Day: October 13, 2017

Mark Green Nabs Club for Growth Endorsement After Announcing Candidacy For 7th Congressional District Seat

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State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination to represent the 7th Congressional District in the House of Representatives last week. He was endorsed almost immediately by the Club for Growth for the seat that opened up when the incumbent, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) announced that she is running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat from which Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) is retiring. In an email to supporters, the Club’s president David McIntosh, a former Congressman from Indiana, said, “Mark Green may be the toughest conservative candidate we’ve ever met. If we can help Mark win his primary, he will go on to be a conservative rock star in Congress.” The Club for Growth endorsement continued, saying: “Club for Growth PAC is thrilled to announce support for Mark Green and his campaign for Congress,” stated Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. “Mark has been an outspoken conservative in the Tennessee legislature.  He led the fight to oppose Medicaid expansion as well as fought against the Hall Income tax and big government regulations like occupational licenses. “Mark is an outstanding advocate for economic growth and would bring fiscal sanity with him when he comes to Washington.” “The Club for Growth’s endorsement is sought by every conservative in the…

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Vanderbilt University Student Newspaper Says Christopher Columbus Was Worse Than Serial Killers

Wendy Wilson

The editorial board of the Vanderbilt University student newspaper wrote an opinion piece Wednesday criticizing the school for not doing enough to denounce Columbus Day, which was Monday. The editorial described Christopher Columbus as being worse than notorious American serial killers. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry issued a proclamation urging people to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Metro Council passed a resolution urging the same. More than 50 cities and a few states celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday. The editorial board of the Vanderbilt Hustler said that “Vanderbilt’s silence on the matter is problematic.” “Yes, an indigenous professor was invited to talk about the indigenous genocide. But Vandy needs to go further,” the opinion piece said. The editorial board said it hopes that next year “Vanderbilt will stand against the actions of predatory settlers and stand with indigenous people.” In its opinion piece, the editorial board did not attempt an even-handed scholarly examination of Columbus and his work. Instead, it pandered to the progressive hysteria about Columbus, going so far as to say that if the Italian explorer, who sailed for Spain and made the Americas known to Europe, were alive today, “he would be a national villain, making Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer look…

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Steve Gill Commentary: When Will Trump Supporters Get Positions in Tennessee?

Tennessee Star Staff

President Donald Trump has filled key positions in his White House, as well as many top Cabinet positions, with political activists who didn’t support him in his presidential campaign. Some of those filling senior positions in the Trump Administration can even properly be classified as “Never Trumpers” who worked against him even after his nom-ination became inevitable. Adding to the problems facing the President as he seeks to implement his agenda are the huge number of Obama holdovers and career government bureaucrats who remain in positions where they work against his agenda while Trump political appointees languish in “holding” patterns. Unfortunately, the pattern of political appointments that do not reflect support for President Trump is not limited to Washington DC and the White House. The Presidential appointees nominated thus far from Tennessee are almost exclusively people who either actively opposed President Trump or are closely affiliated with those who aggressively sought to block him from office. The Trump base in Tennessee is sticking with him, with recent poling showing 86% approval for the President among Tennessee likely GOP primary voters. So, why is Trump not sticking to his base of supporters? Just this weekend, Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) engaged in…

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Tennessee Star Constitution Bee Winner Goes to Washington, D.C., Meets Federal D.C. Circuit Court Judge

Tennessee Star Staff

Noah Farley, the winner of the Tennessee Star Constitution Bee, flew to Washington, D.C. to attend a lecture delivered by United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Judge Thomas Griffith at Hillsdale College’s Kirby Center for the Constitution on Thursday night. Farley earned a trip to Washington, D.C. for himself and his father with his victory in the inaugural Tennessee Star Constitution Bee, held at Sycamore High School in Pleasant View, Tennessee and hosted by Cheatham County Schools on September 23. The airfare and lodging for the trip was paid for by The Polk Foundation, sponsor of the Tennessee Star Constitution Bee. The 17-year-old homeschooled senior plans to attend Patrick Henry College in Virginia next fall. After completing his undergraduate studies, he plans on going to law school and becoming a constitutional lawyer. The topic of the lecture was “Judicial Conservativism in a Liberal Democracy.” In addition to Judge Griffith, Professor Bradley Watson of St. Vincent College was also a featured speaker. According to the Kirby Center description of the event: Thomas B. Griffith was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2005. He earned his B.A. from Brigham Young…

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Former Congressman Stephen Fincher Stops in Johnson City on ‘Listening Tour’ as He Considers U.S. Senate Run

Wendy Wilson

Former Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN-8) told the Johnson City Press this week that he is seriously thinking about running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Bob Corker. Johnson City was one of the first stops in what Fincher says is a listening tour of the state designed to help him decide whether to run. The tour is expected to last several weeks. The West Tennessee farmer would be vying for the Republican nomination against the formidable U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7) and conservative activist Andy Ogles. Fincher, who lives in Frog Jump, said in an interview with the Johnson City Press that he is being encouraged by supporters to run and has been praying about it and discussing it with his family. He is currently traveling the state to get input from voters. Fincher was first elected to Congress in 2010 and was re-elected twice to consecutive terms. In 2016, he decided not to run again because of the illness of a family member. He has more than $2 million remaining in his congressional election account. In August, he became a campaign co-chairman for U.S. Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-6) in her run for Tennessee governor. Fincher told the Johnson City Press…

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National Security Expert Says A Mae Beavers Win Is For The Country And Conservatism, Not Just Tennessee

Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — National security expert, Brian Kennedy, President of the American Strategy Group, calling gubernatorial candidate Mae Beavers “a hero of conservatism” said “if she can win here in Tennessee, it will be a win not only for Tennessee but for the country and conservatism.” Kennedy, speaking to a group of at least 50 attending a fundraising event in support of Beavers’ gubernatorial campaign held at a private residence in Nashville, has a soft-spoken delivery that conveyed sincerity and commanded a hushed attention. The statement Kennedy made about a Beavers win drew unanimous applause. Beavers, “a leader on illegal immigration and the Islamic threat,” in whom Kennedy said he sees “many of the same things I see in Donald Trump.” Refugee resettlement, illegal immigration and terrorism are main themes of Beavers’ campaign platform and what drew her to support, at the time candidate, Donald Trump for president.  Beavers said she thought, “Nobody else is talking about those things and this man is brave enough to be talking about it.”  Beavers was an early supporter of Donald Trump who went on to be a Trump delegate and the chair of the Tennessee delegation at the Republican National Convention, announcing Tennessee’s…

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Eric Metaxas to Speak at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro This Weekend

Wendy Wilson

Renowned Christian writer and speaker Eric Metaxas will appear at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro this weekend. Metaxas is host of The Eric Metaxas Show, a radio program broadcast in more than 120 cities across the U.S. He is the author of Bonhoeffer, Miracles, If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty and Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, which was the companion book to a feature film. His latest book is Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World. This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, in which Luther played a leading role. Along with other Christian leaders, Metaxas recently signed a letter from Evangelicals for Biblical Immigration to President Trump and leaders of Congress saying that the group believes “that the Bible does not teach open borders, but wise welcome.” The group contrasts with other evangelical coalitions that favor broad amnesties. Born in New York City, Metaxas grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Yale University. His other claims to fame include having written for VeggieTales. He co-wrote Lyle the Kindly Viking, and provided the voice of the narrator on Esther. He will be the special guest speaker for weekend services at World Outreach Church…

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Tennessee Doctor Loses Medicare Reimbursement Privileges Over $670 in Billing Errors

Tennessee Star Staff

A West Tennessee doctor has lost his Medicare reimbursement privileges over $670 in billing errors, and the consequences are devastating for his practice and the rural community he serves. “After an unblemished 31-year career in medicine a local doctor is faced with accusations of Medicare billing fraud. On April 16, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) accused Dr. Bryan Merrick of 30 counts of wrongful Medicare billings over the course of 20 months,” the McKenzie Banner, located in rural Carroll County, reported last week: During the 20 month period in question, Dr. Merrick’s office filed approximately 30,000 Medicare claims for patients. The 30 claims account for less than one tenth of 1% of all billings. In other words, 99.9% of the 30,000 billings were filed correctly and in accordance with CMS guidelines. The estimated value of the wrongful billings is $670, which was never paid to Dr. Merrick or McKenzie Medical Center (MMC). All 30 counts are the result of clerical errors made by others, not Dr. Merrick directly. The penalty of these infractions is suspending Dr. Merrick’s Medicare billing privileges for at least three years. Meaning, he has a medical license and can see patients but no…

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