for April 01, 2006

Daily Dose Dupe

Corker To Offer Kias -- U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker announced earlier in the week that he would be offering a 2006 Kia Optima to each of the first 5,000 people who cast votes for him in the August Republican primary to replace Sen. Frist. The campaign announced certain polling locations across the state would have the cars ready for distribution as soon as voters leave the polling location.

Lobbyist Reform Bill Loophole Caused by Misspelling -- A lobbyist for the Tennessee Association of Acanthus Growers says the Comprehensive Ethics Reform Bill that passed after the special session on ethics earlier in the year does not apply to them or any other lobbying organization, because the letter "l" is omitted from the word 'lobbyists' in the definitions portion of the bill. "We are not 'obbyists," Ken Meadows said. "The fact of the matter is, that since the regulation only applies to 'obbyists' by definition, this bill does nothing to regulate how much lobbyists can contribute to political campaigns or what type of events we can host."

ACLU to Challenge Honey Bee Plate -- Sen. Mark Norris's bill that would create a specialty license plate featuring a honey bee, has been challenged by the ACLU, who has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Circuit Court to block that bill. The ACLU says the bill forces the state to take a position on the political divisive issue of which insects the state supports. State attorneys say they plan on fighting the lawsuit.

Caucus Plans to Introduce Bill to Ban Wheelchairs -- The House Republican Caucus says it is considering introducing legislation that would ban wheelchairs from 100 feet of the State Capitol, Governors Mansion and other state administrative buildings. The caucus says the bill is needed after the Capitol protests that blocked lawmakers and state employees from leaving the State Capitol. ADAPT, a group protesting treatment in the state's nursing homes, organized a protest where wheelchairs blocked access to and from the state parking garage. Democrats in the House have not taken an official position on the bill, but the bill is likely to die in the state Senate, where Lt. Gov. Wilder's office called the billl "a thinly veiled insult."

Happy April Fools Day. Thanks for visiting.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |