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Appreciation for the Tennessee Three
Thanks to the “Tennessee Three,” the nation, indeed much of the world, now has seen the mendacity and racism lurking just beneath the surface of our Tennessee legislature’s Republican supermajority. Like many, I watched in horror, but not surprise, as our legislators voted to expel two young, Black, eloquent representatives of the people — using a […]
A grim theory on how we get gun safety laws
Nashville-based writers on this site already have written movingly about the tragic gun crime at Covenant School, yet another school shooting — this one took the lives of three children and three adults. Let me add this perspective from only a modest distance away, my adopted home of Knoxville is less than a 3-hour drive […]
Being a fabulist is far from fabulous
One definition of a fabulist is a serial liar (the other is an Aesop-like creator of fables). Being a liar fabulist is about as far away as one can get from being fabulous. Thus, we come to the case of newly elected Tennessee U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, chief beneficiary of Nashville-area gerrymandering. NewsChannel5 in Nashville […]
Commentary: Tennessee must reject Santorum slights on Native Americans
Another Rick Santorum outrageous statement came and went last month, flushed away like so many of his words. His claim, however, merits reaction and debunking in many spots, notably here in Tennessee. The former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania turned CNN commentator, speaking at a Young America’s Foundation event, pontificated about America. “We came here and […]
Commentary: Time to enter failing grades for the legislature
This is the time of the semester when I am busy entering final grades, but our state legislature, by its curious combination of ineptitude and mendacity, has forced me to enter grades for it as well. Our state continues to flunk math by refusing to expand Medicaid, throwing away billions for health coverage of our […]
Commentary: Keep a keen eye on sheriff departments
Sheriff departments are a lot more than law enforcement agencies, especially in Tennessee. In our counties, the sheriff is an elected position—the chief jailer of our lockup, a major employer, and leader of a political power base. Several recent events in my home county, Knox, offer good case studies on why careful press and public […]
Commentary: Legislature should not hide dark money from us
Sometimes legislation bears little hint of its actual effect and significance. Take the case of House Bill 0159 and its companion Senate Bill 1608 each currently working its way through our state legislature. The sponsors, Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, and Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, call it the Personal Privacy Protection Act, but a better name […]
Commentary: March Madness in Legislatures
March Madness isn’t just the nickname of a basketball tournament. We’re now smack in the middle of the crazy season on both the U.S. Capitol Hill and in our state legislature—as Tennessee Republicans do battle, not really with Democrats but more with objective reality. Peak lunacy came late last week when Tennessee congressman John Rose […]
Commentary: How “Niceley” to Advocate Nonsense
Few legislators are as unintentionally funny as Tennessee’s Frank Niceley. He’s a farmer from Strawberry Plains whose state senate district sprawls across Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties. The Republican Niceley was elected to the state house in 2004 and moved up to the State Senate after the 2012 election. His career has […]
Commentary: Burchett Grandstands on Term Limits
In his latest constituent newsletter, East Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett brags about his co-sponsorship of House Joint Resolution 12, a proposed constitutional amendment for term limits. He is joined in this effort by U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, a freshman representing District 1 at the eastern end of our state. Regardless of one’s opinion of term […]
Commentary: How Gloria Johnson’s Hallway Desk Came to Be
State Rep. Gloria Johnson’s desk last week was in a hallway in the Cordell Hull legislative building in Nashville. It was there because Johnson was given an awful office assignment by Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville —allegedly revenge for Johnson being the sole vote against him for speaker. The former small-group conference room is tiny and […]
Column: Legislative Webinar becomes Shadow Government
On Saturday, Knoxville Professional Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists and the League of Women Voters of Knoxville – Knox County collaborated on a “legislative webinar,” coming at the close of the special state legislature session on education and at the opening of the regular session. It quickly devolved into an exercise in “Shadow Government” […]