Jeff Coker to Announce Candidacy for State Senate in District 18

February 20, 2012 – Hendersonville, Tennessee - Tomorrow Sumner County businessman Jeff Coker will formally announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Tennessee State Senate in District 18, comprising all of Sumner and Trousdale Counties and part of Davidson County.

Due to this year's redistricting and redrawing of the state senate lines, current Senator Kerry Roberts is no longer in the district and cannot run for reelection. Jeff will kick off his campaign in Trousdale County in the morning, making several stops throughout the district in Sumner County before ending his kick off tour in Davidson County.

Coker states his reason for running: “I am running to once again open the door of opportunity, both for the people of the 18th District and the State of Tennessee as a whole. Our country is truly at a crossroads. We have a militant administration in Washington intent upon trading freedom and economic growth for political expediency and government dependence. Here in Tennessee, we can fight back by steadfastly adhering to those time-test principles of limited, constitutional government. This means keeping taxes low, minimizing regulations and promoting our region as a great place to do business. The people of the 18th District can be confident that I, as their Senator, will be a leader in the fight to make us economically stronger and secure a future of freedom and opportunity.”

Jeff is a 1996 graduate of Gallatin High School and went on to earn a BS in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University. He works as an insurance agent and financial planner at Coker, Wolfe & Associates, Inc. Along with his wife and daughter, he lives in Hendersonville. For more information, please contact Nathan Moore at nmoore@coker4senate.com or (615) 423-2466.

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Metro gym paid for by tax dollars,

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -Your tax dollars paid for it, but you can't use it. Neither can most Metro employees.
It's a state of the art Metro government gym, available to only a fraction of Metro employees. In fact, not even most Metro Council members knew it existed. Metro gym paid for by tax dollars, restricted access - WSMV Channel 4

When Mayor Dean and his "yes" votes in the Metro Council start trying to sell you on why we need a tax increase, remember this example of how Metro is spending your tax dollars.

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Metro Council 2/7/12 Invocation by Wife of Brady Banks

This is the invocation given at the council's February 7, 2012 meeting. The prayer is led by the spouse of Councilman Brady Banks. As has been widely reported Councilman Banks was arrested Thursday afternoon in a police sting operation for patronizing a prostitute.

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Tennessee College Republicans Convention to Feature Alberto Gonzales

To register, click here.

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Unions Rally at School Board meeting of 2/14/2012

Supporters Rally for the SEIU and Unions. 

No Valentine's Day Love for Register. 

 

School Board Meetings can be very boring. This was not a boring meetings. A large crowd packed the February 14th School Board meeting, the majority there to protest the Metro School Board's cancellation of the 12-year-old Memorandum of Understanding with the unions. This School Board meeting was the first since the  Metro Council meeting in which the Council voted 29-5 to urge Register to comply with the district’s current labor negotiation policy.

Elected officials attending the meeting included Representatives Mike Steward, Sherry Jones, Mike Turner, Gary Moore, Janice Sontany, Brenda Gillmore, and Council Members Jason Potts, Karen Johnson, Davette Blalock, Scott Davis, Fabian Bedne and Brady Banks.

Unlike the Metro Council meetings which strictly prohibit the display of signs in the chamber, the crowd at the School Board meeting were allowed to display signs and union supporters waved red valentine-like signs that said "Have a heart." Also, unlike the Council meetings which discourages applause and outburst, applause and cheering was permitted.

The "Public Participation" portion of the School Board meeting had a large number of people wanted to speak. Speakers were limited to three minutes. (It starts at 18:17 in the video.) A couple speakers spoke about school reassignment request for their child and such matters but all of the others were there to speak about the School Board's termination of the Memorandum of Understanding. All speaking on this issue were speaking in favor of the unions with the exception of Councilman Steve Glover. Speakers worth noting are these:

• Pastor Don Beisswenger, a retired Vanderbilt Divinity School professor known for his civil disobedience and involvement in left wing causes, was the first speaker speaking in favor of the unions. 
• Jim Buckley of the United Steel Workers (23:09) takes the opportunity to slam Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin and refused to abide by the three minute time limit and keeps talking after being told his time was up. 
• Doug Collier, President of SEIU Local 205 (32:00) complains that he has filed a formal complaint with the board and has yet to receive a reply. He also takes issue with Metro Councilmember and former School Board Member Steve Glover's interpretation of the Director's authority to set district policy. 
• Representative Gary Moore, who is also President of the Tennessee AFL-CIO calls for cooperation and open dialogue to settle issues (35:27). 
• Representative Brenda Gilmore (36:48). 
• Representative Mike Turner (39:17) 
• James Brown speaks out about the new employee handbook restrictions (41:40). 
• Former Council Member Vivian Wilhoite (45:00). 
• Councilman and former School Board Member Steve Glover (1:08:42) explains the sequence of events that led to the current situation and why the Director of Schools was correct in following the law and acting within their policies. His comments were met with boos. 

What will happen next? Register, after this public hearing told reporters that he doesn’t plan to change his position on unions. I think most people think Jesse Register has been a good Director of Schools. However, I wonder if by standing up to the unions he has been too bold and made too many enemies. Are his days numbered?

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Nashville Republican Jewish Coalition presents Diane Black

RJC Nashville Chapter Congressman Diane Black (TN-6)   Wednesday, February 22    As a small business owner, former educator and registered nurse for over 40 years, Congressman Diane Black brings a unique perspective to her work in Washington. Click here for more information.    Save the Date:   March 23-25   RJC Winter Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas. Email Alex Siegel to upgrade to the National Leadership and attend our biggest meeting of the year!  RJC Nashville Chapter invites you to a conversation with Congressman Diane Black   Wednesday, February 22  7:00pm   Gordon JCC of Nashville   801 Percy Warner Blvd.  Nashville, TN 37205 Cost: No Charge for Current RJC Leaders and Members $20 for eTeam, NonCurrent, and Friends RSVP is Required. Please RSVP to Alex Siegel by calling 202-638-2909 ext. 107 or email grassroots@rjchq.org  Nashville Chapter individual membership is $50 Nashville Chapter couples membership is $75 National Leadership opportunities begin at $1000

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Vote for Bob Schwartz, Republican Delegate, March 6th.

BOB SCHWARTZ

FIFTH DISTRICT DELEGATE

COMMITTED TO NEWT GINGRICH

 

BOLD  +  DEBATE READY  +  AUTHENTIC  + CONSERVATIVE

 Founder, Music Row 4 McCain/Palin (2008)

               

Platform Committee, Republican Nat’al Convention (2008)

Tennessee Delegate, Republican Nat’al Convention (2008)

                Executive Committee, Davidson County GOP (2009)

                Candidate, Party Nomination, 5^th Congressional District (2010)

               

                Executive Director, TeamTennessee, Newt 2012 (2012)

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low carbon-emitting technologies, such as wind and hydroelectric power, may not yield much of a reduction in global warming

I do not believe that global warming theory is all a scam and giant conspiracy on the part of liberals to take away our freedoms, but neither do I believe that the sky is falling immediately and that the science is settled once and for all and we must do something drastic. I tend to believe the theory is valid but overstated. I also believe that there has been a concerted effort to make the science fit a conclusion and to stifle descent. How is one who is himself not a scientist to know what to believe?

Below are two informative articles about environmental issues:

 Low-carbon technologies ‘no quick-fix’, says researchers at The Institute of Physics is a new study.

 A drastic switch to low carbon-emitting technologies, such as wind and hydroelectric power, may not yield a reduction in global warming until the latter part of this century, research published today suggests. Low-carbon technologies ‘no quick-fix’, say researchers Furthermore, it states that technologies that offer only modest reductions in greenhouse gases, such as the use of natural gas and perhaps carbon capture and storage, cannot substantially reduce climate risk in the next 100 years. "Achieving substantial reductions in temperatures relative to the coal-based system will take the better part of a century, and will depend on rapid and massive deployment of some mix of conservation, wind, solar, and nuclear, and possibly carbon capture and storage," the researchers write. 

This is not some opinion by some right-wing partisan or a coal industry funded study. Even if one accept completely the global warming theory, then the questions becomes what do we do about it. There are no simple answers.

UT Researchers Find China’s Pollution Related to E-Cars May Be More Harmful than Gasoline Cars.

Electric cars have been heralded as environmentally friendly, but findings from University of Tennessee, Knoxville, researchers show that electric cars in China have an overall impact on pollution that could be more harmful to health than gasoline vehicles. 

So much of environmentalism seems to be based on faulty assumptions and a desire to do something even if is wrong. I think few would now argue that ethanol produced from corn is beneficial to the environment but we spend million upon millions requiring ethanol in our gasoline which led to poisoning of the Gulf of Mexico, poor land management practices and third world hunger due to an artificial increase in the demand for corn. The newest environmental folly may be the electric automobile.

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The Tennessean's Report on Brady Banks' Political Future

Brady Banks' political future unclear after arrest in prostitution sting | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

I agree with the opinions of Councilman Robert Duvall and  others quoted in this story.  Now is not the time to call for Bank's resignation. Now is not the time to pile on.  Banks needs to put off any decision on his political future and work on his marriage. He does need to issue a statement soon however. He needs to say something.

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Update 2: Councilman Brady Banks Arrested on Patronizing Prostitution Charge

Brady Banks

North Precinct Crime Suppression Unit officers late this afternoon arrested Metro Councilman Brady Banks on a misdemeanor charge of patronizing prostitution during a sting at a hotel on Athens Way in the MetroCenter area.

          Banks, 33, is accused of paying $100 to a female undercover officer in exchange for sex.  Banks met the undercover officer in a hotel room after responding to an escort service ad posted by the police department on the Internet.  He was arrested at 4:40 p.m.

          Banks is one of three men arrested during the sting today.  Also charged were Matthew Moynihan, 38, of Hendersonville (arrested at 3:50 p.m.), and Jyotin Arora, 37, of Hermitage (arrested at 9:50 a.m.).

          Banks’ bond was set by a judicial commissioner at $1,000.  The same bond was set for Moynihan and Arora.

Update 2/17/2012: Brady Banks today resigned his job as Director of the non-profit Governor's Books from Birth Foundation. Councilman Banks and his wife had a baby a couple of months ago. The prostitution charge is a misdemeanor. There is nothing in the Metro Charter that would force Mr. Banks to resign his council seat as a result of this arrest. 

 

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Help protect our religious liberty: "WE ARE ALL CATHOLICS NOW"

The following alert is reposted from an email received from J. Lee Douglas of the Nine-12 Project Nashville group.

We need your help to protect our religious liberty.  

Appropriately, Beck has begun a movement called "WE ARE ALL CATHOLICS NOW".  The main goal of the initiative is to ask Americans to reach out to Congressional leaders (at the moment your Senators) to encourage the passage of Legislation that would protect religious groups' Conscience Rights.

Please Contact your Senators offices and Speak to whoever answers:

1.  Tell them that you want to tell the Senator to vote for the Blunt Conscience Protection Amendment.

2.  Ask them if they know how the Senator will vote on that amendment

3.  Tell them you want to be contacted back about how he voted (be sure to ask for accountability - - they hate it, but it makes them call back).

4.  When you call, be sure to tell them "we are all Catholics now".  This key phrase will let them know you are part of a larger, organized movement working in support of religious freedom.

Thanks to each and everyone.  This is one of the most important issues of our time.  WE CA N NOT ALLOW THEM TO TAKE OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AWAY.  WE MUST STAND UP AND FIGHT!!!!!!!!!

Lamar Alexander  202-224-4944 Washington, 615-736-5129 Nashville, 731-423-9344 Jackson

Bob Corker  202-224-3344 Washington, 615-279-8125  Nashville, 731-424-9655 Jackson

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Janis Sontany to leave TN legislature | In Session

We need a good Republican candidate to run for this open seat. Is Tonya Miller still interested? She ran against Janis in 2010. She has lots of contacts with the immigrant community and is bilingual and should poll well in the Hispanic community. Is Tony Tenpenny interested? I suspect Anna Page, former Metro Councilman, may be interested as a Democrat nominee.
Janis Sontany to leave TN legislature | In Session

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