Month: January 2018

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Releases Statement on Extramarital Affair: ‘Firmly Committed to Working Hard to Serve the People of Nashville Now and into the Future’

Tennessee Star Staff

Late Wednesday, the office of Nashville Mayor Megan Barry released a statement in which she admitted she has “engaged in an extramarital affair with the former head of my security detail.” Though she apologized to the people of Nashville and her husband, Barry gave no indication she was even considering resigning, saying “I remain firmly committed to working hard to serve the people of Nashville now and into the future.” A press conference is now scheduled for 7 p.m. You can read the full statement here:   “Today, I have acknowledged publicly that I have engaged in an extramarital affair with the former head of my security detail. “I accept full responsibility for the pain I have caused my family and his. I am so sorry to my husband Bruce, who has stood by me in my darkest moments and remains committed to our marriage, just as I am committed to repairing the damage I have done. “I also must apologize to the people of Nashville who elected me to serve as your mayor. I knew my actions could cause damage to my office and the ones I loved, but I did it anyway. I must hold myself to the…

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Vanderbilt Launches and Funds Nonprofit Advocacy Group to Support Mayor Barry’s Transit Plan

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Monday, Vanderbilt University issued a strong statement of support – along with a 501(c) (4) PAC called ‘Creating a More Mobile Community’ funded to the tune of $200,000 – for Mayor Megan Barry’s $5.2 $5.4 $9 billion transit plan proposal. “We must match our collective ambitions for the future of Nashville with investments in our future prosperity,” said Vanderbilt University Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos said is a statement. “A more connected Nashville through expanded transit benefits us all. Now is the time to ensure all members of the Nashville community have full access to the opportunities our vibrant city has to offer.” The statement points out that the University has recently begun its transformation of West End Avenue to what it calls FutureVU, described as a “innovative academic and experiential center.” Vanderbilt University Medical Center president Jeff Balser also voiced the institution’s strong support for “Mayor Megan Barry’s efforts to expand Nashville’s transit options.” “The development of sustainable, flexible transportation options that promote a healthy, accessible environment for all is a centerpiece of our land use planning efforts,” Zeppos said. “When taken together, Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center are the region’s largest private employer. As such, we have an obligation, but also a…

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NewsChannel 5: ‘Nashville Mayor Admits Affair with Police Bodyguard’

Tennessee Star Staff

Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 broke the story late Wednesday afternoon that Nashville Mayor Megan Barry has admitted to an extramarital affair with the former head of her security detail. “[I]n an exclusive interview with NewsChannel 5 Investigates, Barry insisted that she has not misused taxpayer funds as part of the relationship with Metro Police Sergeant Rob Forrest, NewsChannel 5’s Phill Williams reported in a broadcast that aired at 4:49 pm on Wednesday: Forrest unexpectedly retired Tuesday after 31 years with the Metro Nashville Police Department. “I’m very embarrassed, and I’m deeply ashamed, and I’m very sorry,” Barry said. “The affair was between two middle-aged consenting adults, and it was a mistake to do this. And I am deeply sorry.” She added, “I know God forgives, but the people of Nashville don’t have to — and I also want to ask for their forgiveness.” The 54-year-old mayor said the relationship with the 58-year-old sergeant began shortly after her election in September 2015.   Questions have been raised about how much Forrest was paid for overtime while guarding the mayor, and whether or not he worked all those overtime hours. A press conference is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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WSMV: ‘Questions Raised About Nashville Mayor’s Relationship With Officer in Charge of Security Detail’

Tennessee Star Staff

UPDATE 4:49 pm:  The Scene has confirmed that Barry administration staffers are confirming to council members that the mayor had a relationship with a member of her security detail and that she is not resigning. https://t.co/dpsHnZX2C6 — Nashville Scene (@NashvilleScene) January 31, 2018   WSMV is reporting that “The News 4 I-Team has uncovered questions of the relationship between Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and her head of security.” In a story that broke at 2:48 pm but added a significant update at 4:02 pm, WSMV reported: News 4 reported on Tuesday night that Sgt. Rob Forrest had abruptly resigned his position. The News 4 I-Team has heard from multiple sources – Metro Council members, former Council members and lawyers – that Forrest’s resignation from the police force after 31 years was tied to his relationship with Barry. News 4 contacted Penny Forrest, Rob Forrest’s wife, on Wednesday afternoon. She referred questions to her attorney. When asked whether her husband had a relationship with Barry, she responded, ‘You need to ask that question to Mayor Barry.” The News 4 I-Team has reached out to the Mayor’s office for several hours on Wednesday. The only response has been that she is set…

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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s Head of Security Resigns Abruptly

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The Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed with The Nashville Scene the head of Mayor Megan Barry’s security team, Sergeant Rob Forrest, has resigned as of late today. Metro Council Budget and Finance Committee Chair Tanaka Vercher further confirmed with The Scene that the mayor’s office “plans to issue a statement this afternoon.” Forrest is a 30-year veteran of the MNPD, and served on the security details of past mayors Bill Purcell and Karl Dean before being tapped to head Barry’s security team. He also supervises Hate Crime Investigations, the Crime Stoppers program, and security for visiting dignitaries. He is married with a grown daughter, Macy, who is an attorney in the Metro Legal Department.   Developing…  

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Mike Fisher Coming Out of Retirement to Rejoin the Nashville Predators

Tennessee Star Staff

The Nashville Predators announced on Wednesday that former team captain Mike Fisher is coming out of retirement to rejoin the team. “On Wednesday morning at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Fisher took to the ice in what is the first step toward the former Predators centerman rejoining the club he captained to within two wins of a Stanley Cup last spring – with hopes of getting just a little bit further this time around,” NHL.com reported. Indeed, Fisher intends to begin skating and working out on his own before joining the entire team for practices. The ultimate goal is to sign a contract before the Feb. 26 trade deadline and return to game action and pursue the one thing every hockey player dreams of. It’s a virtually unprecedented move – only a handful of former NHLers have stepped out of retirement and back onto the ice to give it one more try. Nashville sport fans shouted their approval of the move on Twitter and local talk radio, as the Predators announcement on Twitter gained hundreds of retweets in minutes: Mike Fisher confirms he's only coming back to play in this season, nothing more. #Preds — Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) January 31, 2018…

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After Seven Years of Record Growth, Governor Haslam’s Final Budget For 2019 Is Flat From 2018

Laura Baigert

For the first seven years of Governor Haslam’s term, his budget for the State of Tennessee grew a record $30.2 to $37.3 billion, but the upcoming budget for 2018-19, Haslam’s final year in office, is basically flat at $37.5 billion. Budget appropriations are stated in three categories: State at $17.7 billion; federal at $13.9 billion and $5.9 billion from “other.” Over the past seven years, the state portion of the budget grew an average of four percent with a range of a $40 million reduction in 2014-15 to the highest increase of $1.5 billion in 2017-18, but this year that portion of the budget is reduced an eight-year record of $190 million. State Commissioner of Finance and Administration, Larry Martin, explained in his presentation on the 2018-19 budget to the Senate Finance Ways & Means Committee Tuesday the process for forecasting revenue for the state. The State Funding Board, in November of each year, receives forecasts from four economists, including the State Department of Revenue, from which recommendations are made on the likely growth trends. The funding board provides a projected growth range to the governor, which was 2.7 to 3.2 percent for this year. The governor then has prerogative…

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Commentary: Thanks to the Trump Corporate Tax Cuts, America Is Open for Business

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By Printus LeBlanc   As President Donald Trump was prepared to speak in Davos to announce that America is open for business, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is predicting Armageddon because of the tax cuts. To be fair, she says that a lot. She further insulted the tax cuts calling the $1,000-$2,000 bonuses hundreds of employees are receiving “crumbs,” forgetting she once called a $40 cut a “victory for America” in 2011. The Minority Leader might want to pay a little better attention to what is happening to the economy because it looks like 2018 could be a banner year for the Trump economy. The first company to announce it would pass on the corporate tax benefits to its employees was AT&T. Shortly after a deal was reached in the Senate, the corporate giant announced a $1,000 bonus for 200,000 employees and is increasing its capital expenditures by $1 billion. AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson stated, “Congress, working closely with the President, took a monumental step to bring taxes paid by U.S. businesses in line with the rest of the industrialized world. Tax reform will drive economic growth and create good-paying jobs. In fact, we will increase our U.S. investment and pay a special bonus…

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Diane Black: Even Democrats Are Unhappy with Pelosi’s ‘Venomous’ Talk

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Diane Black appeared on Fox Business’ After the Bell with Melissa Francis Monday to discuss the ongoing immigration reform negotiations. As an introduction to the segment, Francis aired Nancy Pelosi’s recent claim that President Trump’s ‘America First’ immigration framework is a ploy the “make America white again.” Francis asked, “You know, I always wonder: Does it impact the negotiation when politicians go out to the camera and say things like that, or do you understand that she’s sort of talking to her base, and everybody has this rhetoric, and when you come back together, it’s like that didn’t happen. What’s it really like behind closed doors?” Black replied, “I’m just going to tell you my experience with Ms. Pelosi, and that is that she has a pretty good heavy hand with her own conference. But I know behind the scenes, with having dealt with her own members, that they are not all in agreement with her. And I think they are getting worn out with the kind of political partisanship that she just spews all over the place. Most people that are rational people here willing to sit down and talk about this issue of DACA and of securing our borders.” The Republican…

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Congressman Jim Jordan: Strzok’s FBI Texts About Trump Were ‘Most Extreme Bias I’ve Ever Seen’

Tennessee Star Staff

Rep. Jim Jordan says text messages between former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page telegraphed “the most extreme bias” he’s ever seen. The Ohio Republican and member of the House Oversight Committee engaged in a rhetorical sparring match Monday night with CNN’s Chris Cuomo about special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling of the 2016 election, with Mr. Jordan saying he was astonished at the animosity shown against President Trump by the FBI’s former No. 2 counterintelligence official.

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Analysis: What is the Haslam Legacy?

Tennessee Star Staff

As Governor Bill Haslam delivered his final State of the State address Monday night he appropriately looked back over the accomplishments that he and the Legislature have produced since he first took office seven years ago. The Governor is clearly pretty proud of his record, and there has in fact been some notable progress in a few areas during his tenure.  The questions that remain are: 1. how much of the credit actually belongs to him; and, 2. whether his signature accomplishments in education will actually produce measurable results that justify the investment of taxpayer dollars. Let’s look at three key issues: (1) Tax Cuts Several tax cuts were implemented over the past seven years – eliminating the inheritance tax, eliminating the Hall income tax, a narrowly targeted reduction in fuel taxes for FedEx (who’s Chairman sits on the Board of the Governor’s family business), elimination of what was essentially an income tax on professional athletes in certain sports (though the Professional Privilege Tax, a flat rate income tax on a couple of dozen professions remains in place) and cutting taxes that primarily benefit a few dozen of the biggest corporate cronies of the Governor (though that one included a…

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Letter to the Editor: The ‘Heartbeat Bill’ Should Wait

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Fetus on Health

Dear Tennessee Star, After reading the article in the TN Star regarding HB 108, the “Heartbeat Bill,” I want to emphasize the significance of the position taken by TN Right to Life. To the dismay of pro-life supporters across the state, including myself, we cannot allow this legislation to pass. Let me explain. Anyone who pays attention to the long game of politics knows that, when a controversial bill on any issue is passed, it only takes moments for the opposition to file a lawsuit. Just as in 2014 when pro-life Amendment 1 was passed, Planned Parenthood had filed a lawsuit in federal court within days. What many don’t realize is the cost of fighting against one of these lawsuits is far more than dollars. While the majority of people in America may very well be pro-life, the pro-abortion lobby is powerful and well-funded. And we know what is at stake if we lose in the courts. It’s not just a loss, it’s a setback – of several steps. When the Roe vs. Wade decision was handed down in 1973, states across the nation began establishing laws to regulate the abortion industry. Under a Democratic ruled General Assembly, Tennessee was…

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Trey Gowdy Calls Release of Nunes’ Memo ‘Embarrassing’ to Democrat Adam Schiff

Tennessee Star Staff

Release of the controversial memo detailing partisan bias at the highest levels of the Department of Justice and FBI “would be embarrassing to Adam Schiff [D-Calif.] once people realize the extent to which he went to keep them from learning any of this,” Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said Tuesday on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.” “My…

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Comey ‘Was a Dirty Cop’ Who ‘Dirtied Up’ People, diGenova Tells Ingraham

Tennessee Star Staff

Former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Joseph diGenova said Monday on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” that former FBI Director James Comey “was a dirty cop” who “dirtied up everybody else around him,” including departing FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. NBC News first reported Monday that McCabe was stepping down from his role in…

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Court Rules Memphis’ Hastily Removed Confederate Statues Must Be ‘Preserved and Maintained’

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Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ordered Memphis Greenspace Inc. – the nonprofit owned by Shelby County Commissioner Val Turner who ‘bought‘ two statues in a questionable transaction with the City of Memphis – to maintain and preserve the statues of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, President Jefferson Davis, and Captain J. Harvey Mathes until a contested case hearing is held with the Tennessee Historical Commission within the next 60 days. The Commercial Appeal reports: The commission, which rejected the city’s request for a waiver to remove the Forrest statue in October, will determine whether the city violated state law when it sold the parks and statues to Greenspace for a total of $2,000 on Dec. 20, making the parks and the statues private property. State laws require the commission’s approval before removal of historical monuments — but only if the monuments are on public property. The 16-page order’s temporary injunction was a partial, if unsurprising, win for the Sons of Confederate Veterans Nathan Bedford Forrest Camp 215 as the organization seeks to return the statues to Health Sciences and Fourth Bluff parks in Downtown Memphis. “It’s not over — but today was an important day,” said Doug Jones, attorney for the Sons of…

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Winning! Donald Trump Delivers Powerful State of the Union Address That Celebrates ‘A New American Moment’

Tennessee Star Staff

President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in a smooth and powerful delivery that focused on “a New American Moment.” “This is our New American Moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American dream,” the president said. Trump called for bipartisan support of his plan to secure the borders and reform immigration, which he called a compromise “down the middle” that consists of four pillars: 1. A 12 year path to citizenship for the 1.8 million illegal immigrants who came to the country as children. 2. Funding for a secure border wall. 3. And end to the immigration visa lottery. 4. An end to chain migration. “Americans are dreamers, too,” Trump said, to great applause. Throughout his one hour and 20 minute speech–one of the longest State of the Union addresses in history–Trump introduced and honored members of the audience who personified the American dream. A police officer and his wife who adopted the child of a woman addicted to opioids, a soldier who saved the life of his comrades, the parents of two young girls murdered by illegal immigrants, and the parents of the…

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No Evidence Public Meetings Were Held Before November Announcement Tyson Foods Chicken Processing Plant Coming to Gibson County

Chris Alto

Gibson County Mayor Tom Witherspoon has defended “as very open and transparent” the process that culminated in a November 20, 2017 announcement that Tyson Foods would be building a new chicken processing plant in Humboldt, a small city with about 8,300 residents in Gibson County. With regard to public meetings being held about the Tyson plant, Witherspoon, a Democrat who has endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd, was asked in a Facebook exchange whether the “open meetings with the media were before or after the decision was made and was the public informed of the meetings ahead of time?” Witherspoon responded: Media was involved before, during and after. All public meetings were properly advertised, conducted and closed. He also stated that: I can assure you that many, many community leaders along with the media and public were involved in  multiple meetings. I don’t know anyone in Gibson County that wasn’t aware of Tysons coming weeks before the official announcement. (Editors’s Note: The Tennessee Star has screenshots of these Facebook exchanges.) On January 23, 2018, The Tennessee Star emailed the Gibson County Director of Economic Development asking for the specific dates of the public meetings, how they were advertised and where they were…

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Paul Gosar Calls On Capitol Police and Attorney General Jeff Sessions To Arrest Illegals At State of the Union Address Tonight

Tennessee Star Staff

GOP Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona asked U.S. Capitol Police and Attorney General Jeff Sessions if they would consider arresting illegal immigrants who are attending President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address Tuesday evening. “Today, Congressman Paul Gosar contacted the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asking they consider checking…

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Mae Beavers Suspends Campaign for Governor

Tennessee Star Staff

Former State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) announced via Facebook at 4 p.m. today that she is suspending her campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. You can read her Facebook post here: Beavers’ rival for the Republican nomination, Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) issued a statement praising her minutes later. “While Mae and I don’t always agree on tactics, we have always agreed on philosophy, and I’ve always known her to be a dedicated conservative who fights for what she believes in,” Black said in a statement. “From our time in the state legislature fighting to protect the unborn and to stop a state income tax, we know the conservative movement is stronger when we are fighting for the same cause together. I wish Mae the best and hope that she will continue to be active in the fight in Tennessee,” Black concluded. Another GOP rival in the governor’s race, Williamson County businessman Bill Lee, praised Beavers in a tweet. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know @MaeBeavers and Jerry on the campaign trail over the past year. I look forward to seeing her steadfast conservative leadership be put to work in other ways in Tennessee in the months and years ahead,”…

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Obama Appointed Federal Judge Rules Illegals have Constitutional Right to ‘Say Goodbye’ to Family

Tennessee Star Staff

Illegal immigrants snared by deportation officers have “the freedom to say goodbye” to their families, a federal judge in New York ruled Monday, ordering the government to release a prominent activist to his family. Judge Katherine B. Forrest, an Obama appointee to the bench, said the government was following the law when it picked up Ravidath Lawrence Ragbir, the illegal immigrant. But she said there were “larger, more fundamental” rights at stake that were trampled on. 

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Gov. Haslam Delivers Final State of the State Address

Tennessee Star Staff
Bill Haslam

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–Gov. Bill Haslam delivered his final “State of the State” address before a joint session of the Tennessee General Assembly on Monday evening. In a forty minute speech, Haslam recounted the highlights of his two terms as government, and called on state legislators to act on his recently announced plan to fight opioid addiction in the state. He received a standing ovation when he noted that his administration has cut $578 million in taxes. However, when he noted last year’s IMPROVE Act, which raised gasoline taxes by 6 cents per gallon and diesel taxes by 10 cents per gallon to fund highway construction, he received only lukewarm applause. His biggest standing ovation from the gathered state legislators came when he noted that the people of Tennessee want to work, and they want their government to work as well. Several legislators told The Tennessee Star that there were no surprises in the governor’s speech, and that it was more general in nature than his previous State of the State speeches. Predictably, Tennessee Democrats panned Haslam’s speech. “Sadly, the Governor’s paltry 25 million opioid plan represents a business-as-usual approach to the opioid crisis – our communities are facing a dire emergency…

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Americans More Satisfied with Military, Security, Economy Under Trump

Tennessee Star Staff

Americans reported substantially higher levels of satisfaction with the country’s military, security from terrorism and the state of the economy under President Donald Trump than they felt under former President Barack Obama a year ago, according to a Gallup poll released Monday. Roughly 78 percent of Americans felt satisfied with the military’s strength and preparedness, up…

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Does State Of The Union Address Indicate Bad News For Nashville Transit Funding?

Jason M. Reynolds

President Donald Trump is expected to announce in tonight’s State of the Union address $200 billion in federal funding for infrastructure and other projects. But one PAC that opposes Nashville’s transit plan says that is not necessarily good news for Mayor Megan Barry. Politico reports the president had promised a $1 trillion, 10-year blueprint to rebuild American roads, railroads, bridges and airports. State, local and private investors would have to cough up more money than normally would be the case under the president’s proposal. “Instead of the grand, New Deal-style public works program that Trump’s eye-popping price tag implies, Democratic lawmakers and mayors fear the plan would set up a vicious, zero-sum scramble for a relatively meager amount of federal cash — while forcing cities and states to scrounge up more of their own money, bringing a surge of privately financed toll roads, and shredding regulations in the name of building projects faster,” Politico says. The administration says $200 billion is not a large amount for such a plan but adds it would draw state, local and private funds. In addition to land transportation infrastructure, identified possible projects include rural broadband service, veterans hospitals and commercial spaceflight. The White House is…

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Attorney Gino Bulso Announces Bid to Replace Retiring State Representative Charles Sargent

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Real estate attorney Gino Bulso announced on Monday he is running for the Republican nomination to represent Tennessee State House District 61 in a bid to replace the retiring State Rep. Charles Sargent (R-Franklin). “I am running because I believe strong families are essential to the prosperity of our state and country,” Bulso said in a statement. “I have always had a passion for public service. I have always believed we find our greatest happiness and our greatest fulfillment in our families, but too often, our government passes laws and policies that weaken, rather than strengthen, the family. I want to be a voice for those who believe that the strength of our country ultimately depends principally upon the strength of our families,” Bulso added. The graduate of Cornell College (Iowa) and Emory University Law School said he is “a strong proponent for the sanctity of life and has worked consistently for the protection of unborn life,” and that he is “a proud supporter of the 2nd amendment and backs President Trump’s efforts to secure our border.” Bulso noted that dealing with Williamson County’s explosive growth is one of the key legislative areas he intends to address. “Most of us live in…

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George Rasley Commentary: Trump Immigration Plan – Making America Into California

Tennessee Star Staff

by George Rasley, ConservativeHQ.com Editor   President Trump’s recently released immigration framework is a disaster for America and for the prospects of conservative government for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it sets millions of unassimilated foreigners on a path to citizenship and voting. Think California on steroids. About 6 in 10 illegal aliens in the United States live in one of 20 metro areas, with three regions in Southern California combining to make up the largest cluster of people living in the country illegally, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. Pew, which has tracked the undocumented population for several years, pegs the total number of aliens in the United States illegally at about 11.1 million nationwide. In Southern California, about 1.4 million illegal aliens live between the southern Ventura County border and the U.S.-Mexico border — the biggest concentration of undocumented people in the country, according to reporting by Grace Wyler of the Orange County Register. Given those numbers, it should surprise no one that the formerly “Golden State” is now officially the poverty capital of America. California — not Mississippi, New Mexico, or West Virginia — has the highest poverty…

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Senate Candidate Marsha Blackburn Launches Radio Ads to Ask Listeners to ‘Stand for the Anthem’

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Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) launched a radio ad campaign Thursday asking NFL and SuperBowl LII fans to “Stand for the Anthem.” The sixty-second spot, which reflects previous criticisms she has made of the so-called NFL-Kneelers, is set to air through Game Day, February 4th, the Columbia Daily Herald reports. The advertisement begins with an announcer in voiceover  – accompanied by a soaring musical score reminiscent of Aaron Copland’s ‘Rodeo’ – who says, “Veterans. They fought for our freedom and they deserve our respect. Every. Single. Day.” Next, the listener hears Blackburn saying, “I’m Marsha Blackburn. I stand for our veterans, the president and ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’” The announcer returns, saying, “Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee conservative.” In her own voice, Blackburn offers her argument and her request: “I think it is important that each of us take that three minutes and use that as a time to sing those words. You have freedom of speech, you have a right of peaceful protest. But during that three minutes – that belongs to people who have fought to defend the freedoms that we have.” The announcer returns, saying, “Marsha Blackburn, standing with our veterans.” Blackburn adds, “I’m Marsha Blackburn. I stand for our veterans, the president and ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’…

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Poll: Black Leads Dean by 11 in Gubernatorial General Election Matchup; Harwell, Boyd and Lee Also Lead Dean

Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star Poll results released on Tuesday show that Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) leads Democratic front runner Karl Dean by 11 points in a head-to-head matchup in Tennessee’s general election for governor, 46 percent to 35 percent. Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) leads Dean by 10 points, 42 percent to 32 percent, and Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd leads Dean by 9 points, 43 percent to 34 percent. The two other potential Republican gubernatorial challengers fare less well. Williamson County businessman Bill Lee leads Dean by 4 points 38 percent to 34 percent, and former State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) is essentially tied with Dean, leading by two-tenths of one percent, 35.9 percent to 35.7 percent The automated (IVR) telephone survey of 1,003 likely Tennessee voters in the November 2018 general election was conducted for The Tennessee Star by Triton Research between January 21 and January 24 and has a 3.1 percent margin of error. “Because the poll included fewer African American respondents than the likely distribution in November 2018, I think it is safe to add about five percentage points to the results for Dean in each head to head matchup,” conservative political analyst and media consultant Steve Gill…

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George Soros Money Funneled to Tennessee Organizations

Chris Alto

The TN Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) and the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) each received grants from the Proteus Fund, itself a recipient of millions of dollars from the George Soros Open Society Foundations. The grants to the two Tennessee organizations were made through the Proteus “Security & Collaborative Rights” (SCR) initiative. TIRRC received a $40,000 grant: To support TIRRC’s leadership development and civic engagement work with MASA [Muslim, Arab and South Asian] communities. This will include public education on immigrant and refugee policies at the local, state, and federal level and building MASA immigrant civic engagement through naturalization, voter engagement, and policy advocacy. AMAC received a $7,000 grant: Given the recent uptick in Immigrations and Customs Enforcement targeting and detaining Kurdish community members in Tennessee, SRC support will allow AMAC to implement plans to continue to provide a hotline, media outreach, and Know Your Rights seminars for the community. Shireen Zaman is Proteus SCR’s Program Director. Named by the Obama White House as a “Champion of Change, Zaman is also the former Executive Director of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). With offices in Dearborn, Michigan and Washington, D.C., the ISPU works to promote the interests of…

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Senator Lindsey Graham: We’re Not Going to Build a 1,900-Mile Border Wall

Tennessee Star Staff

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday that the $25 billion for a U.S.-Mexico border wall and other infrastructure in President Trump’s immigration proposal can be spent wisely, and that he doesn’t envision constructing a bona fide 1,900-mile wall. Mr. Graham said lawmakers included some $42 billion for border security in a 2013 immigration bill the U.S. Senate passed, so the $25 billion for a border wall and infrastructure in Mr. Trump’s proposal isn’t an “outrageous” number.

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Rail Line Could Make Nashville Budget Sick, Unable To Fund Retiree Insurance

Jason M. Reynolds

Retired Metro Nashville employees’ benefits are in jeopardy, one PAC says, even as Mayor Megan Barry’s supporters have no trouble raising funds from the business community to try to persuade voters to pay $9 billion for a transit system. NoTax4Tracks says in a press release that Metro Nashville has a health insurance funding shortfall for retirees to the tune of nearly $3 billion. “The good news is you are probably going to get whatever is in your pension. That part of the retirement plan is fairly well funded. The bad news is that health insurance coverage you were promised …. maybe not so much.” Health insurance, a part of “other post employment benefits (OPEB), are funded at 0 percent, the press release says, citing an October 2017 letter from Metro’s director of finance, Talia Lomax-O’dneal. The shortfall is nothing new. A Jan. 26, 2015 story from the Tennessean says the issue dates to 2002. Many of the retirement benefits are paid from the city’s budget and costs grew from 13 percent of the total property tax revenue to 25 percent in 2015. The story cites a report from The Pew Charitable Trusts that says the health care plan faces a long-term shortfall…

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Despite Strong National Pro-Life Sentiment, Heartbeat Bill May Be Killed in Tennessee General Assembly Committees

Laura Baigert
Fetus on Health

A recent poll reveals that the majority of Americans consider abortion to be morally wrong and even those who identify as pro-choice want stricter limits on abortion. However, the Heartbeat Bill under consideration in the current session of the Tennessee General Assembly may never make it to the floor for a full vote if it is killed in the committee process. The same bill never made it out of the House Health Subcommittee in 2017, and was rolled to the 2018 calendar. As The Tennessee Star reported, Marist Poll findings released prior to the world’s largest annual pro-life event, March for Life 2018, revealed that 76 percent of Americans, and even 60 percent of those who identify as pro-choice, would “limit abortion to – at most – the first three months of pregnancy.” Tennessee’s most recent pro-life legislation, which passed in 2017 was the “Tennessee Infants Protection Act,” (HB1189 / SB 1180) sponsored by State Rep. Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough) and Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), had 35 House co-sponsors. The bill, signed by the Governor on May 11, 2017, “prohibits abortion of a viable fetus except in a medical emergency and requires testing to determine viability if a woman is at…

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Commentary: We Need a Constitutional Supreme Court, Not a ‘Fair’ Supreme Court

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U.S. Supreme Court

 By Natalia Castro   The Supreme Court was never intended to be fair; it was designed to interpret the constitution. Political parties have no place in the branch of government created only to determine the constitutionality of existing laws. The judicial branch does not write laws nor does it express political opinions, it is a system for interpreting current laws and policies policy and how they would be viewed by the Framers and maintain the legacy they created for this country. It seems some need to be reminded of that. National Review’s Michael Brendan Dougherty’s claims, “The Supreme Court’s role…with Kennedy as the swing justice, has been to moderate and restrain the ambitions of each party. Kennedy deals out victories and defeats to each side — giving slightly more defeats to social conservatives. In effect, he constrains what each side can do to the other. His mercurial jurisprudence replicates and even gives the savor of legitimacy to a closely divided country.” Dougherty argues that this is the role the Supreme Court should maintain into the future, equally dealing out wins and losses to each political party, ensuring each side’s constitutional legitimacy, essentially making the Court a purposefully bipartisan enterprise because…

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New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio Admits He Wants To Kill the Oil Industry With Global Warming Lawsuit

Tennessee Star Staff

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said his administration’s recent divestment action and lawsuit were meant to “help bring the death knell” to the the oil industry. But de Blasio’s remarks on killing off the oil industry directly contradict New York City’s statements to the court, filed in their lawsuit against five major oil companies.

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Poll: Blackburn Leads Bredesen by 11 in Tennessee U.S. Senate General Election Matchup, 50 to 39

Tennessee Star Staff

A new Tennessee Star Poll released on Monday shows that Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) leads former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, in a head-to-head general election matchup for the Tennessee U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) by 11 points, 50 percent to 39 percent. The same poll shows that Bredesen leads former Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN-08) by 3 points, 41 percent to 38 percent in a head-to-head matchup, within the poll’s margin of error. The automated (IVR) telephone survey of 1,003 likely Tennessee voters in the November 2018 general election was conducted for The Tennessee Star by Triton Research between January 21 and January 24 and has a 3.1 percent margin of error. Forty-six percent of poll respondents were Republicans, 25 percent were Democrats, and 27 percent were Independents. “With Bredesen having served as a two term governor, he has a strong residual of name recognition across the state that currently gives him a slight advantage over Blackburn who is less well known outside of Middle Tennessee,” conservative political commentator and media consultant Steve Gill says. “In East Tennessee, for example, a strong base of Republican voters will almost certainly help her move more of the…

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Ikea Founder Ingvar Kamprad Dies at 91

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Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad has died aged 91, the company said Sunday, leaving behind a global business empire built on revolutionary flat-pack furniture but under investigation over its tax practices in the Netherlands. The company said in a statement that Kamprad “passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones” at his home in the southern Swedish region of Smaland on Saturday “following a brief illness”.

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Experts at Beacon Center’s ‘Off Track: What’s Wrong With Nashville’s Transit Plan & What We Should Do Instead’ Summit Slam Mayor Barry’s Scheme

Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The Beacon Center of Tennessee hosted a free conference open to the public on Saturday featuring the nation’s foremost experts discussing “Off Track: What’s Wrong with Nashville’s Transit Plan & What We Should Do Instead.” The title reflects the sentiment of attendees, primarily interested citizens versus special interest groups, that there is a congestion problem in the greater Nashville area that needs a solution, but one that is more efficient and cost effective than the $9 billion Let’s Move Nashville plan being put to referendum on May 1. The event included two power-house panels, the first on “What’s Wrong with the Nashville Plan,” featuring Randal O’Toole, Senior Fellow of the Cato Institute; Michael Sargent, Policy Analyst, Transportation and Infrastructures from the Heritage Foundation; and, Ron Shultis, Policy Coordinator of the Beacon Center of Tennessee, moderated by Ralph Bristol, former WTN 99.7 Nashville Morning News Host. The second panel included Transportation Policy Analyst Baruch Feigenbaum from the Reason Foundation; Marc Scribner, Senior Fellow of Competitive Enterprise Institute; and Emily Hamilton, Policy Research Manager, Mercatus Center, moderated by Beacon Center of Tennessee President and CEO Justin Owen and focused on “A Better Plan for Nashville.” John Cerasulo, Chairman of…

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Metro Nashville Human Relations Commission Violates Public Trust With Overt Political Bias

Chris Alto

The Metro Nashville Human Relations Commission (MNHRC) has established relationships with politically progressive organizations including the American Constitution Society (ACS) whose mission and projects target political conservatives and conservative policies despite the MNHRC alleged commitment to equality: The mission of the Metro Human Relations Commission is to protect and promote the personal dignity, peace, safety, security, health, and general welfare of all people in Nashville and Davidson County. The Commission’s work is organized around a theme of ‘One City for All People.’  This motto guides all MHRC education, training, advocacy, and compliance services. The MNHRC has repeatedly confirmed its collaborative relationship with the ACS. A presentation to the Commission’s board members during their fall 2016 retreat lists ACS among the organizations with which the MNHRC interfaces. During its February 2017 meeting, the MNHRC confirmed an on-going collaboration with the Advisory Board of the ACS whose membership includes Melody Fowler-Green, the MNHRC’s Executive Director. The ACS works to “articulate a progressive vision of our Constitution and laws” as well as: debunking conservative buzzwords such as ‘originalism’ and ‘strict construction’ that use neutral-sounding language but all too often lead to conservative policy outcomes. Using both traditional and new media to communicate with policymakers, judges, lawyers and the public…

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State Senator Mark Green Opens Congressional Campaign Office in Franklin

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FRANKLIN, Tennessee–More than 200 supporters braved rainy weather and slick roads on Saturday night to attend the opening of the Franklin campaign office of State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville). Green is seeking the Republican nomination for the 7th Congressional District seat now held by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07). Blackburn will not be seeking re-election, opting instead to run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate to succeed Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), who announced in September he will not be seeking re-election in 2018. The medical doctor and Army veteran who hopes to move up from the Tennessee State Senate to the United States House Representives, along with his wife Camie, were the hosts of the official Grand Opening of the new Mark Green for Congress Headquarters, located in the Cool Springs area of Franklin. Dr. Green took a moment to speak with The Tennessee Star about what this race means to him: Well it’s great to be here. Thanks for coming out tonight. This is our grand opening of our Franklin office. We’re excited to be in this race. This race is about the difference between big government and personal responsibility. It’s about not exploiting people for their vote,…

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Hillary Clinton Kept Adviser Accused of Sexual Harassment on Her 2008 Campaign: Report

Tennessee Star Staff

Former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton protected a top staff member accused of sexual misconduct during her first presidential campaign in 2008, The New York Times reported Friday. Burns Strider, senior faith adviser to Mrs. Clinton, was accused of sexually harassing a young female aide. Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manager, Patti Soles Doyle, recommended the campaign fire Mr. Strider, but when Mrs. Clinton was made aware of the situation she requested he stay on staff, The Times reported.

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