Daily Dose for April 26, 2006

Daily Dose

Ford Sues to Keep Senate Seat -- Ophelia Ford filed suit Tuesday in federal court seeking a declaratory judgment stating the full Senate's action in voiding her election is void and unenforceable. The suit also seeks to prevent the Shelby County Commission from appointing an interim senator. Sen. Michael Williams, the Republican charged with chairing the state Senate committee investigating the Ford election defended the Senate's vote to void the election saying: "I feel like the Senate and our committee worked diligently and in good faith. I still believe that the results of the election were 'incurably uncertain' as is stated in previous case law as being grounds for changing an election." Ford's opponent in her controversal election last year Terry Roland has announced he will not lobby the Shelby Co. Commission for the seat.

Norris Fights Bredesen on Highway Bill -- State Sen. Mark Norris is fighting Governor Bredesen on a bill that would restore some of the funding diverted from the state's highway fund last year to road construction projects. In a speech to a business group last week, Bredesen accused the Senate Transportation Committee that Norris chairs of "an election-year scramble by a select few to cater to special interests (that) actually does threaten the principles of sound budgeting." Norris said the governor essentially is using tax money collected from motorists and intended for transportation on what the senator called "entitlement programs wholly unrelated to transportation"

Robo-Lobbying Employed to Kill Kurita's Cigarette Tax Bill -- Tobacco companies are proportedly using a new method of three-way calling to lobby lawmakers to oppose Sen. Rosalind Kurita's bill that would raise the tax on tobacco in the state. The call begins with a call to a citizen from a survey company that could be automated, which asks if the citizen is a smoker and opposes a new tax on tobacco. If the caller says yes, they are directly connected to the Senators office to voice their opposition to the bill. Kurita's bill is expected to die in the House, where special parliamentary procedure would have to be used to resurrect the bill.

New THP Procedural Document 'Watered Down' -- A bill sponsored by Sen. Mae Beavers to reform the procedural process whereby troopers in the Tennessee Highway Patrol receive promotions is undergoing pressure to be watered down. Beavers, speaking of the State's Personnel Office said: "I've been disappointed by this whole thing. They told me they wanted to work with me to get the bill through. The events since then have been quite to the contrary." Beavers says she has been encouraged to edit the bill to remove specific language about acceptance of outside recommendations and specific financial oversight by the State Comptroller.

Fowler to Form Family Group -- Retiring State Sen. David Fowler has announced he will form the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT), a family advocacy group connected with the national organization Focus on Family. “We are excited about the launch of the Family Action Council as an organization dedicated to standing in the gap on behalf of Tennessee's families," Sen. Fowler said. FACT will partner with Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council to "defend marriage, life and religious liberty in our great state."

Town Decides Not to Enforce Ordinance on Political Signs -- Political signs for a majority of the local goverment including city mayor in the small town of Mount Carmel are violating a city ordinance against signs in the right-of-way, but the city has choosen not to enforce the ordinance. Mayor of the town Gary Lawson asked the other board members if any of them wanted the campaign signs removed. No one spoke up, although Alderman Henry Bailey noted that if a sign obstructs motorists' view it will be removed.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |