VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing March 7, Tuesday Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
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Randy Boyd, former Economic and Community Development Commissioner under Governor Bill Haslam, announced on Monday that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Tennessee. “I’m running for governor to truly make Tennessee THE state of opportunity. Please join us on this opportunity of a lifetime,” Boyd said in a statement released on his campaign website. “There is not a better time to live and work in Tennessee, but not everyone is sharing in that success. My campaign will be about expanding opportunities for every Tennessee family and community,” Boyd added. Boyd dodged taking a position on Gov. Haslam’s controversial proposal to increase the gas tax by 7 cents per gallon to fund more road construction. “In terms of the ongoing discussion on the state’s infrastructure needs, which has led to Haslam proposing a gas tax increase, Boyd said he preferred to let the governor and the Legislature move forward with their efforts,” the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. “The only thing I would say is they must come up with a solution . . . It has to be solved. We are underfunding our roads,” Boyd told the News Sentinel. The former Tennessee Economic and Community Development…
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Dear Tennessee Star, Obamacare continues to be a total disaster for families. Remember the famous saying, “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.” With President Trump in office and Republican control of Congress – it’s important that Congress moves to quickly repeal Obamacare. Our healthcare system is on the edge. Republicans must put forth a solid and complete replacement plan that goes along simultaneously with any repeal. Congress should work on patient-centered reforms that bring power back to the states and allows for a free market system. It’s also important that Congress ensure the repeal of the health insurance tax – which is a tax on healthcare premiums. The National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation found the health insurance tax will cost between 152,000 and 286,000 jobs by 2023, with 57 percent of those lost jobs represented in small businesses. A study by Oliver Wyman estimates that the health insurance tax results in an extra cost to small businesses of an average of $280 per employee per year and to individuals who purchase insurance coverage on their own of $220 per year. Thankfully, there is a bi-partisan bill by Representatives Kristi Noem and Kyrsten Sinema –…
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Former state Sen. Douglas Henry, a conservative Democrat and the longest serving member of the Tennessee legislature, died late Sunday at age 90. Henry, who served in the House from 1954 to 1956 and the Senate from 1970 to 2014, is being remembered today for his folksy and courteous manners and his ability to reach across the aisle and befriend political opponents. “He epitomized what it truly means to be a public servant and had a keen understanding of the constitutional principles on which our state and federal governments are founded,” said Sen. Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) in a statement. “He was a mentor and friend, and will be sorely missed by all with whom he came into contact.” Henry, who grew up in Belle Meade, was the father of six and had many grandchildren. His wife of 67 years, Loiette “Lolly” Hume Henry, died in December. After his brief tenure in the House, he worked as an attorney before returning to politics in 1970, when he won a seat in the Senate where he represented District 21. In 2014, the Tennessee State Library and Archives produced a video about his life. The video tells how as a boy Henry loved…
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The pro-Trump Spirit of America rally held in Nashville on Saturday was the best in the country in more ways than one. Not only was it by far the largest rally in the country with more than 2,000 in attendance, it also had the best music, which is only fitting for The Music City. Entertainer Ty Williams led off with the rousing public debut of his new song, “Make America Great Again.” Then State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster), an accomplished singer-songwriter, dazzled the enthusiastic audience with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. Tennessee may be the only state in the union where it is not surprising at all to find a state legislator capable of belting out an a capella version of the Star Spangled Banner that brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience. The crowd sang the first verse along with Weaver, who delivered the second verse as an a capella solo. You can watch the entire performance here: The lyrics to the fourth verse are: Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation! Blessed with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land Praise the…
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Rebecca Ann Burke began her speech at Saturday’s Spirit of America Rally by addressing the crowd as “adorable deplorables” and announcing that she was wearing an Ivanka Trump sweater. She also said good morning in Russian, joking that the Russian ambassador told her to say that. The longtime Middle Tennessee conservative activist campaigned hard for President Trump, spending weeks in Florida knocking on doors and heading up a call center. “We have won an amazing battle, but the war is not over,” she said at Saturday’s rally. Burke described Trump as a “street fighter” and the “General Patton of our day.” She also credited grassroots conservative activists with turning social media into a “dangerous weapon” to get out their message and fluster the “withering, whining leftist movement.” She said there is still much for conservatives to do to combat the progressives who have held considerable influence in our culture and politics. “Our resistance is not over. It’s just beginning,” she said. “We need a full bench of battle-tested activists to replace career politicians.” Burke is known for her work for Sen. Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign. In 2008, she was named Williamson County Republican of the Year for developing a…
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Conservative professor and author Carol Swain said at Saturday’s Spirit of America Rally that too many Christians are being misled into supporting a political party that doesn’t represent Christian values. Swain, a professor of law and political science at Vanderbilt University, said many Christians are being “duped” by the Democratic Party. She accused Democrats of obfuscation and hypocrisy in not caring enough about high rates of abortion among blacks and Hispanics, which she said is tantamount to “genocide” and would be called that if endorsed by conservatives. She also said some Christian religious and political leaders are advocating positions that reflect aspects of “socialism, Marxism and communism.” Swain said progressives are influencing the culture with “deception, lies and more deception.” Part of the problem, she said, is that people calling themselves Christians don’t have a deep understanding of biblical teachings and the gospel. “They’re just out there with a label.” Initially a supporter of Ted Cruz in the 2016 primary race, Swain later defended President Trump against attacks from Christian Never Trumpers. She said Saturday that she believes “the Lord’s hand was on this election,” referring to Trump’s victory in November, and that Christian conservatives can play a role…
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In the midst of the speeches and songs that energized the huge crowd of 2,000 at the pro-Trump Spirit of America rally in Nashville on Saturday, one image emerged that captured the significance of the event. Three young children stood on the stage, holding steadfastly on to the American flag, gazing out over the crowd just as the event was about to begin. That image explains succinctly the oft-heard response among Tea Party activists, many of whom have now passed the age of sixty, when asked why they devote so much time and passion to the cause of liberty. “We are doing this for our grandchildren,” they say. “So that they will still have the great American republic we grew up in when they become adults.” But all of these efforts won’t do much good, after all, if the succeeding generations for whom the Tea Party activists have toiled so long fail to embrace the American values of their parents and grandparents. A quick look around at the culture–the conformist statism of the public schools and universities, the blatant bias of the media, the often anti-American attitudes that dominate pop culture and entertainment–suggests that there should be little surprise why…
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Mark Skoda pulls no punches when talking about what he thinks progressives are doing to America. “I think what the left is doing is obscene,” he said in an interview with The Tennessee Star before Saturday’s Spirit of America Rally, which Skoda organized. Conservatives need to push back, but in the right way, he said. “It’s very easy to tear things down. We’re here to build things up in a way that reflects the values of most Americans.” Founder of the Memphis Tea Party and an internet radio host, Skoda is a longtime conservative. At age 18, he voted for President Nixon in 1972, the first time 18-year-olds could vote in a presidential election. Although he grew up in a Democratic family, Skoda at a young age began having doubts about the effectiveness of social welfare policies. He had started working full time for UPS while finishing high school, an experience that introduced him early to the adult world. Skoda credits President Trump with being able to adroitly communicate directly to the people through rallies, speeches and tweets, something Skoda hopes will continue throughout his presidency. Now it’s up to Congress to make sure that Trump is able to get…
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Education reform is no longer focused on students or teachers. It is focused on ancillary issues.
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Carly O’Kelley from Manchester, Tenn., had one of the more unique shirts at Saturday’s Spirit of America Rally. Above the word “Trumplican,” the long-sleeved t-shirt featured a Republican elephant symbol with a Trump hairdo. O’Kelley, who came to the rally with her mother, said she likes it that Trump is not a typical politician. “I think he has Americans’ best interests at heart and he’s not afraid to say what he thinks.” The 29-year-old recognizes that she’s not typical, either – a typical millennial, that is. “I don’t think I’m entitled to anything,” she said.
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A certain left wing propaganda outfit owned by a large globalist conglomerate headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area ran a story with this headline yesterday: “2 arrests reported from Trump rally in Nashville” Here’s what the story misses. Those arrested were not part of the huge crowd of 2,000 pro-Trump supporters. The man arrested on charges of disorderly conduct (he tried to vandalize motorcycles parked by a group of pro-Trump bikers, according to some reports) was one of about a dozen anti-Trump protesters wearing black face masks and waving flags and banners that could generously be described as “Anti-American.” He was quickly subdued and arrested by Tennessee State Troopers on the scene. Word to the wise to anarchist snowflakes: Don’t mess with Tennessee State Troopers . . . or bikers who support President Trump. The other arrest was a woman who stole some T-shirts from a vendor of pro-Trump merchandise before the rally started, then threw them in a trash can. She was apprehended and arrested. The propaganda outlet that ran the story with this headline “wants you to believe these were Trump supporters, so the editors make no effort to include the information that says otherwise. It’s another example…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing March 5, Sunday 2 Chronicles 7:14 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Timothy 2:15 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
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Gateway Pundit founder Jim Hoft announced at Saturday’s Spirit of America Rally that he plans to start an event to rival the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Hoft is dubbing his event “The Real News Correspondents’ Dinner” and said it will be held at the end of April across town from the traditional mainstream event in Washington, D.C. Hoft’s announcement was greeted with hearty applause by pro-Trump supporters attending the Nashville rally. Because of his tense relationship with the media which he says has been unfair to him, President Trump has declined to attend this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Hoft, who began his well-known grassroots conservative blog 12 years ago and was a friend of Andrew Breitbart, recently was granted a White House press pass for Gateway Pundit, a move that angered leftists. He said in his speech at Saturday’s rally that his White House correspondent has already had his speeches canceled at college campuses and had a reservation canceled with Airbnb because of his association with Gateway Pundit. “That’s what we’re dealing with folks,” Hoft said. “That’s the fascism.” He said such actions should alarm all fair-minded Americans, Republican and Democrat alike. In addition to speaking of his frustrations…
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Many conservatives are critical of activist judges, but not enough are concerned that they’re committing impeachable offenses, says Ohio grassroots conservative activist Tom Zawistowski. In an interview with The Tennessee Star at Saturday’s Spirit of America Rally, Zawistowski said Congress has the authority to impeach federal judges who aren’t doing their jobs. While few judges have actually been impeached and convicted, it’s something the Constitution allows for and should be exercised when necessary, he said. “Their job is to interpret the law, not make law. They’re out of control,” he said. “An activist judge is like a pilot who is supposed to fly you from Nashville to Dallas but decides to fly the plane to San Francisco because they think San Francisco is a better destination for you.” Zawistowski said the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was out of bounds in blocking President Trump’s ban restricting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. Likewise, judges who have ruled in favor of gay marriage are making things up out of whole cloth, he said. “It’s based on their ideology,” he said. “That’s an impeachable offense.” Change won’t happen unless conservatives become better educated about the issues and the Constitution and take action, he…
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Nashville attorney and political commentator Steve Gill told the crowd at Saturday’s Spirit of America Rally that all Americans, regardless of political party, should be concerned about the progressive drift in the U.S. For starters, Gill would like to see more unity behind the push for no higher taxes. He said Gov. Haslam’s plan to raise the tax on gas to fund road improvements is something that should be stopped. Frustration with tax hikes like this one is something that should resonate across various political factions, he said. Gill devoted much of his speech to concerns about Christian influence on culture and politics, which he has become more involved in through efforts to increase evangelical turnout at the polls. He is national chairman of Lift the Vote, a non-profit organization founded to encourage more Christian engagement in politics. The group was influential in persuading Christians to get out and vote in the 2016 election. “Christians turned out and the made the difference in this election,” he said, referring to President Trump’s success among evangelicals. But Christians need to keep up the pressure on politicians to ensure that the Senate confirms conservative Supreme Court picks, Gill said. Gill said conservatives need…
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Protesters at Saturday’s pro-Trump Spirit of America Rally in Nashville railed against capitalism and the president’s immigration policies while showing support for Planned Parenthood and other leftist causes. The first protesters to arrive were the most radical. Many were dressed in black hoodies and jackets with kerchiefs covering the bottom portion of their faces. Waving signs reading “Resist and Replace Capitalism” and “Impeach President Bannon,” they spewed obscenity-filled tirades through bullhorns at people who came to the rally to support Trump. A young woman carried a sign cursing Trump in Spanish and a young man carrying a “Coexist” banner and wearing a “F*** Trump” t-shirt shouted vulgarities at women. “That’s craziness right there,” said Trump supporter Jeanette Coke, pointing at the protesters. “You’re looking at pure craziness.” The commotion caught two young women here for a weekend visit from Georgia off guard. They came across the protesters soon after arriving in town. “They need to put their diapers back on and put their pacifiers in and go back home,” said one of the women, who would only give her name as Sandy. “Whether you voted for him or not, he’s our president.” Numerous state troopers stood by a barricade separating the…
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Here is the text of Ralph Bristol’s speech delivered at the Spirit of America rally held in Nashville on Saturday, March 4. Ralph is the host of Nashville’s Morning News, heard from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays on 99.7 FM, WWTN. A GOOD HEART By Ralph Bristol President Trump’s detractors in the media, the Democratic Party, and organized activists groups, who oppose him on immigration, including refugee issues, have produced an endless stream of protests, challenging the president’s heart. But they don’t just question Trump’s heart. They question the hearts beating inside this crowd gathered here today. So, at the risk of being rude to those who came to hear me, and others, speak, I don’t want to speak to you. I want to speak about you. I want to speak directly to President Trump’s detractors in the media and on the other side of various issues, who accuse Trump of being a religious bigot, a xenophobe, a fascist and a racist, to name just a few of the epithets doled out like song sheets at choir practice, and who compare his rhetoric to a dog whistle appealing only to the most deplorable among us. I don’t doubt that…
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Over 2,000 Tennesseans are flooding Nashville’s Legislative Plaza this morning, and more are streaming in as the Spirit of America Rally is set to kickoff a little later on. Check back here for updates throughout the day… UPDATE: FINAL CROWD ESTIMATES – Sources on the ground in Nashville put final crowd size at over 2000 … developing… UPDATE: For all the threats of violence and disruption, the Anti-Trump protest fizzled … developing… UPDATE: Crowd tops 1300+ … developing… UPDATE: A local reporter tweeted a picture of the Rally “without comment.” The Tennessee Star replied: UPDATE: UPDATE:
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The Tennessee Star staff is out in full force to cover today’s Spirit of America Rally at Legislative Plaza today from 11a – 1pm. It’s an hour before the event kicks off, and we caught up with organizer Mark Skoda who shared what the Spirit of America Rally is all about. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story…
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A radical black journalist who holds white people responsible for the origins of child abuse spoke at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville on Tuesday despite three academic departments pulling support at the last minute. Stacey Patton titled her lecture “How Killing Black Children is an American Tradition.” Finding the title too provocative, the School of Journalism and Electronic Media, the College of Communication and Information and the College of Child and Family Studies, pulled funding from the speech on Feb. 22, according to the Daily Beacon, the student newspaper. Patton retained the support of several other departments and was introduced at the lecture by the vice chair of Africana Studies. Catherine Luther, director of the College of Journalism and Electronic Media, was quoted in the Daily Beacon as saying the title was not announced until after support was given. She said the title hurt the message, which warrants discussion. Luther said that many Americans have fought to end racial hatred and that “if we relegate killing black children to the position of being ‘an American tradition,’ does that really help us to move toward change?” Patton, a journalism professor at Morgan University in Baltimore and author of the upcoming book Spare the…
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Spirit of America rally organizer Mark Skoda announced earlier this week that former talk show titan and current political analyst Steve Gill will join the all-star lineup at Legislative Plaza Saturday. “I’ve known Steve Gill since 2010 and when I heard he was available, I jumped at the chance to add him to the program,” Skoda said. “He is a conservative clarion that has helped to build the grassroots liberty movement here in Tennessee into the political powerhouse it is today.” The topic of Gill’s speech will be actions speak louder than words. “There are so many politicians in Tennessee and around the country who think that sounding conservative is good enough,” Gill pointed out. “Sadly those of the same so-called conservatives who quickly betray us once they get past election day.” “Our founding fathers didn’t just sit on the sidelines saying ‘somebody ought to do something,’ Gill noted. “They went out and put everything they had at risk to put their principles into action. “They understood that what you do matters a lot more than what you say and we have all benefited from their commitment, courage, and ‘words put into action’ for over 200 years. “This is our time to…
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by George Rasley, CHQ Editor Today, Saturday March 4, some 60 “Spirit of America” rallies will be held in cities and towns across the country. We strongly urge CHQ readers to attend a rally in their area, you can locate them through the Main Street Patriots website, and if there isn’t one in your area, you can still show your support by organizing an impromptu street corner flag and sign waving demonstration, much as many people did to show support for President Trump during the campaign. Our friend, Debbie Dooley of Main Street Patriots, one of the prime movers behind the rally idea said, “The rallies will be positive, patriotic, uplifting, and open to anyone that supports an America First agenda.” “These rallies are inclusive, non-partisan, and open to anyone supporting President Trump in his efforts to bring back manufacturing jobs to America, put the security of our nation ahead of political correctness, improve our infrastructure, revitalize the inner cities and secure our nation’s borders,” Dooley, a national co-founder of the Tea Party movement and a key organizer of the Spirit of America rallies told Breitbart News. Dooley told Breitbart News that since the anti-Trump women’s march in D.C. after the…
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Homeschooling parents and advocates looking for advice and support should find plenty of it March 30-April 1 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. It is the fifth year for the Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Convention at the Gaylord, an event packed with opportunities to listen to numerous speakers and shop at a busy exhibit hall. Similar conventions are being held this year in Georgia, Arkansas and Ohio. Organizers say Teach Them Diligently conventions typically draw around 7,000 people. The keynote speaker at the Gaylord this year will be evangelical pastor and radio broadcaster Tony Evans. Hymn-writers Keith and Kristyn Getty will also appear. There will be sessions for those just getting started with homeschooling as well as for those well under way and facing various challenges. Other sessions will focus on helping children with learning difficulties and setting up science labs in the home. In addition, there will insight on the history of Christian education and ways to incorporate biblical instruction in homeschooling. Exhibitors will include Alpha Omega Publications, Classical Conversations, Veritas Press, Inc., DK Publishing, Scholastic, Focus on the Family and World News Group, among many others. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there were about…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing Saturday, March 4 Romans 10:8-15 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it…
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State Rep. Barry Doss (R-Leoma), Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and a leading proponent of Gov. Haslam’s proposal to increase the gas tax by 7 cents per gallon, told 99.7 FM WWTN’s Ralph Bristol on the Thursday edition of Nashville’s Morning News that he wanted to remind WWTN listeners how much the Tennessee General Assembly has cut taxes recently. “What is this important argument that nobody has heard yet?” Bristol asked Doss. “One thing that we’re not concentrating on,” Doss began, “no one’s talking about the tax cuts that we’re doing.” “I would like to remind all of your listeners that five years ago we lowered the inheritance and gift tax which was a $110 million tax cut, and we knew five years ago there was a drastic need for new revenue for infrastructure, yet we chose to lower taxes $110 million instead of shifting that money over to revenue,” Doss said. Doss was one of the key figures in the legislative drama at the Tennessee General Assembly on Wednesday in which proponents of Gov. Haslam’s plan forced it through the Transportation Subcommittee, which was tied 4 to 4, by making the unusual move of bringing in House Speaker…
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“I actually have a slide in my town hall presentation that shows why money is diverted from the Highway Fund and where it goes,” State Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet) told a constituent in an email, confirming The Tennessee Star’s report that Highway Fund user fees are being allocated to the General Fund, Education and Debt Service. The constituent had forwarded a link to The Star’s report on Wednesday that “The Highway Fund receives road construction “user fee” revenues from gasoline tax, motor fuel tax, gasoline inspection tax, motor vehicle registration tax and the motor vehicle title fees. At least 25 percent of those road construction “user fees” go to the General Fund, Education and Debt Service.” In the email reply to her constituent, Rep. Lynn copied every member of the Tennessee General Assembly in both the House and Senate, ensuring that they have knowledge of the “diversion” of user fees from the Highway Fund. You can read the first part of Lynn’s reply to her constituent here: I actually have a slide in my town hall presentation that shows why money is diverted from the Highway Fund and where it goes. Each amount makes perfect sense. Please see my slide below with…
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More than 16 million children are growing up in poverty, meaning that 22% of all children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level of $23,550 a year. Research has shown that children living in poverty have a higher number of absenteeism and dropout rates than those coming from middle class or higher.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing Friday, March 3 James 1:2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
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David Fowler, president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, is making a unique comparison between the recent defeat for religious liberty in an LGBT case in Washington state and a case more than 100 years ago in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law punishing polygamy. In both cases, courts upheld an underlying moral code, Fowler says. The difference between then and now is that the moral code has changed “What has changed – and it explains why polygamy could be banned in 1879 and why it will not be able to be banned in the coming years – is the religious beliefs that informed our laws back then. We no longer believe that God has imposed any laws on the social order that all must recognize, including those who make our civil laws,” Fowler wrote in his blog. In 1879 in Reynolds v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against George Reynolds, a Mormon and resident of Utah territory who argued that marrying more than one woman was integral to his religious faith. The high court said that allowing it would make an individual’s religious belief superior to the law of the land. Last month, the…
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Last week we told you about the Beacon Center’s online poll asking Tennessee taxpayers if they supported the Metro Nashville City Council’s preliminary vote to grant a tax incentive deal worth $14 million to Opryland. The early results showed that a staggering 92.5% opposed the luxury resort receiving generous tax breaks to build a private water park available to only their hotel guests. The poll is now completed, and the final numbers are in. After a full week of voting, an even larger margin of Tennessee Taxpayers – 95% – now oppose the deal. With such an overwhelming response, the Beacon Center took a look at how else that $14 million could have been used. Based on average salaries in the city of Nashville, this $14 million tax break to the Opryland hotel could have paid for one year’s salary for 276 teachers, 280 police officers, or 335 firefighters. Mark Cunningham of the Beacon Center noted in a statement, “Nashvillians and Tennesseans are almost unanimously opposed to giving taxpayer money to a water park. A whopping 95% of Tennesseans believe that this incentive deal to the Opryland Waterpark is a bad idea, which is truly incredible. Not even 95% of people…
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After Gov. Haslam ally and gas tax advocate State Rep. Barry Doss (R-Leoma) voted “yes” in the House Transportation Subcommittee on Wednesday to send the governor’s IMPROVE Act to the full Transportation Committee which he chairs, The Tennessee Star contacted him and asked three simple, yet key questions pertinent to any further consideration of the gas tax: Can you confirm that 25% of Highway Fund user fees go to the general fund? Can you confirm that suppliers and retailers of both gas and diesel can hold the tax money anywhere from 20-51 days depending on the month before remitting to state per dept. of revenue fuel tax schedule?” Was there any particular reason these important and highly relevant issues were not raised prior to the subcommittee vote today? Rep. Doss did not respond to The Star prior to our deadline. As the House Transportation Committee which he chairs now takes the IMPROVE Act under consideration, Rep. Doss has an opportunity to bring the answers to these questions out in the open for public consideration. The answers to those questions are of great relevance to the public, since “[o]ne of the principles asserted by Governor Haslam in support of his IMPROVE…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing Thursday, March 2 Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.
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Wednesday afternoon, State Representative Andy Holt let loose with a blistering rant against the House Transportation Committee’s arcane maneuvers to pass Gov Bill Haslam’s IMPROVE Act, going so far as to include a photo of a bag of thirty pieces of silver. Via Facebook: Well everyone, The Governor’s gas tax just passed out of the House Transportation Sub-Committee. That’s what you expected from the “fiscally conservative” super-majority controlled republican House of Representatives here in Tennessee, right? So. Gross. If allowed to pass, your taxes are about to go up by HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars in Tennessee — literally!! You all need to know something. You need to know the truth. You deserve the truth. The “media” will likely tell you that the tax was “stripped out of the bill”. That’s not true, and they know it isn’t… This episode of political theater was a well orchestrated display. The bill will soon be returned to its original form so they can add back all the taxes, and possibly more… Worst part of all? The “media” has been told by countless people what’s going on behind the scenes. They’ve literally been shown proof of corruption, lies, and quid pro quo, but…
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Sometimes government action creates unintended consequences. It is estimated that nearly 10 highly committed educators lose their license each year due to no fault of their own. Then have no recourse to resolve this issue. That is why we worked with Rep. Pitts and Senator Tracy to address this issue with House Bill 111 and Senate Bill 661.
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Andrew Ogles, the Tennessee director of Americans for Prosperity, was in a glum mood Wednesday afternoon after Gov. Haslam’s gas tax plan seemed to get a boost forward. Earlier in the day, Ogles and his fellow tax opponents were more buoyant as they rallied around the costumed Gas Can Man and hoped for a more positive outcome. The House Transportation Subcommittee voted in favor of Haslam’s transportation plan, albeit with an amendment that includes elements of an alternative proposal favored by opponents of the proposed tax increase. But Ogles believes that amendment will disappear once the plan is considered by the full House Transportation Committee, which Ogles says could happen sometime next week. “My suspicion is they’ll strip that off,” Ogles said. “This was merely a Trojan horse to get it out of committee.” Haslam wants to raise the tax on gas by 7 cents a gallon and for diesel, 12 cents a gallon. The current gas tax of 21.4 cents per gallon hasn’t changed since 1989. The alternative plan, known as the Hawk plan because it was put forward by Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, proposes using existing sales tax revenue to pay for road improvements. The Hawk plan was…
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Dear Tennessee Star, Conference room 16 was packed with an overflow standing room only crowd of “Ax the Tax” folks, and they listened respectfully to every word. The Gas Can Man was there bigger than life and getting all kinds of photo ops. Yet, in the end, the Tennessee taxpayer crowd left feeling defeated and deflated like those Tom Brady footballs. I read Rep. Andy Holt’s remarks about the hearing on Facebook. He describes the shenanigans at the Sub House Transportation Committee. Rep. Holt also gives you insight to our own “FAKE MEDIA” which is alive and well in Tennessee….except for one….the conservative Tennessee Star. Go to their web site and check out the latest fact gathering information on this Republican fiasco. To Chairman Terri Lynn Weaver’s credit, she defended and upheld what the taxpayers wanted which was the common sense Hawk Plan. When she voiced that opinion the crowd clapped loudly. But, the votes were not to be. Those who opposed the Haslam Improve Act were: Lt. Col. Courtney Rogers, Chairman Terri Lynn Weaver, Rep. Jerry Sexton, and Rep. John Mark Windle. Those voting in favor of the Haslam Improve Act (the Gas Tax Increase) were: Rep. David…
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Gas Can Man cheered gas tax opponents at Wednesday’s legislative hearing. Making his grand entrance before the hearing, Gas Can Man strode in the room carrying a sign reading, “Haslam’s a Pain In My Gas.” Clearly the rock star of the event, he was photographed and videorecorded by admiring fans. Some even wore t-shirts bearing his likeness. He was surrounded by shouts of “Tank the Tax!” The packed hearing room was filled mostly with people there on behalf of the conservative group Americans For Prosperity, which opposes the tax. Having arrived early, they were able to grab a seat. People who couldn’t find a seat were sent to an overflow area outside the room where they could watch the proceedings on a TV screen. Among those who came from across the state was Chelsea Houk, who lives in Knoxville with her husband Zachary. The 26-year-old grew up in a family in which politics was rarely discussed to keep the peace. But now she finds that approach a misguided quest that doesn’t do anything to keep change at bay. “It provides a false sense of security,” she said. A farmhand who works with show horses, Houk these days finds…
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Through a series of political maneuvers, Gov. Haslam’s IMPROVE Act has advanced from the House Transportation Subcommittee to the full House Transportation Committee, thanks to the rare tie-breaking vote cast by Speaker Pro Tem State Rep. Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville). Johnson was brought in at the last minute to the House Transportation Subcommittee Wednesday afternoon to break a 4 to 4 tie. With Johnson’s yes vote, the IMPROVE Act passed on a 5 to 4 vote. Subcommittee members voting yes on the amended IMPROVE Act bill were State Rep. Barry Doss (R-Leoma), who also serves as chairman of the full House Transportation Committee, State Rep. David Alexander (R-Winchester), State Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin), and State Rep. Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis). Subcommittee members voting no on the amended IMPROVE Act bill were State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster), chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee, State Rep. Courtney Rogers (R-Goodlettsville), State Rep. Jerry Sexton (R-Bean Station), and State Rep. John Mark Windle (D-Livingston). The next stop for the IMPROVE ACT is the full House Transportation Committee, chaired by Haslam ally and gas tax advocate Doss. The version of the IMPROVE ACT that passed was amended to remove the gas tax increase originally proposed by the governor.…
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Nashville’s Spirit of America Rally organizers announced exclusively to The Tennessee Star that grassroots superstar Jim Hoft will appear at the event this Saturday, March 4th. “We are excited to announce that Jim Hoft of The Gateway Pundit will speak at the rally. His organization has recently been granted White House press credentials to the dismay of the liberal main stream media,” Spirit of American organizer and founder of the Memphis Tea Party Mark Skoda said. “Jim has made a difference at his conservative news blog with over one million views per day during the election. And as a new media leader, he is driving the left crazy,” he added. Jim Hoft stated, “I am really looking forward to speaking to the people of the Great State of Tennessee. President Trump is off to a roaring start and I am proud to stand behind him today as he moves to Make America Great Again. I plan on making a special announcement at Saturday’s rally!” Skoda noted that this confirmation of the March 4 event comes on the eighth anniversary of the first Tea Party rallies, which were held in fifty cities across the country on February 27, 2009. Those rallies were followed by…
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Standing room only crowds gathered to greet the Transportation Subcommittee as they are set to vote on the increasingly unpopular Haslam Gas Tax increase. The Tennessee Star crew arrived early. The room was full by 10:45am for the 12pm meeting… more updates on Facebook…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing Wednesday, March 1 John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
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One of the principles asserted by Governor Haslam in support of his IMPROVE Act and its proposed increase of 7 cents per gallon in the gas tax is that “users” of roads should pay for road construction. The gas tax is proper, he argues, because people who purchase gas to fuel their cars are the users of roads, and the gas tax is the best mechanism to charge them for that usage. For at least a decade, however, revenue sources originally designed to fund highway construction have been intermingled, and that “user” fee principle has not strictly been applied to the funding of road construction. The IMPROVE Act does not fully address the co-mingling of funds. The Highway Fund receives road construction “user fee” revenues from gasoline tax, motor fuel tax, gasoline inspection tax, motor vehicle registration tax and the motor vehicle title fees. At least 25 percent of those road construction “user fees” go to the General Fund, Education and Debt Service. Though the majority of these “user fee” revenues have been allocated to the Highway Fund, between 25 percent and 29 percent of those fees -ranging from $177 million to $196 million annually– have been diverted away from the…
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If public education is to continue to be successful, it will take all the policymakers and stakeholders working together. Our message must be about children, teachers and public education not politics or social policies not related to public education.
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FRANKLIN, Tennessee–Long-time conservative grassroots activist Debbie Deaver swept to victory over establishment favorite Tom Miller at a packed session of the Williamson County Republican Convention on Tuesday night. “Tonight the Williamson County Republican Party had a choice for leadership,” conservative activist and Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips, a resident of Williamson County who was in attendance, told The Tennessee Star. “The choice was between a Republican and a liberal. The party chose well,” Phillips said. An overflow crowd of more than three hundred Republican voters in Williamson County waited in long lines to get inside the Williamson County Administration Building for the evening’s votes. One former chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party told The Star it was the largest crowd he had ever seen gathered to vote for a new county chairman. Not everyone who showed up was selected as a delegate to the convention. The evening began when the attendees gathered in twelve separate groups, corresponding to the voting district of the county in which they reside. Each district selected a maximum of 30 delegates who were authorized to vote. A total of 262 delegates and 7 provisional delegates were selected. After all the delegates were credentialed,…
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