News

Senate Floor Vote April 12th

 SB3194 (Lowe Finney) / HB3175 (Eric Swafford) Purchasing As amended,clarifies that the purchase price received by a municipality from a cooperative purchasing alliance is to be considered 1 of 3 bids under competitive bidding procedures. As introduced, allows municipalities to purchase through cooperative purchasing alliances, whether based in Tennessee or elsewhere. In addition, this legislation allows local governments to purchase equipment under the same terms of a legal bid initiated by any other local government. THIS IS A TML-SPONSORED BILL.

Senate Judiciary April 13th

 SB3781 (Dewayne Bunch) / HB3050 (Eric Watson) Open Records States that if a party, party’s attorney, or party’s agent is engaged in civil litigation in which a city is also a party, then requests for must be made via the discovery process and not the public records act. THIS IS A TML-FAVORED BILL SB3012 (Doug Jackson) / HB3125 (Curry Todd) Guns in restaurants, bars As amended, authorizes a person to carry a firearm in a restaurant licensed by the alcohol beverage commission as long as said person is not consuming alcohol, which would result in a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a minimum incarceration period of 72 hours and a minimum $500 fine. Allows businesses to post a notice of prohibition of firearms, specifying that violators with a handgun carry permit that consume alcohol in a prohibited area to be charged with a Class A misdemeanor with an incarceration period of not less than 48 hours, a fine not less than $500, and the revocation of the violator’s handgun carry permit. Requires the handgun safety courses to include a one-hour instruction on alcohol and drugs related to firearms. Note: By apperances this bill may not leave the Judical Committee. SB3669 (Brian Kelsey) / HB3703 (G.A. Hardaway) Law Enforcement Prohibits taking disciplinary action against law enforcement personnel for pursuing a suspect unless the pursuit violates the law enforcement agency’s pursuit policy and changes the liability standard for law enforcement personnel pursuing a suspect from negligence to gross negligence. SB3735 (Dewayne Bunch) / HB2694 (Vance Dennis) Guns in restaurants, bars Repeals the statutory prohibition relative to possession of a firearm where alcoholic beverages are served. SB3609 (Bill Ketron) / HB3338 (Joe Carr) Eminent Domain As amended, requires condemning entity at the request of the property owner to enter into arbitration. Should a judge later award damages equal to or greater than the arbitrator’s award, the property owner must be paid all associated costs including attorney fees and appraisal fees. The condemning entity would not be entitled to recover any fees or costs regardless of final judicial decision, even if the decision is in favor of the condemning entity. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

 Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture April 14th

 SB1508 (Tim Burchett) / HB1743 (Craig Fitzhugh) Utilities As introduced, limits a municipality’s ability to regulate pole attachment fees on all municipally owned utilities; requires the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) to mediate negotiations between parties as requested, with the requesting party paying a fee of $500 to the TRA; and gives the TRA the authority and jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this legislation after providing notice and holding a hearing. As amended, establishes best practice standards for pole attachment contract negotiations and creates a statewide operational working group compromised of three representing pole owners and three representing pole users, to be appointed by the speakers of the House and Senate. The group members will not receive state reimbursement for attending meetings. Outlines issues for the group to discuss and requires the filing of an annual report.

House Floor Vote April 12th

 HB2970 (Gary Odom) / SB2945 (Mark S. Norris) Public Safety Changes TACIR’s deadline to report on the effectiveness of TN’s current underground utility damage program to the General Assembly from January 29, 2010, to Jaunary 17, 2011. HB3153 (Harry Tindell) / SB3094 (Tim Burchett) Authorizes, after January 1, 2011, estimates from the most recent release of the American community survey five-year estimates to be used in the place of long form data for the following: (1) Determining which households are low-income households for purposes of the Competitive Cable and Video Services Act; (2) Defining an “Average Tennessee Household” under the Tennessee Housing Development Agency Act; and (3) Determining the median household income for certain age groups under the Property Tax Freeze Act. HB3152 (Harry Tindell) / SB3602 (Bill Ketron) Public Safety As amended, states that the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance as well as the executive director of the Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy be ex-officio members of the Firefighter Personnel Standards and Training Commission, three members appointed to the commission shall be selected from candidates submitted collectively by the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association, the Tennessee Fire Safety Inspectors Association, and the Tennessee Firemans Association, three members appointed to the commission shall be selected from candidates submitted by the governing body of the Tennessee Professional Firefighters Association, and three members appointed to the commission shall be appointed by the governor with one appointment being a career firefighter and one appointment being a volunteer firefighter. The bill also requires that all members of the commission must be at least a certified fire fighter II and a member of a fire department currently participating in the commission’s training program.

House Civil Practice & Procedure April 13th

 HB3058 (Frank S. Niceley) / SB3090 (Dewayne Bunch) Eminent Domain Requires the fair market value of property to be taken by eminent domain to be based on the highest and best use of the property, meaning the most profitable use after all improvements have been made to the property, without regard to that use which is legally allowable. Prohibits determination of highest and best use from being limited to current zoning or land use restrictions. It is estimated to increase local government expenditures more than $100,000. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL. This should a crimp in the old redevelopment scheme.

HB3125 (Curry Todd) / SB3012 (Douglas Henry) Guns in restaurants, bars As amended, authorizes a person to carry a firearm in a restaurant licensed by the alcohol beverage commission as long as said person is not consuming alcohol, which would result in a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a minimum incarceration period of 72 hours and a minimum $500 fine. Allows businesses to post a notice of prohibition of firearms, specifying that violators with a handgun carry permit that consume alcohol in a prohibited area to be charged with a Class A misdemeanor with an incarceration period of not less than 48 hours, a fine not less than $500, and the revocation of the violator’s handgun carry permit. Requires the handgun safety courses to include a one-hour instruction on alcohol and drugs related to firearms.

HB3404 (Bob Ramsey) / SB3526 (Doug Overbey) Elections authorizes any municipality, including those incorporated by private act, to change the date of municipal elections by ordinance to coincide with the August or November general elections and to extend the terms of incumbents to meet the new date so long as no term is extended for more than two years. THIS IS A TML-FAVORED BILL. This one might be a reasonable bill.

House Judiciary April 13th

 HB2719 (Stacey Campfield) / SB3753 (Dewayne Bunch) Guns in parks As amended, defines the term “greenway.” As introduced, authorizes a person with a handgun carry permit to carry a handgun on a greenway that runs through a park, even if a municipality prohibits firearms in the park. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

HB3338 (Joe Carr) / SB3609 (Bill Ketron) Eminent Domain As amended, requires condemning entity at the request of the property owner to enter into arbitration. Should a judge later award damages equal to or greater than the arbitrator’s award, the property owner must be paid all associated costs including attorney fees and appraisal fees. The condemning entity would not be entitled to recover any fees or costs regardless of final judicial decision, even if the decision is in favor of the condemning entity. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

HB2952 (Harry R. Brooks) / SB2703 (Tim Burchett) Traffic Citations Prohibits a municipality from formally or informally maintaining a policy of evaluating, promoting, compensation, or disciplining an officer based upon the number of traffic citations issued. Prohibits any type of quota for traffic citations. Violation by an elected official is misconduct in office and ground for removal. Violation by a non-elected person is ground for discipline up to and including termination. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

HB3882 (Michael Kernell) / SB3114 (Beverly Marrero) Open Records Prohibits a governmental entity from limiting or denying access to any books, records, or other materials that are available for public inspection and copying pursuant to miscellaneous provisions of the present public records law on the basis that the governmental entity is involved in litigation or is contemplating involvement in litigation.

HB3537 (Mark Maddox) / SB2902 (Randy McNally) Public Safety Requires that, for each piece of evidence submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for analysis, a $20 fee be added to court costs following a conviction. Requires that fees be paid to TBI regardless of the nature of the case. Requires fees to be transmitted by the Court Clerk to the State Treasurer for deposit into a special TBI fund. Authorizes Court Clerks to deduct a five percent fee for compensation. Prohibits funds from reverting to the General Fund. Authorizes TBI to waive fees if local agencies demonstrate an inability to pay or collect through court costs. The bill is estimated to increase local government expenditures by $1.2million. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

HB2659 (Chad Faulkner) / SB3301 (Brian Kelsey) Labor Requires that any complaint lodged against a law enforcement officer who is certified by the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission or a firefighter who has successfully completed the minimum training requirements under present law to be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. A signed copy of the complaint must be given to the officer or firefighter within five days of the complaint being filed. Disciplinary action may not be taken against the officer or firefighter unless the copy is given. Additionally, the officer or firefighter may not be indefinitely suspended or terminated from employment based on the complaint unless the complaint is investigated and there is evidence to prove the allegation of misconduct. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

House Conservation & Environment April 14th

HB3683 (Joe McCord) / SB3501 (Charlotte Burks) Stormwater Fees As amended, clarifies the definition of agricultural land for exemption purposes. As introduced, extends the period to petition for review of a civil penalty or damage assessment for violating a municipal storm water ordinance from 30 to 35 days. House State and Local Government April 14th HB2998 (John DeBerry) / SB3361 (James Kyle) Tax Collection As amended, allows any municipality by ordinance to enter into contracts with the trustee to process tax relief applications; allows tax collectors in Shelby County only to extend the deadline for applications. As introduced, authorizes municipalities to enter into a contract with another local collecting authority in the same county to outsource the processing of tax relief applications. Authorizes a collecting official to waive the application deadline of a tax freeze applicant if good and reasonable cause existed for failing to file before the deadline.

HB3779 (Curry Todd) / SB2695 (Bill Ketron) Annexation Prohibits annexing municipalities from providing garbage collection services to newly annexed territories for five years from date of annexation unless collectors who served territory prior to annexation are contracted with for such services or are otherwise compensated. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

HB2713 (Mike Turner) / SB2581 (Joe Haynes) Annexation Clarifies that a municipality may annex property outside but contiguous to its urban growth boundary by submitting the desired change in its urban growth boundary to the coordinating committee who subsequently makes a recommendation to all the legislative bodies in the county for approval. If approved, the recommended change will be submitted to the local government planning advisory committee for its approval. The annexation then may proceed by formal adoption of an ordinance. This legislation also clarifies that as an alternative to this process, a municipality may annex property outside but contiguous to its urban growth boundary by referendum of the affected property owners.

HB3864 (Jason Mumpower) / SB3489 (Ron Ramsey) Annexation Permits any municipality to expand its urban growth boundary to include tracts of land that are 10 acres or smaller if the tract is contiguous to the existing urban growth boundary and the municipal city limit and the owner of the tract consents to being included. THIS IS A TML-FAVORED BILL

HB2827 (Jim Coley) / SB2983 (Reginald Tate) Codes Allows municipalities, counties, and the state to authorize a community organization to remedy overgrown lots when the owner fails to do so within the prescribed time frame. The community organization can then place a lien on the property for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the clean-up. Purports that the community organization will assume all liability. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

House Transportation April 14th HB3262 (Phillip Johnson) / SB3157 (Steve Southerland) Transportation Prohibits the use of traffic surveillance cameras as a means to monitor or enforce traffic violations. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

HB3024 (Bill W. Harmon) / SB2918 (Tim Burchett) Transportation directs the comptroller to study traffic surveillance cameras, places a two-year moratorium on new cameras, and revises fines from traffic violations captured by such cameras. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

HB3684 (Joe McCord) / SB3286 (Tim Burchett) Transportation As amended, requires non-binding referendum on traffic surveillance cameras in all municipalities currently utilizing such cameras. As introduced, requires state agency or political subdivision to disclose on official website the names and addresses of vendors operating or maintaining traffic surveillance cameras. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

HB2516 (Chad Faulkner) / SB3040 (Mike Faulk) Transportation Prohibits the installation or maintenance of red light camera monitors on or after January 1, 2011. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL HB3371 (Ryan Haynes) / SB3287 (Tim Burchett) Transportation Prohibits traffic citations for failure to stop completely before turning right at an intersection based solely on evidence from a traffic surveillance camera.

HB1324 (Les Winningham) / SB0957 (Jim Tracy) Transportation Defines “surveillance camera” as a permanently mounted or mobile electronic device capable of recording video or photographic images. House State and Local Government April 14th HB2429 (Jim Cobb) / SB2402 (Bo Watson) Annexation Requires an election of all residents in the proposed area to be annexed prior to an annexation by ordinance. Election costs are assessed to municipality. Restores right to jury trial for annexation contests. NOTE: The Senate companion to this bill failed in the Senate State and Local Government Committee. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

 HB3956 (Mike Stewart) / SB3430 (Douglas Henry) Zoning Allows a multifamily residential property owner to destroy present facilities and reconstruct new facilities even after a change in zoning. THIS IS A TML-OPPOSED BILL

PROTECTING OUR US CONSTITUTION:
HJR 0030 by Hill
General Assembly - As introduced, rescinds three specific resolutions from 1977 and any other resolutions passed at any time that call for a federal constitutional convention.

                                                                       **EXTREMELY IMPORTANT**
      If you really want to protect our US Constitution and our form of government, you will fully engage in the effort to repeal the previous TN calls for an 'Article V' Federal Constitutional Convention (Con-Con). Article V of our Constitution provides two ways to amend. An amendment generated in Congress and sent to the state for ratification or 34 states call for a Con-Con where delegates are elected to form a convention. Please go HERE for why we should repeal the 'calls'. Go HERE for vital background information to understand this issue.
          You may be told that once a Con-Con is initiated, the delegates will only be able to address the issue that was the subject of the 'call'. That is the crux of the debate. A majority of legal scholars, and two former U.S. Supreme Court Justices, Warren Burger and Arthur J. Goldberg, have stated there is no assurance that an Article V convention can be limited to a particular amendment once it is convened. Any claim that Congress could, by statute, limit a convention's agenda is pure speculation. More over, once convened, a convention could reject any, or all, Congressional restrictions on its activity. Congress, therefore, may not be any more effective in restricting the agenda of a modern-day convention than was the Continental Congress in 1787 when its directives to the original constitutional convention were totally ignored. And don't buy into the 'safe harbor' argument that whatever the Convention proposes must be ratified by 38 state legislatures. The Convention could direct that the ratifications take place in state conventions, not legislatures and just at the original Convention did, change the number of states needed for ratification and/or the ratification process.
          Because of the high level of frustration with the federal government, a Constitutional Convention may seem like a 'way to take back our government' but it is actually a way to lose the Constitution, as we know it.

STATUS: HJR 30 was voted out of Civil Practice Subcommittee on Wednesday and will be in the full Judiciary Committee on Tuesday afternoon.

ACTION: Pushing for a Con-Con is bubbling up all over the country by people who DO NOT understand the risk (and a few who know exactly what they are doing). We can't control that but we can do our part in Tennessee to protect the integrity of our US Constitution. More information HERE.
To send an email to your State Representative, go HERE.

Here are the results of the 3rd district LiberTea Debate series. these are the written responses from all of the candidates and it is important we have them posted, I figured I would give you guys the chance to have at them. It would be nice to get recognition for the work with the community, although due to the Chattanooga Tea Party most of the questions were neutered.



We can post the candidates answers on our C4L meetup site, but each of the candidates responses to all the questions would be a separate file.    But I like how they put the candidates answers side-by-side for easier comparison.  Can any of you figure out an easy way to copy onto an Open Office or Google document spreadsheet that we could upload to our meetup site?   http://chattanoogateaparty.com/libertea/debateanswers.htm   If any of you are making any progress on this, please email/reply to all so multiple people aren't working on it.   Thanks! -David


--
Jeremy Dahl
Graphic Graphics- Production and Design
423-693-4730
jeremybdahl@gmail.com

"Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness"

Share This, Tell Everyone, Take Action Today

You are under attack, worst of all, the non-voting/non-active youth are under attack.

All indications are that at least three Tennessee Congresspersons are undecided on the Obama-Care legislation.

Please take a minute of your time to call your Representative, especially if you live in one of the below districts:

** Lincoln Davis (D): DC 202.225.6831; TN http://www.house.gov/lincolndavis/contact/offices.htm

** Jim Cooper (D): DC 202-225-4311; TN 615-736-5295

** Bart Gordon (D): DC (202) 225-4231; TN http://gordon.house.gov/contact/contactnumbers.shtml

** John Tanner (D): DC (202) 225-4714; TN http://tanner.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=364&Itemid=19

PLEASE BE POLITE. If you get a busy signal, try again.

Explain that the Senate Health Care Bill is not right for Tennessee.

One minute of your time to stop the Obama/Pelosi health care bill.

Let's do it!

House Commerce - Industrial Impact Subcommittee
Rep. Charles Curtiss, Chair: (615) 741-1963, rep.charles.curtiss@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dennis Roach, Vice-Chair: (615) 741-2534, rep.dennis.roach@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Curry Todd: (615) 741-1866, rep.curry.todd@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Eric Swafford: (615) 741-2343, rep.eric.swafford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. David Shepard: (615) 741-3513, rep.david.shepard@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Charles Michael Sargent: (615) 741-6808, rep.charles.sargent@capitol.tn.gov
Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh: (615) 741-3774, spk.eme.jimmy.naifeh@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joe McCord: (615) 741-5481, rep.joe.mccord@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joe Towns: (615) 741-2189, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dennis Ferguson: (615) 741-7658, rep.dennis.ferguson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joanne Favors : (615) 741-2702, rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Jon Lundberg: (615) 741-7623, rep.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov

An Initiative Measure

Be it enacted by the People of the great state of Tennessee

Be it proposed to be added as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

Prohibiting the Use of Photo Enforcement Systems.

A.  No traffic complaint, notice of violation or other legal form of civil or criminal charge or citation shall be issued or filed in the state of Tennessee for an alleged violation of this Title or of any other state, county or municipal law relating to the operation of a motor vehicle if the alleged violation was detected through the use of a Photo Enforcement System, as defined in subsection B of this section.

B. For purposes of this section, "Photo Enforcement System" means a device or system consisting of a radar unit or sensor linked to a (i) camera or other recording device that produces or is capable of producing one or more photographs, microphotographs, videotapes or digital or other recorded images of a vehicle's license plate or its operator or (ii) device that is capable of reading a motor vehicle's license plate or otherwise identifying a motor vehicle.

Justin McCord

February 28, 2010


Dear Tennessee Friends of Liberty,

It is a great pleasure for me to invite you to the Second Annual Tennessee Campaign for Liberty Conference featuring guest speaker Dimitri Kesari, a special consultant to Campaign for Liberty, giving "Real-Politics Training."  The conference will be held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on March 6, 2010.

The mission of Campaign for Liberty is to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, free markets, and a noninterventionist foreign policy, by means of educational and political activity.

The purpose of the convention is to select a Western, Middle, and Eastern Assistant State Coordinator, to give Tennessee Patriots Real-Politics Training, and to encourage networking and fellowship among our dispersed geographic locations.

Additionally, we plan to invite Tennessee Campaign for Liberty members that are running for offices such as U.S. House of Representatives and State Legislature to attend and educate you on their campaigns and platforms.

WHAT:  Second Annual Tennessee Campaign for Liberty Conference. - Agenda forthcoming

WHO:  You

WHEN:  March 6, 2010, 9:30am until 5:00pm

WHERE:  Room S102 at The College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS) on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).

HOW:  Cost $15.00. Lunch included. https://www.campaignforliberty.com/event/tickets-states.php?eventid=34

I'm looking forward to meeting you all in the beautiful city of Murfreesboro!


In Liberty,

Justin McCord
State Coordinator
Tennessee Campaign for Liberty


P.S.  If you are a regular member, now is a good time to upgrade and take advantage of Local Coordinator Training.

If you are not a member of Campaign for Liberty, please take this opportunity to join.

To unsubscribe from future Campaign for Liberty e-mails, click here.
You were added to our system on October 12, 2008.  For more information,
click here.

Dear Tennessee Friends of Liberty,

Letter of Invitation

It is a great pleasure for me to invite you to the Second Annual Tennessee Campaign for Liberty Conference featuring guest speaker Dimitri Kesari of National Right to Work Foundation giving "Real-Politics Training," that will be held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on March 6, 2010.

The mission of Campaign for Liberty is to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, free markets, and a noninterventionist foreign policy, by means of educational and political activity.

The purpose of the convention is to select a Western, Middle and Eastern Assistant State Coordinator, and to give Tennessee Patriots Real-Politics Training and to encourage networking and fellowship among our dispersed geographic locations.

Additionally, we plan to invite Tennessee Campaign for Liberty members that are running for offices such as U.S. House of Representatives and State Legislature to attend and educate you on there campaigns and platforms.

WHAT:      Second Annual Tennessee Campaign for Liberty Conference. - Agenda forthcoming

WHO:        You

WHEN:      March 6, 2010, 9:30am until 5:00pm

WHERE:    Room S102 at The College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS) on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).

HOW:        Register HERE.  Cost $15.00. Lunch included.

I'm looking forward to meeting you all in the beautiful city of Murfreesboro!

If you feel led to speak at this event please contact me thru the website email, or directly @ jbmccord@charter.net

In liberty,

Justin McCord

Interim State Coordinator

Tennessee Campaign for Liberty

P.S.  If you are a regular member and wish to upgrade to take advantage of Local Coordinator Training, click here.

If you are not a member of Campaign for Liberty and wish to join, click here.

If you would like to send a check do so to:

Campaign for Liberty

Attn: STN1002A

PO Box 104,

Lake Jackson, TX 77566-9991

Include your (Name, address, phone and e-mail and the accounting code STN1002A)

The Special Committee on State Sovereignty met yesterday as per the requirements of HJR 108; a resolution to the US Congress from the Tennessee General Assembly in support of the Tenth Amendment. The resolution, passed by committee chairman, Rep. Susan Lynn, created a committee of Conference and Correspondence to communicate the resolution to the legislatures of the 49 other states, and to call for a joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government and to seek repeal of the assumption of powers and the imposed mandates.   At the last meeting the committee decided to ask the three national organizations for state legislators to help with this endeavor by asking each to form independent working groups, task forces or committees. The idea is the have the organizations independently examine the words of our founding documents and the founders' intent, legal history, the infringements of the federal government, the effect on the people and the states, develop a plan to seek repeal of the assumption of powers and the imposed mandates and conduct all other matters appropriate for the committee. 
Also on the committee agenda was the approval of the Letter to the States authored by the committee's chairman, Rep. Susan Lynn, at last month's meeting. The letter was amended to include a statement that the committee is "not in favor at this time of any solution that would include a Constitutional Convention; risking that our beloved Constitution could by opened up and perhaps gravely altered."    A third item on the agenda was a request from Rep. Karen Camper to include the NCBSL - The National Caucus of Black State Legislators in the organizations that will be asked to form committees, working groups or task forces.    The three other organizations that will be asked to create committees, working groups or task forces are theAmerican Legislative Exchange Council, the Council of State Governments and the National Conference of State Legislatures.    State Representative Susan Lynn (R - Lebanon) Chairman of the committee stated "I am happy that the committee unanimously approved all three agenda items and that Tennessee is a leader in this effort." 

Recent developments in the Nashville Republican Party has led to one of our very own being threatned with permanent expulsion from his elected position as the DCRP 1st Vice Chair. This breaking news has led the CFL to release an important message with regards to further action against Matt Collins. http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2009/10/28/davidson-county-gop-moves-to-oust-ron-paul-supporting-vice-chair/

We humbly submit to the state party officals and DCRP officers, please err on the side of principles before party politics. Please dont remove an elected officer for being outspoken about Constitutional accountability. Matt is a fervent patriot, a real Sam Adams of our time, and defends the principled politics that has long been lost in our society. We will not support any type of affiliation that promotes big government or economically irresposibile candidates.

The Nashville DCRP has promoted time and time again big government candidates. John McCain, case and point. We have finally won an electable office within the DCRP that can help promote and defend OUR American way of life, and the DCRP feels threatened.

If you would like to voice your opinion to the state party officials concerning limited government in your county contact the following,

Chairman
Chris Devaney
Email: chairmandevaney@tngop.org
(615) 269-4260

Executive Director
Charles Schneider
Email: chas@tngop.org
(615) 269-4260

Chief of Staff/State Director
John Newman
Email: newman@tngop.org
(615) 269-4260

To All,

The committee Democrats' central phone number is (202) 225-4247, and the fax is (202) 225-6952. Alternately, and perhaps more effectively, you can politely email some or all of the committee's most senior Democrat staff directly, as follows:

Committee staff director and chief counsel:
Jeanne.Roslanowick@mail.house.gov

Committee deputy chief counsel:
Lawranne.Stewart@mail.house.gov

Committee communications director:
Steven.Adamske@mail.house.gov
(or possibly Steve.Adamske@mail.house.gov)

It appears that TN Republican Senators "Large-Government-Lamar"
Alexander and "Bailout-Bob" Corker are getting ready to violate the
Constitution once again and want to meet President BO half way with a
compromise on the health care bill.

See the following:


Six Senate Republicans seeking a "bipartisan compromise" on President
Obama's proposal for a government-run health care system are flirting
with a provision - an individual mandate to buy government-approved
health insurance - that runs counter to everything the GOP stands for.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/Obamacare-runs-counter-to-GOP-principles-8243751-59266692.html
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33371

You can see the bill here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.391:



AND

Many of the proposals Corker mentioned to his constituents are ideas
that Democrats also support and have included in their own reform plans....
Senator Corker says: "I think it's .. to get to a point where we can sit
down and do something that's pragmatic."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090303839.html?hpid=topnews



Want to tell them what you think about their unconstitutional compromise?

Do so here:
http://corker.senate.gov/
http://alexander.senate.gov/

_______________________________________________
Cfl-list mailing list
Cfl-list@tncampaignforliberty.org
http://lists.tncampaignforliberty.org/mailman/listinfo/cfl-list

Tuesday night was the Putnam County Republican Party's monthly meeting.  I have been attending monthly since February.  The chairman recently died and now we have a new one.  When I went in tonight the new chairman came up to me and introduced himself as they always do.  I showed him my petition, Cap and trade with a Campaign 4 liberty banner at the bottom, and he remembered me from the last meeting, when I had the audit the fed petitions and stop obamacare.  Then he, Mr. Curtis Shinsky, made a strange comment to another executive council member.  "Do you think we can trust Mr. Williams?"(me)  This comment struck me as strange and just flat out rude.  I put it aside and concentrated on getting petitions signed.  I noticed all the unsigned petitions I had left from the last meeting and Points on Traditional Republicanism all of which had Campaign 4 Liberty logos on them had all mysteriously vanished.

Then the meeting started and it was a real bore, just babel about being committed to the republican party.   How we should not run as independents but instead as republicans and be proud of it.  He of course never mentioned what there is to be proud of or what even Republicanism really is.  Then he discussed he latest trip and meeting with Williamson County Republican Party chairman, he was getting advice on motivational and organiztional techniques.  Then he made a few comments that made the earlier one come into greater focus.  He said the the party in Rutherford county is being taken over by Libertarians "They have 3 libertarians on there executive council, and we better watch out because there doing that for a reason".   I bit my tongue and held in my Regan quotes and other comments, you know the one, "In the heart of every Republican is a Libertarian".  I wish i really knew were the disdain for libertarians comes from.  You would think that they would welcome libertarians with open arms since most modern libertarians are just Republicans that don't compromise their principles.  I guess they feel they have enough votes and do not need ours.

This made it all to clear to me that the state leadership is very worried because they are loosing influence and we and others are gaining it.   Especially when some guy an hour and half away mentions it in a meeting, you know that the powers that be are frantic.   Just remember they will not play fair, and watch your back.  Long live the Revolution.

Make it a point some time this year to attend a Democratic meeting on the county level, or an alternate to your regular meeting. See how you are treated as a potential member. See what direction they send you to become more active. Get in there and create some influence.I know that this will make some waves, but we should be reaching out to everyone with our message. And these groups are just as influential a group as your local party meetings. Im not pulling the flop card here, but these desperate times call for desperate measures. How bold will you be??

JBM

TNCFL

A local grass-roots group seeking full disclosure of Federal Reserve loans picked up a 300th petitioner as they rallied Friday in front of U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon's Murfreesboro office.

Woodbury resident Nancy Cox was sitting in her parked car on West Main Street near the Public Square as about 13 Campaign for Liberty members stopped for a reading of a letter to Gordon.

"I'll sign," said Cox, a Democrat who's currently unemployed after leaving a job to help her dying mother, the late Annie Cox, an 86-year-old West Side School teacher until her death in July. "I believe in what they are doing. We need new government, especially when you start saving your pennies, nickels and dimes. All the jobs in Woodbury are going overseas."

About 12 men and one woman delivered 233 petitions in support of House Bill 1207 to the Democratic congressman's West Main Street office in Murfreesboro around noon Friday. The group in late April also delivered 77 petitions, so the new ones push the total to 300.

The documents backing the "Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009" were signed by constituents of Gordon's 6th Congressional District, local Campaign for Liberty coordinator Stephen Parvin said.

Please follow the link below to see Bart Gordons August schedule. Please tell a buddy and bring a friend to these town hall meetings.

http://www.dnj.com/article/20090811/NEWS01/90811045/BREAKING++Gordon+to+hold+town+hall+Monday+in+Murfreesboro

In Liberty,

JBM

One of the first pieces of legislation to see passage this session was a bond bill that approved the funds promised to Volkswagen and Hemlock Semiconductor to move the massive economic development projects forward. The state set an ambitious timeline to move forward, requiring the approval of the General Assembly almost immediately after session began. The bonding provided infrastructure for the megasites where the companies would be located. Analysts say the revenue stream from Volkswagen alone will cover the annual debt service, and exceed it once Hemlock is up and running.

The companies were considered a major coup for the state, and with the announcement later in the year that Wacker Chemical would open in Bradley County, Tennessee saw three major companies relocate some operations in the state in a matter of months.

The three companies together are expected to directly provide about 3,000 jobs total, in addition to countless others in related sectors from vendors and contractors.

Several more measures passed that will have a direct and positive impact on creating jobs in Tennessee:

• The General Assembly this year expanded Tennessee's liquor laws to allow Tennesseans to ship wine directly to their homes, after months of negotiations. The new law stipulates that Tennessee consumers may purchase up to three cases of wine per year through direct shipment from a winery to their home. Wineries will initially have to apply for a $300 license that can be renewed annually for $150. Upon delivery of the wine, proof of legal drinking age must be shown.
  
  The new law has potential to bring a large amount of revenue to the state, and can also create jobs and spur entrepreneurship now that shipping wine is not prohibited. In addition, supporters claim in-state wineries will be more successful, thus creating jobs and generating income for fledgling farms.
• The legislature voted this year to save Tennessee's Unemployment Trust Fund from federal intervention, saying that the move was necessary to keep the federal government from completely taking over the nearly insolvent fund. The fund was approaching insolvency this year after the state unemployment rate jumped to nearly 10 percent, and with the highest unemployment in decades the fund was almost drained of resources.
  
  The plan that eventually passed will ensure the fund remains solvent, and creates a series of automatic triggers that allow unemployment taxes to decrease if the fund's balance reaches a certain threshold.
• The legislature also changed the state's civil service rules this year, giving the Administration more flexibility to manage the economic downturn. The Tennessee State Employees Association worked with members of the General Assembly to iron out the details that protect employees. The new rules allow for innovative changes that can save the state money, such as moving qualified employees between departments to open positions, facilitating furloughs instead of lay-offs, and in some cases, adjusting the work week to four days by extending the hours per day.

Education

House members fought this year to have K-12 fully funded. Despite the difficulties lawmakers faced in regards to the budget, legislators fought to ensure that K-12 public schools would receive full funding based on the state's Basic Education Program funding mechanism.

There are four main components of the new public charter school legislation:

• Eligibility - Currently, public charter school enrollment is limited to failing students and those from failing schools. The legislation permits "at-risk" children to attend public charter schools in those systems that have 14,000 or more students and three or more schools which do not meet adequate yearly progress benchmarks. In addition, school boards can opt by a two-thirds vote to allow students who are deemed "at-risk" to be eligible to attend.
• Caps - Currently, public charter schools are limited to 50 statewide, with a cap of 35 in Memphis and 20 in Metro Nashville. The bill clarifies that converted charter schools do not count against the cap. In addition, the number of charter schools allowed was raised to 90 statewide.
• Renewal process - Currently, the charter agreement between the local school system and the charter school is renewed every five years. This measure would change the renewal period from five to ten years, with an interim report every five years. It also establishes the required documentation needed during the renewal process.
• Funding - Currently, a public charter school receives the per pupil expenditure of state and local dollars. Although it mentions appropriate federal dollars, interpretations vary from one local school system to the next. This legislation defines the state and local charter school facilities' funding responsibilities and clarifies the local school systems must allocate all appropriate federal funds, including Title I funds to the charter schools.

Successful legislation was also sponsored that will give home schoolers equal footing with their public school counterparts. The law requires the state, along with local governments, to recognize home school and church-related diplomas, giving them the same rights and privileges extended to those who earn public school diplomas.

The General Assembly also approved a measure this year that will create the Tennessee Math and Science Teacher Service Loan-Scholarship Program for college students who are seeking licensure to teach mathematics or science in the Tennessee public school system. The first $1.5 million of the program will be funded through private means, and the program won't be implemented until that goal is reached.

In order to be eligible students must score at least a 27 on the ACT, specifically in the fields of mathematics and science. They must enroll as a full-time student, and major in one of the two fields. Finally, students must agree to teach in Tennessee public schools one year for each year of funding from the scholarship. USA Today has reported that a lack of math and science teachers in high school across the country has caused alarm in some school districts. The measure aims to increase the number of math and science teachers in Tennessee public schools, giving Tennessee a competitive edge on the international stage.

House pushes for balanced budget, reigns in government

The budget process got a late start this year after the United States Congress passed a stimulus bill sending nearly $6 billion to Tennessee over two fiscal years. With a constitutional deadline of June 30th, lawmakers reached a consensus on June 17th that eliminated some previously proposed bonding plans and tax increases, which were of concern to some representatives.

In another attempt to slow the rate of spending, members insisted on tightening the requirements regarding supplemental appropriations. Prior to this change, the Administration could ask the General Assembly for an expansion request, also called supplemental appropriations, which are recognized and acknowledged through a signature of the Senate and House Finance Committee Chairmen and sent back to the Administration who dispenses the funds. New language included in the budget bill states that these requests, when made during the legislative session, must also be included in the proposed budget submitted by the Governor.

Republican House and Senate members also inserted a provision that directs the Governor to work with the commissioners of the various state departments to find another $55 million in reductions if tax receipts fall short for the month of June. Overall, the final product of the budget is $35 million less than what the Governor originally proposed and restored some of the funding that was cut from the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Children's Services. The final product did, however, leave intact the Governor's original plan of eliminating 717 state jobs, mostly in the Department of Mental Health, although 200 lay-offs will be delayed until 2010.

Pro-life measure clears first hurdle to appear on ballot in 2014

Senate Joint Resolution 127, the constitutional amendment that will restore the Tennessee Constitution's neutrality on the subject of abortion, overwhelmingly passed both the House and Senate this year. Lawmakers have pushed the amendment to the state's constitution for several years, only to have it die in a subcommittee. The Senate passed the measure with a 24-8 vote, while the House passed it with a 77-21 vote. Legislators have contended that there exists a powerful and pivotal passage in Tennessee's constitution which states that power is inherent to the people, and therefore, Tennesseans should have a say on the matter of abortion, not activist courts.

SJR 127 is in response to the 2001 Tennessee Supreme Court decision in Planned Parenthood v Sundquist, when the court created a right to unregulated abortion, giving Tennessee some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country. The decision also prohibited the Tennessee legislature from enacting common-sense regulations governing abortions that other states are able to enact and still comply with the United States Supreme Court's opinion in Roe v Wade. The constitutional amendment will restore the right of Tennesseans to repeal or enact laws governing abortions within federal limits through their elected representatives.

Having now passed the 106th General Assembly with a simple majority, the measure must now pass the 107th General Assembly by two-thirds before appearing on the ballot, at the earliest, in 2014.

Election

Common-sense voter protection continues to die along party lines Elections Subcommittee

Lawmakers pleased with passage of legislation to combat illegal immigration

A bill that House members have worked on for several years saw passage this year in a bi-partisan manner. A coalition of members pledged to fight for the issue as part of their "Tennessee Trust" platform, unveiled in 2006 as a contract with voters to advance conservative ideals.

The legislation prohibits Tennessee cities from declaring themselves a "sanctuary city," or enacting policies that protect illegal immigrants. The law is meant to be a pre-emptive strike to guard against the adoption of such policies by cities in the state. Thirty-eight cities across the United States have been recognized as sanctuary cities, but many sources have identified over 200 city or county governments nationwide as having practiced such policies.

Legislature expands Second Amendment rights for Tennesseans

Members moved forward this year with several pieces of legislation that aimed at expanding the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans by allowing those licensed by the state to carry firearms in certain places where they were previously prohibited. Tennessee's Constitution guarantees "that the citizens of this State have a right to keep and bear arms."

After being bottled up in a subcommittee for years, firearm legislation moved forward quickly this year in a bi-partisan manner. Representatives passed measures that allow licensed carry permit holders to possess firearms in wildlife refuges, public hunting areas, and wildlife management areas. In addition, licensed carry permit holders will now be permitted to carry firearms in state parks. The General Assembly voted to allow licensed carry permit holders to carry into local parks as well, provided local governments do not "opt-out," which they can do.

Licensed carry permit holders may now also carry into restaurants that serve alcohol, provided they are not consuming alcohol. After a spirited debate, the measure passed overwhelmingly with bi-partisan support. Shortly after lawmakers reached an agreement, however, the Governor vetoed the legislation, stating that "guns and alcohol do not mix."

The General Assembly moved swiftly to override the veto, with legislators responding that the bill prohibited carry permit holders from drinking alcohol and carrying a firearm, much as it was illegal to drink and drive.

Thirty-six states have some form of restaurant carry, including seven of the eight states that border Tennessee. The General Assembly exhaustively debated the subject, with a supermajority determining that legal carry permit holders were responsible individuals who should be able to protect themselves. With both chambers having overridden the Governor's veto, the bill will now become law on July 14, 2009.

Judicial Selection process changes, more transparent with less interest group involvement

The General Assembly this year reformed the selection process for the state's appellate and Tennessee Supreme Court judges. Legislators debated the issue for nearly 16 weeks in the committee system, hearing testimony from dozens of attorneys, former judges, current judges, and scholars. The Judicial Selection Commission, a component of Tennessee's current plan for appointing judges, was set to expire this year.

The legislation passed sets up a new nominating commission with fewer attorney members and less special interest input. Lawmakers indicated they would still pursue a separate measure that would call for a Constitutional Convention to let the people decide whether or not they wanted to elect the judges or opt to continue a system of nomination by a commission, followed by a retention vote from voters.

The following pieces of legislation also saw passage in 2009:

Cracking down meth - The passage of House Bill 284 will make it significantly more difficult to acquire the necessary ingredients used to make methamphetamine. If more than 20 grams of certain items used to make meth are purchased during one month, the manufacture of meth is presumed.

I have just updated the contact datasbase at http://www.BizCardClub.com/ to provide more access:

For the specific committee re S 1261 (Pass Act) use Group Key = "s1261";

All US Senator records now include their committee memberships.

All senators' contact data may be displayed using Group Key = "ussenate".

If a senator is the Chairman, Vice Chairman, or Ranking Member, that committee name will appear in the address 2 line. Also, all committee membership for each senator may be seen by clicking on the 'View Card' ikon/button (a pop-up will...pop-up).

Further, to facilitate the display of any senate committee membership, all the committee names to which he/she belongs have been added to each senator's 'Keywords'.

So, you can simply enter one of the committe-name words/partial-word into the 'Keywords' search entry, e.g. 'agricul' will get you the whole list of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.

(Be sure to also enter the Group Key 'ussenate', as well, otherwise you'll also get results from another entity like from Tennessee.)

Note: As a logged in BizCardClub member, 'do networking' to use the outreach features.

Enjoy........Ron

To All, 

This Friday, June 12th  at 7:30 AM, tune your radio stations to the TJ Network (AM 1390, FM 105.3, or FM 94.3) to hear Rand Paul on the Mike Slater Show. The Slater Radio Program airs weekday mornings from 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM, and Dr. Paul's guest appearance on the show will be a great end to the week. 

The topics discussed on the show will range from the Federal Reserve to inflation to the general economic circumstances in which we find ourselves. Dr. Paul will give not just his assessment of the problems we face but also his proposed solutions to those problems. 

In addition to the radio broadcast, the Mike Slater Show will stream live on wtjs.com. The blog associated with the show often offers detailed recaps of and reactions to each show afterward, so those who miss the airing of the show can check here for information. 

This will be a public appearance unlike many of the others Dr. Paul is making throughout the Bluegrass, and the Rand Paul Campaign encourages all supporters to tune in at 7:30 AM this Friday for an insightful and interesting discussion.

Submitted by Sarah Flannery, Lexington, KY

The article below was written by Stanislav Mishin, a blogger and columnist for the Russian newspaper Pravda.

American capitalism gone with a whimper . . . . .

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather than the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas than the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us (Russia) about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blinds the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox (Russian Orthodox) churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more than another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more than ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?

These men, of course, are not an elected panel but made up of appointees picked from the very financial oligarchs and their henchmen who are now gorging themselves on trillions of American dollars, in one bailout after another. They are also usurping the rights, duties and powers of the American congress (parliament). Again, congress has put up little more then a whimper to their masters.

Then came Barack Obama's command that GM's (General Motor) president step down from leadership of his company. That is correct, dear reader, in the land of "pure" free markets, the American president now has the power, the self given power, to fire CEOs and we can assume other employees of private companies, at will. Come hither, go dither, the centurion commands his minions.

So it should be no surprise that the American president has followed this up with a "bold" move of declaring that he and another group of unelected, chosen stooges will now redesign the entire automotive industry and will even be the guarantee of automobile policies. I am sure that if given the chance, they would happily try and redesign it for the whole of the world, too. Prime Minister Putin, less then two months ago, warned Obama and UK's Blair, not to follow the path to Marxism, it only leads to disaster. Apparently, even though we suffered 70 years of this Western sponsored horror show, we know nothing, as foolish, drunken Russians, so let our "wise" Anglo-Saxon fools find out the folly of their own pride.

Again, the American public has taken this with barely a whimper...but a "freeman" whimper.

So, should it be any surprise to discover that the Democratically controlled Congress of America is working on passing a new regulation that would give the American Treasury department the power to set "fair" maximum salaries, evaluate performance and control how private companies give out pay raises and bonuses? Senator Barney Franks, a social pervert basking in his homosexuality (of course, amongst the modern, enlightened American societal norm, as well as that of the general West, homosexuality is not only not a looked down upon life choice, but is often praised as a virtue) and his Marxist enlightenment, has led this effort. He stresses that this only affects companies that receive government monies, but it is retroactive and taken to a logical extreme, this would include any company or industry that has ever received a tax break or incentive.

The Russian owners of American companies and industries should look thoughtfully at this and the option of closing their facilities down and fleeing the land of the Red as fast as possible. In other words, divest while there is still value left.

The proud American will go down into his slavery with out a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker.

Stanislav Mishin