ford from the Senate seat she won by 13 votes. The six Senators voting against the measure were: Crutchfield, Bowers, Ford herself, Cohen, Harper and Haynes. Now, barring court intervention, the Shelby County Commission will meet May 8 to appoint an interim senator until the Nov. 7 election, when the seat is on the ballot for a full four-year term. The legislature expects to adjourn for the year in mid- to late May, so the appointee will serve little of the session. Commission Chairman Tom Moss said Wednesday he expects Ford, Terry Roland, Ford's primary opponent, and others to be in the running and that he expects a "heated and extended debate. It's going to take several rounds of voting." More from the Commercial Appeal and Tennessean.
Bid on the Governor's Toilet -- The Tennessean reports that two toilets from the Governor's mansion are among the items up for auction at GovDeals.com. State First Lady Andre Conte is leading the auction of several items from the Governor's mansion as part of a historic remodeling project. Among the items up for bid are a set of pool balls, toilets, a hot water heater, and former Gov. Ned McWherter's bathtub.
Littlefield and the Press Muzzle -- The Chattanooga Pulse has two stories about a move last week on the part of Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield to ban a Chattanooga Times Free Press reporter from all contact with City employees. For background, read this then read Joe Lance's column in the Pulse. So far the Mayors office has stridently defended the ban saying the reporter in question, Michael Weber, was harassing city employees and piling up Freedom of Information Act requests. Weber at the time of the ban was investigating a story on Chattanooga lobbyist and friend of Mayor Littlefield - Duane Smith. The Mayor has since defended the decision to hire Smith and called Weber "a northerner who thinks we’re all stupid."
Early Voting So Far -- In Hamilton Co, reports indicate early voting is lower than expected with the primary cause being the lack of competitive races. The exact opposite situation is happening in Knox Co. with the same results. There, with the plethora of write in candidates and candidates remaining on the ballot being unable to serve - confusion has led to depressed turnout. Yesterday, several Knox Co. Commissioners began litigation to remain viable candidates, saying proper implimentation of the charter form of government never happened in Knox Co.. Michael Silence has more on the situation in Knox Co.
Sen. Alexander Back From India Visit -- U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander is back from a trip to India. He says he is encouraged now more than ever to push a bill he sponsored that would up-the-ante on federal money dedicated to science, math and engineering education, with the U.S. quickly falling behind India. Alexander: "Unmistakably, India is a rising power and potentially the United States’ most important new friend in the 21st century." India has more students studying in the U.S. than any other foreign country.
Bob Corker's TV ad -- Here is the transcript of Bob Corker's statewide TV ad which starts today: "I started working when I was 13, picking up trash. Worked as a construction laborer. Graduated from UT. Saved $8 thousand dollars and went into business. We employed hundreds of people. And I saw them work hard. Pay their taxes. When I see people in Washington wasting THEIR taxes – and YOURS – I want to do something about it. If you elect me to the United States Senate, we will get spending under control. I promise you that. I’m Bob Corker and I’ve approved this message."
