Thursday, July 14, 2022

An important victory for families in Tennessee. Tennessee ESA Program Set to Begin After Three Year Delay,

American Federation for Children, July 14, 2022-  Yesterday, a court in Tennessee vacated an injunction on the Education Savings Account (ESA) program first passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee in 2019. 

Statement from John Patton, State Director of the American Federation for Children-Tennessee:

This is an important victory for families in Tennessee who desperately need and deserve additional, high-quality educational options. Bureaucrats and defenders of the status quo unnecessarily delayed a program that will deliver life-changing opportunities to children in our state.

We applaud Governor Lee for his steadfast support of this program and look forward to working with his administration to expedite implementation and continue fighting to expand school choice in Tennessee.

A release from Governor Lee's office is copied below.

July 13, 2022

Injunction Lifted on Education Savings Account Program, Immediate Implementation Ahead

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee released the following statement in response to the court lifting the injunction on the Education Savings Account (ESA) program passed by the Lee Administration in 2019.

“Today the court removed the final roadblock to getting Memphis and Nashville families additional options for high-quality education,” said Gov. Lee. “Starting today, we will work to help eligible parents enroll this school year, as we ensure Tennessee families have the opportunity to choose the school that they believe is best for their child.”

The Tennessee Department of Education will make ESA resources available online for parents in the coming days.


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Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Mayor Andy Ogles for Congress Meet and Greet

 

MONDAY JULY 18, 2022, 5PM-7.30PM, FREE BBQ DINNER with CASH BAR,  Plantation Pub, 8321 Sawyer Brown Rd, Nashville, TN 37221

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America's inflation problem gets worse

 

by JIM GERAGHTY, National Review Morning Jolt, July 13 2022 - Yesterday, I warned people to brace for another month of bad inflation numbers. This morning, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the new inflation numbers for the month of June, and somehow, they’re even worse than the grim forecast:

Shoppers paid sharply higher prices for a variety of goods in June as inflation kept its hold on a slowing U.S. economy, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.

The consumer price index, a broad measure of everyday goods and services, soared 9.1% from a year ago, above the 8.8% Dow Jones estimate. That marked another month of the fastest pace for inflation going back to December 1981.

Here are the U.S. inflation numbers, by month, since October: 6.2 percent, 6.8 percent, 7 percent, 7.4 percent, 7.8 percent, 8.5 percent, 8.2 percent, 8.6 percent, and now 9.1 percent.

That’s an absolutely brutal stretch, and the American people would be infuriated by it under any circumstances. But I suspect there’s particular anger among anyone who remembers Biden’s declaring about a year ago, “Our experts believe and the data shows that most of the price increases we’ve seen are — were expected and expected to be temporary. . . . There’s nobody suggesting there’s unchecked inflation on the way — no serious economist.”

Back in December, Biden said he thought inflation had peaked.

This should end the silly talk that the upcoming midterm elections will revolve around abortion, gun control, or the January 6 committee’s findings. Runaway inflation is the five-alarm fire that is burning down the American economy. The Biden administration keeps telling Americans that things are about to get better — that skyrocketing prices for gasoline, food, and just about everything they buy will start to ease. And month after month, Americans keep waiting.

Don’t forget, there is a good chance that, on the morning of July 29, the headline will be, “U.S. Now in Recession.”

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The 45th Annual Statesmen's Dinner at Music City Center is JULY 30TH, 2022 with Keynote Speaker Governor Tate Reeves.

Receptions will begin at 5:00 pm with the Dinner and Program starting at 6:00 pm. Attire is Business Professional. 

For tickets, follow this link.

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From TN GOP Chairman Scott Golden: Help Nashville Host the RNC Convention


 To tell the City Council to stop playing games, click HERE.

Click here to sign the petition, click HERE

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Tuesday, July 12, 2022

From DCRP Chairman Jim Garrett: Vote AGAINST RATIFICATION of Amendment No. 1

The following is from an email communication from Davidson County Republican Party Chairman Jim Garrett. I agree. Please vote "Against Ratification" on Amendment number one. 











 

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Most Democratic Voters Want to ‘Abolish’ Supreme Court

Rasmussen Reports, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 - While a majority of American voters still have afavorable opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court, Democrats have turned against the court and would support radical changes to the institution.

A new national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute finds that 52% of Likely U.S. voters view the Supreme Court favorably, including 29% who have a Very Favorable opinion of the court. Forty-three percent (43%) view the Supreme Court unfavorably, including 25% with a Very Unfavorable opinion. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

In the wake of a recent string of decisions strengthening the Second Amendment, reining in the power of the Environmental Protection Agency, and ending the constitutional right to an abortion, however, Democratic voters mostly disapprove of the Supreme Court. Only 33% of Democrats view the court favorably, while 63% have an unfavorable opinion of the court, including 40% of Democrats who have a Very Unfavorable view of the Supreme Court. By contrast, 72% of Republicans and 52% of independent voters have a favorable opinion of the court. 

A majority of Democrats view the Supreme Court as racist and discriminatory against women, and favor either “packing” the court by adding extra justices or replacing the existing court with democratically elected justices. 

“I am shocked and dismayed by these poll results,” said Heartland Institute research fellow Donald Kendal. “How can an institution like the Supreme Court function properly when the majority of those who call themselves liberal think the Court is sexist and racist? How can our system of government continue to work as outlined by the Constitution when the majority of those who call themselves liberal advocate for the abolishment of the Supreme Court? … I know our country has been divided in recent years; I’m starting to fear that division is becoming irreparable.”(link)

Rod's Comment: I am also shocked and dismayed by these numbers. "Abolish" may be too strong to describe Democrat opinion but not by much. The desire of Democrats today to delegitimize the Supreme Court and make its rulings subject to perceived public opinion reminds me of the view of southern Democrats and right-wing fringe Republicans in the late fifties and early sixties when billbords to "Impeach Earl Warren" dotted the landscape.  

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Monday, July 11, 2022

Americans for Prosperity Action-Tennessee Endorses Michelle Foreman for the Tennessee State House of Representatives

Michelle Foreman

 AFP Action-TN: Foreman will fight to lower taxes for Tennessee taxpayers.

Nashville, Tenn.– Americans for Prosperity Action-Tennessee (AFP Action-TN) today endorsed Michelle Foreman, who is seeking election to the State House of Representatives from the 59thHouse District. 

Foreman earned AFP Action-TN’s endorsement by supporting policies that limit government overreach, put taxpayer interests ahead of special interests, and get government out of the way of the hardworking men and women creating opportunities and growing our state economy.

“Michelle Foreman has a history of fighting for lower taxes and tax reform,” said AFP Action-TN Senior Advisor Tori Venable. “She supported the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act, rallied opposition to a 34 percent property tax increase in the Nashville area, and helped stop a local transit tax increase. In the State House of Representatives, Michelle Foreman will hit the ground running as a taxpayer advocate we can all count on.

“AFP Action volunteers are excited to support her campaign and turn voters out to support her election,” said Venable.

AFP Action is a 527 political action committee focused on electing candidates who will drive policy change and facilitate the building of broad policy coalitions that remove barriers to opportunity and help people improve their lives. The organization has a strong, permanent grassroots presence, including highly motivated activists who volunteer during the election season by making telephone calls and knocking on doors in support of policy champions.

During the 2020 election cycle, AFP Action supported candidates nationwide with more than 8.5 million telephone calls, 1.5 million door knocks, and more than 49 million pieces of mail. AFP Action has unmatched direct voter outreach capability supported by a world-class data operation.


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Has Sharon Ford been caught with her hand in the cookie jar? Understanding the drama at TRA.

Hattie Bryant

 by Hattie Bryant, July 9, 2022 - The Tennessee Republican Assembly (TRA) has sued Sharon Ford for production of documents. Subsequent defamation lawsuits are unfortunately having to be filed. Let me explain.

Long-time Republican activist Sharon Ford is working hard to destroy Michelle Foreman in an effort to cover up her own wrongdoing. At the time of this writing, Ford is trying to stall an investigation into the tens of thousands of dollars unaccounted for during her tenure as TRA president unexpectedly uncovered by Michelle Foreman.  Fearing she has been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, Ford is now working against Foreman, the only known and proven conservative candidate that can give Davidson County a new Republican voice in the General Assembly.  Sharon Ford is out to turn Michelle Foreman into the lying thief that Sharon herself seems to be.

 Sharon Ford
Former President of Tennessee Republican Assembly
Psychologists call this projection.  Democrats have been giving conservatives lessons on projection – every time the far left tells conservatives that we are narrow-minded while it is the far left that won’t tolerate any view other than their own. 

Michelle Foreman is running for State House Representative in the brand new 59th District of Davidson County.  She is currently a member of the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee to which she was elected in 2018 and is serving a four-year term. In May of 2021, she was elected unanimously by her fellow SEC members to chair a newly formed election integrity sub-committee (Permanent Elections Subcommittee) which has made recommendations to the General Assembly on how to make our future elections more difficult to highjack. She also voted “yes” on a resolution to close the primaries, and is committed to sponsoring legislation to require party registration, as reported in the Tennessee Conservative

Why would Sharon Ford expend so much effort trying to diminish a person who if elected would work to implement the agenda Sharon has stated she supported for many years?   Why throw up barriers and speed bumps on Michelle’s road to the state house when at one time Sharon was not only proud to work with Michelle but highly recommended her to follow her as TRA’s president?  What would cause such a change?

Sharon was president of the Tennessee Republican Assembly in 2015 when the National Federation of Republican Assemblies held its convention in Nashville.   This meant that TRA was the host of Candidate Trump who was the hot ticket turning what could have been a sleepy forgettable event into one to gloat about.  Unwittingly, while requesting the treasury documents from the former regime, Michelle discovered the activity that leads me to believe that Sharon thought of this cash as her own.  You know the rationale.  “I have worked hard for this organization; I deserve some benefit” could have been running through her mind.  Money was collected to the tune of nearly $17,000.00 to the TRA and put into a separate convention account. We have checks written to Sharon Ford with no documentation spelling out what Sharon Ford did with the money coming her way.  Michelle has been willing to work with Sharon to get the funds back into the TRA account but has been not just ignored but called a liar for discovering the truth.  Therefore, Sharon must destroy Michelle’s character.

Follow along please as I debunk the big lies Sharon and her cohorts are spreading. 

Big Lie #1:  Michelle Foreman stole TRA funds when she moved the TRA account from one bank to another.  

Debunk:  When Sharon asked Michelle to take over the TRA it was impossible to find out who was signing up for the TRA either as a new member or reoccurring member because the online monetary delivery portal was pointed in the direction of the bank account that was in existence when Michelle took over.  The issue here is that the dues from a member would deposit but the name of the person from whom the money came was not attached to the money.  Michelle repeatedly requested from Sharon the information to the website and the software that took both the dues and the name of the person from which the dues came.  Sharon refused. Michelle had no other alternative but to set up a new account and a new payment system so that the TRA would be able to match the money paid for membership dues with the name of the person who paid for the membership dues.  For this, Michelle has been accused of stealing money (though email documentation shows that Sharon was not only aware of this new website being built, but she also advised on the new website and stated she would close the old one down).  

The board of the TRA has been involved with every decision from the very beginning and will attest to the reasons why a new bank account had to be set up.   There was never any money missing from the primary TRA account – it was just transferred to a different bank and linked to the new payment system on the new webpage – so that TRA would be able to follow new members, renewing members and be able to send this information to the NFRA as each club is required to do. This was done after it was discovered by Michelle that someone had gone online, where identity could not be traced, and rerouted the TRA bank statements from the PO Box to the former TRA treasurer’s home address. The former treasurer and friend of Sharon’s was VERY quick to alert Michelle that she knew nothing about the statements being transferred to her home address. Really?

All of this could have been avoided if Sharon Ford would have simply turned over all the documents, the sign-in access to both the website and the payment software and any other paperwork she or her treasurer had in her possession.  To add insult to irony, Sharon went to the bank and demanded access to the account. Sharon had absolutely no reason to do this and it is understood that she falsely attested to the bank manager that SHE was the president of TRA not Michelle Foreman. The bank manager told Sharon her name was not on the TRA account, and he could not give her access. Per the bank manager Sharon stated that if he would not give her access, she would have her forensic accounting friend get the access for her.  Sounds like a rat trapped, right?  Still, Sharon continues to lie and attack Michelle’s character.  This is Exhibit “A” for projecting.  

Big Lie #2: As President of TRA, Michelle Foreman is not allowed to run for public office.

Debunk:  The by-laws of the Tennessee Republican Assembly state in Section 6.04(b), “No officer, appointee, or director of the NFRA shall be a duly filed candidate for, or hold any partisan, remunerative, elected public office, other than an office within the Republican Party (emphasis added).

I am confident that Sharon Ford is not dumb. This is clearly referring to individuals who hold office in the national organization, National Federation of Republican Assemblies, and it’s clear that those persons can run for office if they run as a Republican.

As President of TRA, Michelle Foreman is allowed to run for elected office, and we are proud of her for taking on this difficult work.

Big Lie #3:  To get herself elected president of TRA Michelle Foreman broke the rules of the TRA.

Debunk:  I have in my possession the paper trail showing that Michelle had nothing to do with the convention that elected a new slate of officers which included her for President.  I was there throughout.  The entire process was conducted by Attorney Connie Reguli, 2nd Vice President Robert Qualls, and Chapter president Kurt Riley (as Michelle felt it would be a conflict of interest for her to be involved and wanted the senior members of Sharon’s appointed board to preside over the election process).  The by-laws were followed and ironically it was Sharon Ford herself who had produced the version of the by-laws that were and are still in effect.

Michelle Foreman
President of Tennessee Republican Assembly 
As President of TRA, it was Sharon Ford herself who positioned Michelle Foreman to be elected. In December 2019 Sharon recruited Michelle to be 1st Vice President of TRA then when Sharon resigned on January 31, 2020, she wrote that with Michelle in position to move into the role of president, “I leave TRA in good hands….” You see, the by-laws state that if the president resigns or is removed, the 1st Vice President moves into the President position.

In June of 2021 the time came for the next election.   Boom.  Sharon had drummed up a rabid posse of opposition to the very person she herself had ordained with glowing words (I have in my possession the email of concern from the venue owner that he felt there may be trouble and a request for security measures was made). How does this happen?  Lies, lies and more lies.  Yet the mystery is why?

I already stated the obvious.  Sharon Ford can’t let anyone see the books or the bank statements that would show how she skimmed off cash.

In addition, maybe Sharon was lonelier than she expected as she had been basically “married” to the TRA for many years.  She has been fired from several jobs and she said in her resignation letter, “Not having a family has made it easier to pour my time, money, and energy into an organization that I love and believe in. During this past year being unemployed again has made it evident it is time to care for Sharon.”

Sharon refused to help Michelle at every turn. Psychologists call what we were seeing from Sharon at first passive aggressive behavior.   

Here’s just one example.  When I learned about TRA and went to the website I called Michelle and told her I couldn’t possibly join an organization that has a website that has been static for at least five years.  At that point Michelle asked Sharon to turn over the website information and sign in coordinates.  Sharon refused, lied, obfuscated.  Fortunately, a volunteer built a new site for no charge to the group, yet TRA had to pay for a new URL and the hosting.  For this effort to move the organization forward, the lies about Michelle came frothing out of Sharon and those who believe Sharon.  Michelle is accused acting behind closed doors and spending money she was not allowed to spend.  Really?  It was Sharon who closed the door.

Sharon Ford obviously missed her power, her perch, her title. Her passive aggressive behavior has turned into sociopathic behavior.  Read the book, The Sociopath Next Door.  The goal of a sociopath is to destroy the person they have in their sights.  And guess what?  This is fun for them.  Sharon is having fun trying to ruin another person’s reputation.  She is running around putting out signs for an unknown from Virginia who associates himself with Democrats and RINO’s, who will be on the ballot opposing Michelle in the primary.  

Sharon is having fun specifically in a way that will hurt every voter in Davidson County. Sharon’s very existence is defined by TRA, and the closer we get to the truth about the missing $17,000 under Sharon’s tenure, the more dangerous she becomes for true conservatives.  Sharon refuses to voluntarily turnover all TRA documents and bank records in violation of TRA by-laws but will legally be required to account for this information.  Until then, she doesn’t care that we all lose. Sociopaths are selfish and solipsistic. I just taught you a new word.

Sociopaths truly believe they are right, and this gives them the moral high ground to lie, cheat and steal.  Too bad that she does have a bit of charisma, thus her story telling has gained a small following. This following includes Michelle’s political opponent, who is using Sharon and her team of story tellers to help him with his campaign against Michelle.  He’s a RINO with no proven record.

Who cares?  I know, it’s hard to care about Sharon Ford’s vindictiveness but we must when she chooses to play out her own drama on our public stage of politics.  

Had Michelle not been made president of TRA, Sharon Ford could just keep the $17,000.  Michelle Foreman is the kind of person I want to be in the General Assembly. Honest, strong, smart, and willing to do the hard things on our behalf.

Hattie Bryant is the District 19 Chair of the Davidson County Republican Party.  Learn more about her at authorhattiebryant.com.






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Sunday, July 10, 2022

The August 4 Republican Primary, the General Election and the proposed charter amendments.

by Rod Williams, July 11, 2022 -The upcoming August 4, 2022 election is the Davidson County general election, the state primary elections, and a referendum on four proposed Metro Charter amendments. 

Early voting starts July 15 and runs through July 30. Here is the complete Early Voting schedule. For early voting, one may vote at any early voting location. On election day one must vote at ones designated polling place. Since last election, districts and precincts have been redrawn, so you may not be assigned to vote where you last voted.  If in doubt, check your voter registration card or follow this link to find out where you vote. 

Here is a list of candidates and a sample ballot for this election. 

For Republicans, the big contest is the primary race for the 5th Congressional District.  Thanks to redistricting, this district now leans Republican. The three serious candidates are Beth Harwell, Andy Ogles, and Krut Winstead. There are also several candidates who do not stand a chance and several of whom you may have never heard. I am probably voting for Beth Harwell, but would be pleased with Andy Ogles also.  I have not made up my mind 100% as of this posting.

There are US House of Representatives races where the incumbent has no primary challenger.  One of these is Mark Green in District 7.  I like Mark Green.  Unlike some Tennessee Republican representatives, he supported aid to Ukraine which I appreciate.  If I could, I would vote for him and am pleased he does not have a challenger.

There are several Tennessee Senate races with no Republican candidate and several House seats with no Republican candidate. One race that interests me is District 59 where Michelle Foreman is running for the Republican nomination. She does have a Republican opponent. I am supporting Michelle Foreman. 

One may vote in the Republican primary and in the Davidson County General election one may still vote for a Democrat if one wanted.  

One cannot vote in both primaries.  So, if one wanted to vote for Bill Lee for governor and vote for the Democrat who is running for the 5th Congressional District, one cannot do both. 

Of all of the offices on the General Election ballot, there are only three offices with Republican candidates, two are seeking School Board seats and one is a Republican running for a judgeship. The candidate seeking a judgeship is BRIAN A. HOROWITZ running for  General Sessions Judge Division IX.  He gets my vote. 

This year, for the first time school board members may run on a party label.  Running for School Board as a Republican are the following:

  • School Board District 2: TODD PEMBROKE.
  • School Board District 4: KELLI PHILLIPS
I support the Republican candidates for the school board.  I am also supporting FRAN BUSH who is running as an Independent Candidate in District 8.  She is currently on the School Board and is the only good member of the Board in my opinion. 

If one votes for one of the Republicans running for an office and then wants to vote in one of the races where only a Democrat is running, one may do so.  If you don't want to vote for a Democrat, you may write in a name. You can write in your own name or someone else's.  I am writing in Rod Williams.

You will notice that several judges are running for reelection on a "replace" or "retain" question. "Retain" always wins. My default position is to vote "replace" unless I know something about the judge seeking to retain his seat. 

There are also four Charter Amendments on the ballot.  They are on pages 11 through 17 of the sample ballot. My default position is to always vote against a proposed charter amendment if I don't know much about it. Someone needs to sell me on voting to amend the charter.  No one has sold me. Also, knowing something about a couple of the four, I am going to vote against all four.

I am urging everyone to vote “AGAINST RATIFICATION” on the amendments.

Here is a brief description of each:

No. 1: This amendment changes the process for amending the Metro Charter. Now the charter can be amended by a proposed amendment coming from the Charter Revision Commission or by petition from registered voters. This would make it much, much more difficult for the Charter to be amended by citizen petition. Of all of the four proposed amendments, this is the one I care most about.  This needs to be defeated. If you don't vote on any of the others, please vote "AGAINST RATIFICATION" on Amendment #1. 

No. 2: This would change the physical fitness qualifications for police officers. Currently, police officers must meet the same physical requirements for admission to the U.S. Army or Navy. The amendment would allow the requirements to be set by the civil service commission. The amendment also would modify U.S. citizenship requirements for the police department to be consistent with state law. The argument for this is that it would increase diversity. I do not know how this would change the citizenship requirements because I do not know what they are now and what state law requires as regards citizenship, and since I don't know I am going with my default position that if I don't know, I vote "no." The first part is enough for me, however. I want our police officers to be relatively fit. The fitness requirements of the military sounds reasonable to me. 

No. 3: This amendment the Charter in reference to the board of health and the Metro Public Health Department. The amendment would add an additional member to the Board of Health and update the qualifications for the members. The amendment would clarify the distinction between the Board of Health and the Department of Health to ensure oversight by the Board of Health. The amendment would remove the requirement that the Director of Health be a medical doctor and provide that if the director is not a medical doctor, then there must also be a Chief Medical Officer who is a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy. I don't know the pros and cons of this, so I am voting "AGAINST RATIFICATION."

No. 4: This formally creates the Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT). Unless someone explains why we need this additional bureaucracy, I am voting "AGAINST RATIFICATION."

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