Daily Dose for April 24, 2006

Daily Dose

Direct Links to TV Spots -- Money is beginning to flow in the State Senate race to replace Bill Frist. Republicans Van Hilleary and Bob Coker both have TV ads and Ed Bryant has picked up criticism of Corker. The Corker ad buy of $1.6 million will run from now until the end of the August primary according to Corker's campaign manager Ben Mitchell. Hilleary had a limited ad buy in Knox Co. and eventually moving further to East TN. Here are some links to watch the TV spots on the web: Corker: 1 | Hilleary: Remember Me, Hilleary: Sounds Good (Negative).

Representive Dean -- The Chattanooga Times Free Press interviews the Legislatures newest member Rep. Vince Dean, who was appointed by the Hamilton Co. Commission to replace the late Rep. Jack Sharp. Dean says he plans on continuing to serve both in the Legislature and as Mayor of the small town of East Ridge, saying the Mayor's office in East Ridge is a part time position.

Suit to Follow English Only Tests -- Critics of a bill that would require state highway safety tests to be given solely in English say that the bill could prompt a federal Title VI lawsuit if it passes. A supporter of the bill Sen. Bill Ketron says that the bill has nothing to do with discrimination and everything to do with safety, saying, "Citizens of Tennessee need to have people who can read road signs." House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh says he thinks the bill could hurt economic development opportunities with the addition of a Nissan manufacturing facility. Naifeh: "We’ve got a number of especially Japanese folks here because of Nissan and I would really want to look very closely at changing that."

Election Reform Coming -- The General Assembly hopes to crank out an election reform bill in response to the controversal Ophelia Ford election before the legislative session ends. One of the bills, which awaits the Governor's signature would require more frequent purging of the voter rolls. The other would institute an automatic recount in close elections. Another bill that would require voters to prevent valid identification before voting has faced some opposition in the House, where House Rep. Ulysses Jones has been leading opposition. Jones is also concerned about the recount bill and how much it will cost.

Support for HB2495 Mounting -- Blogger Christian Grantham and the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government has been leading the charge for the passage of HB2495 / SB2471 the so-called "Sunshine In Government Improvement Act of 2006" which would extend the state's open records and meetings laws. Tennessee's open record laws still rank among the lowest in the nation even with the advent of legislation passed during the special session on ethics. Tennessee, despite moving from 44 to the 32 in a ranking of state open government laws, still received an F grade from the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity.

Dunn Forms PAC to Git R Dunn -- House Minority Leader Bill Dunn, a Republican from Knoxville, has started the eponymous Git R Dunn PAC to raise money for Republican House candidates across the state. The PAC needs a second contribution before it becomes official under state law. "Anybody who wants to get 'er done (for Republican House candidates) can contribute to Git R Dunn," Dunn said.

Blogging Notes -- The man that Business Tennessee Magazine has the "largest readership in the state political sphere" has returned to blogging. Bill Hobbs appears to be back in the saddle over at billhobbs.com. We are very proud to be the new home another great Tennessee political blogger - Matthew White. You can check out his first column here.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |