May 18, 2019 - Tennessee Star

Sen. Blackburn, Reps. DesJarlais, Green Publicly Support President Trump’s Meritocracy-Based Immigration Reform Plan

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful, bold” immigration overhaul plan has at least three backers in Tennessee’s congressional delegation. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and U.S. Reps. Dr. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) and Dr. Mark Green (R-TN-07) issued statements backing the president. Trump this week rolled out a plan to “transform America’s immigration system” from one of random entry to a meritocracy, The Tennessee Star reported Friday. The president acknowledged that his proposal wouldn’t immediately pass and would have to wait until after the 2020 election. Provisions include: legal immigrants entering for jobs would rise from 12 percent to 57 percent; family-based immigration would decrease from two-thirds to one-third; asylum and diversity visas would decrease from 22 percent to 10 percent; and priority would be given to spouses, children and parents, but not extended family. Regarding the plan, DesJarlais said, “The President’s plan is a well-thought-out, sensible one that would end the chaos at the border and across the United States, because of weak border security, bad laws and judicial decisions. As opposed to the random lottery we have right now, we need a merit-based immigration system that attracts high-skilled workers who will not displace American citizens or become a public…

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Residents Express Concerns as Two School Directors, Not One, Draw Money from Stewart County Taxpayers

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Chris Butler

Certain members of the Stewart County School Board waste taxpayer money by having not one but two school directors on the county payroll, says a county resident unhappy with the situation. That man, Dave Vance, told The Tennessee Star Friday that Board Chairman Billy Sexton has mishandled things. As reported, board members appointed an interim director of schools Thursday, even though current Director Leta Jo Joiner has not officially resigned. This, one week after Joiner’s DUI arrest. Sexton said retired educator Tracy Watson was willing to take over as interim director. Board members voted unanimously to make it so. Vance said Sexton had too much say in the matter, while board members didn’t have enough. “We’re paying for two directors and only getting one. This is like the board reacting to the chairman instead of the board being involved throughout this whole process like they should be,” said Vance, who has a grandchild in the school district. “But this meeting should not have been them just coming there to have a name to vote on. This should have been the board involved with asking ‘Who do we want to consider? How long are we looking at?’ If they were…

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GOP House Caucus Chairman Cameron Sexton Responds to The Tennessee Star’s Open Meeting Request

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Laura Baigert

On Friday State Rep. Cameron Sexton (R-Cookeville), Chairman of the Tennessee House Republican Caucus, responded to The Tennessee Star’s request that Monday’s scheduled meeting of the Caucus to discuss Speaker Glen Casada be open to the public and available for live audio and video broadcasts. In a letter to Sexton dated Thursday, May 16, The Star wrote, “The proceedings of the May 20 House Republican Caucus meeting are almost certain to be made available to selected media outlets. The effect of your granting our request will be to guarantee that all media outlets will be able to have live access to those proceedings, not a select few.” Sexton provided The Star with this statement in response Friday morning: Thank you for the letter. As is customary in caucus meetings and was the case earlier this week when the Black Caucus met with Speaker Casada in a closed meeting–caucus meetings can be and have been closed for internal discussions. The Democrat Caucus as well as the Republican Caucus have held some caucus meetings closed over the decade for internal discussions. Members have requested a closed door meeting which I will honor. However I will take your letter under advisement and greatly…

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Commentary: Trump’s Immigration Plan Puts America First by Securing the Border and Emphasizing Merit

May 18, 2019May 18, 2019 Admin

by Robert Romano President Donald Trump on May 16 unveiled his immigration reform plan that would secure the border, place an emphasis on merit-based migration and limit family chain migration. These changes are long overdue and come after more than 50 years since immigration has been meaningfully addressed by Congress. On border security, Trump proposed using customs and border fees to create, in the President’s words, a “permanent and self-sustaining border security trust fund” that in the future could be used to make improvements and expand the wall, without the need for Congress to get involved with annual appropriations. This would deal with normal wear and tear on border barriers that have gone into disrepair and give an administration the flexibility needed to react quickly when the drug cartels and gangs shift the routes they are pursuing to smuggle heroin and other drugs across the U.S. border. Trump said, “Everyone agrees that the physical infrastructure on the border and the ports of entry is gravely underfunded and woefully inadequate.” The President also reported on progress being made to build the wall by the Army Corps of Engineers, saying, “we should have close to 400 miles built by the end…

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So Far During His First Term, U.S. Rep. Green Introduces Nine Pieces of Legislation

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Rep. Dr. Mark Green, a freshman legislator, has introduced nine pieces of legislation so far in his tenure, Congressional records show. The nine pieces of legislation are more than any other Republican freshman member has sponsored, records show. The average amount introduced by freshmen members is 3.3. Here are the pieces of legislation Green has sponsored: H.R. 847 – Protecting Gold Star Spouses Act of 2019 H.R. 1563 – Chester County Reversionary Interest Release Act H.R. 1810 – Kids to College Act H.J.Res. 52 – Amendment to Limit SCOTUS Seats to 9 H.R. 2047 – Allied Burden Sharing Report Act of 2019 H.R. 2589 – Unifying DHS Intelligence Enterprise Act H.R. 2715 – Medicaid Improvement and State Flexibility Act H.R. 2716 – Protecting Gold Star Children Act of 2019 H.Res.304 – Raising a question of the privileges of the House Rep. Green also introduced one amendment that was considered on the House floor. H.Amdt. 77 was offered to alter H.R. 1. House Democrats voted down Green’s amendment to protect free speech in the resolution, which seeks to give the federal government control of elections, The Tennessee Star reported in March. Green is the president of the Republican freshman class.…

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Todd Starnes Commentary: Eight Republicans Join Democrats to Pass All-Out Assault on Faith

May 18, 2019May 18, 2019 Admin

by Todd Starnes If Democrats get their way religious hospitals would be forced to perform abortions, Christian churches would be forced to host events that are contrary to the Bible’s teachings and Christian schools would be required to accommodate the preferences of transgender students regarding athletic teams and bathrooms. The House voted 236-173 to approve the “Equality Act,” legislation that would expand the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity. It would also protect on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition. But it would also completely obliterate the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law that stops the government from encroaching on a person’s religious liberty. In other words, the Equality effectively puts a bullseye on every person of faith in the nation. Eight Republicans broke ranks and voted with the Democrats to attack religious liberty. The renegade Republicans include: Rep. Brooks (IN), Rep. Diaz-Balart (FL), Rep. Fitzpatrick (PA), Rep. Hurd (TX), Rep. Katko (NY), Rep. Reed (NY), Rep. Stefanik (NY) and Rep. Walden (OR). I wrote extensively about this issue in my upcoming book, “Culture Jihad: How to Stop the Left From Killing a Nation.” Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA) told…

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Barr: ‘Very Unusual’ for FBI to Rely on Steele Dossier Given ‘Clear Mistakes’

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Chuck Ross Attorney General William Barr said in an interview that aired Friday that he is investigating what role the Steele dossier played in the Russia probe, and that the salacious document had “a number of clear mistakes.” “It’s a very unusual situation to have opposition research like that, especially one that on its face had a number of clear mistakes and a somewhat jejune analysis,” Barr told Fox News’ Bill Hemmer. “And to use that to conduct counterintelligence against an American political campaign is a strange — would be strange development.” In the interview, Barr spoke at length about an inquiry he launched at the Justice Department into the origins of the Russia investigation. He told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the investigation is also focusing on what information U.S. intelligence agencies gathered on Trump campaign associates before the FBI formally opened its investigation in July 2016. The FBI relied heavily on the Steele dossier, which was funded by the DNC and Clinton campaign, to obtain surveillance warrants against Carter Page, a Trump campaign adviser. But Republicans have accused the FBI of misleading the surveillance court by relying on the dossier given that its…

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Trump Strips California of $930 Million in High-Speed Rail Funding

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Michael Bastasch The Trump administration will terminate its agreement with California to fund the state’s struggling high-speed rail project, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) said Thursday. In a letter to state officials, Administrator Ronald Batory said FRA would deobligate the $928.6 million set aside for the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) under a 2010 agreement. The agency will also continue to examine recouping the $2.5 billion in stimulus funds already spent on the rail program, according to a copy of Batory’s letter obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation. “FRA finds that CHSRA has repeatedly failed to comply with the terms of the FY10 Agreement and has failed to make reasonable progress on the Project,” FRA said in an emailed statement. “Additionally, California has abandoned its original vision of a high-speed passenger rail service connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles, which was essential to its applications for FRA grant funding,” the agency said. The decision to withdraw federal rail funding is likely to heighten tensions between the Trump administration and California. Dubbed the “train to nowhere,” Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in February he shelved plans to complete the entire high-speed rail line that voters approved in 2008. The…

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Democrats Agree to Billions in Humanitarian Assistance for US-Mexico Border

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Jason Hopkins Top Democrats in Congress have acquiesced to some of the administration’s request for billions in southern border aid, but the offer comes with notable limitations. As lawmakers continue to negotiate over a humanitarian relief package, Democrats have offered to include a portion of President Donald Trump’s $4.5 billion request for emergency border spending, according to Democratic leaders and aides. However, Democrats say they will not agree to more money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or additional detention beds. “Democrats refuse to give this administration a blank check, which is why we are insisting on oversight provisions that will protect the dignity and rights of migrants,” a Democratic aide said, according to The Hill. Instead, Democrats want funds directed to the Office of Refugee and Resettlement, the office within Health and Human Services that has handled the thousands of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) arriving at the southern border. “Democrats recognize that there are serious humanitarian needs at the border,” the aide continued. “We gave Congressional Republicans a thoughtful offer to address those needs.” Congressional leaders believe a disaster relief bill can pass before lawmakers take a recess for Memorial Day. The vast number of UACs entering…

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The Supreme Court Is Deciding These Abortion Cases Right Now

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Kevin Daley Alabama GOP Gov. Kay Ivey approved a package of sweeping abortion regulations Wednesday, teeing up a legal fight over Roe v. Wade some believe may reach the Supreme Court. Whether the Alabama law will even reach the Supreme Court on the merits is an open question, though there are two abortion controversies from Indiana and Louisiana on which the justices may act in the coming months. Mandatory ultrasounds, disposal regulations for fetal remains, and bans on trait-selective abortion Vice President Mike Pence signed a battery of abortion regulations into law during his tenure as governor of Indiana. Those mandates require women to have an ultrasound 18 hours before terminating a pregnancy, compel medical professionals to cremate or bury fetal remains, and ban abortions on the basis of sex, race, or disability. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against all three regulations over two different decisions. The first case touched the disposal mandate and the trait-selective abortion ban, which supporters refer to as an anti-eugenics law. A three-judge panel unanimously struck down the trait-selective ban and found against the disposal rules 2-1. The full 7th Circuit elected to review the panel ruling in June 2018,…

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Democrats Unanimous as House Passes Bill Forcing Schools to Let Male Athletes Compete in Girls’ Sports

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Peter Hasson The Democratically controlled House of Representatives voted Friday 236-173 in favor of the Equality Act, which would require schools to include male athletes who identify as transgender girls on female sports teams. Eight Republicans crossed party lines to vote for the bill, which had unanimous Democratic support. The bill amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make “sexual orientation and gender identity” protected characteristics under federal anti-discrimination law. Among other things, that would force public schools to expand female athletic teams to include biological males who identify as transgender girls. Republican Florida Rep. Greg Steube introduced a last-minute amendment to the bill that would have preserved Title IX’s protections of female athletic teams, but Democrats rejected it. Every House Democrat but one co-sponsored the legislation. The only Democrat who wasn’t a co-sponsor, Illinois Rep. Dan Lipinski, announced his support for the bill following pressure from left-wing activists. “People need to wake up. This radical bill is going to totally eliminate women’s and girls sports,” Republican Arizona Rep. Debbie Lesko warned in an op-ed Thursday. Republican Missouri Rep. Vicky Hartzler and a half-dozen other House Republicans held a press conference Thursday in opposition to what Hartzler…

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Commentary: The New SAT ‘Adversity Score’ Turns the Idea of Meritocracy Into a Sham

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Jarret Stepman It would be nice to think that high school students can get into a good university based on their abilities or talents, but a proposed change to the SAT shows how the concept of meritocracy has been turned into a sham. The College Board, according to The Wall Street Journal, will now assign an “adversity score” to SAT test takers, “calculated using 15 factors including the crime rate and poverty levels from the student’s high school and neighborhood.” “There are a number of amazing students who may have scored less [on the SAT] but have accomplished more,” said David Coleman, chief executive of the College Board, according to The Wall Street Journal. “We can’t sit on our hands and ignore the disparities of wealth reflected in the SAT.” The adversity rating has already been used by 50 colleges in 2018, but will eventually extend to significantly more colleges. Every student who takes the SAT will receive this adversity score, according to the Journal, but the students and parents won’t know what it is. Of course, how something as subjective as “adversity” can actually be boiled down to a number for each person is already dubious. Worse,…

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Report: Ohio State Team Doctor Allegedly Abused Nearly 200 Male Students Over 18 Years

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Evie Fordham Ohio State University employees allegedly failed to act in a timely manner on claims that a university team doctor was sexually abusing student-athletes — and at least 177 students were abused over roughly two decades, according to a long-anticipated report released Friday. The independent investigation found the late Dr. Richard Strauss’s alleged habit of abusing male students was an “open secret” known by coaches, trainers, other team doctors and school leaders, reported The Associated Press. The report included information gathered from hundreds of former students and university employees. Strauss died by suicide in 2005 after working at the university from 1978 to 1998, reported USA Today. The report found Strauss abused male students involved in at least 16 sports, and students described his examinations as being “hazed,” according to the AP. “The findings are shocking and painful to comprehend,” university president Michael Drake wrote in an email sent to students, faculty and staff Friday. “On behalf of the university, we offer our profound regret and sincere apologies to each person who endured Strauss’ abuse. Our institution’s fundamental failure at the time to prevent this abuse was unacceptable — as were the inadequate efforts to thoroughly investigate…

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Michigan Senate’s Budget Excludes Gas Tax Proposed by Gov. Whitmer, Potential Veto

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Tyler Arnold The Michigan Senate passed a budget package that secured some additional funding for roads, but falls far short of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed road funding and excludes her proposed 45-cent gas tax hike, which would nearly triple the tax. “We are … investing an additional $132 million entirely to local roads – fully implementing $1.2 billion from the 2015 roads plan a year ahead of schedule,” Sen. Stamas, R-Midland, said in a news release. Stamas is the chairman of the Senate appropriations committee. “Discussions can and will continue on additional funding for our roads, but we need to press forward and fulfill our other responsibilities with the resources that we currently have,” Stamas said. “It’s one of our top jobs to pass a balanced budget on time – and we owe that to all Michigan families.” Whitmer’s plan would have increased the state’s gas tax from 26 cents to 71 cents to generate $2.5 billion in revenue that would be spent fully on road funding. But her plan would have eliminated $600 million of road funding from the general revenue and diverted that money to other issues, including education and ensuring the quality of drinking…

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Governor Mike DeWine Says He Intends to Take Abortion Bill Lawsuit to Supreme Court

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Admin

by Tyler Arnold The Ohio ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging recently signed legislation that would prohibit abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said he intends to take this fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge the abortion law precedent set by Roe V. Wade. “This is an expected development,” Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for DeWine, told The Center Square in an email. “Gov. DeWine has long said that this issue will ultimately be decided by the United States Supreme Court.” The national ACLU and abortion provider Planned Parenthood filed the joint lawsuit with the Ohio ACLU. The lawsuit claims that the legislation violates the precedent in Roe V. Wade, which ruled that abortion is a Constitutionally protected right required to protect a woman’s right to privacy. “This assault on reproductive rights has been anticipated, and we’ve been preparing and perfecting our case,” Freda Levenson, the legal director for the Ohio ACLU, said in a news release. “‘Total ban’ is not inflammatory rhetoric — this is a ban on almost all abortions, and if the court does not block it, it will imperil the freedoms and health of Ohio women,”…

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Boston’s Talk Radio King Howie Carr Joins the The Tennessee Star Report to Discuss ‘Bull Dog’ Special Prosecuter John Durham

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Julie Carr

On Friday’s Tennessee Star Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am-the duo welcomed longtime friend and the King of Boston radio, Howie Carr to the show to discuss current US Attorney John Durham’s history in Boston and his ability to prosecute the former intelligence staff of Comey, Brennan, McCabe and Starck. Towards the end of the show, the men speculated when they might see some indictments and guessed that the spring of 2020 could be the time. Gill: Howie Carr who has been aware of and focused on John Durham for a while who was investigating Whitey Bulger. And then Bob Mueller’s bogus prosecution of several individuals who were jailed improperly. Durham focused the attention that wasn’t the real bad guys. That there was a guy that was an FBI informant that Mueller was covering up for that was the real bad guy. Ultimately John Durham was able to get the folks who were wrongly prosecuted by Mueller released. And Howie Carr in Boston was in the thick of it. Howie, good to have you back with us. Carr: Hey my…

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Omar Calls for Abolishing ICE and Ending ‘Criminalization’ of ‘Those Crossing the Border’

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) called for abolishing ICE and ending the “criminalization” of “immigrants and those crossing the border.” The comments were made during a speech Omar gave at a rally Thursday in Washington, D.C. The event was hosted by MoveOn and its allied organizations, who brought a replica of the State of Liberty to “make clear America welcomes immigrants and refugees.” LIVE we brought the Statue of Liberty to D.C. to make clear #americawelcomes immigrants and refugees https://t.co/pJB5MSD6kE — MoveOn (@MoveOn) May 16, 2019 “We unveiled a Statue of Liberty replica in D.C. as a reminder to everyone that our immigration policies must be rooted in dignity, human rights, and respect,” Omar wrote on Twitter. During the rally, Omar said she decided to participate “because we live in a country that was founded on the idea of justice, of liberty, and of the pursuit of happiness.” “But those core beliefs, these ideas, are being threatened by this administration,” she continued. “This administration has explicitly targeted immigrants and people of color at every single turn. This president would rather demonize immigrants and cage children than pass a comprehensive immigration reform.” We unveiled a Statue of Liberty replica in DC…

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Tim Ryan, Who Was Once Pro-Life, Says He Would Have Pro-Choice ‘Litmus Test’ for SCOTUS Nominees

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Ohio Democrat and 2020 presidential candidate Tim Ryan said on Thursday that he would “most definitely” have a Roe v. Wade “litmus test” for Supreme Court nominees, were he to become president. “If you’re president, would you essentially have a Roe litmus test for judges?” host Chuck Todd asked on MSBNC’s “Meet the Press” Thursday night. “Yeah. Yeah, I would. Most definitely. Pure and simple. At this moment in history, people can try to dance around it. I will have someone who will protect Roe v. Wade. No question about it,” Ryan responded. WATCH: Presidential candidate @TimRyan says he would “most definitely” have a Roe v. Wade litmus test for Supreme Court judges as president. #MTPDaily pic.twitter.com/FKUuUOLfPT — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) May 16, 2019 Ryan has been particularly vocal about his pro-choice positions as of late, especially after Alabama passed what Democrats are calling “the most extreme anti-choice measure in the country.” “Absolutely appalling move from lawmakers in Alabama,” Ryan said in response to the news. “This would effectively ban all abortions—including cases of rape and incest, punish women, and threaten doctors. Government has no place in this conversation.” Absolutely appalling move from lawmakers in Alabama. This would…

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House Ethics Committee Member Calls for Resignation of House Speaker Casada Despite Confidentiality of Advisory Opinion

May 18, 2019May 18, 2019 Laura Baigert

A member of the House Ethics Committee, Representative Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah) issued a statement calling for the resignation of Glen Casada as House Speaker after participating in a confidential advisory opinion process. All aspects of a House Ethics Committee advisory opinion are confidential, according to Representative Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough), Deputy Speaker and Chair of the House Ethics Committee, who said in an exclusive statement to The Tennessee Star that, “Per House rules, an advisory opinion and any information related to it is kept confidential.” The advisory opinion was requested by House Speaker Glen Casada (R-Franklin) as part of an action plan he issued May 8 that, as he put it, “seeks to provide clarity on what has transpired, as well as ensure that I am doing everything within my power to prevent future missteps.” In the lengthy statement published by Times Free Press, Carter retreated from his previous position that a decision not be made until all the facts were known and the investigation completed, because he feels moved to call for the resignation of Speaker Casada based on the facts that he now knows. Carter’s statement came after participating in an individual meeting as a member of the…

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