Month: June 2017

Rep. Jim Jordan called Thursday for an investigation into government officials involved in the Russia investigation. Mr. Jordan, Ohio Republican and member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said on CNN that former FBI Director James Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch should be looked into for calling the FBI’s probe of Hillary Clinton’s emails…

The controversial “Obamaphone” program, which pays for cellphones for the poor, is rife with fraud, according to a new government report Thursday that found more than a third of enrollees may not even be qualified. Known officially as the Lifeline Program, the phone giveaway became a symbol of government waste in the previous administration. Now a…

Playboy Magazine really does have articles! That fact has been brought to light by the press briefing antics of Playboy reporter (yep, that’s a real thing!) Brian Karem. Whether those articles exist to inform or to be shown to the wives of subscribers in a desperate attempt to justify their subscription is still up for debate.…

TAZEWELL, Tennessee — At an Americans For Prosperity Town Hall Monday, Rep. Jerry Sexton (R-Bean Station) told the 30-plus people who turned out to thank him for his no vote on the IMPROVE Act that the tax cuts were a “farce,” if you do the math right. Sexton proved the point when only one person raised their hand as a payer of the F&E tax, no one raised their hand as a payer of the Hall Income Tax, and that the grocery tax savings of $2.88 were based on a family size of 4 when the actual average family size in Tennessee is 2.3. When asked, “What would it take for you to be for this bill,” Sexton said he responded that he wanted to vote for roads and infrastructure, but he wouldn’t vote to raise taxes in order to do it. The results of a poll Sexton commissioned in the three counties he covers revealed that 80 percent of respondents wanted roads improved, but 70 percent said no to a gas tax increase. Sexton signed on as a co-sponsor of the Hawk amendment, which used the sales tax from new and used vehicles, which Sexton said couldn’t get closer…

From climate change to allowing women in the draft, lawmakers in the House tackled a series of controversial subjects as they pulled together their version of the Pentagon’s spending plan for the coming fiscal year. The marathon markup session Wednesday by the House Armed Services Committee is the first opportunity Congress has to make their legislative…

  Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett says he will “either run for Senate or US Congress,” WBIR reports. The announcement puts incumbents Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) and Representative Jimmy Duncan (TN-02) on notice for a challenge by a fellow Republican. A recent Tennessee Star/Triton poll found Burchett’s chances for a successful bid for the US Senate may be good, due to Tennessee voters’ collapse in confidence of Senator Corker. WBIR quoted Burchett Tuesday, saying that although the Governorship never really interested him, “I think that I need to run for one of those seats [Senate or House]. We’ll be making a decision shortly.” The Star reported Monday Burchett’s promise that he would “be on the ballot” in 2018. Voters first met Tim Burchett in the 1994 when he ran to represent the people of Knoxville in the 19th State House District and won. After two terms, he ran for and won the State Senate District 9, serving three, four-year terms. With 16 years of service in the General Assembly, in 2010 Burchett ran for and won his election for Knox County Mayor. After eight years, he is termed out. While Burchett is exploring his future prospects, a spate of candidates are stepping up to run for the open office. WBIR reports:…

The Tennessee State Library and Archives will host a free presentation July 22 on a collection of photographs from the Korean War. The event will feature the photos of David Franklin Brock, who left his home in Van Buren County in 1952 for combat engineer training and then a stint in the 2nd Infantry Division in the area of the Iron Triangle and the 28th parallel in Korea. His photos document his time in Korea and his visits home. Darla Brock, the library’s manuscripts archivist and Brock’s daughter, will present her father’s photos and discuss the history of the war. “The David Franklin Brock photo collection allows us to see history from Mr. Brock’s unique viewpoint,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett in a press release. “These photographs of the Korean War era will serve as a valuable resource for generations of Tennesseans.” People interested in attending are encouraged to register as soon as possible because of limited seating. The presentation will run from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the library auditorium. The building is at 403 Seventh Ave. North in downtown Nashville, directly west of the Capitol, and has free parking. To reserve seats, visit tslabrockcollection.eventbrite.com. The Brock collection…