From Our "Why Didn't Somebody Go to Jail?" Dept.: Worst Corporate Crimes of 2015

There oughta be a law! Why do shareholders pay the fines while corporate managers get bonuses for committing crimes? 

http://www.alternet.org/economy/17-worst-corporate-crimes-2015

Tennessee and Mississipi To Fight Over Water...TN Tries to Cut Overtime Pay for Guards...More from Crockett

Survey: Tennessee Prison Officers Dislike Overtime Plan

Expensive lawyers line up in TN vs. MS lawsuit

Both the state of Tennessee and the city of Memphis have retained expensive private law firms to fight a $615 million lawsuit filed by the state of Mississippi over underground water rights, reports the Commercial Appeal. Mississippi has a famous law firm that won’t be paid anything – unless it wins.
The 22 percent rate increase that will add an average of $3.31 a month to the water bills of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division customers beginning in January was needed in part to pay for rising legal costs associated with the lawsuit filed against MLGW, the city of Memphis and state of Tennessee, officials say.
…The mounting legal expenses reflect the high-stakes nature of the water lawsuit, in which Mississippi claims MLGW, the city and Tennessee have “forcibly” taken its water through excessive pumping from an aquifer underlying both states. The Supreme Court in June granted Mississippi’s request to file the suit, and since then it has appointed a Special Master, Eugene Siler Jr., a former judge on the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, to oversee the case.
The utility and city have hired Memphis’ largest law firm, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, to defend against the suit. “It’s a serious case. It’s dangerous, and we’re certainly going to treat it that way,” said David Bearman, one of the attorneys handling the case for the firm. Humphrey on the Hill



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Tennessee Reduces Backlog Of Untested Rape Kits, Sets New Rules For Police

Tennessee police departments have dramatically reduced their numbers of untested rape kits since a new state requirement took effect this year. Now a set of new written standards, finalized this week, will also govern how police take care of sexual assault survivors.
A backlog of more than 9,000 untested rape kits counted in 2014 — mostly in Memphis — prompted the new state law. It requires forensic sex assault evidence to be sent for testing within 60 days.
Along with grant money, the law has helped get more than 75 percent of the old kits tested, down to about 2,100 as of September, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Some departments had reduced or eliminated backlogs since then, according to The Tennessean. WPLN

Tennessee Football Star Dies Shielding Teen Girls from Bullets During Knoxville Gang Shooting

Two teenage girls owe their lives to the chivalrous actions of a 15-year-old Tennessee football star, who shielded them when bullets began flying last Thursday evening in Knoxville.

This weekend, President Barack Obama took to Twitter to recognize the heroism of Zaevion Dobson, who was killed in last week's random gang-related shooting. "Zaevion Dobson died saving...friends from getting shot. He was a hero at 15. What's our excuse for not acting?" he wrote.

"I think that was appropriate," Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch tells PEOPLE of Obama's tribute. "Zaevion was a young man that was doing exactly what he should be doing, and he saved those two young ladies. It is amazing that he did that. But, that's what good guys and men of character do." (Initial reports stated that Dobson shielded three girls.)  People Magazine

Survey: Tennessee Prison Officers Dislike Overtime Plan

Amid ongoing scrutiny of how correctional officers are paid and scheduled in Tennessee, a new survey shows that the officers overwhelmingly dislike the state's recently changed overtime policies.
More than 80 percent of officers surveyed said they were negatively affected by the state's decision not to pay overtime until they worked more than 171 hours in a month, The Tennessean reported.
Previously, the officers received overtime working the 160 hours compiled through a traditional 40-hour work week.
The survey was conducted by the Tennessee State Employees Association, with the help of the Tennessee Department of Correction.
Officers were generally split on whether they'd like to work slightly shorter shifts six days in a row, or a longer shift with rotating days off: 55 percent preferred 8.5- or 9-hour shifts where they'd work six days and then have three off, while 45 percent preferred the 12-hour shifts with rotating days off.
In a statement, association president Bryan Merritt said he believes there would have been large support for a return to the department's traditional 40-hour work week if it had been included as a survey option.
"The results of this survey show that the Department of Correction has much work to do with regard to employee overtime pay and work schedules," Merritt said. Memphis Daily News

Bill would bring back Lady Vols nickname

A state lawmaker filed a bill Monday that would bring back the Lady Vols nickname for all University of Tennessee women's sports teams.
On July 1, the university got rid of the Lady Vols nickname for all sports besides women's basketball. The university said last year it would switch to the power T logo and Volunteers nickname for branding reasons in conjunction with its new licensing agreement with Nike.
Opponents rallied against the decision, saying the Lady Vols name brought a sense of pride for women's athletics. A petition to bring back the Lady Vols name garnered over 28,000 signatures, and opponents also held a rally at the state Capitol last year. The opposition came after the university was hit with two lawsuits alleging sexual discrimination from former women's athletics department administrators.
State Rep. Roger Kane, R-Knoxville, said he decided to introduce the legislation after opponents didn't get an appropriate response from the university or the board of trustees. Kane said he has a letter of support for saving the nickname that has been signed by 45 lawmakers. Tennessean (Subscription)

Knox County Commission did not take up the anti-marriage equality resolution tonight

 

The Knox County Commission did not take up an anti-marriage equality resolution tonight.  Commissioners had been urged to do so by a man identified as Mark Rivera.  But when he was called on speak on Monday night, he failed to show up.
In contrast, many in red were in the chamber to show their opposition to any anti-marriage equality resolution.  6 people spoke against such a measure including Gwen Schablik, David Payne, and former State Rep. Gloria Johnson.  TEP

T. Boone Pickens Calls For Bipartisan Panel To Screen Candidates For Presidential

According to the Library of Congress, the only stipulations for running for president include being a natural born citizen, a resident of 14 years and at least 35 years old. Such limited standards allow political outsiders like Republican front-runner Donald Trump to run for president — and Pickens thinks they're not stringent enough.

“My big idea for 2016 is to put together a bipartisan screening committee that vets presidential candidates like we do anyone else applying for a job and recommends the best candidates possible,” Pickens wrote in a recent LinkedIn post. “We have people running for president now who don’t even have experience running a lemonade stand.”
Pickens, who donated to Jeb Bush early on before flirting with Ben Carson, said the committee should factor in leadership experience, team-building skills and plans for prospective candidates’ administration.
“Right now we have a process that emphasizes accusation and innuendo,” Pickens said, alluding to the incessant brawls among Republican primary contenders. “Fact-checking is done … after the fact. And just like reality TV, there is too much of an emphasis on the inconsequential and the irrelevant. Such a vetting process could alleviate much of that.” Politico

Rep. Faison proposes to legalize medical marijuana, but only for military veterans

While most Tennessee Republican leaders have indicated opposition to any steps toward legalization of marijuana, state Rep. Jeremy Faison says he is hopeful they will make an exception for military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Faison, R-Cosby, said he is drafting legislation that would “decriminalize” possession of marijuana by veterans diagnosed with PTSD, motivated by conversations with several veterans who believe that the medicinal properties of marijuana would help them far more than prescription medications.
“Pills have side effects. … The No. 1 side effect is suicide,” said Faison in an interview last week. “Twenty-eight veterans a day in America are committing suicide.”
“For most ailments man has, God has a remedy,” Faison said, quoting his wife, who has a master’s degree in nutrition. In many cases, the legislator said he believes that is marijuana. Humphrey on the Hill



Crockett Policy Institute
http://www.crockettpolicy.org/

State Rep Proposes Legalization of Marijuana...But Only for Veterans...Crockett Buzz

Crockett Buzz for 12-21-15

Tennesseans stand to benefit from trade with Cuba

Tennessee Reduces Backlog Of Untested Rape Kits, Sets New Rules For Police

Rep. Faison proposes to legalize medical marijuana, but only for military veterans

Sunday column: On Santa Bill and the surplus

Jeremy Durham should resign House leadership position

TN Republican Whip Has Prescription and Child Porn Friend Problem...More From Crockett

Vote scheduled on ousting Durham as GOP whip

State Rep. Claims God Is Talking To Him

Political correctness slur bogus, allows for rudeness

GOP Debate: The Crazy...It Hurts!..More from Crockett

Ramsey Sees Cruz as Most Likely GOP Nominee

Carly Fiorina And Ted Cruz May Have Revealed Classified Information During GOP Debate (Wait...What is Carly Fiorina doing with classified information?)

Documents: Corker had more income than previously reported

Beware: State Lawmakers Back in Session January...More from Crockett

Haslam administration wades into broadband debate

Tennessee woman nearly dies trying coat hanger abortion — and then gets jailed for attempted murder

Beware: State lawmakers return to work in January

From Our "Don't Say Anything" Dept: "TN Officials Confirm Cougar Sighting" ...Much More from Crockett

Lawmakers wrong to bloviate on UT diversity posts

Tennessee Officials Confirm First Cougar Sighting in 100 Years

Civil asset forfeiture: 'It's a state license to steal’

Disappointed Lawmakers Hear Message of Inclusiveness at Hearings to Whip Up Refugee Hysteria

Marsha Blackburn Stands with Loan Sharks..Alexander Wants Greater Filibuster Power to "Fix" Senate...More from Crockett

Marsha’s Choice

Lamar Alexander Seeks Path to Change in Senate

Ramsey Boldly Stops Just Shy of Trump

Haslam sounds off on Trump comments on Muslims

TN GOP Supermajority...Whacky or Just Plain Mean?... Crockett Buzz

Who Needs Health Insurance? Haslam Says Do Your Jumping Jacks

Marsha Blackburn bashes Vanderbilt on Planned Parenthood question

Lawmaker's bill would defund UT office; Faculty Senate preps for meeting in support of chancellor

When Religions Predict the End of the World I Laugh...When Scientists Predict the End of the World...

I am aware that the overwhelming majority of scientists are scared to death of global warming and have been sounding the alarm for nearly 50 years. I am also aware that very few thoughtful people believe we are doing enough to deal with it. We are past the tipping point.

For years now, we have heard that we are at a tipping point. Al Gore warned us in An Inconvenient Truth that immediate action was required if we were to prevent global warming. In 2007, Sir David King, former chief scientific advisor to the British government, declared, “Avoiding dangerous climate change is impossible – dangerous climate change is already here. The question is, can we avoid catastrophic climate change?”

There are all sorts of proposals for saving Planet Earth from the highly unlikely asteroid impact but essentially nothing on the inevitable destruction of our ability to live on Planet Earth due to our own stupidity.

The human race seems to have a death wish.

Achieving a carbon-neutral society is a necessary long-term goal regardless of other technological fixes. Technology could buy us the time to get there without our planet burning up. Ultimately, we need a Cold War-level of investment in research into new technologies to mitigate the coming effects of global warming. Without it, the United Nations’ work is a nice gesture, but hardly a meaningful one.

Read this!

Crockett: Gun Permits OK for Voter ID but NOT Student ID

Diane Black: Gun permits should be as good as a driver’s license

For Hooker, cancer ‘a jolt’ but also opportunity

When Did My Country Become so Chicken S**t?

Today is Thanksgiving so this will be a short rant. There are a lot of things I am NOT thankful for.

After seeing my country come together as a people for most of my life I am now watching us grow more and more divided. This is not an accident. Apparently it is much easier to make disgusting amounts of money through fear and very hard to do it through love.

I do not think racism and xenophobia have anything to do with hatred and everything to do with fear. White racists don't hate blacks...White racists are bone deep scared of blacks. Americans don't hate Syrians...It's just a very vocal group of Americans are deeply afraid of Syrians. It's because of a terrorist rampage in France perpetrated by...Belgians?

America destroyed two sovereign nations, Afghanistan and Iraq, because of the 9-11 attacks...Terrorist rampages committed by...Saudis? 15 out of 19 9-11 attackers were Saudi Arabians. More particularly, they were led by a member of the Bin Laden family who had been close friends and patrons of George W. Bush. So we let Bush make us so very afraid we let him send thousands of good decent Americans to war in two countries that had nothing to do with the attacks.

So now we are too freakin' frightened to give aid and comfort to refugees from Syria. Last year this country issued passports to a lot of people. Here is a list of a few countries and the number of visas for each:

Libya - 4,766
Egypt - 56,456
Nigeria - 141,527
Saudi Arabia - 142,180
Pakistan - 63,948
Afghanistan - 4,421
Bangladesh - 35,025
Syria - 12,671
Lebanon - 28,983
Algeria - 11,676
Iraq - 33,961

That's right! We issued 142,180 visas to the Muslim nation of Saudi Arabia, where the overwhelming majority of 9-11 attackers came from. Why don't you know this already? Did you know that a Saudi investment group owns about 7% of Fox? And Twitter and Citigroup?

So why are you afraid of Syrians again? Why are you, a citizen of the nation with more military weapons than the rest of the world's nations combined, afraid of a few fully vetted refugees from a war torn region which we had the major hand in?

Why are Americans afraid of anything? But mostly, why are Americans so damnably afraid of the WRONG things?


This, by Josh Marshall, should be read and thought about.

What to do about a Terrorist act...

 Look...It is complicated and yet simple. We have been bombing and shooting and droning more and more and more since the Reagan administration. Has terrorism decreased as a result? Hell no! Here is an excerpt from a much longer piece that you should read:

They do what they do, because they know we're too weak to resist striking back.

Our knee-jerk, bomb-dropping reflex is our weakness. They are trying to exploit it, because retaliation bombings are how they recruit more terrorists to their side. And please note that when I talk about their “side,” I'm not talking about Islam, or even Islamic terrorism. Their “side” is what I'm going to henceforth call Team Violence ... The bully doesn't fight because he wants to win; he fights because he wants a world in which everything is resolved by fighting (note: The bully himself doesn't realize this). It doesn't matter if he loses — the moment you chose to fight, his side already won, and the world becomes more like the world he wants to live in ...

In other words, “We can't beat them, unless we become more like them.” It's like a doctor telling you he's going to get rid of your tumor by growing a bigger, meaner tumor next to it. Even if it works, Team Cancer wins, and you just fell for a scam that has been tripping up humanity for 200,000 years or so.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/13/1449789/-In-Jan-after-Charlie-Hebdo-David-Wong-said-this-would-happen-again-And-he-told-us-what-to-do

2018 TN Governor's Race Names Being Floated...Crockett Buzz for 11-13-15

Tennesseans Broadly Agree On These Two Gun Restrictions

TN forfeiture laws deemed ‘appalling’

Study finds Tennessee, Georgia among top states for murder-suicide

Bill Freeman for governor? He's not ruling it out

Corker Stock Trades Draw Scrutiny... Haslam Wants Gas Tax Increase...More from Crockett

Surplus Remains a Roadblock to Gas Tax Increase

Health care providers speak for uninsured

Haslam on domestic violence and human trafficking

Diabetic holds out hope for Insure Tennessee

Watchdog Group Calls For Investigation Of Republican Senator’s Stock Trades

Corker Stock Trades Under Scrutiny and Other Stuff from Crockett

At the state GOP Caucus' quiet pre-election retreat, the forecast calls for pain — for Tennessee Democrats

Corker griped to Clinton about Holbrooke, emails show

John McCain to speak at Fred Thompson funeral in Nashville

Vote, Dammit!

Sen. Bob Corker Profits on Quick Stock Trades

Chicken Abuse and the Rather Substantial Question Ted Cruz Avoided by Going Off on the Lack of Substantial Questions...Crockett

TN couple pleads guilty to chicken abuse, fined $25 each

Tennessee to Launch 911 Texting in 2017

Black Caucus eyes options to ‘mass incarceration’

Legislative hearing on VW becomes a pep rally?

TN's Home Ec Major Congresswoman To Head Tripple Jeopardy Planned Parenthood Investigation

DNC chair at Jackson Day: ‘Tea party extremists’ may boost TN Democrats

Sanders, Clinton Supporters Say Past Week Has Helped Them In Tennessee

Congress Just Created a Benghazi Committee for Planned Parenthood

TN News Roundup from Crockett

Attorney General: No Tax Break For Tennessee Electric Co-Ops

Tennessee Promise 4,000 mentors short of goal

Republicans Fail To Take Down Hillary Clinton After 11-Hour Benghazi Hearing

Government Gives TVA License to Operate New Nuclear Reactor

Haslam Moves Ahead with Outsourcing With No Proof It will Save Money

Crockett Buzz for 10-21-15

Keep asset forfeiture law intact, Tennessee lawmakers urged

Ammunition Manufacturer Investing $553M in East Tennessee

Prison sentences discussed at legislative hearing

Governor Haslam Speaks Plainly Again, this Time about Outsourcing

TBI open to making police investigations public record

Secret Email From Outsourcing Group Says Don't Send Emails...Crockett 19-14-15

Readers on roads: Raise gas tax, add tolls, spend wiser

AG won’t opine on Knoxville gun ban

Tennessee officials mulling outsourcing told to avoid email

Tennessee EMT Bride Leaves Wedding in Her Dress to Attend to Grandparents' in Car wreck

The Buzz for 10-13-15

Tennessee bride rushes into action to save family involved in car crash

After Decades Of Work, Bridgestone Has Finally Made Rubber Tires From Arizona Shrub

Tennessee Bill Seeks to Curtail Teaching of 'Religious Doctrine'

MS congressman promotes Blackburn for speaker

TN is Hoarding $194 Million in Unspent Money for Improving Drinking Water...That and More from Crockett

Roy Exum: Horror Stories From Jail

Tennessee is No. 1 in nation for unspent federal funds to improve drinking water

The Big Business of Internet Bigotry

Rogero coasts to new term as Knoxville mayor

From Our "Marsha Blackburn Can't Possibly Be That Stupid" Dept. Crockett Buzz for 9-30-15

Marsha Blackburn invents new way to deny global warming: Humans are not ‘the cause for carbon emissions’

Judge rules against Hooker’s assisted suicide lawsuit...and more

Crockett Buzz for 9-29-15

Long-Awaited Vanderbilt Pre-K Study Finds Benefits Lacking

John Jay Hooker Files Motion In Fight For End Of Life Choice

Tennessee School Districts Urged To Deny Conservative Group's Requests For Islam Info

Haslam Opens Door to Gas Tax Delay but Warns of Backlog

Ashley Judd to girls worldwide: We go from hurting to healing to helping

Lawmaker calls for probe into prisoner's death

Musician Pay, Planned Parenthood Investigation, Buying Politicians Going Through Roof...Crockett Buzz for 9-29-15

No Buyers To Preserve Office of Elvis Presley's Manager

Mystery still surrounds death of Inmate No. 81738

The Soaring Price of Political Access

Pay artists, songwriters fairly for their work

GOP to form special panel investigating Planned Parenthood

Miss Tennessee..."Don't Shut Down Planned Parenthood Health Services for Women" ... Crockett Buzz 9-23-15

The Buzz for 9-23-15

Election chief's pay raise upsets Democrat commissioner

VW troubles escalate; TN legislature to investigate

Tennessee Gun Laws Leave Permit Holders Confused

Don't shut down government over Planned Parenthood

Crockett Buzz for 9-15-15

Conservative Pastors Plan Rally At Tennessee Capitol Amid Fears Over Islam

On charging a fee to see public records

In TN leadership PAC spending, Lamar has the lead

Medical Book Called "Pornographic" by Parent...and other outrageous stories from the Buzz for 9-9-15

Tennessee Supreme Court considers lines on traffic stops

Moral panic on “Fox & Friends”: Tennessee schools are actively indoctrinating 7th graders into Islam

Tennessee Mom Calls Book On Cervical Cancer Cells 'Pornographic'

Haslam Privitization Moves Don;t Pass Smell Test...Crockett 9-3-15

A smell test for Haslam’s privatization plans

Haslam promotes ‘low-cost labor’ to foreign investors

Tennessee cannot build its way out of traffic congestion

AFP: Lots of legislators against gas tax, none for it

Haslam Sell Off of TN Government on Fast Track ...More from the Buzz 9-1-15

Timeline Shows Massive Privatization on Potential Fast Track

The secret history of “Y’all”: The murky origins of a legendary Southern slang word

Democrats file ‘no guns at concerts’ bill

Supreme Court says Kentucky clerk can't deny same-sex marriage licenses

Lamar Alexander to oppose nuclear deal

EPA Fines State Sen Holt Hog Farmer for Pollution...More from Crockett

Independent Audit Will Review Staffing, Violence at Prisons

State Lawmaker Faces Major Fine From EPA

The GOP’s stunning new attack on America’s national forests

Some Presidential Hopefuls Need Unlimited Donations To Compete With Ultra-Rich, Says Sen. Alexander

Corker Supports Haslam Gas Tax Increase...more

Crockett Buzz for 8-27-15

The American religion of guns & money has blinded us to an epidemic of death

Why Is Gun Control So Hard

Corker Urges Long-Term Road Funding Solutions in Tennessee

Columnist sees TBI being used for political purposes

Corker Campaign Director Say We Now Have "Elections by Auction" Buzz for 8-26-15

Democrats Blast Latest Haslam Privatization Plan

Survey finds TN teachers worried by testing

Former Tennessee Congressman Calls For Reining In Super PACs

Pat Nolan: State Of The State

Former Dem congressman, GOP operative decry dark money

Quote of the Day

If the country is to remain a strong world leader, he said, it needs "not just a president who, after a few gray hairs, seems to know what he's doing, but we also need a Congress that functions."

President Obama admits to learning on the job

Earlier Monday, Obama spoke at a green energy conference where he accused fossil fuel interests and other critics of his energy policies of trying to restrict consumers from accessing solar, wind and other renewable sources in order to protect the status quo.

Taco Bell is Mexican? Who Knew! Crockett Buzz for 8-24-15

Tennessee Republican Wants Taco Bell Shut Down For ‘Being Too Mexican’

A Bullet from a Good Guy's Gun is Just as Deadly

Memphis mayoral candidate charged with vandalizing Forrest statute

Berke downplays notion of running for governor

After 10 Years, Tennessee Says Its Last Super-Sized, Industrial 'Megasite' May Be Too Big To Fill

Democrats Criticize Haslam for Funneling More Tax Money to Outsourcing Contractors

Haslam's former chief of staff to earn $120K with state museum

Nashville hotel cancels rooms for white supremacist event

Democrats criticize Haslam for exploring more outsourcing

With an Extra Half Billion Dollars Collected Haslam Orders Budgets Cut 3.5% Buzz for 8-19-15

Haslam defends tentative step toward more privatization

Lawmaker says he's growing concerned about safety in Tennessee

Oligarchy Of Super PAC Megadonors Have Conquered American Politics

Tennessee agencies asked to prepare budgets with 3.5% cut

Buzz for 8-11-15

Legislators ask AG to file another lawsuit against EPA

Super PAC election notice gave wrong voting address (for Nashville Mayor Race)

Despite Data, Tennessee Not Declaring Prison Emergency

Ted Cruz Draws Big Crowds, Hits Conservative Hot Buttons In Tennessee Tour

Idaho "Ag-Gag" Law Ruled Unconstitutional...TN Law Should Follow

Captured by undercover investigators and released in 2012, the above video depicts a disturbing scene inside a large Idaho dairy facility. We see workers committing various acts of violence against cows: kicking and punching them, beating them with rods, twisting their tails, and, most graphically, wrapping a chain around the neck of a downed cow and dragging it with a tractor. The exposed dairy promptly fired five workers in the aftermath, but behind the scenes, Idaho's $6.6 billion dairy industry quietly began working with its friends in the state legislature on a different response, according to US District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

In a decision released Monday, Winmill wrote that the Idaho Dairymen's Association "responded to the negative publicity by drafting and sponsoring" a bill that criminalizes the "types of undercover investigations that exposed the [violent] activities." Known as ag gag legislation—check out Ted Genoways' must-read Mother Jones piece on the phenomenon—it sailed through the Idaho Legislature and became a law in 2014.

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Winmill declared the law unconstitutional in his decision, stating that its only purpose is to "limit and punish those who speak out on topics relating to the agricultural industry, striking at the heart of important First Amendment values." Moreover, the judge ruled, the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, "as well as preemption claims under three different federal statutes."

 http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2015/08/judge-idaho-ag-gag-law-unconstitutional

Haslam Wants Lawmakers to Review Guns in Parks (A Bill that bears Haslam's signature)

Crockett Buzz for 8-4-15

Haslam: Lawmakers should review guns-in-parks law

Questions Abound Amid Tennessee Supreme Court Vacancy

AG opinion may open door to guns at Titans, Predators games

Guns in Parks Guns in Parking Lots Guns at Concerts...Are We Nuts?

Crockett Buzz for 7-31-15

 

Lawmakers push for legislative hearings on Tennessee prison understaffing

Tennessee man arrested near Capitol faces gun charges

AG says guns OK in parks, even if they’re leased out for a concert

Hillary Goes Green (ish)...Gas/Oil Companines Say EPA Regs Bad Asthma Good for Your Children...

Morning Energy Report

TN State Rep Tells County Clerks to Break Law...Really He Did (Buzz for 7-29-15)

Tenn. Lethal Injection Trial Continues With Dueling Experts

The absolute worst advice we give Americans struggling to pay rent

Womick to county clerks: Ignore AG; no gay marriage licenses

GOP: Special Session for Gay Marriage Not Healthcare Buzz for 7-22--15

Campaign Finance Reform Is Good for Businesses | Commentary

David Fox's brother revealed as donor behind Super PAC

Really, it’s time to shut down the GOP: A deeply unserious party, hijacked by lunatics and Fox News, is driving us all into a ditch

GOP legislators still fretting about gay marriage opinion

What the World Thinks of Us (Hint: It's Not Pretty)

NZ Herald columnist Paul Thomas told it like it is in a Friday column titled The Greatest Threat to America?

 Republicans.

 The world is watching our presidential contest with amazed incredulity. Each of the GOP candidates is exposed as is our amazing inability to determine what is important to the future of America.  And then there's the freak show that is Donald Trump...

You might expect a tycoon/buffoon cross to be a political player in some Latin American failed state or backward former Soviet republic, places with no democratic tradition or public institutions that have stood the test of time and no such thing as “the people” in the sense of an educated, civic-minded citizenry.
The fact that so many Republicans are comfortable with the thought of this monumentally unqualified individual in the Oval Office shows how warped the party has become. To borrow the rhetoric of their candidates, the party is now an existential threat to America’s leadership of the global community.

Geez, this is embarrassing! I urge you to read and try not to hang your head too low.

The View from New Zealand

From Our "Trump is an Ass" Dept.

Donald Trump will never be President. He's a publicity hound and  gets that with the current despicable campaign finance laws he can support his billionaire lifestyle with campaign donations from gullible people regardless of their net worth. So he goes for the Presidential PR ride at our expense. Republicans appear to be that gullible. Yes they do.

I really don't care who the Republican base gives their money to except that it turns out that they inflict their idiot candidates on me. At that point I have a problem. 

Trump has this big thing about dissing immigrants. He lives very close to a massive monument that has this inscription on it:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" 

Most of us have heard the last five lines but not the rest of it. How many of you have ever heard "Mother of Exiles" as something on our Statue of Liberty? 

So when Trump calls Latino immigrants all the things he calls them, he never acknowledges that they are seeking freedom in their way. No, they are "rapists" and worse. "Mexico is sending us their drug addicts and rapists." Trump said that. 

Trump lives in New York, the state that recently had a prison outbreak of drug addicts and rapists. Very big news, that! So where did the woman who said she helped them escape say they wanted to go? One to Canada..the other had the dream of making it to Mexico. Mexico! Donald Trump, in his alter ego as American Patriot, was complicit in sending a rapist, murdering, drug addict to Mexico. Except that the authorities captured the guy before he made it. 

Thank goodness America never sent their drug addicts, rapists, and murderers to Mexico. That would have lowered the American psyche to the level of every body else in the Western Hemisphere. Where we belong!

Old Times There Are Not Forgotten ...And More From the Buzz 7-17-15

Old Times There Are Not Forgotten ...

Impeach Haslam for following the law?

Investigators seek motive behind Tennessee shooting rampage

AP on Chattanooga shooting (Haslam, Obama comment)

State Dems Call for Disciplinary Action Aganst Rep Womick...More From the Buzz 7-16-15

Rick Womick's Crazypants Alternate Universe Version of Bill Haslam Sounds Like Fun!

Harwell: State could have $400 million extra for road

Tennessee sorry for 'sexist' anti-DUI campaign

Democrats, GOP reject Womick's impeachment talk

Can We the People take our Country Back from the Super PACs? (Looks Bleak)

Crockett Buzz for 7-14-15

Dawn of the planet of the superPACS

Let’s make the South stop lying: The right’s war on our history — and truth — must be defeated now

Dying, naturally, is our right

Conservative 'Super PAC' bankrolls ads for David Fox

From Our"TN Is Run By Idiots" Dept: Today is Nathan Forest Bedford Day in TN (How Embarrassing!)

The Buzz for 7-13-15:

 

Remembering John Seigenthaler on 1st anniversary of his death

Confederate flag down but what happens now

Law makes TN mark 'Nathan Bedford Forrest Day' Monday

90 Years Ago Today Chamber of Commerce Stunt Spirals Out of Control...Scopes from the Buzz 7-10-15

There are better Southern legacies to celebrate than Dixie, and there are bigger battles to fight than the rebel flag

Fincher’s shift on Export-Import Bank — and loans — reviewed

Remembering the notorious Scopes 'Monkey Trial' on its 90th anniversary, and how a crafty PR stunt became a landmark battle of faith versus science

State Lawmaker Continues Battle With EPA

TN Legislators Urge AG to Sue EPA Because States Have Right to Pollute Air and Water... Poison Your Children...Freedom!

This makes me sick to my stomach. The TN Farm Bureau sometimes looks like a total tool of chemical companies.

http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2015/07/08/legislators-urge-ag-slatery-to-sue-epa/

House Majority Leader Says Too Many People Want Nathan Bedford Forrest Removed so We Should Hold Off...and More TN Jokes from Crockett

State representative wants refund for new state logo

The Christian Terrorist Who Vowed to Kill Muslims and May Go Free

It's Been Forty Years, Gerald McCormick — How Much More Slowly Can We Go "Too Fast?"

Citing 'hysteria' over Confederate symbols, McCormick plans to slow down his effort to remove Forrest bust from state Capitol

Thousands of Freshmen Could Lose Scholarships...Gerrymandering...Obama Gives Cancer Survivor a Lift...Crockett Buzz

Thousands of Tennessee college freshmen in danger of losing scholarship

It’s worse than gerrymandering: This is the reform we need to restore democracy, competitive elections

Judge denies request to dismiss lawsuit on abortion measure

As Donald Trump surges in polls, Democrats cheer

Madison cancer survivor gets surprise lift from Obama

The Real Reason Haslam Did Not Meet With the President of the United States of America

From the TFP:

"Gov. Bill Haslam did not greet the president at the airport, and doesn't plan to attend the president's speech. Although there is nothing listed on the Knoxville Republican's public schedule today, Haslam spokesman David Smith said the timing didn't work out for Haslam to meet with the president.
Haslam had "meetings" Wednesday, Smith said. He didn't elaborate."


We are now told that Haslam was busy working out the structure of the new Department of Irrelevancy, which he will head.

What the Scotus Coal Ruling Actually Means

Anton Scalia intentionally falsified the arithmetic in negating the EPA's  standing to regulate mercury emissions from coal fired generating plants under its current regulatory position. The EPA should immediately reformulate the numbers and issue new regulations that essentially do the same thing. Coal is killing people even more quickly than it is killing our planet. Those deaths and many more coal caused illnesses were the basis of the North Carolina Attorney General's law suit against TVA that ultimately forced TVA to install newer more effective pollution controls on Watts Bar and three other coal fired plants in TN.

Eric Wolf at Politico has a very good overview of where we stand at the moment with a conservative dominated Scotus ruling that lives don;t matter as long as there's a profit to be had.


http://www.politico.com/morningenergy/0615/morningenergy18951.html

Seven Counties Refuse to Obey TN Atorney General and the Law of the Land...More from CPI Buzz

Seven Tennessee counties not licensing same-sex marriages

Supporters seek to revive Tennessee Medicaid expansion plan

Supreme Court Upholds Use of Controversial Execution Drug

Why Obama chose Nashville for health care speech

From our "Not Again?" Dept: TNGOP Drafts Bill to Save Us from Imaginary Threats (Crockett Buzz for 6-29-15)

Tennessee drafting 'Pastor Protection Act' after Supreme Court ruling

Obama to speak in Nashville area Wednesday about ACA

Supreme Court on right side of history

Crockett Buzz: TN Logo Named "Pork of the Year"

New TN logo named 'Pork of the Year' by Beacon Center

Battle Over Gas Tax Looming in Tennessee

‘Highway for Heroes’ program launched in Tennessee

Haslam will ‘wait and see’ on gay marriage, health care rulings

"Insure TN Would Save 54 Hospitals From Closure" Crockett Buzz for 6-15-15

Supreme Court races the clock on gay marriage, Obamacare and more

Fisk student walks from N.C. to D.C. for Insure TN

Haslam plans gas tax tour; AFP plans anti-tax tour

Insure TN: Lawmakers Not Helping Citizens, Hurting TN...Buzz for 6-9-15

Tennessee joins national debate on assisted suicide

AG: Lawmaker health care costs are public record

One Voter Showed Up At Santorum event

OUTSPOKEN TEACHER GETS WALKING PAPERS; SUPPORTERS CHARGE RETALIATION

Smoking Gun Memo Shows TDEC "Upper Management" Ordered Staff to Give Special Treatment to GOP Rep...Crockett Buzz

LT Gov Ramsey Says No Expanded Medicaid Until You Vote For Republican President...Crckett Buzz for 6-4-15

Study: Insure Tennessee defeat has economic, health toll

TN Lawmakers Cost us $13.6 Million in Health Care Claims...More From Crockett Buzz

Report: State paid $13.6 million in lawmaker health care claims

TV Station Refuses To Air Ad About Gay Republican Soldier Who Wants To Get Married

Lawmakers’ benefits make them ‘more equal’ than others

Tennesseans Caught Between The Most Wasteful Governor and His Nemesis in Legislature

State paid $46K for logo while paying $293K for graphic designers

Tennessee’s most powerful politician

Supporters renew push for Insure Tennessee

Crockett Buzz for 5-26-15

Firm behind new state logo stands by design

ALEC’s Money Laundering Machine Hits Tennessee

‘Governor’s Daily News Summary’ scrapped

Democrats seek return to relevance in Tennessee politics

And the Logo Stinks...Crockett for 5-21-15

UAW is best route to works council, union leader says

Creating the will for Congress to tackle climate change

Improving media capacity: Media must focus on policy not just politics

Tennessee pays $46K for new state logo

These Are The Times I am Ashamed Of My Countrymen

This bothers me about my country:

‘Welcome To Twitter, N*gger': Righties Go FULL RACIST On POTUS Twitter Account (TWEETS)

Well, President Obama finally has his own twitter account, and conservatives didn’t waste any time showing just how racist they really are.

The Legislature is Broken..Crockett Buzz 5-18-15

 Quote of the day:

"There is across-the-board support for Insure Tennessee," he said, "and even more support for letting the full legislature vote on the bill. Yet there does not seem to be much interest among our legislators to discuss and vote on this bill supported by Gov. Bill Haslam — who himself remains wildly popular."

In other words, Tennesseans are knocking on the door — wanting fairness and reason and good health care to come out — but our elected reps won't let us in.

The legislature is broken. Its leaders aren't leading, and too many of its members are paralyzed by an unreasoning fear of their next elections. Never mind that such elections are more than a year away.

The rest of the Buzz is here:

Corker Calls Out GOP For Being the Problem..more

Corker blames GOP for highway stalemate

Haslam Says He Couldn't Legally Withhold Tennessee Lawmakers' Health Insurance Info

Burchett, Campfield, other ex-legislators still get subsidized health insurance

DesJarlais joins others in voting for anti-abortion bill, but not in issuing press release about it

Ramsey Cares Not For What Tennessee Voters Want...More Crockett Buzz

Vanderbilt poll: Majority support Insure Tennessee

Ramsey trashes VU poll on Insure Tennessee plan

The full General Assembly should vote on Insure Tennessee: Vanderbilt Poll

Columnist: Haslam is a nice guy who doesn’t do politics

Nashville entrepreneur, politico Frank Woods passes away

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha...Thank You for Making Us Look Stupid For Electing People Like You

Congressman Marsha Blackburn is qualified to represent Tennessee how, exactly? She's the Old Miss Home Ec grad who told Bill Nye (Cornell engineering degree, Carl Sagan astronomy student on the side)  he was not qualified to speak about climate change, though she was, somehow.

So now Marsha is going to bat for all those persecuted Christians in America today that she is absolutely certain are out there, only when asked, she couldn't come up with any examples. Ergo, articles with titles like this:

Idiot Tennessee Rep Knows All The Christians Are Being Holocausted, Just Can’t Say Where

Rubber Stamp Governor ... Crockett Buzz 5-11-15

Sunday column: Gathering gubernatorial goodwill by signing everything in sight

Tennessee Legislature Turned Into "Horror Story CPI Buzz for 5-8-15

Koch brothers clash with GOP lawmakers as their lobbyists turn Tennessee into a ‘horror movie’

Legislative council's influence rises in Tennessee

Crockett for Cinco de Mayo: Veterans in TN Wait Twice as Long...Lobbyists Own Your Legislature

Is TN’s civil seizure process state sanctioned thievery?

The impact of the NRA on Tennessee politics

TN 2014 lobbying report: 557 lobbyists, 1,880 clients, up to $69.4M spent

Gov. Bill Haslam signs cannabis oil bill

Tennessee VA Clinics Struggle To Reduce Wait Times As They Lose Doctors

Quote of the Day from one of my HomeTowns...

"After reviewing further input from the community, detailed written legal opinions from our city attorney and a second legal opinion from a constitutional lawyer, impact on the city fiscal resources and the environment in which the original decision to exclusively fly the Christian flag was made, the City Council voted 4 to 1 at a special called meeting on April 28, 2015 to rescind the motion to exclusively fly the Christian flag 24/7 from the flagpole at City Hall and remove the flag effective May 8th. The only flags that will be flown from the flagpole at City Hall will be the U.S. and state flags."

What? There's a "Christian" Flag? Really?  

http://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/local/bleckley-dodge-pulaski/2015/05/04/cochran-to-stop-flying-christian-flag-at-city-hall/26866545/

Crockett for May Day 2015

Lifetime Handgun-Carry Permits to Become Available in TN

Lamar Bends Over For Ceiling Fan Lobby

Black leads bid to block ban on reproductive discrimination in D.C.

Haslam tired of hearing ‘inside-the-Capitol type stuff’ on inept dealings with Legislature

Religious Freedom Allows Discrimination Agiant Ideas...Not People

When Gay Baiting Jerk of a State Senator Stacey Campfield walked into the Bijou restaurant in Knozville he was refused service by the gay owner. This is entirely legal, because he was ejected for his words and actions that were obviously directed against the owner's sexuality. Had she kicked him out because he has red hair, that would have been another situation. At this moment we have the absurd when examined, laws being enacted that would allow religious based discrimination  against people, possibly red haired people among others. Skeptic has an examination of this phenomena:

Imagine for a moment that you are a Jewish baker who owns a small bakery. One day a couple enters your establishment and orders a wedding cake to be adorned with swastikas and the likeness of Adolf Hitler. They explain that they are neo-Nazis inspired by the marriage of the Reich Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels, attended by the Führer himself. You are of course offended and decline the job. Is it your legal right to refuse service to a neo-Nazi couple? If you answer in the affirmative, would you apply the same reasoning to a gay couple who requested a wedding cake adorned with two men or two women? Are these not the same moral and legal issues?

I think not. Discrimination on the basis of what you believe versus who you are constitutes different moral categories.

http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/15-04-29/

Crockett 4-27-15: Haslam Caves Signs Bill to Take Away Local Control of Parks

Tennessee at forefront as gay marriage case goes to Supreme Court

Rep. Butt apologizes for ‘mistake’ in saying rape and incest ‘not verifiable’

Haslam Caves, Signs Legislation Nullifying Local Options on Guns-in-Parks

Guns in Parks in Haslam Hands...Crockett Buzz for 4-24-15

Haslam to Decide This Week on Tennessee Guns-in-Parks Bill

Tennessee on notice after feds threaten Florida with potential billion-dollar loss

The GOP’s epic money-groveling campaign has officially begun

Haslam touts education gains as Dems blast GOP priorities

Quote of the Day...Saying EPA Pollution Regulation Kills Jobs is a Big Lie (EPA Administrator McCarthy)

"No peer-reviewed economic literature - no historical record - comes close to supporting the claims of massive job losses from reducing pollution. In EPA's 45 year history, we've cut air pollution 70 percent while GDP has tripled. Environmental protection isn't window dressing - it's foundational to strong, lasting economic growth.

That's EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy

The Pope will say the moral thing to do is defeat Climate Change in a new speech.

More from today's Politico Energy Report

CPI Buzz 4-23-15

Tennessee, Kansas Also Get Warning: Expand Medicaid or Risk Hospital Funds

Traffic camera bill survives Holt's jolt

Legislative session comes to quiet end

GOP State Rep DUI, Rural Hospitals and Obamacare, More from Crockett

State Rep. Bill Beck Busted for DUI (This gets printed? Really?  Pants Unzipped and Stain on his tie?)

Rural hospital, town leaders worried without Insure TN

State fights rage over ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion

What the legislature will debate during the last week of the session

Buzz for 4-13-15

We are not that vulgar term you called us, Senator

Crockett News Round Up for 4-10-15

Insure Tennessee town hall blasts no-show Harwell, others

Lawmakers could soon be packing heat on Capitol Hill

Guiding principles for a more enlightened U.S. education policy

Roadblocks to the budget

Best Line of the Day TN Senate on Voting Bible as State Book

“For God’s sake, think about where you’re headed!”


 Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, in appealing for members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee to abstain from voting one way or the other on SB1108.

Interestingly, even Ron Ramsey thinks this demeans the Bible.  (Weird, I know)

Politico Morning Energy Report Now "Sponsored" by Big Ethanol Group...Objective Reporting will Continue?

At this time, this is one of the great energy happenings summaries anywhere. If you aren;t careful you might read the ethanol Op - ed at the end as part of the reporting. Darius makes it clear that his part stops before the ad begins. He gives us great stuff, such as...

So why isn't it big news on the national media that the big "Tea Party" demonstration against healing the Everglades was mostly actors hired by the sugar industry?

http://www.politico.com/morningenergy/0415/morningenergy17761.html

Harvard Medical School Study: Coal Costs America Half Trillion Dollars Each Year in Medical Expenses

 Message to Big Coal, "Pay Your Bill to America!"

Each stage in the life cycle of coal—extraction, transport, processing, and combustion—generates a waste stream and carries multiple hazards for health and the environment. These costs are external to the coal industry and thus are often considered as “externalities.” We estimate that the life cycle effects of coal and the waste stream generated are costing the U.S. public a third to over one-half of a trillion dollars annually. Many of these so-called externalities are, moreover, cumulative. Accounting for the damages conservatively doubles to triples the price of electricity from coal per kWh generated, making wind, solar, and other forms of non fossil fuel power generation, along with investments in efficiency and electricity conservation methods, economically competitive. We focus on Appalachia, though coal is mined in other regions of the United States and is burned throughout the world.

More about this here

CPI Buzz for 3-31-15

Koch Brothers group relaunches ads to defeat Insure Tennessee

Will governor veto guns in parks? Harwell recommends against it

Voucher bill clears Senate 24-8

Crockett for 3-27-15

Crockett for 3-27-15

Ramsey says he won’t interfere with second life of Insure Tennessee

Tennessee House Agrees To Hand Teachers Slight Relief From Testing Pressure

Minimum wage, equal pay bills fail in House subcommittee

Legislature Continues Assault on Property Rights with Guns In Parking Lots Update...more from Crockett

State Lawmakers Are The True Takers in Nashville

Tennessee lawmakers pass guns-in-parking-lots update

Pro-voucher groups dropped quarter million dollars on lawmakers in Ed committee

Resolution seeking revival of Insure TN wins first vote

TN Legislature Continues to Erode Personal Rights

Is it time for 'death with dignity' in Tennessee?

Tennessee House to debate abortion ultrasound bill this week

Tennessee ranks fourth-worst state for voter turnout

House subs shutting down this week

Morning Energy Report

This is well worth the read. Here are some things of note that I picked up:

 A pair of competing bills aimed at renewing the Export-Import Bank were introduced in the Senate yesterday. One bill, led by Sens. Mark Kirk and Heidi Heitkamp, as well as another six senators evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, would extend the Ex-Im's charter for four years and lower its lending cap from $140 billion to $135 billion. The legislation would also raise the percentage of the agency's operations that must go toward supporting small businesses from 20 to 25 percent. Meanwhile, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and three fellow Democrats, introduced their own version that would renew the Bank for seven years, and raise its lending cap by $20 billion, to $160 billion.

The other important difference: Besides funding, the biggest difference between the two bills relates to existing restrictions on coal financing. Shaheen's bill does not include language that would permanently override restrictions on the financing of coal-fired power plants abroad. On the other hand, the Kirk-Heitkamp bill removes coal restrictions completely by prohibiting discrimination against any energy sources. The Kirk-Heitkamp bill: http://politico.pro/1Gwnmkw. The Shaheen, Democrat bill: http://politico.pro/1I2Ehw9 (h/t Pro Trade's Victoria Guida)

A Republican goes green?

 The New York Audubon is awarding GOP Rep. Chris Gibson its highest award tomorrow, the William B. Hoyt Environmental Excellence Award, for his dedication to protecting the state's environment. His advocacy for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Forest Legacy Program, the Long Island Sound and Great Lakes restoration got the group's attention. Coincidentally, Gibson was also the sole Republican to vote against two GOP EPA bills this week.

Politico Energy Report

Crockett Buzz for 3-19-15: Nonsense in Nashville

Robert Houk:Enough of the nonsense in Nashville

Tenn. GOPer slams Volkswagen: Creating 200,000 jobs is ‘intentionally’ a ‘magnet for unionized labor’

TN House speaker calls for 'pre-meeting' transparency

Republican lawmakers to pitch medical marijuana plan

Naifeh says Democrats were more open than Republicans when they controlled House

CPI Buzz: Secret Legislative Meetings called "Complete Betrayal of Open Government

This and more from Crockett:

Secret meetings at TN Capitol called 'complete betrayal of open government'

The Morning Energy Report

Morning Energy Report

Crockett Buzz: TN Republican Cat Fight over "Padding Expense Accounts" and MOre

TN speaker's survey shows 6 out of 10 support Insure Tennessee

Cooper questions Haslam, lawmakers on Insure TN failure

Tenn. Republicans Hit Each Other on 'Social Hour,' Expenses

Protesters targeting senators who voted no on Insure TN

Buzz for Friday the 13th....Campaign Donations Drive Republicans? (Surely Not)

Are Campaign Donations Behind Republican Opposition to Net Neutrality?

Lawmaker Proposes Body Cameras For All TN Law Enforcement

Marijuana bills gaining some traction in Tennessee

Chattanooga joins White House effort to fill tech jobs

Haslam Hands in Air, "Don't Sue Me. Bro" and Other Amazing news of the Day from Crockett 3-12-15

Is Tennessee's Cap on Damages Unconstitutional?

Haslam to hold peace talks with school systems threatening lawsuits

Open carry proposal among gun bills killed in House

TN Legislature All About Guns in Parks Playgrounds Ballfields, And No Health Care Either

TN News Buzz 3-10-15

Tennessee mislabels 3,500 drivers' licenses 'Not for Federal ID'

Alexander, Corker refuse to sign GOP letter to Iran

Opinion: Todd Gardenhire could be a case study in hypocrisy

The Campaign Cash That Can Kill the Open Internet

Corker and Alexander Among Seven Republican Senators Who DON'T Commit Treason

I'm really outraged at this. If you are an American and a patriot,  You do NOT undermine the foreign policy of the President of the United States of America! 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/09/1369534/-Republican-Senators-Tell-Iran-Any-Deal-with-President-Obama-Won-t-Last

News Buzz for 3-9-15

Jacking Up the Ransom Note on Public Records Is Not the Answer to Government Transparency

Advisory Committee on Open Government isn’t open?

Todd Gardenhire's school voucher bill moves in Tennessee House this week

Rural Tennesseans limited in Internet choices

Your Electric Utility is Working to Kill Roof Top Solar Power

“Independent studies show that distributed solar benefits all ratepayers by preventing the need to build new, expensive power plants or transmission lines,” said Matthew Kasper, a fellow at the Energy & Policy Institute, a pro-solar think tank. “Utilities make their money by building big, new infrastructure projects and then sending ratepayers the bill, which is exactly why utilities want to eliminate solar.”

Wapo Story (Read!)

Crockett Buzz 3-6-15

Lawmaker Doesn’t Want Women’s Economic Council Because Men Need One Too

Behind the News Fluff on Energy

There are major decisions that will shape our lives forever, in some cases. These things get shoved into the dark recesses on what is sarcastically called "The News". By the time we find out about them it is too late and someone has made off with the family chickens and left us with the droppings all over the place to clean up.

Little things like nuclear waste forever left onsite at phased out nuclear reactors. Nobody would have bought into nukes in the first place if we had been told something like this was going to happen. Most of Europe is abandoning nuclear power for this very reason...that and that Chernobyl thing.

Like the fact that NJ Gove Chris Christie drove the negotiations behind the scenes with Mond polluter Exxon, in order to let them off the hook to the tune of $8.5 billion in yet another energy related environmental disaster. Wouldn't we all like t ay our fines to the tune of 3 cents on the dollar? 

Here's the morning energy report with lots of fascinating little items that will not make your evening news cast.  

Morning Energy Report

 Here's the Friday report, including the part where Chris Christie calls any criticism of his secret deals to give Exxon Mobile billions of dollars off their pollution settlement, "Baldly political".

Friday Energy Report

"Thinks of the Day"...From a Woman Named Butt

“I guess I’m offended that all of these things are predicated on something that they, apparently, the (House) Black Caucus, thinks I said or thinks I thought or thinks I insinuated. Not anything that’s true.”

TN State Rep Sheila

From Our "Your State Legislators are Idiots" Dept: Tennessee's Latest Bill Bans Nonexistent Muslim 'No-Go Zones'

 Crockett Buzz for 3-5-15

TN Senate Dems Criticize Haslam, Lawmakers for Opposition to FCC Municipal Broadband Ruling

Tennessee's Latest Bill Bans Nonexistent Muslim 'No-Go Zones'

State committee kills veteran hiring preference bill

State senator accused of hitting ex-wife with car

Politics and Energy 3-3-15

This is always fascinating. I wish it didn't piss me off so much when I read it...The Keystone Pipeline will be inserted into every must pass bill from now on and Lamar Alexander will cram nuclear power down our throats, even as the rest of the world has decided it is a really bad idea. That's just for starters. It sort of lets you know that your elected officials don't work for you and me.

Energy Today in American Politics

Crockett Buzz 3-4-15

What did the governor say today on guns, race, vouchers, etc? Well, not much, but….

3500 Tennesseans receive incorrect photo ID due to printing error

Huge Stakes As Supreme Court Takes Third Crack At Obamacare

Obama promises veto of Alexander-sponsored bill to reverse NLRB rule

Incidents Continue to Surface that Show a Strong Need to Change Cop Culture: Hamilton County Deputy Beaten In Mistaken Identity

 After his co-workers realized they had beaten him in a bizarre case of mistaken identity, Aaron Shelton says they tried to shut him up. They told him "they were all brothers, man."

 ...Flores writes that on Nov. 11, 2014, Shelton and his wife, Heather, heard a loud noise and stepped outside their home at 1516 Ely Road. Shelton saw a man run into his carport.
Then Shelton saw deputies pointing their guns at him.

They told Shelton to get on the ground, and he followed all their commands, he said. According to the complaint, he told them he was an off-duty deputy and his wife shouted the same thing. But as he lay prone on the ground, his fellow deputies got on top of him, beating him with their hands and shoving his face into the concrete, the complaint states.

Shelton said that one deputy, Curtis Killingsworth, struck him with a baton.

At some point, Shelton's neighbor yelled to deputies that they were beating the wrong man. They stopped, realized they'd made an error and discovered that the man they were actually hunting had already been apprehended. At that point, "some or all of them told Aaron that 'they were all brothers, man,'" the complaint states.

Flores said that comment is particularly troubling because it indicates the deputies who beat him wanted him to keep quiet.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/mar/03/deputy-sues-co-workers-after-beating/291209/

Buzz for 3-2-15

Pat Nolan: Guns in Parking Lots Redux

Bid to Block Health Exchange in Tennessee Seen as 'Overkill'

First week of winter storm cost TDOT $11.3M; overall impact now being assessed

Roy Exum: Cameras Or Subterfuge?

Rep. Van Huss praying for recognition of ‘Almighty God’ in TN constitution

You Write a Letter Opposing $300 Million in Incentives for the Company That Writes Your Paycheck... You are an Idiot

This employee got suspended. I would have terminated him. He certainly misrepresents what the UAW vote meant and a number of other things but simply put, you do not undermine your company's goals and stay employed.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/feb/27/volkswagen-suspends-worker-who-criticized-com/290565/

CPI Buzz for 2-27-15

 Crockett Policy Institute Buzz

FCC overrules state laws to help cities build out municipal broadband

Release Tennessee legislator health plan records

As legislators eye VW subsidies, Ramsey says Saturn subsidies may have been a mistake

Rep. Sheila Butt Says We Need an NAAWP

Legislature Voted Down "Government Healthcare" Refuse to Release Information On Its Own Government Healthcare Plas

The Crockett Policy Institute Buzz for 2-20-15

 

Agencies scrap over releasing lawmaker health plan info

In Medical Marijuana Push, Tennessee Democrats Hope To Find Republican Allies

Kyle Veazey On Politics: Has Brian Kelsey made an enemy of the Greater Memphis Chamber?

Buzz For Friday the Thirteenth 2015 in Which Ron Ramsey Tells a Whopper

Ramsey says he gave Insure Tennessee a fighting chance

Insure Tennessee Fails to Win Sound Bite Test

Democrats file bills/resolutions to revive Insure TN

Is this the year school vouchers win legislative approval? McCormick thinks so

Darwin Day Crockett Buzz

 Insure Tennessee deserves a do-over

Federal judge finds Jimmy Haslam, Pilot Flying J 'plausibly' knew of alleged fuel rebate fraud

Bruce VanWyngarden: The Republican Rift

Health Plan Not Dead?

Business groups say they're marching forward

TN Legislature Voted Against Majority of Tennesseans on Insure TN CPI Buzz 2-9-15

Committee disregards the truth on Insure Tenn.

Mistrust, disinformation, lack of legislative leadership, outside groups sank governor's health plan

Lawmakers take Tennessee backwards with Insure TN vote

GOP Infighting and confusion follows Insure TN Defeat...CPI Buzz 2-6-15

Lawmakers Spar Over Their Own Taxpayer-Provided Health Coverage

Defeat Of Insure Tenn. Leaves Haslam Frustrated, Embarrassed

Shelby mayor: Defeat of Insure TN may mean 10% property tax increase

Corker for president? 11% of Tennesseans think that’s a good idea, 41% don’t

Insure Tennessee: Failure by Politics and Procedure

CEO's Call For Elimininating Greenhouse Emissions by 2050, Scott Walker Fears Health Effects of Windmills

 You learn some really strange things in the morning energy report:

Falling oil prices have caused price increases in the cost of condoms in Venezuela.

Wisconsin Gov Walker cut $300 million from the schools budget, allocated money to study the health problems associated with windmills...Caused by "tilting" I suppose.

Tightening manufacturing requirements for wood stoves and furnaces will save roughly $4 - 7 billion annually and prevent hundreds of premature deaths.  Montana Senator Steve Daines says this is a short sighted regulatory overreach. I suppose he thinks killing a few hundred people a year is just part of the price of making money.

An ethanol freight train in Iowa is on fire.

Sometimes I feel like I am a passenger on an out of control clown car.

http://www.politico.com/morningenergy/0215/morningenergy17002.html

Buzz for 2-3-15

Haslam Appeals To Faith in Final Insure Tennessee Pitch

FCC Chair says agency will nix state laws that block broadband

FCC will seek heavier regulation of the Internet

AP story on Haslam’s Insure TN speech

The Buzz for Groundhog Day 2015

 

 

Cohen Pushes for Student Loan Bankruptcy Protection

Rural hospitals at risk of closing if Insure TN fails

Koch brothers/charter school nightmare: “White kids get to go to a school with a Montessori approach while children of color get eye control”

Insure Tennessee would close gaps for veterans

The Buzz for 1-30-15

A country drowning in student loan debt

Lawmakers Hear Stories of Uninsured As Haslam Wraps Up Insure Tennessee Tour

Cursive To Be Taught Once Again In Tennessee Schools

‘Two or three’ House Democrats said reluctant to back Insure TN