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Daily Dose for January 25, 2007
Daily Dose
Ford to Head DLC -- Former Memphis congressman Harold Ford Jr. is expected to be named this morning to chair the Democratic Leadership Council, the moderate policy arm of the Democratic Party. Interestingly, former Democratic Party Chair Bob Tuke gives this quote: "It will keep him out there for a run against Alexander or whatever else he wants to do." Tuke, you will remember was a rumored candidate to run against Lamar in 2008, but Ford previously pooh-poohed the idea. National commentators says Ford's more conservative stance on social issues like gay marriage may help the DLC's outreach to those groups. More from the Commercial Appeal.
CA Finds Yet Another Memphis Conflict of Interest -- The Memphis Commercial Appeal has uncovered another uneasy relationship in City government and the school system. Memphis City Councilman Dedrick Brittenum's law firm has collected $113,247 in legal fees from Memphis City Schools, from a budget he approves. Brittenum put off commenting on the situation, claiming attorney-client privilege.
More on Knox Co. Chaos -- The Knoxville News-Sentinel has a new piece on who the likely County Commission replacements will be now that several constitutional officers and county commissioners have been thrown out of office because of the most recently enforced term limits ruling. Two candidates looking to take the place of their close relative. Other high profile candidates include GOP Chair Brian Hornback and former Frist field rep. Carolyn Jensen. Lots of failed candidates for Commission are also trying to give it another go. Now that there are just a few days before the appointments take place, the public can finally have some input at a forum sponsored by one of the Commissioners - the News-Sentinel has the details. Meanwhile, in the MetroPulse, writer Joe Sullivan calls the whole appointment process "abominable" and has the details on why its so.
Alexander Continues to Push Line-Item Veto -- Lamar Alexander continues to push the issue of the line item veto as a means of combating pork in the federal budget. The US Supreme Court previously declared the line item veto unconstitutional, so the change would require a constitutional amendment. Alexander, the first Tennessee Republican ever to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted for the Gregg amendment, which would require Congress to give up or down votes on the spending reform measures proposed by President Bush.
