United States Marine Sergeant Stephen Cochran to Serve as Grand Marshall of the Nashville “Welcome Home” Parade and Job Fair on Flag Day (June 14th, 2014)

NASHVILLE— Veterans and community supporters have come together to host a “Welcome Home” parade and job fair on June 14^th, 2014 to thank and benefit Tennessee’s Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans.  The parade is open to veterans and civilians alike, and it will be our state’s first official event thanking Tennessee’s most recent veterans and formally welcoming them back home to civilian life. 

 

Former United States Marine Sergeant Stephen Cochran, who describes himself as “a singer/songwriter that was once a Marine singing country music, and now is a country music singer that was a Marine,” will serve as the “Grand Marshall” of the Welcome Home parade.  Sgt. Cochran – who served multiple tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan and suffered severe injuries that left him paralyzed from the waist down – epitomizes the heroism and dedication of our extraordinary service members.  Upon returning home, Sgt. Cochran adapted his guitar playing to overcome the fact that he can play with only three fingers, and he is currently pursuing a promising country music career. 

 

The parade will be followed by a ceremony on War Memorial Plaza that will feature keynote addresses from both U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper and Tennessee State Senator and WWII veteran Douglas Henry, as well as a Flag Day proclamation from TDVA Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder.  Additional speakers include Sgt. Cochran, Judge Seth Norman, Operation Stand Down Nashville President Bob Tuke, and Operation Stand Down Nashville Executive Director Bill Burleigh. 

 

Following the ceremony will be a veterans job fair hosted by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), the event’s main sponsor.  Participating organizations include HCA, Walgreens, IBEW Local #429, G4S, UPS, Lowe’s, Dollar General and many others.  The goal of the job fair is to ensure that as many veterans as possible are hired.  Said event organizer Daniel Horwitz: “No veteran who has fought for this country overseas should ever have to fight for a job after returning home.  This event aims to honor Tennessee’s Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans for their extraordinary service to this nation, and to ensure that they get the jobs that they need and deserve.”  Representatives from the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and Operation Stand Down Nashville (the event’s VSO partner) will participate as well. 

 

Those interested in participating in this event are strongly encouraged to visit the event’s facebook page.

 

Individuals or groups interested in marching in the parade should contact Ms. Brandi Majerus at bmajerus@ymail.com. 

 

Businesses or organizations interested in participating in the job fair should fill out the event’s employer participation form and contact Daniel Horwitz at daniel.a.horwitz@gmail.com.  Participating businesses should bring their own tables and chairs and set up by 12:00PM.  

 

WHO:  Veterans, civilians, businesses and organizations interested in thanking Tennessee’s Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans for their service and welcoming them home to civilian life.  ***The first 1000 people to arrive will receive a free ceremonial American Flag.***

 

WHAT: Parade, ceremony and job fair to welcome home Tennessee’s Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans.  Dress is casual.  Veterans interested in the job fair should bring a resume and DD-214.

 

            WHEN:  Saturday, June 14^th, 2014 (Flag Day)        

-10:00AM:  Parade and crowd lineup begins on 12^th Ave. N. and Church St. (NES parking lot).  The parade will begin promptly at 10:30AM. 

                        -12:00PM:  “Welcome Home” ceremony on War Memorial Plaza

                        -1:00PM-4:00PM:  Veterans job fair on War Memorial Plaza

 

            WHERE: 

                        -Parade: 12^th Ave. N. and Church St. (NES parking lot)

-Ceremony/Job Fair: 301 6th Ave N. Nashville, TN 37243 (War Memorial Plaza)

 

Parking will be available in all of the state parking lots off Charlotte Avenue (located on Charlotte Ave. and 10^th Circle North).  Additionally, free rides up to $20 will be available to and from the event via Uber using the promo code: WELCOMEHOME   

 

WHY: To thank and benefit Tennessee’s Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans.

           

            CONTACT:

                        -Brandi Majerus (Parade): bmajerus@ymail.com

                        -Daniel Horwitz (Ceremony/Job Fair): daniel.a.horwitz@gmail.com

 

 

For more information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleWelcomeHomeParade

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Federal Election Commission questions Joe Carr's contributions

The Federal Election Commission in a letter dated June 2nd, questions contributions received by Carr's campaign.  It says, "Schedule A of your report discloses a receipt/contribution without an explanation that appears to be from a limited liability corporation" Also, the letter notes that, "Schedule A of your report discloses one or more contributions that appear to exceed the limits set forth in the Act."

To see the letter, follow this link. Admittedly, campaign finance can get complicated and that is why serious campaigns hire professional campaign managers and appoint competent treasurers to help with that sort of thing.  Joe Carr is not very good at all of that paper work stuff.

To see who contributed to any federal campaign and how much they contributed you can find that information at the Federal Election Commission's website. Here is the link to Carr's report.

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Council passes same-sex benefits on 2nd reading, 25-6 with 3 abstentions.

News Channel 5, NASHVILLE, Tenn - as part of a marathon Metro Council meeting, Tuesday, the council voted shortly after 11 p.m. on a bill which would extend Metro employee benefits to their same-sex partners.

That includes insurance and the ability to take time off.

The council approved the bill on it's second reading with a 25-6 vote with three abstaining.

My Comment: Thankfully a few Metro Council members voted "no."  Check back and as soon as I know, I will post who voted which way.  This is not a done deal. An outpouring of opposition from the public could kill this bill! I am disappointed that there has not so far been an outpouring of opposition from Nashville's churches and Bible-believing Christians and others who support traditional values. If pastors would take to the pulpits and denounce this, this could be defeated.  

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Dear Councilman, Urgent! Please vote against extending Metro benefits to same-sex couples.

To: robert@robertduvall.us; duanead2@yahoo.com; tim.garrett@nashville.gov; district35@comcast.net; karen.bennett@nashville.gov; steve.glover@nashville.gov; joshstites@gmail.com; phil.claiborne@nashville.gov; tonytenpenny@yahoo.com; emily.evans@nashville.gov; davette.blalock@nashville.gov; carter.todd@nashville.gov; sheri.weiner@nashville.gov;

Dear Councilman,

I am writing you to urge you to oppose Ordinance no. BL2014-779 which is on Second reading on Tuesday, June 3rd.  This is the bill that would extend Metro employee benefits to same sex couples.

I don't really care what two people do in the privacy of their bedroom. I do not want homosexuals to be treated unkindly.  I would not discriminate against homosexuals.  Not treating two gay people exactly like a married man and women is not discrimination however. I do not want to normalize what is a perverse lifestyle.  I do not want to extend to two gay men the same status as a married couple. In addition to the moral opposition to this bill, it is estimated to cost Metro between $450,000 and $950,000 a year.

I know the bill will likely pass, but it should not pass without opposition. It should not pass unanimously. If you are getting this, it is because I believe you are one of the "good" council members. I don't expect better from many on the Council, but I do you. Please don't disappointment. Please take a public stand.  I am making this letter an open letter in hopes that others will be aware of what is about to happen. I am asking those who receive this letter to forward it to their friends and to contract their own council member asking them to oppose this bill.

Below is the text of the bill.

ORDINANCE NO. BL2014-779

An Ordinance amending Title 3 of the Metropolitan Code to provide domestic partner benefits for Metropolitan Government employees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That Title 3 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by adding the following new Chapter 3.14 – Domestic Partner Benefits:

CHAPTER 3.14 DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS

3.14.010 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

Basic living expenses means the cost of basic food and shelter. The individuals need not contribute equally or jointly to the cost of these expenses as long as they agree that both are responsible for the costs.

Declaration of domestic partnership means a form provided by the metropolitan department of human resources that official recognizes a domestic partner relationship when signed by domestic partners. By signing it, two persons attest, under penalty of perjury, that they both meet all of the requirements of domestic partners as provided herein.

Domestic partners means two (2) adults who meet all of the following requirements:
1. Both adults have chosen to share one another's lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring that is intended to be lifelong;
2. Both adults currently share a primary residence;
3. Both adults have shared a primary residence for the preceding three hundred sixty-five (365) days;
4. Both adults are jointly responsible for basic living expenses, as demonstrated by a signed declaration of financial interdependence and by providing three (3) of the following as proof of joint responsibility:
a. Joint ownership of a primary residence or joint tenancy of a residential lease;
b. Copy of a utility (water, gas, or electric) invoice listing both domestic partners;
c. Joint ownership of an automobile;
d. Joint bank or credit account;
e. Joint liabilities (e.g. credit cards or loans, etc.);
f. A will or trust designating the domestic partner as beneficiary;
g. A retirement plan or life insurance policy beneficiary designation form designating the domestic partner as beneficiary;
h. A signed durable power of attorney to the effect that the employee and the domestic partner have granted powers to one another;
i. Copies of each domestic partner's driver's license that indicates the same address;
j. Other acceptable proof of joint financial responsibility as determined by the department of human resources.
5. Both adults have been jointly responsible for living expenses during the preceding three hundred sixty-five (365) days; and
6. Neither adult is in a lawful marriage recognized by the State of Tennessee or is in another domestic partnership.

Domestic partnership means a relationship conferring benefits described in section 3.14.040 upon domestic partners who have signed a declaration of domestic partnership as provided in this chapter.

Share a primary residence means that two (2) persons share the same primary living quarters; however, it is not necessary that the legal right to possess the living quarters be in both of their names.

3.14.020 Establishing a domestic partnership.

A. Two (2) persons may establish a domestic partnership by submitting a signed declaration of domestic partnership to the department of human resources, which shall maintain such declaration on file and give the two persons a copy showing that such declaration was filed.
B. Persons prohibited from marrying in the state of Tennessee as a result of degrees of relationship under T.C.A. § 36-3-101 are likewise prohibited from entering into a domestic partnership under this chapter.

3.14.030 Benefits.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, and unless prohibited by a contractual agreement between the Metropolitan Government and an insurance provider at the time of enactment of this section, benefits that are available to domestic partners and their dependent children shall be identical to those benefits in the System available to spouses of Members and their dependent children. Such benefits include, but are not limited to, insurance coverage and pension benefits. The submission of a domestic partnership declaration is understood to be a qualifying event for purposes of enrolling a domestic partner and their dependent children in a benefit plan, provided that the enrollment of domestic partners and their dependent children shall be subject to the same initial enrollment and annual enrollment requirements applicable to the spouses and dependent children of employees. After the initial enrollment created by the domestic partner declaration, the domestic partner and dependent children of the domestic partner shall be subject to the same enrollment and disenrollment requirements applicable to the spouses and dependent children of employees.

3.01.040 Termination of a domestic partnership.

A. A domestic partnership terminates when at least one of the domestic partners no longer qualifies as a domestic partner as that term is defined in section 3.14.010 of this chapter.
B. If a domestic partnership ends, the employee must submit written notice to the human resources department within thirty calendar (30) days after the termination of the domestic partnership. The notice must be dated and signed under penalty of perjury. The employee must also send a written copy of the notice to his or her former domestic partner by certified mail.

3.14.050 Tax Liability.

Since a domestic partnership is not a legally recognized relationship by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, an employee will be taxed on benefits provided to his or her domestic partner, unless the domestic partner is otherwise considered the employee’s dependent for tax purposes. The employee shall be solely responsible for paying these taxes. Employees should seek independent tax advice in connection with any benefits provided to a domestic partner and their dependent children pursuant to this chapter.

3.14.060 Adoption of rules and regulations.

The metropolitan employee benefit board shall have the authority to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, provided that such rules and regulations are consistent with the express provisions contained herein. Such rules and regulations may include criteria for determining when a domestic partnership is terminated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

3.14.070 Severability.

Should any court of competent jurisdiction declare any section, clause, or provision of the ordinance codified in this chapter to be unconstitutional, such decision shall affect only such section, clause or provision so declared unconstitutional, and shall not affect any other section, clause, or provision of the ordinance.

Section 2. The domestic partner benefits afforded pursuant to this ordinance shall be initially offered as part of the Annual Enrollment period for an effective date of January 1, 2015.

Section 3. That this Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Peter Westerholm, Brady Banks, Megan Barry, Lonnell Matthews, Ronnie Steine

Rod Williams
A Disgruntled Republican
home 292-8900, cell 509-3900, work 850-3453
Please visit my blog: http://adisgruntledrepublican.com

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Metro Council Budget and Finance committee meeting of June 2nd.

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From Stephen Clements, organizer of Caffeinated Conservatives:

Hi everybody,
Until we get together to talk education again on the 21st, here's some good information and event news you can use.

1) Jim Roberts is running for Chancery Court Judge, so join him at The Judge's Vinegarroon (1805 Church St, Nashville, TN 37203)  

When: Tuesday, June 10 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Event is free, but donations are welcomed! I hope to be there, and hope to see you there, too. If you can't make it, ask me for how to make a donation.

2) Toni Eaton is running for Davidson County Clerk, and there is a meet and greet for her at Logan’s Elliston Place on June 5th from 6pm to 8pm.

Donations Appreciated, and you get spiffy names depending on how much you give: 

$250 - Host (given or raised)

$100 - Benefactor

$50 - Patron

$25 - Guest

RSVP (not required, but appreciated) to 615-255-0121 or toni@tonieaton.com.

3) Rick Williams of the Stop AMP campaign asked that I share this with you all, because you're awesome and he knows it. Long story short is that Tuesday night, you have three minutes to tell the Metro Council was you think, and I know you people got some thoughts to share. DO IT!

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Jim Roberts for Chancery Court Judge Kick-Off Event Tue. June 10.



Candidates for Judge cannot ask for campaign contributions, but someone else can ask for them. Please contribute to our Republican judicial candidates. A fishbowl will be available at the event. Please give generously.

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Adam Dread for General Sessions "foodie" fundraiser", June 10th

Please join us for

 

Blue Moon in June…  a “foodie” fundraiser for

 Adam Dread for General Sessions Judge,  Davidson County General Sessions Court, Division IX

Featuring delicious samplings from many of your favorite Nashville Original and Independent Restaurants that have generously contributed signature dishes

Tuesday, June 10th 5:00 - 8:00 pm 

Blue Moon Waterfront Grill, At Rock Harbor Marina, 525 Basswood Avenue.Nashville, TN  37209

 Suggested donation is $99 per person/couple. Please RSVP to contact@judgedread.com.

Contribute online to elect Adam Dread at http://t.e2ma.net/click/0iblf/cgdioi/oxif7b

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Do you like the new EPA regs that will raise your electric bill and cost jobs? If so, thank your councilman.

Do you approve of the new EPA regulations, that were not authorized by Congress, that applies to existing power plants, that will drive up electric bills, cost the economy about 200,000 jobs and do virtually nothing to curtail global warming? If you do, then give a big shout-out to your locally elected Council member.

On November 12, 2012, the Metro Council unanimously passed RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-478, which put the Council on record:

• "as supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas pollution under the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act," 
• " as noting that climate change is not an abstract problem for the future or one that will only affect far-distant places, but rather climate change is happening now, we are contributing to it, and the longer we wait to act, the more we lose and the more difficult the problem will be to solve." and, 
• urging "the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa P. Jackson, and President Barack Obama to move swiftly to fully employ and enforce the Clean Air Act to do our part to reduce carbon in our atmosphere to no more than 350 parts per million." 

This was not a contentious piece of legislation that barely passed the council. Every member present voted for it. Robert Duvall voted for it. Duane Dominy voted for it. Carter Todd voted for it. Davette Blalock not only voted for it, she co-sponsored it. Charlie Tygard voted for it. Phil Clairborne voted for it. Karen Bennett voted for it. Tony Tennpenny voted for it.

In their wisdom the Council declared that no more than 350 parts per million was the right amount of carbon the atmosphere could tolerate. Not 325 parts per million or 375 parts per million, but 350. We have some really smart councilman to figure that out. Also, the Council didn't ask for a cost benefit analysis to determine the incremental cost of hitting that magic number. The cost be damned; just do it. This bill was part of a nation wide effort to get local governments across the nation to push the Obama administration to impose the regulation that were just recently propagated. Locally it was promoted by Vanderbilt University environmental activist.

I hope that in the future we will elect some Republicans to the Council who are at least as conservative as Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. It would be nice if we had some conservatives on the Council.

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Alexander: Administration's New Carbon Regulation on Existing Power Plants “Will Drive Electricity Prices Up” and Hurt Job Creation in Many Parts of the Country

Lamar Alexander

WASHINGTON, June 2 – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on the administration’s announcement to issue a new carbon regulation on existing power plants:

“This new carbon regulation on existing power plants will drive electricity prices up and drive down job growth in many parts of the country. This is just one more example of the federal government expanding the big, wet blanket of burdensome regulations on our economy that put people out of work and make it harder to find a job. This regulation also bypasses congressional authority – it’s the job of Congress, not unelected bureaucrats, to determine whether and how to regulate carbon dioxide.”

The EPA’s new regulation would require utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their existing power plants by 30 percent, below 2005 levels, by 2030. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce study estimated that such a change could result in 224,000 fewer U.S. jobs on average every year through 2030, and force U.S. consumers to pay $289 billion more for electricity through 2030.
Alexander is a member of the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the lead Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

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Tue. June 10, Americans for Prosperity is sponsoring Conservative Conversation and Cocktails

From Conservative Conversation and Cocktails:

Meeting at Three Brothers Restaurant 114 N Church Street Murfreesboro TN 37130 

Tuesday, June 10 at 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Americans for Prosperity is sponsoring 3C's this month as part of their "Freedom on Tap" grassroots event series. This means that along with our regular Conservative Conversation and Cocktails , Americans for Prosperity is BUYING enough FINGER FOODS and BEER for EVERYONE. Come out and learn about getting involved in AFP's efforts to bring limited government, lower taxes and more freedom to the State of Tennessee. Our scheduled speakers for the evening are Mishelle Perkins, Lynn Davis, James Gann and Jim Sandman coming to speak to you about the State Executive Committee (SEC). This will be a great informational meeting.

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Meet and Greet Fundraiser with Toni Eaton, Thursday June 5th, 6PM

Republican Candidate for Davidson County Clerk
Logan’s Ellison Place
June 5th 2014, 6pm to 8pm
Donations Appreciated
RSVP: (not required but appreciated)  615-255-0121 or toni@tonieaton.com
Bring your family and friends out to meet our next Davidson County Clerk!
paid for by Eaton For Clerk, Susan McElroy treasurer

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