What's on the Council Agenda April 7th: term limits, a lot of 4% money, diverting Hotel-motel tax, public sector unions.

If you don't know what the Metro Council is voting on and you watch a council meeting, you will find it really, really boring. If you have your own copy of the Council agenda and staff analysis it will still be boring but not really, really boring. To get your own copies, follow the highlighted links.

There are seven appointees to Boards and Commissions. None of them are to the troubled or controversial agencies and I don't know the appointees. The council routinely  approves whomever the mayor appoints.  Recently the council did reject an appointee to the Fair Board who was an advocate of destroying the fair grounds and selling the property, but it is extremely rare the council ever rejects an appointee to a board or commission.

There is one resolution and 13 bills on Public hearing. Most bills on public hearing are zoning or related issues and are of interest only to nearby neighbors of the proposed rezoning. I don't try to stay informed on zoning issues nor do I try to form an opinion. Here are the ones I find interesting:

• RESOLUTION NO. RS2015-1415  This is interesting because it is so silly that the Council has to keep doing this. This resolution allows a particular restaurant that already has a liquor license, an exemption from a portion of the metro beer ordinance so they can get a permit to sell beer. Metro has distance requirements from schools, churches, parks, day care center, in order to get a beer permit. However, the state does not have those distance requirements to get a liquor license. So, if an establishment has a liquor license then the Council can exempt them from the distance requirements in the beer ordinance and let them also get a beer permit, but there must first be a public hearing. I think that the distance exemption should be automatic; that if one has a liquor license they should be allowed to get a beer permit.
• BILL NO. BL2015-1055 is a bill disapproved by the planning commission. The bill is tailored to allow an outdoor amusement called Topgolf to operate in an area now zoned industrial. Rather than changing the zoning, the bill attempts to change the text of the zoning ordinance to permit what is not now permitted.

There are 20 resolutions on the agenda. Most resolutions are lumped together and put on the "consent agenda" and all pass with a single voted. If a resolution does not pass the committee to which it was assigned unanimously then it is not on consent and is considered separately. Any council member may from the floor, ask for a bill to be pulled off of consent and then the resolution will be considered separately.  There are several bills concerning issuing short-term debt to finance sewer projects. The short-term debt may be thought of as a construction loan that one gets while building a house then the construction loan is paid off with a mortgage. This short-term loans will be paid off when long-term bonds are issued. These are the resolutions I find interesting:

• RESOLUTION NO. RS2015-1419 spends almost $15 million dollars out of the four percent fund. Four percent of the General Fund is set aside to be appropriated throughout the year. The four percent fund is supposed to only fund equipment purchases and repairs. Before the request gets to the Council, it must be approved by the Mayor's finance director. 

There is now $28 million in the fund but that includes $5 million of anticipated revenue not yet realized so spending $15 million will leave the fund pretty low. $650,000 is for a new a new "legislative management system," what ever that is, and a new voting system for the Metro Council. Four million dollars is to replace a phone system and other information technology service needs. A half million is for renovation and repairs at General Hospital. In my view, the city needs to get out of the hospital business.  When contemplating the future of General Hospital, the next mayor and council should recall that the subsidy to General Hospital is not only the budgeted amount but this half million from the 4% fund.  $50,000 is for miscellaneous equipment and repairs at Farmers Market.

Please note that this is all additional money to the departments, money not budgeted for that department. This is a large request from the 4% fund but will probably be the last request this year unless something major breaks.  Every penny of request may be justified, but to me it looks like department are getting while the getting is good, not knowing if the next mayor will approve their request or not.  The council has no way to determine if a repair or piece equipment would just be nice to have or is essential but sometimes a probing inquiry of the department head can result in somewhat of a determination if the request is necessary or if it is inflated. I hope the Budget and Finance Committee takes a hard look at this request.  They need to ask if there is any life remaining in what is being asked to be replaced. They need to ask how long the repair or replacement has been needed.  They need to ask what would the agency do if the request in not granted. I suspect some of this is not essential spending.

•  RESOLUTION NO. RS2015-1420 appropriates $1.85 million to entities that operate as enterprise funds, that is they are supposed to operate off of their own revenue. The Fair Ground request is for $700K, however the funds will come from funds that have been generated at the Fair Grounds.  The municipal auditorium request of $550K and the Farmers Market request of $600K is money out of the undesignated fund balance. My view is that perhaps the city should sellthe municipal auditorium if it cannot break even.  We have the Bridestone arena and there are numerous other music venues and exhibition spaces in town.  The auditorium does fill a niche in a space of that size and that price point, however the property is extremely valuable and if the facility cannot figure out how to cover their operating cost, maybe it is time to sell and redevelop the property.

I don't know what to say about the farmers market. It is really not a farmers market where farmers can sell to retailers such as grocery stores and restaurants. It is a boutique farm-to-table farmers market.  I enjoy going to farmers market but we should be able to operate a facility like that and make it covers it's operating cost.

I know the stuff sold in the North shed was tacky junk.  I was never in the market for a velvet African princess piece of art or twelve pair of socks for six dollars, but those vendors were providing income to the market as well as making a living for themsleves. I doubt there is enough demand for soy candles and homemade soap and such to fill that shed. Unless it would mean closing the market, I think this appropriation should be deferred and let the next mayor and council decide what to do with farmers market.  

RESOLUTION NO. RS2015-1433 proposes an amendment to the charter to appear on the November 7th ballot to increase the term limits of the Vice Mayor and Council to three terms. Terms limits for the Council were approved in 1994. Attempts to repeal or extend term limits have been tried several times since. I think term limits are a mistake and it weakens the role of the council and makes for a stronger mayor and more powerful permanent bureaucracy. However, I doubt the public is in a mood to expand term limits so I don't think this ought to go on the November 7th ballot. The Council will defer this to let the Charter Revision Commission make a recommendation.

There are a bunch of bills on first reading, but I don't look at them until second reading and I doubt many of the members of the Council do either.  First reading is a formality to get the bill on the agenda and all bills on first reading are passed at one time in one motion.

Bills on Second Reading of interest:

BILL NO. BL2015-1056 would designate that revenue received from the hotel-motel tax from short-term vacation rental (such as Airbnb) go to the Barnes fund for Affordable Housing.  The State law that created the  hotel-motel tax says where the money must go and only one 1% of the 6% tax on rooms goes to the general fund.  The other 5% go to debt service on the convention center, tourism promotion and tourism related activity.  This bill would divert that 1% from the general fund to the Barnes Fund. but only the portion of that 1% of the tax collected from short-term vacation rentals. I see no logic in why that portion of the hotel-motel tax should fund the Barnes Fund.  I also think this is unwise.  My view is that money designated, is an appropriations decision the council cannot make. The Barnes Fund should compete with General Hospital, Farmers Market, Schools, police and everything else the city does for an annual appropriations. There are many unmet needs in the city including an ageing infrastructure  and a desire for sidewalk and drainage projects.  I am concerned about Metro's unfunded and growing pension liability and retiree health care obligations and general debt obligations and do  not think any money should be taken off the table.  If I were in the Council, I would vote against this bill.

There are only three bills on Third Reading and none of them are of interest.

Memorializing resolutions:  There are six memorializing resolutions on the agenda. A memorializing resolution does not have any force in law or do anything, it just expresses the will of the Council.  Often memorializing resolutions are used to congratulate a sports team on a victory or to honor a retiring employee or community volunteer. Sometimes however, the Council weights in on State or national issues.  Most often when that happens it is to promote some left-wing agenda item and may be part of a nationwide movement to get cities across the nation to urge Congress to take a particular action. The handful of conservatives on the Council have usually rolled over and played dead when it comes to liberal memorializing resolutions and allowed them to pass without objections. I hope the new Council will push back against the trend of putting the Council on record supporting liberal policies. If a memorializing resolution passes the committee to which it is assigned unanimously, then the memorializing resolution becomes part of the consent agenda.

RESOLUTION NO. RS2015-1437 puts the council on record opposing state legislation that would prohibit local governments from recognizing any labor union or employee association as a bargaining agent of government employees. There is a bill pending in the legislature,  House Bill 603  and Senate Bill 123 that would do that. Here is the legislative summary of the bill:

This bill prohibits municipal and county governments from:

(1) Recognizing any labor union or employee association as a bargaining agent of the employees or officers of the municipality or county;

(2) Collectively bargaining with any labor union or employee association; or

(3) Entering into any collective bargaining agreement with a labor union or employee association, including, but not limited to, a memorandum of understanding.

Any agreement, contract, understanding, or practice, written or oral, implied or expressed, between a municipality or county and any labor union or employee association in violation of this bill will be deemed illegal, void, and of no legal effect.

This bill authorizes elected and appointed county and municipal public officers to seek injunctive relief in chancery court to prevent the municipality or county from violating this section.

This bill's prohibitions will not apply to:

(1) Collaborative conferencing between local boards of education and professional employees; or

(2) Collective bargaining between transit authorities and workers.

I support the bill and oppose the memorializing resolution against it. In government, there are not market forces that mitigate against excessive union demands.  In the private sector, a company can go out of business if labor cost raise the price of a product and make the product unattractive to consumers. In the public sector there are no market forces to provide a pushback against union demands.   As unionized labor has diminished in the US, unions have focused more and more on unionizing public sector employees. The Supreme Court of Tennessee, in Fulenwider v. Firefighters Assoc. Local Union, 649 S.W.2d 268 (Tenn. 1982), has confirmed the long-standing rule that contracts between municipal corporations and unions representing their employees are unenforceable.  This codifies that Court ruling.

This needs to be defeated, deferred indefinitely or withdrawn. I will  be very disappointed if any of the Council members who profess  to be conservative support this memorializing resolution. The State House has deferred the bill  to a summer study committee, which  often kills a bill, so it will not be voted  on in the remaining days of this legislative session anyway.

RESOLUTION NO. RS2015-1438  welcome the National Rifle Association to Nashville for its 2015 Annual Meetings. I would not be surprised if some anti-2nd amendment  liberals in the Council attempt to defeat this resolution.

The other four memorializing resolutions should not be controversial.

Top Stories

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, speaker at 1st Tuesday, April 7th.

From Tim Skow, host of First Tuesday:

1ST TUESDAY members and friends

Legislative Plaza currently has the activity level of Florida beaches during Spring Break. Word is the


Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey

2015 Legislature will wrap up in April. IF SO... then our April guest has MUCH to say grace over NOW !!

The 1st friend of 1ST TUESDAY ... TN Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey returns to 1ST TUESDAY next Tuesday, April 7th ! [ at Lt. Gov. Ramsey's 1st 1ST TUESDAY visit 8 years ago .... we had a BIG crowd .... of less than 30 ! ]

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ??

Is INSURE TN really coming back again in some form?
Is AMP really coming back again in some form ?
Is there going to be GUNS in parks in some form?
Is there going to be a BUDGET that includes what you care about in some form ?

Is your SUV being used by St. Senate Democrats to have Democrat Senate Caucus meetings in ? [ Is there any way of keeping Jeff Yarbro in The SUV and out of The Tennessean ??? ]

WHAT ELSE do you want to hear about ??? NEEDLESS to say... there will be sooooo much more to discuss....and Lt. Gov Ramsey is the man with answers !

As usual, doors will open at 11:00AM at Waller Law - 511 Union Street - 27th floor for Coffee and Social time. Lunch starts at 11:30 and is still $20 for Members and $25 for Guests. Our program will start at Noon with Q & A ending at 1:00PM sharp!

Expect a significant number of "Guests from Legislative Plaza"... and maybe from some notable Departments. Expect a significant number of top-tier candidates for Metro Council you are going to want to meet and help elect !!! INVITE your friends...and SECURE your seats by visiting our website and clicking on " Join US" at www.1sttuesdaynashville.com!!

EXPECT TO MEET MANY of the candidates for Metro Council we want to win in August !

See you on Tuesday, April 7th at 1ST TUESDAY !!
Tim Skow Host of 1ST TUESDAY

PS -- Save the Evening of April 22nd when Lt. Gov Ramsey will be hosting an event for his Special Guest, Sam Brownback, the former US Senator and now newly re-elected Gov of Kansas !!

Top Stories

Carol Swain seeks positon of Chairman of the TNGOP

Shortly after Chris Devaney announced he was resigning as Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, I reported that Carol Swain, professor at Vanderbilt University and political pundit and activist, had expressed interest in the position.  She is now actively seeking the position along with about half a dozen other contenders. Below is her letter of solicitation of support send to members of the State Executive Committee who will chose Chris Devaney's replacement this week. Also attached is her press release. The only change I have made is to remove her telephone number.  I have done this for all the candidates, however, I am sure if you wish to speak to Dr. Swain that you may contact her at her email address and she will return your call. Rod

Carol M. Swain
P.O. Box 1385
Brentwood, TN 37024
(615) xxx-xxxx

March 30, 2015

Dear Republican Leader:

It is with great enthusiasm and high expectations for the state GOP that I ask your support in my quest to serve as the interim chairperson of the Tennessee Republican Party. Although Tennessee Republicans recently made historic strides in taking control of the governor’s office and both houses of the state legislature, there is urgency within the party to find common ground and forge a unified identity among GOP traditionalists and tea partiers. With the 2016 election cycle now upon us, Tennessee Republicans more than ever must pull together to build on what we’ve accomplished statewide at home, and to help win back the White House while strengthening our Congressional majorities in Washington, D.C.

As a tenured Vanderbilt professor with a strong grasp of politics and knowledge of how political power is manifested, I believe I am the right person to take the reins of the Tennessee GOP at this pivotal time. I have strong political connections within Tennessee, as well as nationwide, and I believe there are qualities unique to my background, skills and values that make me particularly well-suited for this role. Most importantly, I am an excellent communicator with more than a decade of significant media experience as a savvy, conservative commentator. Additionally, I am intimately familiar with what it takes to be a consensus builder. It requires impeccable listening skills as well as the knack to recognize when it is time to speak and when not to speak, and when it is time to push and when it is time to take the foot off the gas.

My focus as interim party chairman through 2016 would be on expanding the influence of the Tennessee Republican Party across the nation, not just within our borders. Part of my strategy in doing so would be to continue growing the party by reaching out and bringing in conservative Democrats dissatisfied with the pointedly liberal direction their party has taken under President Obama, and there is plenty of trickle-down of that. Many inside the Democratic Party are seeing their own hopes and dreams of a strong America coming off the rails. There is much potential there for Republicans to connect with disenfranchised Democrats by offering a welcoming hand of reassurance and sincere inclusiveness. In this regard, I am confident I can also help the state GOP broaden its reach into the more urban areas of the state, bolstering our ties with those particular demographics.

One of the challenges facing us as we strive to accomplish all this is making sure the Tennessee GOP is fully funded. I have ample entrepreneurial experience and connections to be able to bring in more-than-sufficient funds as needed to hold the existing seats and expand into new territory. I see this role as part salesperson: I can prospect, I can pitch, and I can close.

In this role as party chairman, I would provide experience, soundness of principles, and a passion for politics and good government. Additionally, I pledge transparency, a promise of more inclusive internal processes when working with the State Executive Committee, and an affinity and comfort level with all brands of media. In essence, I bring a fresh set of perspectives gleaned from being a conservative Christian minority woman who has overcome poverty and achieved the American Dream. One of my first priorities as GOP chairperson would be to work on healing the breach between conservative Republicans affiliated with Tea Party groups and more moderate/traditional Republicans. I have good friends and strong connections in both groups. I have spoken at several Tea Party events and have become acquainted with many of the men and women who have invested themselves in politics as a new vocation. What strikes me most about conservative Republicans is our unifying commitment to God, country, and nation. I count myself among those committed to following the tenets of the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law that it establishes.

I’m one of those people I referred to earlier, who became disillusioned with the Democratic Party, ultimately attracted to the GOP by its adherence to Judeo-Christian values, the sanctity of human life, individual liberty, free market capitalism, traditional marriage, and constitutional government. I can honestly tell others that the Republican Party is the best hope for our nation in order to remain true to its roots. I believe it is essential to elect Republicans who will honor the tenets of the party platform when it comes to social and political issues. In our effort to expand our base, it is essential that we remain true to core values. I also believe that there must be some accountability to ensure that elected leaders remain responsive to the people and the party values.

I bring to this chairperson role more than 25 years of experience studying and teaching courses on politics and campaigns. I am currently a tenured Vanderbilt University professor of political science and law. Before that I was a professor at Princeton University. I have authored six books and numerous published articles. My most recent book is Be the People: A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith and Promise. My first book, Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of Blacks in Congress, won three national prizes and was cited several times by the U.S. Supreme Court. I am the host and creator of “Be the People” and I offer weekly commentary on Bott Radio. In 2007 and 2008, President George W. Bush appointed me to the National Endowment for the Humanities Board and to the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. I am a member of the Operation Andrew Board, and I have served on the boards of Teen Challenge, Roanoke College, and Christian Women in the Media.

I have been a frequent guest on “Hannity’s: Great American Panel” on Fox News and appeared regularly on CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight.”I have also appeared on BBC Radio, NPR, CNN’s AC360 (with Anderson Cooper), “Fox News Live,”“Fox and Friends,” PBS’s News Hour, C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal,”“The Laura Ingraham Show,” and ABC’s “Headline News.”Over the next week or so, I will be calling each of you individually and meeting with as many people as possible.

Please feel free to call or e-mail me with your questions and suggestions. I can be reached at 615 xxx-xxxx and by e-mail at carolmswain@gmail.com. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter.

For more about my background, please see my website at either www.carolmswain.net or www.bethepeopletv.com.

* Websites:http://carolmswain.net/ and http://www.bethepeopletv.com
* Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carolmswain
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profcarolmswain
* YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/bethepeopletv

Sincerely Yours,
Carol M. Swain

Swain Seeks Chairmanship of Tennessee GOP

NASHVILLE – Dr. Carol Swain, prominent Vanderbilt University law and political science professor renowned for her conservative political commentary on state and national media, has announced her candidacy for the chairmanship of the Tennessee Republican Party. In seeking to fill the post, Dr. Swain would replace current state GOP Party chairman Chris Devaney, who earlier in March announced he would resign effective April 11 to accept a leadership position with a Chattanooga faith-based nonprofit.

It is expected that the TNGOP State Executive Committee (SEC) will review candidates and select aninterim state party chairperson in time for that person to take office on April 12 and serve out the remainder of Devaney’s term, which ends in 2016.

Dr. Swain, 61, an outspoken Christian conservative who became a Republican nearly 7 years ago after becoming disillusioned with the Democratic Party, believes she can continue and build on Devaney’s successful tenure, which included a record-setting number of Republicans statewide elected to public office, at all levels.

“Chris played a key role in guiding the Tennessee GOP to new heights through such vehicles as the Red to the Roots program, and I would be excited and honored to use my communications skills, fund-rising savvy, and political and community connections to add to what he has accomplished,” Dr. Swain said. “With the 2016 election cycle now here, the new chairperson will have to hit the ground running, and I am prepared to do that.

“My focus as interim chairman through 2016 would be to expand the influence of the Tennessee Republican Party across the nation. This would include reaching out to conservative Democrats discontent with the excessively liberal direction their party has taken under President Obama. Toward that end, I can also help the state GOP bolster its reach into the more urban areas of Tennessee.”

Dr. Swain, the author of six books and a former Princeton University professor, is the creator and host of “Be The People,” offering weekly political commentary on Bott Radio. She has also been a frequent guest on Fox News and CNN, as well as on BBC, PBS and C-Span. In 2007 and 2008, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Swain to the National Endowment for the Humanities Board and to the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.

To learn more about Dr. Swain’s background, visit her website at carolmswain.net or bethepeopletv.com. Contact her at 615-xxx-xxxx or carolmswain@gmail.com.

Top Stories

A gay guy walks into a Muslim-owned bakery to order a wedding cake......

Top Stories

Mary Littleton seeking the office of Chairman of the TNGOP

Another candidate seeking the position of Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party to fill the post being vacated by Chris Devaney, is Mary Littleton. Below is her solicitation seeking support from members of the State Executive Committee. I have deleted her phone number. Rod

Sent: 2015-03-29

Dear Friends and Fellow Republicans,

Mary Littleton

I have spoken with many of you over the last few days and am excited to formally announce that I am seeking the chairmanship of our state party. Below is a copy of the release that I will be issuing to the media shortly. I wanted to reach out to each of you and inform you of my candidacy before speaking to the media. Rest assured, that is a policy that I will continue if you give me the honor of serving as your chairman. I will also be resigning my position after we finish session. I look forward to continuing our conversations and meeting with each of you over the next couple of weeks. Please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone (615-xxx-xxxx) should you have any questions.

Respectfully yours,
Mary

Littleton Announces Candidacy for TN GOP Chair

Nashville, Tennessee – Former Tennessee GOP Vice-Chair and current State Representative Mary Littleton (Dickson County) announced today her candidacy to succeed Chris Devaney as chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. Devaney announced last week that he would be stepping down from the position in April.

Littleton has been an active leader in the Republican Party since 1994. She has served in several elected positions within her local party organization, including as chair of the Dickson County GOP. Littleton was first elected to the Republican State Executive Committee in 2002, where she served for twelve years. As a member of the SEC, Littleton was twice elected as the state party’s vice-chair under outgoing Chairman Devaney, serving in that role from 2010 through 2014.

“I believe that our next chairman should be someone who has actual experience serving as a member of the state executive committee and who knows and shares their concerns,” said Littleton. “The members of the SEC are elected by Republicans in their districts to guide and set the direction of the state party, and they truly are the heart and soul of the Republican Party in Tennessee. As chairman, I will empower the SEC to make decisions and set policy for the party and will work to ensure that each member’s voice is heard. The party is greater than any one individual; if we are to continue to succeed, we can only do it by working together.”

“As an experienced small businesswoman and steadfast conservative, I have the maturity, the proven leadership abilities and the political communication skills to be an effective chair of the state party,” stated Littleton. “As a Republican activist and long-time member of the state executive committee, I have traveled across our state representing the party and working to elect conservatives to public office.”

“The 2016 election will help determine the direction of this country and this state,” Littleton continued. “As we prepare for the upcoming election cycle, it is imperative that we entrust the role of state party chair to someone who has the leadership credentials, the grassroots experience, and the relationships with Republican activists to successfully organize, recruit and fundraise. I will work to motivate conservatives to the polls to elect a Republican president and our other Republican candidates at the federal, state and local levels.”

“As chair of the state party, I will fight for our conservative principles and will work tirelessly to ensure that we elect conservative Republicans at all levels of government. I want to continue developing and implementing our party’s successful Red to the Roots program and better utilize technology to communicate our message across the state and turn out the Republican vote on Election Day.”

Littleton currently serves in the Tennessee General Assembly, representing Cheatham and Dickson counties, and is Vice-Chair of the House State Government Committee. She was honored as her congressional district’s Republican “Statesman of the Year” in 2001.

Littleton lives in Dickson in Middle Tennessee. She is the mother of four children and has four granddaughters. In addition to her years of service and leadership in the Republican Party, Littleton has been an active volunteer with numerous charitable and civic organizations.

Top Stories

Rebecca Anne Burke seeks Chairmanship of TNGOP

Another candidate for chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party is Rebecca Ann Burke.  Below is her solicitation of support sent to members of the State Executive Committee. Only the phone number has been deleted. Rod

Sent: 2015-03-30

My esteemed colleagues: 

Rebecca Burke

Just a few weeks ago, we gave our nod once again, to a leader who has seen us through some exciting times during which our party solidified its position through all levels of government. Unexpectedly, his resignation brings to us, a very crucial decision about how to lead, who will lead and what this will mean to our goals in process. After having the opportunity over the past few days, to meet with over a dozen State Executive Committee members and talk with a few more in exploration of a possible candidacy, I have decided to pursue your vote to fulfill Chairman Devaney's current term. Just as I did not have the opportunity to visit with all of you before making this decision, it is unlikely that I will have the pleasure of sitting down with all of you, personally before our vote, as I would like to do if the timing and notice of our leadership change had been different. It is an inopportune time, during Holy Week, to ask that you be interrupted by what appears to be half a dozen serious candidates. That said, the role of the Chairman often involves unexpected events, and one must move with the opportunities in the best, most expedient manner possible.

 

To be respectful of your time and realizing our time constraints, I will be issuing each day, for the next seven days, a communications to you personally.  These briefings will introduce elements of my professional and political background relevant to this position, and on the last day, after at least phone contact with as many of you as I can reach, a proposed transition plan with goals and objectives, based on conversations with my you, SEC colleagues and our major donors. Just as important to me as having your support and enthusiasm for my leadership, is my concern that our major donors, as well be comfortable with my selection to lead the party.  If at any time, it becomes clear that I do not have widespread support from any constituency, I will remove my name from consideration. I have only one interest and that is not my personal advancement nor future career goals. My only interest is that the party continue to be lead in a workman-like fashion and that my presence brings more achievement against our goals of securing Tennessee and supporting our Republican elected officials everywhere in the realization of great plans for the State of Tennessee. My state and my party come first. I seek only to be the best person to make sure the job gets done and gets done better than anyone else can do it. Lastly, I am one to honor my commitments. When others count on me to do a job, I am there, and I follow through. I have a professional commitment to be in front of 125 students for the next four weeks and I will honor that commitment. The timing here and my history of personal commitment to the job at hand, does not provide me the ability to abandon my responsibilities on short notice. That is what you would expect of me if I were elected Chairman. Thus, my personal visits in the next seven days will be limited to those I can reach outside of my teaching commitment to youngsters and teachers who depend on me. At the end of April, I am free of those commitments and thus can pursue this opportunity to be of service to you and the Republican Party as a whole.

 

My briefing tomorrow will address the type of Republican I consider myself to be. It will also include a personal profile. I think it is absolutely essential that you know everything you need to know and that there are no surprises. You will find my background to be crystal clean, of the highest integrity, and with a reputation for one thing only, a demonstrated history of working harder than anyone else. I will look forward to sharing more…

 

Thank you for your consideration. It has been my privilege to work with you as a fellow SEC member. I now look forward to the privilege of working for you.

 

Kindest regards,

 

Rebecca Ann Burke

State Executive Committeewoman

State Senate District 23

 

404 Wandering Trail

Franklin, TN 37067

615-xxx-xxx

rebecca.burkeSEC@comcast.net

Below is her bio from when she ran for a seat on the Executive Committee:
 

A life-long Republican with Ohio roots, Becky has been a resident of Middle Tennessee for 29 years. She has been a GOP activist and campaigner for over 35 years, beginning with Ohio Governor John Kasich’s first run for public office. She conducted graduate political science research on strategy while helping on Kasich’s historic grass-roots campaign. She later led a march of service workers on the Ohio Statehouse protesting pending legislation to increase income taxes specifically on those workers.

After graduate school she became an administrator of a Miami, FL hospital, garnering world-wide press coverage and legislative attention nationwide for poorly coordinated care for low birth weight babies and the practices of tax-supported hospitals in denying beds based on lack of insurance. She later co-founded the South Florida Perinatal Network, a model for other regions. She received a letter of commendation from President Reagan for perseverance in getting a low birth weight baby to out-of-state care with the assistance of White House staff and Pentagon brass who approved a mercy mission. She also received honors for these efforts from the North Dade (Miami) Chamber of Commerce and then District Attorney General Janet Reno.

She was later recruited to Nashville becoming director of a large hospital company’s strategic planning and marketing consulting practice. She was responsible for revolutionizing the company’s approach to hospital strategic planning and developing user friendly action plans. She was managing consultant for the company’s first work in Asia, a long range plan for the Singapore Ministry of Health’s premiere hospital.

While spending the next two decades raising two daughters, Katherine and Julia, she accelerated her activism in education and politics as a volunteer and parent lobbyist on schools’ issues, defeating costly year round schools proposals and preserving funding for foreign language programs. Not satisfied that the school board “got the message,” she recruited and served as campaign manager for School Board leader Terry Leve, unseating a long-term liberal incumbent. She also served as staffer in the Special Events Department of U.S. Senator Fred Thompson’s national presidential campaign headquarters. Becky emerged from behind-the-scenes political efforts to win election as Secretary of the Williamson County Republican Party, later being honored as “2008 Williamson County Republican of the Year” for her concept and implementation of a new party website and a news magazine. She was elected President of the Republican Women of Williamson County, setting records for membership growth (4th fastest growing chapter in the U.S.), fundraising and introducing many new members to leadership roles in the county. During her term, the Club was awarded the coveted National Federation of Republican Women’s Diamond Award for achievements. She was later elected Vice President of the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women, Area 6, garnering 82% of delegates' votes.

Becky is a lifetime member of the NRA, Tennessee Right-to-Life, The Beacon Center, The Heritage Foundation and the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (dedicated to defeating Obamacare.) She is a fervent supporter of former Senator Jim Bryson’s Joseph School in Haiti and has participated in mission work there.

Her latest endeavors include completing her second graduate degree, a Master of Arts, Teaching degree from Aquinas College, and pursuing her goal to serve the Party as the next State Executive Committee Woman representing Williamson County.

If anyone has an update or an insight on the campaign for Chairman of the State Party, please share it.  Please forward any solicitation from candidates for the position. Rod

Top Stories

And now for some economic news,...

As the budget battle rages, President Obama is urging congress to go on a spending spree and he is promoting more free stuff from the government, such as free college for all and free child care for working parents and more spending on infrastructure. He is calling his welfare state policies "middle class economic."

In his State of the Union address in January President Obama took credit for a rebounding economy saying, "Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999…The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong…At this moment—with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, and booming energy production—we have risen from recession freer to write our own future better than any other nation on earth." He also said, ""Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis."

The unemployment rate is lower because so many people are no longer in the work force; not because they found jobs. The labor force participation rate is the lowest it has been since 1978. People who do not want to retire are taking early retirement, women are dropping out to stay home with children and many people have just given up looking for work.

From the Bureau of labor statistics.

The Federal Reserve has projected zero economic growth for the first quarter. See the green line in the chart below.

 As a percentage of the GDP, our national debt is greater than at any time other than World War II.

The National dept as a percentage of GDP

 The National debt continues to climb.

A look at the federal budget shows that over half of the budget is spend on social security, medicare and medicaid and other safety net programs.  9% of the budget is interest on the debt and that percentage will grow as the debt grows, yet President Obama is critical of every effort to curtail spending and wants to spend more.

Meanwhile, Food stamp use is at an all time high.

It is pretty depressing, and I have lost faith in the American people to think that they are smart enough not to think there is no end to free stuff.  I am afraid America's days as a great nation are behind us and I am not hopeful that there is time to turn things around. We must keep trying, but the future looks pretty gloomy. If Obamacare takes root and is not overturned, that will be a larger constituency for more spending and less austerity and measures that inhibit economic growth. At some point, our currency will not be the worlds reserve currency and our cost of borrowing will increase.  With more spending, and more debt and more regulations of economic activity, economic growth will fall. Then, the debt will cause painful inflation.

Will somebody tell me I'm wrong and cheer me up?

Top Stories

Ashley Judd objects to being called "Hottie of the week."

Ashley Judd

Someone honored Ashley Judd as "Hottie of the week" on a twitter post and Ms Judd objected saying, " I do not want to be your or anyone's hottie of the week." “@GeorgeJobson: @ENews @AshleyJudd #HottieOfTheWeek” (link)

How dare anyone sexually objectify Ms Judd by calling her "hottie of the week!" (She may not be "hottie of the week" but she does have nice tits, however. Rod)

Top Stories

Who contributed money to the Linda Rebrovick campaign?

Linda Rebrovick

Ms Rebovick starts this reporting period with no cash on hand, receives $685,463, spends $172,195, and ends the reporting period with $486,257. $350,000 of funds received is a loan, from herself.

By no means do I claim to be the most knowledgeable political observer in Nashville, so there may be other donors to Ms Rebovick’s campaign that are as significant as those that I notices, so if you want to see for yourself who contributed to her campaign follow this link. If you notice anything of significance please feel free to leave a comment.

Governor Winfield Dunn contributed $500.

Coleen Conway-Welch, retired Dean of Vanderbilt School of Nursing and widow of Ted Welch, one of the largest Republican fund raisers in the nation, contributed $500. She contributed to $3000 to the Jeremy Kane campaign however.

Oliver C. Carmichael, III CEO of Carmichael & Carmichael contributed $1500. I am not absolutely certain but I believe this is “Crom” Carmichael who some may remember from years ago as the outspoken conservative on the old Teddy Bart Show.

Arthur Laffer, economist who developed the “Laffer Curve," author, and former advisor to President Ronald Reagan, donated $1000.

Chancellor Carol McCoy gave $1500. Daman Hininger the CEO of Correction Corporation of American contributed $1000 and Louise Grant who is Vice President of Corrections Corporation of America gave $1500. Shirley Zeitlin CEO of Zeitin & Co., $1000. In addition to the loan to her campaign, Ms Rebrovick gave herself $1500 and her husband Arthur Rebrovick, Jr contributed $1500. She got several donations from people with the last name “Eskind.”  She only got a few out of state contribution.

This reporting period ended Jan. 14th and the next reporting period covers the period Jan. 15 through March 31st and is due April 10th. I will be updating my reporting on financial contributions to all the candidates when reports are filed with the election commission and become available.

Top Stories

Bill Freeman to report $1M for mayoral run, $600K raised

The Tennessean, April 2, 2015- Bill Freeman will report raising $608,000 from individuals over the last three months of Nashville's race for mayor and contributing $500,000 himself for an overall campaign haul that eclipses $1 million..... All mayoral candidates are to submit their first quarter fund-raising reports to the Davidson County Election Commission by April 10. (link)

Top Stories

Davette Blalock announces campaign kick off.

Davette Blalock

Good morning District 27! As you know I am running again to serve you in the Metro Council.

This will be my last term to run. Each term is 4 years and there are only 2 terms for Metro Council. I am in the middle of making many great things happen like rebuilding Tusculum Elementary and many areas of upgraded infrastructure to name a few. I am dedicating my next 4 years to making our area the best it can be. We will have a NEW Mayor, a NEW Vice Mayor, a NEW School Superintendent, and 27 out of 40 NEW Council Members. The next few years Nashville will be going through a learning curve. Experience is going to be more important than ever before.

I am hoping to share my experience with all the new Members. I hope I can count on your support for your vote on August 6th. While all other areas of Government are learning let's make sure your representative is working hard for you. I am having my campaign kickoff this Saturday and I hope you can stop by. Please RSVP to let me know how much food to buy. I want to hear from YOU and what YOU want out of the next 4 years. I will continue to listen to you because I know I work for you. Come out this Saturday from 3-5 to Bar B Cutie and let me know your concerns and ideas. Together we will make District 27 the best it can be!

Please view invite: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f4eb29c7624d70ef4e057a461/images/d9fb51ed-cc59-47c1-b93b-a718e37aecb9.jpg

Top Stories

Statement from Bill Freeman on Insure Tennessee defeat

Press Release, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – By not even allowing Insure Tennessee to get out of committee recently, the Tennessee State Senate has once, again in the name of political grandstanding, refused to help the over 470,000 estimated individuals, working families and veterans across Tennessee in need of insurance. The state has already turned away over $1 billion dollars of tax dollars that rightfully belong to Tennesseans in need, including thousands right here in Nashville, and with the Senate’s lack of action yesterday means the state will continue sending those federal tax dollars paid in by Tennesseans, to help those in other states.

 

It is shameful that politics have gotten in the way of helping our fellow Tennesseans in need. While Insure Tennessee is still alive in the House, it is unlikely to escape a similar fate should it get back to the Senate. The hospitals and health facilities here in Nashville and across the state on the brink of closing deserved better than this, and the hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans suffering without the insurance their federal tax dollars have already paid for deserved better.

 

It is my hope that going forward, what is best for all the people of Tennessee will be the ultimate desire of our legislature. That is what voters expect when they elect those who represent them in government offices, and if privileged enough to become Nashville’s next mayor that is exactly what the citizens of Davidson County will get – A mayor not concerned about agendas, but concerned about how to make our beloved city a great place for them to work, play and be proud to call home.

Top Stories