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Daily Dose for March 29, 2007
Ramsey/Bredesen Debate Political Ramifications of Tobacco Tax Increase
Ramsey/Bredesen Debate Political Ramifications of Tobacco Tax Increase -- Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey and Gov. Phil Bredesen see the political implications of a vote on the Governor's plan to increase the tobacco tax for education differently. While Ramsey said he could imagine votes on the tax proposal becoming fodder for future political advertisements, he said supporting the measure could be worse than voting against it. Ramsey: "I assure you that an ad that you voted for a $200 million tax increase would be more effective than the other side." Bredesen retorted: "There's virtually no repercussions in voting for this. I think there would be enormous repercussions in cutting off something (able) to do so much for local school districts." Meanwhile, Bredesen may be opening himself up to charges that he favors higher taxes - today's Tennessean mentions that Bredesen favors toll roads as a system of increasing revenue for road construction.
Alexander Gathers Coalition to Oppose Road to Nowhere -- Lamar Alexander has gathered a cadre of politicans to oppose the "road to nowhere" through Great Smoky Mt. National Park. Alexander: "A road through the park would damage the largest and most pristine wilderness area in the eastern United States and cost at least $600 million, more than 75 times the annual roads budget of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park." Fellow Sen. Bob Corker joined the call: "Building a road through the pristine wilderness of the Smokies at the tune of $600 million is a waste of green space and money." The coalition also includes all of Tennessee's Democratic Congressional delegation and Rep. Zach Wamp. More here.
Norris' Guns in Emergencies Bill Passes -- Sen. Mark Norris' bill to prohibit the Governor or any other state official from interfering with the sale or transport of guns during declared times of emergency passed the State Senate yesterday. The bill, which Gov. Bredesen previously opposed, will now be taken up by the House. Bredesen worked with Norris staffers to modify the language of the bill to strictly allow it be applied to guns and not other property.
Ford Begins Stint at DLC -- Harold Ford, Jr. gave his first major speech to the Democratic Leadership Committee yesterday in a fundraising speech to corporate backers of the DLC. Ford invoked a rhyme to strike the theme: "The next eight months could define America's future for the next eight years. So today, we say to campaigns of both parties, and to the press who cover them: The horse race, the money chase, and the in-your-face can wait. Let's turn the next year into the 'Ideas Primary' instead." The Tennessean has a list of what some of those ideas might be - including expanding AmeriCorps, breaking up the Dept. of Homeland Security, providing free college to working students, requiring families to own hybrid cars and giving parents paid time off to care for their families.
Updated Item: Thompson Spotted at Dinner with Romney Consultant -- Lamar Alexander and Fred Thompson are close ... really close. If anything disqualifies Thompson from running for President, it's Lamar's soft commitment to Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign. The presence of Alexander staffers at Romney events in Tennessee before talk of Thompson entering the fray popped up signaled his soft support. So there may be something big to this tidbit that Thompson was spotted at dinner with Romney strategist Alex Castellanos. Can we say most valuable Vice Presidential candidate?
