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Kent Coleman Stands Up For Teachers Against All Odds

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

h49_sidebar-1Here’s how Rutherford County’s delegation voted when it came to tying teachers’ jobs to factors beyond their control: Kent Coleman (D) - NO, Joe Carr (R) - YES, Donna Rowland (R) - YES, Bill Ketron (R) - YES, Jim Tracy (R) -YES.

Last week’s Special Session called by Governor Bredesen to overhaul Tennessee’s education system was a locomotive speeding towards passage that even Superman could not have stopped. This massive legislation was debated in committees for a single day, and passed on the Senate and House floor the next.

Every Republican Representative voted to seek stimulus cash through federal Race To The Top grants, and our Democratic Governor and Democratic Caucuses backed the measure as well even though it meant adopting federal guidelines tying teachers’ performance to mere test scores . Only a handful of Democrats (8 to be exact) were willing to stand up for teachers and say ‘NO’ to a governor of their own Party and their own caucus leadership.

Our own Rep. Kent Coleman was the only Rutherford County legislator to stand on principle and stand up for teachers when it came time to vote, even though he knew he was also standing right in front of a speeding locomotive. It took the courage of Superman to rise and say this on the House floor last Friday night:

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Posted in ARRA, Education, Legislation, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) | No Comments »

Guns In Bars Shot Down, Ruled Unconstitutional

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

guns-booze-296x300Republicans controlled this year’s session of the Tennessee legislature for the first time since reconstruction (1870’s). They took over in a time of unprecedented economic hardship and sagging revenues, adding up to a budget mess that required quick action. What did republicans do with their newfound leadership opportunities? They plugged the budget holes with the very stimulus money they protested, passed “Guns in Bars”, and headed home with their pockets full of per diem checks.

All the while, far right Tennessee Republicans made impassioned speeches about “following the Constitution”, the evils of the stimulus package (yet spent it to plug budget holes), and “limited government”. They even formed a committee to study secession.

Now a Chancery Judge has ruled that the “Guns in Bars” law is unconstitutionally vague, citing that it is problematic for police and small business owners (you know, the ones republicans claim to protect). Following the Constitution to the letter is the one thing all republicans pride themselves in and espouse constantly. This year, when they finally took power for the first time since reconstruction, they couldn’t even do that. The City Paper has the story

In her ruling, [Chancellor] Bonnyman agreed the law was too vague and “does violate the due process rights of the public in general and plaintiff gun permit holders.” The chancellor based her decision on the fact that permit holders cannot determine whether or not they are in violation of the law.

“The principle business being conducted cannot be known to the ordinary citizen,” Bonnyman said. “Inquiry would not be satisfactory or helpful.”

It’s not clear whether or not the Attorney General will appeal the ruling, which effectively eliminated the statute from the law. The legislature is likely to address a new version of the bill in the next session but it is unclear whether or not a guns-in-bar provision will see the same support.

Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas spoke out in support of Bonnyman’s decision, and said his one concern he had was that the ruling would allow the issue to “again take center stage during the next legislative session instead of the vitally important issue of keeping convicted felons behind bars.”

Posted in ARRA, Budget, Business, Crime, Economy, Guns, Legislation, Public Safety, Radical Republicans, Rep. Brian Kelsey (R-83), Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Rep. Stacey Campfield, Republican leaders, Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16), Small Business, Tax and Spend Republicans, Tea Parties | No Comments »

They lost the confidence of Americans after 8 years of failed policy

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

And now they’re back. They don’t want Nissan to have $1.6 billion in government auto loans to hire 1,000 workers to build the electric car of the future. They don’t want local construction companies bidding on local ARRA road projects to have a dime of their tax money. They don’t want enhanced health care for our veterans. They don’t want extended jobless benefits for our county’s growing unemployed or the millions being invested in our roads and schools.

What they want is to keep the status quo for the insurance companies because that’s worked so well for our families. Oh yeah, and they want to see the President’s birth certificate. That about sums up their plan to lift us out of their 8 years of failed ideas and policies.

Posted in ARRA, Health care, Rutherford County Republican Party, Watchdog Alert | No Comments »

Murfreesboro Tea Party organizer has over $80,000 in tax liens

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Yet another local Tea Party organizer in Middle Tennessee is exposed for not paying taxes.

(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.) - Christian Hidaglo hates paying taxes. He hates them so much he organizes local Republicans to protest paying them in what they call Tea Parties. Now documents show the Tea Party organizer owes over $80,000 in state and federal tax liens stretching over a 10-year period.

For several years, Hidalgo has not paid portions of both state and federal taxes, forcing both the state and federal government to spend time and resources to issue several liens against his property and assets. Government authorities can seize property and assets of individuals with liens for unpaid taxes.

Where he intends to get the money he owes our government is anyone’s guess, but you can calculate below what your share of his slack will be if he decides to leave you and me on the hook:

Click ( page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4 ) to view the state and federal tax liens against Murfreesboro Tea Party Organizer Christian Hidalgo.

At Tea Party protests organized by Hidalgo, protesters are encouraged to demand the government give back tax money their own leader never bothered to pay in the first place. Hidalgo actually has the nerve to claim to support our troops in a time of war, while blatantly denying them his share that pays for their security and their health care. And his protest doesn’t end there.

Hidalgo readily admits on his Murfreesboro business’s website that he has “no formal business education.” What his clients don’t know is that their businesses help fund and share a server with a website run by Hidalgo that operates in violation of federal election law.

The website, DumpBartGordon.com, is registered to Christian Hidalgo and is hosted on the same Navigation Advertising server that some of his company’s clients share, exposing respected local companies to legal risk. Federal rules explicitly state guidelines for websites that target individual candidates for federal office, including rules for individual and corporate involvement.

Hidalgo is the second local Tea Party organizer to have been found not paying taxes. National Tea Party organizer and Williamson County Republican Michael Patrick Leahy was recently exposed as having over $100,000 in tax liens and court ordered judgements against him.

Posted in ARRA, Taxes, Watchdog Alert | 19 Comments »

Rutherford County Tea Party protesters out numbered 10-1 by healthcare reform advocates

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Last Friday was the fourth time Rutherford County’s anti-government Tea Party Republicans took to the streets to protest. Republicans oppose federal stimulus spending aimed at turning around the Bush recession that started in December 2007.

But this time, Tea Party Republicans were out numbered 10 to 1 by Rutherford County voters supporting health care reform.

Rutherford County Republican Tea Party organizer Christian Hidalgo of Navigation Advertising told protesters to show up in front of Rep. Bart Gordon’s (D-6) office last week, but then never bothered to show up himself.

It takes a lot of courage to stand on the street and publicly protest paying your taxes, reforming healthcare, enhanced healthcare for Rutherford County’s veterans, Nissan’s $1.6 billion government loan creating 1,000 new jobs of the future and the millions of dollars now being spent in our schools, roads, and extended unemployment benefits. It’s not surprising that Hidalgo hid in his office the entire time.

When voters reflect on how our nation addressed the deep Bush recession, they will see one party who acted swiftly with change that works and one party that protested every effort and yearned for four more years of the same failed policies.

Posted in ARRA, Economy, Rutherford County Republican Party, Taxes | No Comments »

Thousands of jobs coming to Rutherford County

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Over the past few months several job creation announcements for working families of Rutherford County have given us a glimmer of hope in a recovering economic recession that began in the first part of 2008.

Thanks to a $1.6 billion federal government loan to Nissan, 1,000 workers will be hired and help position Tennessee as a leader in a green auto revolution. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, construction firms are bidding on three shovel-ready road projects, and millions more is being spent to retrain workers for these jobs of the future.

The latest is an announcement from Washington-based NCS Power that 2,000 green energy jobs will soon come to Rutherford County from their factories in China. It’s news worth celebrating, but some people aren’t happy.

Rutherford County’s Tea Party Republicans have taken to the streets 3 times in the last 3 months protesting the tax revenues spent creating these new jobs. They also protested the very incentives being provided companies to relocate manufacturing jobs here in the United States.

What’s worse are Republicans like Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) and Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) gleefully taking credit for those jobs.

“We’re going to relight Middle Tennessee,” said Ketron, who was involved with some of the discussions involving the LED business partnerships. “Tennessee is poised to be the alternative energy capital of the world.”

Ketron attended the press conference along with state Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey.

Companies like NCS Power had strong economic incentives to ship jobs to China throughout President Bush’s 8 years in office. Now months into the Obama Administration those incentives are changing, and NCS Power now sees strong incentives to move 2,000 jobs back to Murfreesboro, TN.

The fact is county Republicans have gone out of their way to oppose changes that help working families. Rep. Carr authored a bill this year demanding Gov. Phil Bredesen reject stimulus funds that extended unemployment benefits for our county’s growing unemployed as well as funds to retrain workers for these new jobs of the future.

Senators Ketron, Tracy and other county Republicans wanted four more years of Bush’s failed economic policy and years more of the results from which we’re slowly recovering.

When Nissan begins hiring 1,000 Rutherford County residents due to the massive government backed auto loan they protested, expect Sen. Ketron, Sen. Tracy and Rep. Carr to pray to God that you’ve forgotten their vocal opposition to those jobs as they gleefully take credit for the hard work it took to bring them here.

Posted in ARRA, Business, Economy, Jobs, Legislation, Taxes | No Comments »

Gordon: Rural Broadband Internet Access, Essential

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

bartgordonWASHINGTON – As broadband internet access becomes an increasingly important component of the global economy, many rural communities throughout Tennessee and around the United States lack sufficient access. Congressman Bart Gordon recently called upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency developing a national broadband internet plan, to ensure that broadband access is extended to rural communities.

Gordon, along with members of the Congressional Rural Caucus, sent a letter to Michael Copps, Acting-Chairman of the FCC, stating, “The lack of broadband access for…private and public sectors have far-reaching consequences to our rural communities…it reduces their opportunities for employment, reduces their quality of life, and stifles their potential for economic development.”

A recent survey found that 64% of Tennessee residents living in urban areas have broadband internet service compared to only 37% of those living in rural communities.

“Broadband internet access throughout Tennessee and our country is essential to maintaining America’s competitiveness in the global economy,” added Gordon. “The national plan being devised by the FCC must connect the whole country and place particular attention on rural communities that are difficult to reach.”

Congress recently provided funds to the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and the Rural Utilities Service with the express purpose of expanding broadband throughout the country. To ensure that this and future broadband funding is spent effectively, Congress required the FCC to devise a national broadband plan.

In 1996, Congress passed a law that created the Universal Service Fund (USF), which has been instrumental in bringing phone service to nearly every American. The letter sent by Gordon and his colleagues concluded by stating, “broadband should be a supported [USF] service and special efforts should be made…to achieve the final goal of universal service.”

Posted in ARRA, Economy, Education, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | No Comments »

Republicans plan protest against extended jobless benefits as county unemployment reaches 10.3%

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

rcdpjobsJust as a growing number of Rutherford County families are feeling the brunt of significant job loses, Rutherford County Republicans are very busy planning yet another “tea party” to protest the help we need from the federal government.

County Republicans will take to the streets July 10 in Murfreesboro to protest an extension of unemployment benefits for the county’s 10.3% unemployed residents. The federal help is provided in President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

It’s worth reminding the voters of Rutherford County of Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-48) role in drafting legislation demanding Gov. Bredesen deny the extended unemployment benefits.

On July 10, Rutherford County Republicans will also loudly protest $1.6 billion in government loans to Nissan, $13.9 million for Rutherford County schools, enhanced health care for Rutherford County’s veterans, funding for three road projects in our county, and $30 million to retrain dislocated and low-income workers.

Learn more about the funded projects in Tennessee that Rutherford County Republicans will be protesting July 10.

Posted in ARRA, Economy, Events, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Rutherford County Republican Party, Taxes | No Comments »

Congressman Bart Gordon Announces $250 Payments to Middle Tennessee Veterans, Seniors, and Disabled

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

bartgordonBy the end of this month, Middle Tennessee retirees, disabled individuals, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration, disabled veterans receiving benefits from the Veterans Affairs Department, and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries will get a one-time $250 supplemental payment.

“This payment is meant to help reduce the pain felt by these individuals as a result of the current economic climate,” said Congressman Bart Gordon.

The $250 payment is automatic and there are no applications to complete, no emails to respond to and no fees to pay. If two people are on Social Security in the same home, both will receive the supplemental payment. If a person is involved in more than one program, like Social Security and SSI, unfortunately, you will only receive one payment.

“I realize times are hard for many people. The $250 one-time payment is a positive step, but more needs to be done,” added Gordon. “Know that now, more than ever, I’m committed to keeping Social Security strong and making health care more affordable.”

If you haven’t received your payment by June 4th, contact the Social Security Administration’s local office in Nashville at 615-781-5803 or toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.

Posted in ARRA, Economy, FYI, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | No Comments »

Murfreesboro’s tea party movement fizzles

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

cryladyBarely 20 people showed up today for an anti-government protest organized by Rutherford County Republicans. The protest took place on a short stretch of sidewalk in Murfreesboro, TN.

Michael Patrick Leahy, a prominent Williamson County Republican and national tea party organizer, was scheduled to speak at the protest but was a no show just as we predicted he would be.

Leahy was recently exposed by a blogger for having over $100,000 in unpaid tax liens and civil judgments against him over the past 16 years. Leahy has virtually disappeared since our reporting. Leahy is now suing the blogger.

Today’s “instant tea party” was held barely weeks after hundreds of Rutherford County Republicans stood on the square protesting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The federal stimulus funds they protested enhanced health benefits our hereos deserve, invested $13.9 million in our county schools, extended unemployment benefits for our county’s growing unemployed as well as $30 million to retrain dislocated and low-income workers.

Also Read:

Posted in ARRA, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Taxes | 8 Comments »

Rutherford and Williamson County tea party organizer owed thousands for unpaid taxes

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

angry leahyA prominent Middle Tennessee Republican and tea party organizer has filed a lawsuit against a blogger for revealing his tax troubles.

Nationwide Tea Party Coalition co-founder and Williamson County Republican Michael Patrick Leahy filed a libel lawsuit naming Stephanie Grasmick and challenging her claim that Leahy committed “tax fraud.”

Documents posted at Teablogging show tens of thousands of dollars in tax liens and civil and small claims judgments against Leahy. On Twitter, Leahy admitted hours ago that “tax liens is an accurate statement,” but took issue with claims that he has committed tax fraud.

Leahy is a prominent figure in a national conservative movement to protest taxes. One of his tea parties organized Rutherford County Republicans to protest taxes and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Leahy was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Committee as an at-large delegate from the State of Tennessee. Leahy currently hosts two programs on Pajamas TV: TCOTonPJTV and The Tea Party Coalition Show. You can read more of his accomplishments on his website.

Leahy describes himself as your average Republican who happens to hate taxes a lot. He travels to and from his Thompson’s Station home on the very public roads other people’s taxes pay for. He and his family is protected by tax-funded police and emergency personnel who save lives with less and less, yet documents show Leahy hates taxes so much that liens had to be placed against him for unpaid taxes.

Michael Patrick Leahy was Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person In The World.”

America is the greatest country on Earth, and we owe our gratitude to those who pay their share in blood and treasure to make it that way, but some people here in Middle Tennessee feel that price is better paid by others while they reap the benefits. Rutherford County Republicans registered their complaints by protesting enhanced health benefits our hereos deserve, spending $13.9 million in stimulus money in Rutherford County schools, extending unemployment benefits for Rutherford County’s growing unemployed as well as $30 million to retrain dislocated and low-income workers.

After eight long years of disastrous conservative economic policies that led to record deficit spending, unprecedented government expansion and a deepening recession, it’s time Republicans start being part of the solution instead of continuing to be part of the problem.

The Rutherford County Republican Party has invited Leahy to speak at an “instant tea party for Bart Gordon” scheduled for Thursday May 21.

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Posted in ARRA, Economy, Rutherford County Republican Party, Taxes | 6 Comments »

Stimulus money creates jobs in Rutherford County

Monday, May 11th, 2009

constructzonePresident Barack Obama’s stimulus funds are creating jobs for Rutherford County families in Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) and Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-48) districts.

Bids are currently being accepted for three road projects in Rutherford County that total roughly $3.5 million dollars.

Rutherford County Republicans recently took to the square in Murfreesboro by the hundreds protesting stimulus spending. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act they protested also provides $13.9 million for Rutherford County schools, enhances health care for veterans, extends unemployment benefits for Rutherford County’s growing unemployed and provides $30 million to retrain dislocated and low-income workers.

Rep. Joe Carr went as far as demanding Gov. Phil Bredesen refuse stimulus funds that extend unemployment benefits.

Despite Republican protests, several construction companies are now placing bids to spend the stimulus funds and create jobs for Rutherford County families. Below is a list of the stimulus funded road projects in our county and the current company bids being considered by the state.

View the complete list of stimulus funded TDOT projects by county, current bids and the companies bidding to spend it. Click here to look at what stimulus money is funding in Tennessee.

1) CONSTRUCTION OF 2 CONCRETE BOX BRIDGES ON SR 102 (ALMAVILLE ROAD) OVER MAXWELL CREEK (LM 1.89) AND ROCKY FORK CREEK (LM 5.31)

  • BROWN BUILDERS, INC. $1,694,385.65
  • GENERAL CONSTRUCTORS, INC. $1,794,725.10
  • ROAD BUILDERS, LLC $1,812,762.08
  • W. L. HAILEY AND COMPANY, INC. $1,863,125.04

2) RESURFACING ON US 41(SR 2) FROM NORTH OF RUTHERFORD BLVD. (LM 1.80) TO EPPS MILL ROAD (LM 8.60)

  • HOOVER, INC. $997,594.70
  • LOJAC ENTERPRISES, INC. $1,128,503.00
  • HMA CONTRACTORS, LLC $1,149,665.60

3) THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NOISE WALL ON I-24 FROM EAST OF SR 96 TO THE STONES RIVER

  • BROWN BUILDERS, INC. $671,989.40
  • ROGERS GROUP, INC. $682,504.05
  • W. L. HAILEY AND COMPANY, INC. $731,885.00
  • BELL & ASSOCIATES CONSTRUCTION, L.P. $794,506.54
  • DEMENT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC $944,148.60

Posted in ARRA, Economy, Jobs, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Rutherford County Republican Party, Taxes, Veterans | 1 Comment »

Rep. Donna Rowland’s boyfriend folds under pressure

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

ctbsplit

According to a Daily News Journal report, Rutherford County gun manufacturer Ronnie Barrett says he’ll now reject a worker training grant he applied for from the state.

Last week Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) and Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) rushed to the media and were quoted commending Gov. Bredesen for making the stimulus grant to Barrett Firearms.

“I commend Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Neeley for awarding this grant in Rutherford County,” state Sen. Jim Tracey, R-Shelbyville, said.

“The Incumbent Worker Grants are a good tool to keep employers and workers up to date on the latest skills training,” state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, said.

The surprising support from Rep. Carr and Sen. Tracy for this spending came days after hundreds of angry Rutherford County Republicans took to the streets of Murfreesboro to protest the $30 million in federal stimulus funds used in Tennessee to retrain workers.

In a flip-flop follow up, Barrett has refused the grant he himself applied for saying he now doesn’t want any part of stimulus money that Rep. Carr and Sen. Tracy said they’re happy to see spent in Rutherford County.

Barrett likened the grants to federal stimulus funds.

“Stimulus money doesn’t exist,” Barrett said. “That’s national debt that goes to our great-grandchilden, and I don’t want any part of it.”

Friday on WGNS 1450 AM, both Rep. Carr and Sen. Tracy again praised and defended spending stimulus funds that Rutherford County Republicans protested on April 15.

Barrett’s principled change of heart makes you wonder how Rep. Carr and Sen. Tracy can protest stimulus funds one week and praise spending them the next. Barrett is a major donor to Rutherford County Republicans and the boyfriend of Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34).

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Posted in ARRA, Business, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16), Taxes | 8 Comments »

As unemployment rises, Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) dithers

Friday, April 24th, 2009

The Daily News Journal reports this morning that unemployment numbers are slightly up.

As the economy continues to straighten itself out, unemployment numbers continue to rise, but at a much slower rate. Rutherford County experienced a very slight increase in unemployment for March — 9.2 percent to 9.3 percent — an increase of .1 percentage point from February.

That news didn’t seem to phase Rutherford County Republicans Rep. Joe Carr and Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) this morning on 1450 WGNS.

When a caller asked Rep. Carr to explain why he is wasting time on a bill that demands Gov. Bredesen deny extended unemployment benefits to the growing number of unemployed in Carr’s district, both he and Sen. Tracy said they felt like that money should be returned to President Obama instead of put in the hands of Rutherford County’s unemployed.

Go read more about Rep. Joe Carr’s bill to deny extending unemployment benefits to Rutherford County’s unemployed.

Posted in ARRA, Jobs, Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) | No Comments »

What are these people protesting?

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

That’s what Wonkette is now asking the nation in her post “Inspirational Teabagging Video Will Convert You To Whatever This Cause May Be.”

“Magic prize goes to anybody who can figure out what these people are even protesting.”

We know what they were protesting. They were protesting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). They were protesting ARRA spending that invests $13.9 million in Rutherford County and Murfreesboro schools.

They protested the ARRA tax cuts for 95% of Rutherford County’s working families. They protested extended unemployment benefits and $30 million for worker retraining programs. They protested ARRA enhanced health care benefits for our county’s heros who served our country and who deserve the care they need.

They protested everything this country needs to move on from 8 years of failed economic policy.

You can read more about what the ARRA is funding in Tennessee here.

Posted in ARRA, Rutherford County Republican Party, Taxes | 1 Comment »

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