Daily Dose for May 21, 2008

Compromise on Lottery Falls Apart

Compromise on Lottery Falls Apart -- After spending most of the day yesterday trying to work out an agreement between the State House and Senate over how to disburse the surplus of lottery money, Democrats backed away from the compromise. Democrats accuse the GOP of adding things to the bill that were not agreed to in the compromise meeting -- and now some of them are insisting on keeping their original proposal for a 2.75 retention GPA for all of college, instead of the agreed upon extension only through the Junior year. The GOP did get one measure in that would allow up to $100M of the surplus to be used to improve energy efficiency in K-12 schools. Senate Edu Committee Chair Jamie Woodson says the talks on the deal will be rekindled today after giving members the night to read through the agreed proposal.

Wilder's Legacy Ends With No -- State Sen. John Wilder's last legislative stand - to move for approval of continuing the Tennessee Plan of selecting judges, failed. Senate Republicans are holding up reauthorizing the plan, becuase they say it is a clear violation of the state constitution which requires the popular election of judges. After the vote, Wilder called out former Republican allies by name - saying he had failed them and partisan politics was not his way. Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle said the vote was disrespectful to Wilder.

Memphis City Attorney Snuck in Ballot Provision -- It appears that former Memphis City Attorney Sara Hall inserted language into a recent referendum approved by voters that was not approved by the Memphis City Council. With the new language and approved refendum, high ranking city officials are now exempt from requirements that they live in the City they lead - a provision some Memphis City Council members say they did not intend to include in the referendum requiring city employees to live within the city limits. Councilman Myron Lowery said Hall's move should be illegal: "What happened here was the council approved one thing and what appeared to voters was different and that should be illegal."

'Nooga City Councilman Suggests Resignation -- Chattanooga City Councilman John "Duke" Franklin told fellow council members he was resigning amidst a federal indictment stemming from a drug sting. City Attorney Randy Nelson said if Franklin really submits a resignation letter, it would be up to the remaining council members to name an interim replacement. For now the Council decided to wait on an official letter before considering Franklin's replacement.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |