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Daily Dose for July 19, 2007
Pay Raises All Around
Pay Raises All Around -- Governor Bredesen has issued pay increases for all his commissioners in three tiers depending on the complexity of the jobs. Tier 1 gets $180,000, Tier 2 - $150,000, and Tier 3 - $135,000. That's a 63% increase. Ben Cunningham reacts: "In a year when the governor and the General Assembly have already cut taxpayers’ pay by $250 million, to raise salaries of these folks already making very good salaries by this amount is just outrageous." More here.
In Chattanooga, the controversal pay raise for County Mayor Claude Ramsey was passed. Ramsey's pay increase triggers pay increase for Chattanooga City Mayor Ron Littlefield, members of the Hamilton Co. Commission and School Board, County Attorney, the Mayor's Chief of Staff, Finance Director and Auditor. Some of the top county officials had been slated for higher raises, but that was capped at 3.9 percent after concerns expressed by some County Commission members.
Gov / Lt. Gov Okay with Crutchfield Resignation Timing -- Both Governor Bredesen and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey say they are okay with the timing of State Sen. Ward Crutchfield's resignation. Crutchfield is set to resign the first week of August. Bredesen: "If he had said next year or the beginning of session, I would say that's not appropriate, but I think doing the first week in August and letting him do it in a fashion that he feels is dignified is certainly appropriate." As long as Crutchfield resigns before November 4, his resignation will trigger a special election instead of a commission appointment.
Bredesen Gets 'F' Grade on Disclosures -- The non-partisan Center for Public Integrity has given Governor Bredesen and the State of Tennessee an 'F' Grade for not having rules requiring the Governor disclosure personal financial interests so the public can help identify possible conflicts of interest. Tennessee ranked 33rd among the 50 states, earning 56.5 points out of a possible 100, according to the nonpartisan group's rankings of disclosures. Bredesen says most of his investments are controlled bt a blind trust, with two investments outside the trust - a majority share in Qualifacts, a heathcare software company, and Blue Canyon Inc.
