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Rutherford County Republicans flip flop on stimulus spending

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

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Today’s Daily News Journal reports that major donor to Tennessee Republicans and gun manufacturer Ronnie Barrett has received a grant from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

That might sound a little strange to you considering the Rutherford County Republican Party recently held a “tea party” with hundreds of Republicans protesting government spending these very funds. Rutherford County Republican Party Vice Chair Lou Ann Zelenik went so far as calling ARRA funds “socialism.”

Just days after Rutherford County Republicans demanded Gov. Bredesen return the money back to the federal government, Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) and Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) are praising our state’s use of the money.

The state has awarded Barrett Firearms Manufacturing in Christiana a $4,975 job-training grant, according to a news release.

This grant will provide training to five employees in continuous improvement, value chain strategies, tools and tactics.

“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.

It’s beyond ironic that Rep. Carr is the lead sponsor of a bill demanding Gov. Bredesen reject spending these funds while at the same time talks about how important the money is for the very program that now helps a major donor.

How can Rutherford County Republicans protest spending this money out of one side of their mouths last week and then praise spending this money this week? Maybe when the money finds its way into the hands of a major donor to Tennessee Republicans that’s when so-called socialism is to be “commended” as Sen. Tracy did today.

Click here to see what else the ARRA funds throughout Tennessee.

Tags: ARRA, Barrett, Carr, RCRP, Tracy, Zelenik
Posted in ARRA, Gov. Phil Bredesen, Jobs, Legislation, RCDP, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-16) | 2 Comments »

Rutherford County’s unemployed and low-income workers get help

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

If Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) gets his way, thousands of unemployed Rutherford County residents will not get an extension of their unemployment benefits in some of the hardest times many have ever experienced in Middle Tennessee. Rep. Carr is sponsoring a bill to reject the stimulus funds. The extension of unemployment benefits is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Today’s Daily News Journal reports that Tennessee will also receive over $30 million to retrain dislocated or low-income workers through the ARRA. You can learn more about what the ARRA federal stimulus is funding here in Tennessee.

“The training, particularly in emerging occupations, that will be provided with these Recovery Act funds will help prepare unemployed Tennesseans for new jobs at a time when that’s more important than ever,” Bredesen said.

The funding is anticipated to increase participation of the dislocated worker program by more than 1,300, which is 40 percent, over the number of individuals who received training services last year.

Adult services are expected to increase by approximately 2,000 slots, or 20 percent, over last year.

“Being out of work is especially difficult in this economic environment,” Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development James Neeley said. “Many laid-off workers and adults haven’t had to worry about updating their skills for years, and this Recovery Act funding provides an opportunity to do just that.”

The Rutherford County Republican Party took to the streets by the hundreds April 15 to protest this much needed help after eight long years of failed economic policy, unprecedented government expansion and out of control spending that resulted in a recession.

Republicans also protested the millions of dollars to be spent on Rutherford County and Murfreesboro schools as well as enhanced benefits for Rutherford County veterans.

Tags: Joe Carr, RCDP, tea party
Posted in Economy, Education, Gov. Phil Bredesen, Jobs, RCDP, Taxes, Veterans | No Comments »

Federal stimulus invests $13.9 million in Rutherford County and Murfreesboro schools

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

The DNJ reports that $13.9 million of federal stimulus funds will go to Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City school systems. The stimulus funds come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that Rutherford County Republicans took to the streets by the hundreds to protest on April 15.

Tea Parties across the state protested federal stimulus spending provided by the ARRA that also enhanced needed health care benefits for our county’s veterans and extends unemployment benefits for our county’s unemployed. Rutherford County Republican Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) is currently sponsoring a bill to reject ARRA funded extensions to unemployment benefits.

You can learn more about what the ARRA federal stimulus is funding here in Tennessee.

Title I schools are given that designation based on the number of low-income children enrolled.

City Schools will receive roughly $820,000, and County Schools will get $2.7 million to serve low-income students. The funds will be split in half and distributed in two allocations over the next year.

School districts must apply for the funds and the state department will post on its Web site how each district uses the funds.

Possible uses include summer school, year-long teaching training for Title I schools or parent training.

Earlier this month, funds for students with disabilities were released. City Schools was allotted $1.9 million and Rutherford County Schools received $8.7 million. A portion of the funds will go toward serving pre-K students.

City Schools plans to invest much of the funds allotted for students with disabilities in teacher training.

The district may purchase assisted teaching devices and expand its Extended School Program’s summer program and include a segment for parents, said Gary Anderson, finance and administrative services director.

Posted in Education, Legislation, RCDP, Taxes | No Comments »

Come Grow With Us! May 12 fundraiser announced

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

Join us May 12th for dinner with our guests State Party Chairman Chip Forrester and Senator Andy Berke of Chattanooga as well as our newly elected Rutherford County Democratic Party officers.

This is a chance for any and all to meet the future of our Party in Tennessee! Senator Berke, elected in 2006 at the age of 38, was once a student of Barack Obama at the University of Chicago Law School, and is whispered to be a candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2010. So come on out and meet the future of our great Party!

Dinner will be provided, and tickets are only $15. You can purchase your tickets online here or by clicking the orange button on the right sidebar at anytime. Be sure to check the RCDP calendar for a map and for other future opportunities to join your fellow Rutherford County Democrats.

When - Tuesday May 12, 6:30-8:30pm
Where - Lions Clubhouse at Cannonsburg, 407 Hickerson Dr., Murfreesboro, TN (view a map)
Questions - Please email wilrofie@aol.com or call (615) 796-1472.

Posted in Events, Fundraising, RCDP, TNDP | No Comments »

10 for ‘10: help move Rutherford County forward

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

We now have a way for you to contribute to the Rutherford County Democratic Party. As the new officers look ahead at ways to continue building our party, your help is needed more than ever.

Newly elected RCDP Treasurer Matthew Smitty challenged Rutherford County Democrats on Saturday to step up and give “10 for 10.”

That’s just $10 a month until the 2010 elections. You can do that right now through RCDP’s ActBlue account. This is also linked on the right. ActBlue is secure and is used by campaigns across the nation, including the Tennessee Democratic party.

Thank you for moving Rutherford County forward.

Posted in Democratic Party, Education, Fundraising, RCDP | No Comments »

Rutherford County - the birth place of the Democratic Party

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

Rutherford County Democrats came out to the court house on the square in Murfreesboro Saturday to elect new county party leadership and executive members.

You can watch clips from the meeting here.

It was almost standing room only as Democrats filled nearly every seat. The candidates for RCDP officers ran unopposed and were elected with a vote by acclimation.

In the video, newly elected RCDP Chair Jonathon Fagan tells the story of the birth of today’s Democratic party that took place in August of 1822 just blocks from where Rutherford County Democrats met. At the time, the Tennessee legislature convened on Vine Street in Murfreesboro, TN. The Tennessee legislature nominated Andrew Jackson for President. Jackson became the first candidate to declare he was a Democrat, and it happened in Rutherford County.

Below is a list of our county party’s new officers:

Chairman - Jonathon Fagan
First Vice Chairman - Lee Campbell
Second Vice Chairman - Chantho Sourinho
Corresponding Secretary - William Fields
Recording Secretary - Pat McFadden
Treasurer - Matthew Smitty

Posted in Democratic Party, RCDP | 2 Comments »