Archive for the ‘Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34)’ Category

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Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) deemed most expensive legislator

Friday, May 1st, 2009

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Republican blogger Matthew Hurtt reports today that Rep. Donna Rowland (R-13) is the most expensive legislator in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

If the cost is roughly $800, as Representative Rowland notes, then one might ask why she has sponsored more than $113,000 worth of “pats on the back” since she was first elected to the General Assembly. In her class (those who were elected in the same cycle), no other member even comes close to the number of memorializng resolutions filed as those sponsored by Representative Rowland. It should be noted, too, that I only took into account those resolutions where the member was the prime sponsor, and I did not even consider wading through the mess of co-prime sponsors and even final votes on a given resolution. The costs are in the untold hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So, breaking it down for my readers, here’s the list - reorganized - from most expensive legislator to least expensive, according to the number of memorializing resolutions sponsored between the 102nd and 106th General Assemblies:

* Representative Donna Rowland - $113,600
* Representative David Shepard - $78,400
* Representative Glen Casada - $64,000
* Representative Mike Turner - $20,000
* Representative Johnny Shaw - $18,400

Crunching the numbers, Representative Rowland has spent an average of $35,000 more than the next-most expensive legislator elected in the same cycle. The range - the space between the most expensive and least expensive - is $95,200. The AVERAGE cost here is $58,880 - with Representative Rowland’s fiscal request costing $55,000 more than that!

Hurtt’s report comes a day after Rep. Rowland issued a press release defending her voting record.

Rep. Rowland tried to explain why she refuses to vote for most resolutions that honor the achievements of our children, our heroes and our community leaders. Her release has instead brought more bi-partisan scrutiny of her voting record.

Posted in Legislation, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Taxes | 6 Comments »

Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) defends her (lack of a) voting record

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) issued a press release today defending her voting record after a report last week found Rep. Rowland voted “present” 82% of the time.

Though she stood in the well and sponsored a resolution to honor Rogers Group Inc. and Realtors of the Year, she says the resolutions are “frivoulous”. In the release, Rep. Rowland described her “present” vote on most resolutions as a protest to what she describes as the House wasting time and money.

“As a steward of taxpayer money, it is important for us to recognize the tremendous amount of money we are spending on these resolutions,” said Rep. Rowland. “While I understand that sometimes we have outstanding individuals in our districts who deserve to be recognized, this has gotten out of control. These little things add up,” she added.

Below is a sample of “these little things” Rep. Rowland feels add up to wasted time and money at the Tennessee Legislature. Rep. Rowland would not vote for or against these resolutions despite being present on the floor of the House. The honors she protested include academic and sports achievements of our children, community leaders, and our state’s hereos.

Instead of voting for resolutions that honor her campaign contributors and calling everything else frivolous “little things”, Ms. Rowland should spare her constituents the hypocrisy and recognize their achievements. These are not “little things” to many families in Rutherford County and across the state of Tennessee. These are milestones in the lives of our children and our families. These are in memory of our state’s heroes who fought for our country. These people deserve Rep. Rowland’s respect. Instead, Rep. Rowland registered her lonely protest against “these little things” and then cashed her per diem check and went home for a few days.

Use the form below to tell Rep. Donna Rowland to get back to work.

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Posted in Legislation, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) | 7 Comments »

Rep. Donna Rowland’s boyfriend folds under pressure

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

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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 »

Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) working for us only 17% of the time

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Republican blogger and MTSU student Matthew Hurtt exposes Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) as one of the worst legislators on Capitol Hill. In his blog post today Hurtt says Rep. Rowland has failed to take a position on legislation by voting “present” 82% of the time.

That means Rep. Rowland has failed the people of the 34th district of Rutherford County 82% of the time.

The site tracks the voting history of all the members of the Tennessee General Assembly, and as of just a few moments ago, here’s what Representative Rowland’s voting record looked like for the current Session. Of the 209 votes recorded at Tennessee Votes:

Representative Rowland voted ‘Aye’ on 34 of 209 votes cast.
Representative Rowland voted ‘Nay’ on 2 of 209 votes cast.
Representative Rowland voted ‘PNV’ on 173 of 209 votes cast.

What this means is, out of 209 votes recorded by Tennessee Votes, Representative Rowland was present in the House Chamber but voted ‘Not Voting’ on 82.77% of the time. On just over 17% of votes did she vote either ‘Aye’ or ‘Nay.’

In comparison, Representative Glen Casada voted ‘PNV’ on just 1 of the 209 posted. Representatives Curt Cobb, Joe Carr, and Kent Coleman missed 0 (zero) votes. It should be noted that these votes were House Resolutions or House Joint Resolutions.

Rep. Rowland’s disgraceful record fails those in her district eager for a leader that will stay busy fighting for them in the state legislature.  Rutherford County deserves a Representative for the 34th House District who will stand up and be counted 100% of the time, not 17% of the time.

Contact Rep. Rowland and tell her to get back to work for the people of the 34th district.

Rep. Donna Rowland
207 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243-0134
Phone (615) 741-2804
Fax (615) 253-0322
rep.donna.rowland@capitol.tn.gov

Read more about Rep. Donna Rowland:

Posted in Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rutherford County Republican Party | 9 Comments »

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.

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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 »

Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) favors more profits for Big Coal, opposes funding for schools,roads

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) voted against taxing the strip mining coal industry to help fund needed school and road construction yesterday. Rep. Carr voted against HB 1667 that would direct increased coal taxes to counties so they can complete needed infrastructure projects without raising our property taxes.

A majority of Rep. Carr’s fellow House Republicans and every single Republican in the Senate voted for the tax increase on coal produced in Tennessee’s coal rich Upper Cumberland. It is the first coal tax increase in Tennessee in 25 years.

Rep. Carr’s vote against taxing the coal industry puts him at odds with protecting our state’s energy riches and finding alternatives for increasing our property taxes.

Republicans joined Democrats in overwhelming support for the bill to help Tennessee counties fund the construction of roads and schools. The coal tax increase models successful tax policies that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has in place to ensure the state of Alaska benefits from its energy riches.

Gov. Palin and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) promoted Alaska’s energy tax policies as a model for the nation in the 2008 Presidential Campaign, but Rep. Carr says he believes the coal industry should take as much coal and profit out of our great state. Rep. Carr stood with only 19 legislators to vote against the bill.

Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) was on Capital Hill yesterday but was too busy with her attorney dealing with an ethics complaint to vote either way on this important issue. Rep. Rowland instead voted “present.”

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Posted in Energy, Legislation, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rep. Joe Carr (R-48), Taxes | No Comments »

Attorney for Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) seeks to avoid ’sideshow’

Friday, April 17th, 2009

donnarowlandRep. Donna Rowland’s attorney has dropped his subpoenas against a Daily News Journal reporter. The attorney feared state and national attention over First Amendment issues that would arise in a complaint filed against Rep. Rowland in the state legislature. The attention would have also negatively focused on Rep. Rowland’s messy divorce and controversial new boyfriend.

Rep. Rowland finds herself at the center of questions filed in a complaint over whether she actually lives in the district she represents. The question before the state legislature now is whether Rep. Rowland lives at a new home she purchased on Faldo Drive or whether she is a live-in girlfriend at gun manufacturer Ronnie Barrett’s home outside the district.

In a letter to the House Speaker, somebody named Kathy Adams, a voter in Rowland’s district, elaborates. Adams apparently did a little detective work:

I drove by Ms. Rowland’s so-called house on 237 Faldo Dr. I saw uncut grass, lawn strewed [sic] with newspapers of several days, shades of the house drawn, no car in the driveway, etc. It had a look of an unlived dwelling.

But when Adams phoned a reporter and ratted out Rowland, suddenly the lawn was manicured and the old newspapers disappeared. A Rowland campaign yard sign even sprang up in the front yard. “I find this very suspicious,” Adams reports in her letter.

Rep. Rowland contends she does not live with her new boyfriend but occasionally visits his home. Barrett is a major donor to Republicans and currently has a lawsuit against the state claiming they promised to build a road to his gun factory.

Posted in Ethics, Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34), Rutherford County Republican Party | 6 Comments »

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