Home | Entries [Previous |Next]
0 Comments
Daily Dose for July 16, 2008
Harold Ford Jr's New Wife Gave to Tinker
Harold Ford Jr's New Wife Gave to Tinker -- Harold Ford Jr. just got married a couple of months ago, but he's wasted no time in taking advantage of one of the main political advantages of marriage - insulation from controversal political donations. Looks like Ford's bride, Emily Threlkeld Ford, has maxed out contributions to Nikki Tinker, the primary opponent of 9th district Congressman Steve Cohen. That gives Ford the opportunity to say it was only his wife acting independently should the donation go south and Cohen get more popular. Among the other eye-raising contributions tallied by Tinker is a $5,000 one from the Congressional Black Caucus. That's the caucus the white Cohen tried to join - and was rejected - upon becoming a US Congressman.
VW Picks Chattanooga -- Volkswagen will invest $1B in a new auto assembly plant in Chattanooga, the auto company announced yesterday. Gov. Phil Bredesen and Volkswagen President Stefan Jacoby made the announcement, which was also attended by Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and Congressman Zach Wamp. Volkswagen said it will produce a car designed specifically for the North American market. The company will build the facility in the Enterprise South Industrial Park, located 12 miles northeast of downtown Chattanooga. The industrial park is 100% owned by the City and County and is a certified TVA megasite. More here
Williams Took Money From Dems -- GOP State House members are criticizing one of their own colleagues, State Rep. Kent Williams, for taking a donation from State Rep. John Litz, the assistant majority leader for the House Democratic Caucus. Williams known to vote with Democrats in the past took the $250 donation in his campaign against former State Rep. Jerome Cochran. Among the members criticizing Williams were State Reps Eric Swafford, Chris Crider, Mike Bell and Frank Niceley. Meanwhile, the City Paper reports that Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has raised money for Dem. State Sen. Rosalind Kurita. For good measure - Kurita cast the vote to give Ramsey his seat.
County Mayors Unveil Education Program -- Knox Co. Mayor Mike Ragsdale and Shelby Co. Mayor A.C. Wharton have unveiled a program sponsored by the Urban County Mayors offering free community college tuition. Under the ambitious plan, Ragsdale and Wharton hope to raise money to allow all high school graduates in their respective counties to attend in-state community college tuition-free. The two mayors are trying to get Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey to sign on to the idea as members of the now incorporated, nonprofit organization. If all four mayors are brought on the program could be funded in a line-item each county's budget or through each administration's discretionary money. There are also talks of raising the money privately.
Memphis City Council Counter Sues Schools -- Earlier, the Memphis City Schools sued the City Council seeking to restore the money the Council stripped from its operating budget. Now the City Council has counter sued the Schools saying the schools are behind on paying off the debit service the City took out on its behalf. The city is asking for the right to withhold any tax revenue it would normally pay city schools to recoup the money. Attorneys for the City argued that the charter of the school district requires the bonds be paid back and also authorizes withholding money if they are not.
