thetennesseestar--2020-12-07--Ohio Senate President: Regulatory Reform Most Sweeping in Ohio Modern History

In an effort that Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof said was four years in the making , the Ohio Senate voted Thursday to trim government regulations to help businesses across the state .
The Senate voted to agree with House changes to Senate Bill 1 , legislation that Obhof , R-Medina , said has been worked on by himself , Lt. Gov .
Jon Husted and state Sens .
Kristina Roegner , R-Hudson , and Rob McColley , R-Napoleon , for years .
“ As one of the most highly regulated states in the nation , passing Senate Bill 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and job growth by eliminating unnecessary and burdensome administrative rules , ” McColley said .
“ Cutting this red tape will positively impact businesses in our community , many of which are struggling because of the pandemic.
” The Ohio House included language that would place limits on the state director of heath ’ s discretion to issue stay-at-home or stay-safe orders .
The Senate rejected the amendment , sticking to the regulatory spirit of the bill .
Obhof pointed to Ohio ’ s long list of regulations , saying the state has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states , and they create issues for small businesses .
He also said the legislation would change the daily work for regulators to discover ways to end government red tape , rather than searching for new regulations .
“ This is perhaps the most sweeping regulatory reform in modern Ohio history , ” Obhof said .
“ Now , we all know that some regulations are necessary for health and safety and the environment , but many of these restrictions create unnecessary hurdles for Ohio ’ s small businesses .
We don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states.
” The House is expected to vote on the conference committee report next week , and then the legislation will go to Gov .
Mike DeWine .
“ This is basic , good government , ” Obhof said from the Senate floor before the vote .
“ This is what most of us say when we are back in our districts .
It would remove unnecessary infringements on people ’ s liberties.
” J.D .
Davidson is regular contributor to The Center Square .
He is a veteran journalist with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his home state of Ohio , as well as Georgia , Alabama and Texas .
He has served as a reporter , editor , managing editor and publisher .

by J. D. Davidson
In an effort that Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof said was four years in the making, the Ohio Senate voted Thursday to trim government regulations to help businesses across the state.
The Senate voted to agree with House changes to Senate Bill 1, legislation that Obhof, R-Medina, said has been worked on by himself, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and state Sens. Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, and Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, for years.
“As one of the most highly regulated states in the nation, passing Senate Bill 1 would drastically improve Ohio’s economy and job growth by eliminating unnecessary and burdensome administrative rules,” McColley said. “Cutting this red tape will positively impact businesses in our community, many of which are struggling because of the pandemic.”
The Ohio House included language that would place limits on the state director of heath’s discretion to issue stay-at-home or stay-safe orders. The Senate rejected the amendment, sticking to the regulatory spirit of the bill.
Obhof pointed to Ohio’s long list of regulations, saying the state has more than 100,000 more regulations than many other states, and they create issues for small businesses. He also said the legislation would change the daily work for regulators to discover ways to end government red tape, rather than searching for new regulations.
“This is perhaps the most sweeping regulatory reform in modern Ohio history,” Obhof said. “Now, we all know that some regulations are necessary for health and safety and the environment, but many of these restrictions create unnecessary hurdles for Ohio’s small businesses. We don’t need 100,000 more regulations than other states.”
The House is expected to vote on the conference committee report next week, and then the legislation will go to Gov. Mike DeWine.
“This is basic, good government,” Obhof said from the Senate floor before the vote. “This is what most of us say when we are back in our districts. It would remove unnecessary infringements on people’s liberties.”
– – –
J.D. Davidson is regular contributor to The Center Square. He is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in his home state of Ohio, as well as Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-07--Washington Metro Cuts 1,400 Employees Starting on Christmas

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ( WMATA ) is expected to lay off over a thousand employees over a period starting on Christmas , according to layoff notices filed in Virginia , Washington , D.C. , and Maryland .
The cuts are the result of low ridership in the current 2021 fiscal year , which ends in June .
A Metro official , who was not authorized to talk to the media , said that approximately 1,400 layoffs were expected soon , with an additional 2,400 needed to cover shortfalls in fiscal year 2022 .
On its website , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year 2021 .
“ We ’ re preparing to resume fare collection on Metrobus and cut costs by limiting the use of contractors , furloughing employees , and deferring some capital program expenses .
But the budget shortfall is so large , service cuts and layoffs will also be needed beginning in December.
” Looking ahead to fiscal year 2022 , WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld signaled a need for another federal bailout like the CARES Act funds the metro received in Spring 2020 .
“ Without additional federal funding , constrained jurisdiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pre-pandemic levels , operating gap will be almost half a billion dollars , ” states the GM ’ s fiscal proposal .
According to The Washington Business Journal , Wiedefeld said that unless that funding materializes , the second round of 2,400 layoffs will be necessary .
In a Friday meeting with the WMATA board , Wiedefeld said that vaccine availability wouldn ’ t instantly drive WMATA ridership back to normal levels .
Not only is WMATA lacking business commuters , it ’ s also struggling with decreased tourism to Washington .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t just move people to work .
This summer , if the museums aren ’ t open and people aren ’ t coming back for that tourism , we lose a lot of riders , ” Wiedefeld said .
“ We already know for instance , the Cherry Blossom Festival has been canceled.
” WMATA is mainly funded by governments , including Virginia , Maryland , Washington D.C. , and localities including Arlington and Fairfax .
According to the current fiscal year 2021 budget , $ 2.4 billion is expected from state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in federal funding , with an additional $ 546.3 million allocated from federal CARES act funds .
Due to COVID-19 , only $ 385.9 million is expected to be earned through fares and parking revenue .
However , government funding of WMATA is normal .
In 2010 , a Congressional Resource Service ( CRS ) report said the transportation authority is structured more like a publicly-owned utility than a corporation .
In pre-pandemic fiscal year 2019 , WMATA budgeted for $ 736 million in fares and parking revenue , while federal , state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion dollars to the transportation authority .
In 2016 , Wiedefeld announced 500 layoffs as the metro adopted a more austere budget , according to The Washington Post .
The General Manager was hired in 2015 , according to his bio .
WMATA ’ s financial woes go back even farther .
The 2010 CRS report said , “ Funding is a perennial problem for WMATA , as it is for most public transit agencies , because it is heavily reliant on government support to cover both capital and operating costs.
” However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still be able to prevent the second wave of layoffs .
“ The 2022 fiscal year budget won ’ t be finalized until March 2021 , ” Weidefeld said according to The Washington Business Journal .
“ That gives some time to stave off the second round of layoffs .
If the congressional funds come in the near term , between now and the next few months , we can turn relatively quickly .
This doesn ’ t kick in until July .
We can pull back.
” Eric Burk is a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ The metro ” by WMATA .

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is expected to lay off over a thousand employees over a period starting on Christmas, according to layoff notices filed in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. The cuts are the result of low ridership in the current 2021 fiscal year, which ends in June. A Metro official, who was not authorized to talk to the media, said that approximately 1,400 layoffs were expected soon, with an additional 2,400 needed to cover shortfalls in fiscal year 2022.
On its website, WMATA lists cost saving measures for fiscal year 2021. “We’re preparing to resume fare collection on Metrobus and cut costs by limiting the use of contractors, furloughing employees, and deferring some capital program expenses. But the budget shortfall is so large, service cuts and layoffs will also be needed beginning in December.”
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2022, WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld signaled a need for another federal bailout like the CARES Act funds the metro received in Spring 2020.
“Without additional federal funding, constrained jurisdiction subsidies and ridership projected at 34% of pre-pandemic levels, operating gap will be almost half a billion dollars,” states the GM’s fiscal proposal. According to The Washington Business Journal, Wiedefeld said that unless that funding materializes, the second round of 2,400 layoffs will be necessary.
In a Friday meeting with the WMATA board, Wiedefeld said that vaccine availability wouldn’t instantly drive WMATA ridership back to normal levels. Not only is WMATA lacking business commuters, it’s also struggling with decreased tourism to Washington.
“As you know, we don’t just move people to work. This summer, if the museums aren’t open and people aren’t coming back for that tourism, we lose a lot of riders,” Wiedefeld said. “We already know for instance, the Cherry Blossom Festival has been canceled.”
WMATA is mainly funded by governments, including Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and localities including Arlington and Fairfax. According to the current fiscal year 2021 budget, $2.4 billion is expected from state and local funding and $489.6 million in federal funding, with an additional $546.3 million allocated from federal CARES act funds. Due to COVID-19, only $385.9 million is expected to be earned through fares and parking revenue.
However, government funding of WMATA is normal. In 2010, a Congressional Resource Service (CRS) report said the transportation authority is structured more like a publicly-owned utility than a corporation. In pre-pandemic fiscal year 2019, WMATA budgeted for $736 million in fares and parking revenue, while federal, state, and local governments contributed $2.25 billion dollars to the transportation authority. In 2016, Wiedefeld announced 500 layoffs as the metro adopted a more austere budget, according to The Washington Post. The General Manager was hired in 2015, according to his bio.
WMATA’s financial woes go back even farther. The 2010 CRS report said, “Funding is a perennial problem for WMATA, as it is for most public transit agencies, because it is heavily reliant on government support to cover both capital and operating costs.”
However, WMATA and its funding governments may still be able to prevent the second wave of layoffs.
“The 2022 fiscal year budget won’t be finalized until March 2021,” Weidefeld said according to The Washington Business Journal. “That gives some time to stave off the second round of layoffs. If the congressional funds come in the near term, between now and the next few months, we can turn relatively quickly. This doesn’t kick in until July. We can pull back.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “The metro” by WMATA.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-07--Department of Health: Virginia to Receive 480,000 Vaccine Doses by End of December

The Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) announced on Friday that the Commonwealth is preparing to receive 480,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of December based on new information from the federal government ’ s Operation Warp Speed .
As Governor Ralph Northam noted during a coronavirus briefing on Wednesday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s ( CDC ) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP ) voted last week to officially recommend healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents as top priority for vaccination .
In response , the Virginia Disaster Medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Unified Command voted to adopt the recommendations and vaccinate those two groups first , which the VDH estimates there are about 500,000 healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents in the state .
“ Vaccine will be provided to Virginians in a way that is fair , ethical , and transparent , ” Virginia State Health Commissioner Norman Oliver said in the news release .
“ We will focus initially on the groups that have been most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 infections and those whose work puts them at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over time , as more vaccine supply becomes available , more Virginians will be able to get vaccinated , and we can look forward to a time when this pandemic will end.
” According to the VDH , the 480,000 doses will consist of Pfizer and Moderna ’ s vaccines , if they are given emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration .
Both companies have already applied and should be receiving answers soon .
Moderna reports its vaccine efficacy against COVID was 94.1 percent , while Pfizer said its vaccine efficacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million doses will come after the 72,150 initial doses Virginia is expecting to receive from Pfizer by mid-December .
All the initial vaccines will be distributed directly to health care systems throughout the state that have ultra-cold freezers and given to healthcare personnel .
Those that directly treat coronavirus patients will get first priority , according to the release .
The following weekly shipments of vaccines will be split among the two groups , with long-term care facility residents receiving doses from CVS and Walgreens ’ teams , through a federal partnership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up clinics called closed points of dispensing , the VDH release said .
If everything goes accordingly , those steps would constitute the first phase of Virginia ’ s COVID-19 vaccination plan .
In the second phase , vaccines are intended for Virginians who are medically vulnerable or other priority groups and will be administered at pharmacies and open clinics .
The third phase is mostly for the general public to get vaccinated as well as any other groups that did not count during the first two phases .
Vaccinations will occur at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expectation for vaccines to be in Virginia by year ’ s end , there is no statewide mandate for it .
During a virtual presentation to the House Committee on Health , Welfare and Institutions on Monday , state epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peake told lawmakers that a vaccine mandate is not something the VDH is considering since a majority of Virginians want to get vaccinated .
For more information about VDH ’ s COVID-19 vaccination response plan , visit : www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine .
Currently , the 7-day positivity rate is 10.6 percent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Virginia – 3,822 confirmed , 378 probably – and 15,295 total hospitalizations , according to the VDH COVID-19 daily dashboard .
As of Sunday , there are 1,490 confirmed COVID patients currently hospitalized , according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association dashboard .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced on Friday that the Commonwealth is preparing to receive 480,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of December based on new information from the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed.
As Governor Ralph Northam noted during a coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted last week to officially recommend healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents as top priority for vaccination.
In response, the Virginia Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (VDMAC) and the Virginia Unified Command voted to adopt the recommendations and vaccinate those two groups first, which the VDH estimates there are about 500,000 healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents in the state.
“Vaccine will be provided to Virginians in a way that is fair, ethical, and transparent,” Virginia State Health Commissioner Norman Oliver said in the news release. “We will focus initially on the groups that have been most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 infections and those whose work puts them at greatest risk of contracting COVID-19 infections. Over time, as more vaccine supply becomes available, more Virginians will be able to get vaccinated, and we can look forward to a time when this pandemic will end.”
According to the VDH, the 480,000 doses will consist of Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines, if they are given emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Both companies have already applied and should be receiving answers soon.
Moderna reports its vaccine efficacy against COVID was 94.1 percent, while Pfizer said its vaccine efficacy was 95 percent.
Those nearly half a million doses will come after the 72,150 initial doses Virginia is expecting to receive from Pfizer by mid-December. All the initial vaccines will be distributed directly to health care systems throughout the state that have ultra-cold freezers and given to healthcare personnel. Those that directly treat coronavirus patients will get first priority, according to the release.
The following weekly shipments of vaccines will be split among the two groups, with long-term care facility residents receiving doses from CVS and Walgreens’ teams, through a federal partnership with the CDC, at specifically set up clinics called closed points of dispensing, the VDH release said.
If everything goes accordingly, those steps would constitute the first phase of Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. In the second phase, vaccines are intended for Virginians who are medically vulnerable or other priority groups and will be administered at pharmacies and open clinics.
The third phase is mostly for the general public to get vaccinated as well as any other groups that did not count during the first two phases. Vaccinations will occur at pharmacies and community vaccination partners.
Despite the expectation for vaccines to be in Virginia by year’s end, there is no statewide mandate for it. During a virtual presentation to the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions on Monday, state epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peake told lawmakers that a vaccine mandate is not something the VDH is considering since a majority of Virginians want to get vaccinated.
For more information about VDH’s COVID-19 vaccination response plan, visit: www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine.
Currently, the 7-day positivity rate is 10.6 percent, there have been 4,200 total coronavirus deaths in Virginia – 3,822 confirmed, 378 probably – and 15,295 total hospitalizations, according to the VDH COVID-19 daily dashboard.
As of Sunday, there are 1,490 confirmed COVID patients currently hospitalized, according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association dashboard.
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-07--Governor Coy on if She Will Extend ‘Pause’ After Next Week

Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday addressed an interim report on the Michigan COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities , but would not provide a direct answer to the question of whether she would extend the three-week pause on economic activity in the state .
More than two weeks after imposing a second lockdown of Michigan ’ s indoor dining facilities , theaters and bowling alleys , the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services-imposed pause is due to expire next week .
Rather than specifically indicating whether she or MDHHS would allow those rules to sunset , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Officer Joneigh Khaldun hinted they anticipate an increase in COVID-19 cases as a result of “ millions ” of state residents traveling over the Thanksgiving Day weekend .
The bulk of Whitmer ’ s Thursday news conference was dedicated to discussion of her administration ’ s efforts to protect communities of color from the spread of COVID-19 .
“ From the beginning , our administration has listened to medical experts and taken a fact-based approach to eliminating COVID-19 in our most vulnerable communities , and we have seen significant progress , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the leaders on the Task Force have been crucial in helping us dramatically reduce the number of cases , hospitalizations , and deaths in communities of color by expanding testing and providing crucial support to community organizations , ” she added .
Gilchrist also delivered remarks : “ The coronavirus pandemic has shined a light on the health , economic , and educational challenges that communities of color face daily.
” Referencing the interim report by the Racial Disparities Task Force , which he chairs , Gilchrist said : “ Today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made toward our goal to reduce these disparities over the past six months.
” The report asserts the death rate from COVID-19 among the U.S. Black population is three times greater than the white population while infection rates among Blacks are 40 % higher than whites .
The task force attributes the disparity to a lack of available testing centers in areas with higher minority populations as well as a prevalence of comorbidities in the African-American community .
The report also states COVID-19 case rates are more than 70 % greater for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate in white populations , although the death rates are lower for non-Hispanics and Latinos .
“ This is likely due to a higher proportion of younger individuals of Hispanic and Latino ethnicity who are infected than in non-Hispanic and non-Latino persons , ” according to the report .
“ Over 70 % of Hispanics and Latinos who are infected are between the ages of 20 and 59 whereas less than 10 % of those infected are over 60 .
Furthermore , the highest case rates exist for Hispanics and Latinos between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report said .
The Task Force has identified a number of areas on which it will focus in the coming weeks , including : • Closing the digital divide in telehealth and virtual learning to ensure equitable access for all Michiganders ; • Increasing enrollment in health insurance plans by making it easy for Michiganders to find out about their options for affordable care , such as Medicaid and federal marketplace plans ; • Building mobile testing infrastructure that can also be extended for other health services such as vaccine administration ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic disparities in medical care to ensure that every Michigander , no matter their race , can get safe and quality care in Michigan .
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .
Image “ Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ” by Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .

by Bruce Walker
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday addressed an interim report on the Michigan COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities, but would not provide a direct answer to the question of whether she would extend the three-week pause on economic activity in the state.
More than two weeks after imposing a second lockdown of Michigan’s indoor dining facilities, theaters and bowling alleys, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services-imposed pause is due to expire next week.
Rather than specifically indicating whether she or MDHHS would allow those rules to sunset, however, the governor and Michigan’s Chief Medical Officer Joneigh Khaldun hinted they anticipate an increase in COVID-19 cases as a result of “millions” of state residents traveling over the Thanksgiving Day weekend.
The bulk of Whitmer’s Thursday news conference was dedicated to discussion of her administration’s efforts to protect communities of color from the spread of COVID-19.
“From the beginning, our administration has listened to medical experts and taken a fact-based approach to eliminating COVID-19 in our most vulnerable communities, and we have seen significant progress,” Whitmer said.
“Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist and the leaders on the Task Force have been crucial in helping us dramatically reduce the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in communities of color by expanding testing and providing crucial support to community organizations,” she added.
Gilchrist also delivered remarks: “The coronavirus pandemic has shined a light on the health, economic, and educational challenges that communities of color face daily.”
Referencing the interim report by the Racial Disparities Task Force, which he chairs, Gilchrist said: “Today’s report shows that significant progress has been made toward our goal to reduce these disparities over the past six months.”
The report asserts the death rate from COVID-19 among the U.S. Black population is three times greater than the white population while infection rates among Blacks are 40% higher than whites. The task force attributes the disparity to a lack of available testing centers in areas with higher minority populations as well as a prevalence of comorbidities in the African-American community.
The report also states COVID-19 case rates are more than 70% greater for Hispanics and Latinos in Michigan than the rate in white populations, although the death rates are lower for non-Hispanics and Latinos.
“This is likely due to a higher proportion of younger individuals of Hispanic and Latino ethnicity who are infected than in non-Hispanic and non-Latino persons,” according to the report.
“Over 70% of Hispanics and Latinos who are infected are between the ages of 20 and 59 whereas less than 10% of those infected are over 60. Furthermore, the highest case rates exist for Hispanics and Latinos between the ages of 20 and 59,” the report said.
The Task Force has identified a number of areas on which it will focus in the coming weeks, including:
• Closing the digital divide in telehealth and virtual learning to ensure equitable access for all Michiganders;
• Increasing enrollment in health insurance plans by making it easy for Michiganders to find out about their options for affordable care, such as Medicaid and federal marketplace plans;
• Building mobile testing infrastructure that can also be extended for other health services such as vaccine administration;
• And raising awareness of racial- and ethnic disparities in medical care to ensure that every Michigander, no matter their race, can get safe and quality care in Michigan.
– – –
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square. He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute’s InfoTech & Telecom News.
Image “Gov. Gretchen Whitmer” by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-07--ANTIFA Carries Sign Telling Minnesota Trump Supporters to Kill Themselves

A group of agitators dressed in black-bloc attire and carrying makeshift shields crashed a pro-Trump demonstration outside the Minnesota governor ’ s residence Saturday .
Activists with Hold the Line Minnesota have been holding “ Stop the Steal ” protests outside Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s home every weekend since Nov. 3 , part of a national movement to draw attention to alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election .
At one point , left-wing Antifa and Black Lives Matter demonstrators showed up carrying a sign that said “ follow your leader , ” which was accompanied by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head , according to video provided to Alpha News .
Officers used their bicycles to form a barricade between the two groups of demonstrators , such that they lined either side of the intersection of Chatsworth Street and Summit Avenue .
Minnesota State Patrol officers in riot gear were on the ground .
According to the St. Paul Police Department , the capital city experienced various protests Saturday .
About 250 gathered at the Capitol for a demonstration and dozens more congregated outside the governor ’ s residence .
WCCO reported that vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were vandalized and spray-painted , in one case obstructing the view out of a car ’ s front window .
The St. Paul Police Department confirmed in a statement that “ several tires were slashed on Chatsworth Street between Summit and Grand.
” “ We have investigators looking into these incidents , but nobody has been arrested or cited at this time , ” the department said , noting that two people were cited for disorderly conduct following an altercation on Summit Avenue .
There were “ some tense moments and confrontations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful , ” police said .
“ Today , several groups came to Saint Paul to make their voices heard .
As the state ’ s capital city , this happens all year long .
As always , our officers were on-scene to protect people , property and free speech , ” the St. Paul Police Department said .
The department was careful to note that its officers “ did not use any force today .
”

by Anthony Gockowski
A group of agitators dressed in black-bloc attire and carrying makeshift shields crashed a pro-Trump demonstration outside the Minnesota governor’s residence Saturday.
Activists with Hold the Line Minnesota have been holding “Stop the Steal” protests outside Gov. Tim Walz’s home every weekend since Nov. 3, part of a national movement to draw attention to alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election.
At one point, left-wing Antifa and Black Lives Matter demonstrators showed up carrying a sign that said “follow your leader,” which was accompanied by a picture of Hitler shooting himself in the head, according to video provided to Alpha News.
Officers used their bicycles to form a barricade between the two groups of demonstrators, such that they lined either side of the intersection of Chatsworth Street and Summit Avenue. Minnesota State Patrol officers in riot gear were on the ground.
According to the St. Paul Police Department, the capital city experienced various protests Saturday. About 250 gathered at the Capitol for a demonstration and dozens more congregated outside the governor’s residence.
WCCO reported that vehicles, some belonging to Trump supporters, were vandalized and spray-painted, in one case obstructing the view out of a car’s front window.
The St. Paul Police Department confirmed in a statement that “several tires were slashed on Chatsworth Street between Summit and Grand.”
“We have investigators looking into these incidents, but nobody has been arrested or cited at this time,” the department said, noting that two people were cited for disorderly conduct following an altercation on Summit Avenue.
There were “some tense moments and confrontations,” but the protests remained “largely peaceful,” police said.
“Today, several groups came to Saint Paul to make their voices heard. As the state’s capital city, this happens all year long. As always, our officers were on-scene to protect people, property and free speech,” the St. Paul Police Department said.
The department was careful to note that its officers “did not use any force today.”
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-07--Tennessee Stands Says Gov. Bill Lee Won’t Do Enough to Help Memphis Businesses Suffering During COVI

Tennessee Stands Says Gov. Bill Lee Won’t Do Enough to Help Memphis Businesses Suffering During COVID-19

Tennessee Stands spokesman Gary Humble on Sunday blasted Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee for not taking an aggressive enough stance to help struggling businesses in Memphis during COVID-19 .
Humble said in the email that the Shelby County Health Department , “ under the current emergency status , has executed on a seemly newfound authority to make policy and create civil penalties for the people of Memphis.
” “ Some would call that an unconstitutional fourth branch of government .
And I would agree with that sentiment , ” Humble said .
Humble also said that “ the Shelby Co @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to require individuals dining in a restaurant to pull their masks up and down over their mouth and nose while taking bites of food.
” KWAM asked Lee what he can do to help Shelby County businesses “ struggling under orders from the local board of health.
” “ Finally , after the Governor confessed that he had no such power to provide help to these businesses , he exclaimed that the saving grace would be…….the vaccine .
Yes , that ’ s right .
What do struggling businesses need to survive government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to fix everything.
” Humble said he found “ it striking that when it is time to institute a lockdown and close businesses , the Governor finds the absolute authority to do so .
But when it comes to defending the liberties of those same businesses from tyranny , the Governor finds himself helpless.
” “ This , ladies and gentlemen , is why we are fighting , ” Humble said .
“ It is why we are filing lawsuits .
It is why we are working with legislators to make changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with our constitution and work to defend individual liberty.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Tennessee Stands spokesman Gary Humble on Sunday blasted Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee for not taking an aggressive enough stance to help struggling businesses in Memphis during COVID-19.
This, according to a press release that Tennessee Stands emailed Sunday.
Humble specifically cited Shelby County, which has a county board of health that operates with powers autonomous from the Tennessee Department of Health.
Humble said in the email that the Shelby County Health Department, “under the current emergency status, has executed on a seemly newfound authority to make policy and create civil penalties for the people of Memphis.”
“Some would call that an unconstitutional fourth branch of government. And I would agree with that sentiment,” Humble said.
Humble also said that “the Shelby Co BOH has gone so far recently as to require individuals dining in a restaurant to pull their masks up and down over their mouth and nose while taking bites of food.”
Humble referred to a radio interview that Lee gave to KWAM 990 in Memphis last week.
KWAM asked Lee what he can do to help Shelby County businesses “struggling under orders from the local board of health.”
“The question was asked a total of three times due to the Governor continuing to dodge the question,” Humble wrote.
“Finally, after the Governor confessed that he had no such power to provide help to these businesses, he exclaimed that the saving grace would be…….the vaccine. Yes, that’s right. What do struggling businesses need to survive government overreach? A vaccine. That is going to fix everything.”
Humble said he found “it striking that when it is time to institute a lockdown and close businesses, the Governor finds the absolute authority to do so. But when it comes to defending the liberties of those same businesses from tyranny, the Governor finds himself helpless.” “This, ladies and gentlemen, is why we are fighting,” Humble said.
“It is why we are filing lawsuits. It is why we are working with legislators to make changes to the law that are in line with our constitution and work to defend individual liberty.”
As The Tennessee Star reported last month, members of Tennessee Stands plan to support a statewide bill to secure religious exemptions for vaccines.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-07--Georgia GOP Senators Introduce Special Session Petition

Four Georgia lawmakers – State Senators Brandon Beach ( R-Cherokee ) , Greg Dolezal ( R-Cumming ) , William Ligon ( R-Brunswick ) , and Burt Jones ( R-Jackson ) ( pictured above , left to right ) – bucked their leadership Monday to launch a petition to force a special session of the Georgia General Assembly .
They need 29 signatures to force it .
Republicans hold a 34-21 seat majority .
“ As the petition makes clear , testimonial and other evidence given before the Georgia Senate Judiciary Subcommittee demonstrated a systemic failure to observe Georgia election laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and were allowed to vote , ” stated the senators in a press release .
“ People voted who were not listed in the state ’ s records as having been registered to vote .
Voters who moved to a different county more than 30 days prior to the election and failed to re-register were allowed to cast votes .
Voters registered using bogus addresses such as UPS facilities and other stores , yet their votes were counted .
Ballots of individuals who were deceased prior to Election Day counted .
Over and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the view of poll watchers or designated monitors , defying the law .
Even the law itself was modified by an unconstitutional agreement which weakened signature verification requirements for absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots as set out in Code Sections 21-2-381 and 21-2-386.
” The senators claimed about 143,000 Georgia mail-in ballots are fraudulent and shouldn ’ t be counted .
Beach , appearing live on The John Fredericks Show , said that he has received an unprecedented level of calls .
“ I ’ ve been in the Senate for eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cell phone [ number ] on my website and on my Senate site , [ and ] I ’ ve never gotten calls [ like this ] before .
I have been inundated with calls , texts , emails , and the constituents are upset .
They have lost confidence in our voter system .
We ’ re an embarrassment to the United States right now .
You think Florida was an embarrassment in 2000 ?
We ’ re the same way right now .
We ’ ve got to fix this.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was compelling , despite what the secretary of state ’ s office had to say .
“ We as a legislative body can fix it , and we should .
There ’ s nothing wrong with fixing something that was wrong , and this election was wrong .
Voter signatures , drop boxes – I mean , you can just name it – State Farm Arena video .
If you look at that State Farm Arena video – [ Voting Systems Manager ] Gabe Sterling said there was nothing wrong .
I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that when you see a lady take the same ballots and run them through a scanner three times .
There was something wrong .
We need to get to the bottom of it.
” The petition serves as a formal notification to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that an emergency exists .
The senators have called for the legislature to convene on Tuesday , December 8th .
The petition claimed that any certification of electors by Kemp or Raffensperger wouldn ’ t align with Georgia election laws , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
These legislators are attempting to follow Bush v. Gore precedent , which enables state legislatures to assume the power to appoint their own electors .
Kemp has again rejected calls for a special session to investigate voting irregularities in Georgia concerning the November 3rd general election .
A special session would address the consent decree that allegedly changed Georgia ’ s election procedures .
The decree was signed by Raffensperger , Democratic activist Stacey Abrams , and the Georgia Democratic Party .
The gang of four senators argued that the consent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the runoff election .
Kemp has dismissed the notion , claiming the January 5th runoff election date doesn ’ t give enough time to change election procedure .
Beach , however , repudiated Kemp ’ s claims .
He called on the governor to exercise his emergency powers by changing the election date to February 1st .
“ Kemp has the emergency powers to delay the election to fix this , ” Beach told The Georgia Star News .
“ The governor saw fit to change the date of my primary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The consent decree signed by Raffensperger is unlawful , and it violates the Georgia Constitution .
We need to fix this and get signature matches for mail-in ballots – which is Georgia law – before the runoff .
Kemp has a responsibility to do this.
” In a prepared statement , the four senators say the petition comes after the Georgia Senate Judiciary Subcommittee was inundated with affidavits .
Citizens all over the state signed under the penalty of perjury that blatant election fraud occurred during the 2020 general election and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a session of the General Assembly is being called for and convened on Tuesday , December 8 , 2020 , at 10:00 A.M. in order to attend to such emergency and for all purposes provided for pursuant to Article II , Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States , ” their statement continued .
“ We recognize our duty to move forward with this petition due to the level of fraud and violations of law which took place during this 2020 election cycle .
We urge others to join us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need at least 29 signatures in the senate on the petition before 9 am Tuesday , December 8th , 2020 .
A similar petition in the [ Georgia ] House requires at least 91 signatures by that same time .
Now is the time to call your senators and representatives to stand up and be counted on this effort to restore election integrity.
” The leadership of the Republican-controlled Georgia House of Representatives have booted the idea of a special session .
Speaker David Ralston ( R-Blue Ridge ) hasn ’ t endorsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prescription for “ endless litigation ” in a November statement .
Speaker Pro-Tem Jan Jones ( R-GA-Milton ) discharged the concept in a radio interview on The John Fredericks Radio Show .
According to committee members , the testimonies presented at last Thursday ’ s hearing were only a portion of all the testimonies .
“ We believe we have reached the point that the results of this election are untrustworthy , ” stated Jones .
“ Such pervasive disregard for election laws by our election officials requires a decisive response .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do its job.
” Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .

Four Georgia lawmakers – State Senators Brandon Beach (R-Cherokee), Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), William Ligon (R-Brunswick), and Burt Jones (R-Jackson) (pictured above, left to right) – bucked their leadership Monday to launch a petition to force a special session of the Georgia General Assembly. They need 29 signatures to force it. Republicans hold a 34-21 seat majority.
“As the petition makes clear, testimonial and other evidence given before the Georgia Senate Judiciary Subcommittee demonstrated a systemic failure to observe Georgia election laws. Underage individuals and convicted felons registered and were allowed to vote,” stated the senators in a press release.
“People voted who were not listed in the state’s records as having been registered to vote. Voters who moved to a different county more than 30 days prior to the election and failed to re-register were allowed to cast votes. Voters registered using bogus addresses such as UPS facilities and other stores, yet their votes were counted. Ballots of individuals who were deceased prior to Election Day counted. Over and over again, ballots were counted outside the view of poll watchers or designated monitors, defying the law. Even the law itself was modified by an unconstitutional agreement which weakened signature verification requirements for absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots as set out in Code Sections 21-2-381 and 21-2-386.”
The senators claimed about 143,000 Georgia mail-in ballots are fraudulent and shouldn’t be counted.
Beach, appearing live on The John Fredericks Show, said that he has received an unprecedented level of calls.
“I’ve been in the Senate for eight years, I’ve had my cell phone [number] on my website and on my Senate site, [and] I’ve never gotten calls [like this] before. I have been inundated with calls, texts, emails, and the constituents are upset. They have lost confidence in our voter system. We’re an embarrassment to the United States right now. You think Florida was an embarrassment in 2000? We’re the same way right now. We’ve got to fix this.”
The state senator asserted that the evidence was compelling, despite what the secretary of state’s office had to say.
“We as a legislative body can fix it, and we should. There’s nothing wrong with fixing something that was wrong, and this election was wrong. Voter signatures, drop boxes – I mean, you can just name it – State Farm Arena video. If you look at that State Farm Arena video – [Voting Systems Manager] Gabe Sterling said there was nothing wrong. I just don’t know how you see that when you see a lady take the same ballots and run them through a scanner three times. There was something wrong. We need to get to the bottom of it.”
The petition serves as a formal notification to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that an emergency exists. The senators have called for the legislature to convene on Tuesday, December 8th.
The petition claimed that any certification of electors by Kemp or Raffensperger wouldn’t align with Georgia election laws, pursuant to the legislature’s plenary power. These legislators are attempting to follow Bush v. Gore precedent, which enables state legislatures to assume the power to appoint their own electors.
Kemp has again rejected calls for a special session to investigate voting irregularities in Georgia concerning the November 3rd general election. A special session would address the consent decree that allegedly changed Georgia’s election procedures. The decree was signed by Raffensperger, Democratic activist Stacey Abrams, and the Georgia Democratic Party.
The gang of four senators argued that the consent decree is illegal and must be nullified for the runoff election.
Kemp has dismissed the notion, claiming the January 5th runoff election date doesn’t give enough time to change election procedure.
Beach, however, repudiated Kemp’s claims. He called on the governor to exercise his emergency powers by changing the election date to February 1st.
“Kemp has the emergency powers to delay the election to fix this,” Beach told The Georgia Star News. “The governor saw fit to change the date of my primary, so he has already set a precedent. The consent decree signed by Raffensperger is unlawful, and it violates the Georgia Constitution. We need to fix this and get signature matches for mail-in ballots – which is Georgia law – before the runoff. Kemp has a responsibility to do this.”
In a prepared statement, the four senators say the petition comes after the Georgia Senate Judiciary Subcommittee was inundated with affidavits. Citizens all over the state signed under the penalty of perjury that blatant election fraud occurred during the 2020 general election and the following recounts.
“It is such that a session of the General Assembly is being called for and convened on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. in order to attend to such emergency and for all purposes provided for pursuant to Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States,” their statement continued.
“We recognize our duty to move forward with this petition due to the level of fraud and violations of law which took place during this 2020 election cycle. We urge others to join us,” stated Ligon. “We need at least 29 signatures in the senate on the petition before 9 am Tuesday, December 8th, 2020. A similar petition in the [Georgia] House requires at least 91 signatures by that same time. Now is the time to call your senators and representatives to stand up and be counted on this effort to restore election integrity.”
The leadership of the Republican-controlled Georgia House of Representatives have booted the idea of a special session. Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) hasn’t endorsed it. Ralston called a session a prescription for “endless litigation” in a November statement.
Speaker Pro-Tem Jan Jones (R-GA-Milton) discharged the concept in a radio interview on The John Fredericks Radio Show.
According to committee members, the testimonies presented at last Thursday’s hearing were only a portion of all the testimonies.
“We believe we have reached the point that the results of this election are untrustworthy,” stated Jones. “Such pervasive disregard for election laws by our election officials requires a decisive response. It is time for our legislative body to do its job.”
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-12-08--Georgia Secretary of State Chief Investigator Files Affidavit Against ‘Suitcase Ballots’ Video, Cont

Georgia Secretary of State Chief Investigator Files Affidavit Against ‘Suitcase Ballots’ Video, Contradicting All Previous Reports

Georgia Secretary of State Chief Investigator Frances Watson filed an affidavit Monday alleging that the “ suitcase ballots ” video wasn ’ t fraud , and that poll workers and monitors weren ’ t told to leave during vote counting .
The affidavit totaled two pages of evidentiary claims against outstanding affidavits claiming incidents that occurred in Fulton County .
Watson claimed that their team ’ s investigation found that no elections officials asked the observers and media to leave .
“ They simply left on their own when they saw one group of workers , whose job was only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that task , also leave.
” Additionally , Watson claimed that the widely-circulated video of ballots in suitcases stowed under tables presented during the Georgia Oversight Committee hearing last Thursday wasn ’ t what it appeared to be .
“ Our investigation and review of the entire security footage revealed that there were no mystery ballots that were brought in from an unknown location and hidden under tables as reported by some .
Video taken hours before shows the table being brought into the room at 8:22 a.m .
Nothing was underneath the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the room full of people , including official monitors and the media , video shows ballots that had already been opened but not counted placed in the boxes , sealed up , stored under the table .
This was done because employees thought that they were done for the night and were closing up and ready to leave .
When the counting continued later in the night , those boxes were opened so that the ballots inside could then be counted.
” Trump ’ s legal team alleged that the video depicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers went home to retrieve ballots hidden in suitcases underneath tables .
“ Fulton County officials have been falsely denying for weeks that they announced they were shutting down for the night and packed everything up .
Now they are claiming that the ballots from under the table were from when they announced they were shutting down and packing up.
” According to Shafer the day after the election , the monitors were told to go home .
Reports from multiple media outlets confirm that account .
Some poll watchers that were told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Additionally , Watson stated that the alleged leak causing temporary delay in votes counts was actually an overflowing urinal .
“ Our investigation revealed that the incident initially reported as a water leak late in the evening on November 3rd was actually a urinal that had overflowed early in the morning of November 3rd , and did not affect the counting of votes by Fulton County later in the evening.
” The testimony conflicts with the initial report from elections officials of a “ burst pipe.
” Although Watson denied the two claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affidavit concluded that their investigation remains open .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .

Georgia Secretary of State Chief Investigator Frances Watson filed an affidavit Monday alleging that the “suitcase ballots” video wasn’t fraud, and that poll workers and monitors weren’t told to leave during vote counting. The affidavit totaled two pages of evidentiary claims against outstanding affidavits claiming incidents that occurred in Fulton County.
Watson claimed that their team’s investigation found that no elections officials asked the observers and media to leave.
“They simply left on their own when they saw one group of workers, whose job was only to open envelopes and who had completed that task, also leave.”
Additionally, Watson claimed that the widely-circulated video of ballots in suitcases stowed under tables presented during the Georgia Oversight Committee hearing last Thursday wasn’t what it appeared to be.
“Our investigation and review of the entire security footage revealed that there were no mystery ballots that were brought in from an unknown location and hidden under tables as reported by some. Video taken hours before shows the table being brought into the room at 8:22 a.m. Nothing was underneath the table then. Around 10 p.m., with the room full of people, including official monitors and the media, video shows ballots that had already been opened but not counted placed in the boxes, sealed up, stored under the table. This was done because employees thought that they were done for the night and were closing up and ready to leave. When the counting continued later in the night, those boxes were opened so that the ballots inside could then be counted.”
Trump’s legal team alleged that the video depicted poll workers waited until observers and other workers went home to retrieve ballots hidden in suitcases underneath tables.
Republican Party of Georgia Chairman David Shafer tweeted a response to Watson’s affidavit.
“Fulton County officials have been falsely denying for weeks that they announced they were shutting down for the night and packed everything up. Now they are claiming that the ballots from under the table were from when they announced they were shutting down and packing up.”
According to Shafer the day after the election, the monitors were told to go home. Reports from multiple media outlets confirm that account. Some poll watchers that were told to leave have since filed affidavits.
Additionally, Watson stated that the alleged leak causing temporary delay in votes counts was actually an overflowing urinal.
“Our investigation revealed that the incident initially reported as a water leak late in the evening on November 3rd was actually a urinal that had overflowed early in the morning of November 3rd, and did not affect the counting of votes by Fulton County later in the evening.”
The testimony conflicts with the initial report from elections officials of a “burst pipe.”
Although Watson denied the two claims challenging the election’s integrity, the affidavit concluded that their investigation remains open.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-12-08--Commentary: President Trump Strikes Back Against Rogue Bureaucrats

The President should be able to trust the advice he is given by senior bureaucrats , and he should be able to trust that his orders will be executed .
Unfortunately for President Trump and his supporters , this has not been the case .
To address this problem , Trump has taken a number of steps , including firing a number of his staffers .
Recently , President Trump issued an executive order creating a new class of senior bureaucrats who can be hired and fired more easily .
Trump ’ s executive order establishes Schedule F employees and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom it will apply .
The Schedule F classification is to apply to “ career positions in the Federal service of a confidential , policy-determining , policy-making , or policy-advocating character ” – in other words , senior bureaucrats .
Bureaucrats are paid to follow the law and implement the will of elected officials ( and the voters who elected them ) .
If these bureaucrats can not or will not do their jobs , then they should resign or be removed .
Let ’ s not forget that the rewards of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay , generous pensions and other benefits , and job security .
Rick Manning , President of American for Limited Government , stated , “ Schedule F is important because no president should be put in the position of not being able to trust the civil service .
This executive order is a step in the right direction , but now Congress needs to take action and pass Senator David Perdue ’ s MERIT Act which would make it easier to fire lazy or incompetent bureaucrats – not just senior ones – who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tasked to do.
” Predictably , the Swamp is displeased .
After all , liberal bureaucrats love the status quo in which they happily implement liberal policies for liberal presidents and then drag their feet and defy their superiors when ordered to implement conservative policies under conservative presidents .
In defense of the Swamp , career politician Steny Hoyer ( D-MD ) swung into action issuing a statement and offering legislation to reverse the executive order .
Hoyer absurdly stated , “ President Trump has signed an Executive Order to further undermine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schedule F Executive Order would strip federal civilian employees of critical protections and make it easier to replace experienced , non-partisan civil servants with partisan individuals.
” First of all , Trump ’ s order does not undermine the civil service ; it provides much-needed reform .
Secondly , the problem is not that Trump wants to replace bureaucrats with partisans , it is that there are far too many partisan Democrats in senior bureaucratic roles who refuse to work for a Republican president and seek to undermine him and his appointees at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow the lawful orders of presidents and senior administration officials are undermining our republic .
Elections are supposed to have consequences .
If they do not , then why should activists and voters bother spending their time participating in campaigns and elections ?
Of course , if voters ever give up on the ballot box as a means of shaping government policies , dark days lie ahead for the country .
For these and other reasons , the Trump Administration ’ s creation of a new class of bureaucrats who can be hired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy .
Richard McCarty is the Director of Research at Americans for Limited Government Foundation .

by Richard McCarty
The President should be able to trust the advice he is given by senior bureaucrats, and he should be able to trust that his orders will be executed. Unfortunately for President Trump and his supporters, this has not been the case. To address this problem, Trump has taken a number of steps, including firing a number of his staffers. Recently, President Trump issued an executive order creating a new class of senior bureaucrats who can be hired and fired more easily.
Trump’s executive order establishes Schedule F employees and lays out a process for determining to whom it will apply. The Schedule F classification is to apply to “career positions in the Federal service of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character” – in other words, senior bureaucrats.
Bureaucrats are paid to follow the law and implement the will of elected officials (and the voters who elected them). If these bureaucrats cannot or will not do their jobs, then they should resign or be removed. Let’s not forget that the rewards of being a senior bureaucrat are significant: generous pay, generous pensions and other benefits, and job security.
Rick Manning, President of American for Limited Government, stated, “Schedule F is important because no president should be put in the position of not being able to trust the civil service. This executive order is a step in the right direction, but now Congress needs to take action and pass Senator David Perdue’s MERIT Act which would make it easier to fire lazy or incompetent bureaucrats – not just senior ones – who will not do the job they were tasked to do.”
Predictably, the Swamp is displeased. After all, liberal bureaucrats love the status quo in which they happily implement liberal policies for liberal presidents and then drag their feet and defy their superiors when ordered to implement conservative policies under conservative presidents. In defense of the Swamp, career politician Steny Hoyer (D-MD) swung into action issuing a statement and offering legislation to reverse the executive order. Hoyer absurdly stated, “President Trump has signed an Executive Order to further undermine the civil service. The Administration’s Schedule F Executive Order would strip federal civilian employees of critical protections and make it easier to replace experienced, non-partisan civil servants with partisan individuals.”
First of all, Trump’s order does not undermine the civil service; it provides much-needed reform. Secondly, the problem is not that Trump wants to replace bureaucrats with partisans, it is that there are far too many partisan Democrats in senior bureaucratic roles who refuse to work for a Republican president and seek to undermine him and his appointees at every opportunity.
Bureaucrats who refuse to follow the lawful orders of presidents and senior administration officials are undermining our republic. Elections are supposed to have consequences. If they do not, then why should activists and voters bother spending their time participating in campaigns and elections? Of course, if voters ever give up on the ballot box as a means of shaping government policies, dark days lie ahead for the country. For these and other reasons, the Trump Administration’s creation of a new class of bureaucrats who can be hired and fired more easily is a great policy.
– – –
Richard McCarty is the Director of Research at Americans for Limited Government Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-08--More Than Two Dozen Members of Arizona Legislature Call for the Decertification of the 2020 Election

In a joint statement Monday , 28 members and members-Elect of the Arizona Legislature called for the decertification of the 2020 election .
“ The election should not have been certified with the number of irregularities and allegations of fraud , ” said House Majority Leader Warren Petersen ( pictured above ) .
“ Especially troubling to me are the allegations surrounding the vendor Dominion , ” the lawmaker added .
“ It is imperative that a forensic audit occur immediately of the equipment and software .
Upon any showing of fraud the legislature should immediately convene to decertify the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of election fraud in last week ’ s hearing with President Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and campaign attorney Jenna Ellis , Representative Walter Blackman said in his statement that the outcome of the election “ is far from certain.
” “ In the past week seemingly conclusive evidence has come to light through successful litigation that the outcome of the 2020 election is far from certain , and at the very least , further investigation is necessary to ensure the integrity of Arizona ’ s election results , ” Blackman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Hobbs rescind her certification of the election until these matters have made their way through the court and voter confidence is restored.
” “ Ensuring the integrity of Arizona ’ s 2020 election isn ’ t just a matter of sound public policy , it is a civil rights imperative .
There are few elements of our society more foundational than the right to free and fair elections and when that right is called into question it is our responsibility as leaders to ensure that confidence in the electoral process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona must decertify the 2020 election so that the numerous election irregularities may be properly adjudicated and the people of our great state may once again have faith in their right to vote , ” said Representative-Elect Jake Hoffman .
According to Arizona law , only the governor or two-thirds of the state legislature can call a special session to choose the state ’ s presidential electors .
The U.S. Constitution however allows the state legislature to choose electors , which could supersede the state law for calling special sessions .
Members who @ @ @ @ @ @ @

by Debra Heine
In a joint statement Monday, 28 members and members-Elect of the Arizona Legislature called for the decertification of the 2020 election.
“The election should not have been certified with the number of irregularities and allegations of fraud,” said House Majority Leader Warren Petersen (pictured above). “Especially troubling to me are the allegations surrounding the vendor Dominion,” the lawmaker added. “It is imperative that a forensic audit occur immediately of the equipment and software. Upon any showing of fraud the legislature should immediately convene to decertify the vote.”
After being presented compelling evidence of election fraud in last week’s hearing with President Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and campaign attorney Jenna Ellis, Representative Walter Blackman said in his statement that the outcome of the election “is far from certain.”
“In the past week seemingly conclusive evidence has come to light through successful litigation that the outcome of the 2020 election is far from certain, and at the very least, further investigation is necessary to
ensure the integrity of Arizona’s election results,” Blackman said. “It is imperative that Secretary of State Hobbs rescind her certification of the election until these matters have made their way through the court and voter confidence is restored.”
“Ensuring the integrity of Arizona’s 2020 election isn’t just a matter of sound public policy, it is a civil rights imperative. There are few elements of our society more foundational than the right to free and fair elections and when that right is called into question it is our responsibility as leaders to ensure that confidence in the electoral process is restored. To this end, Arizona must decertify the 2020 election so that the numerous election irregularities may be properly adjudicated and the people of our great state may once again have faith in their right to vote,” said Representative-Elect Jake Hoffman.
According to Arizona law, only the governor or two-thirds of the state legislature can call a special session to choose the state’s presidential electors.
The U.S. Constitution however allows the state legislature to choose electors, which could supersede the state law for calling special sessions.
Members who have signed on to the statement:
Sen. Sonny Borrelli
Sen. David Livingston
Sen. David Farnsworth
Sen. David Gowan
Sen. Sylvia Allen
Sen. Sine Kerr
Sen. Tyler Pace
Rep. Warren Petersen
Rep. Travis Grantham
Rep. Leo Biasucci
Rep. Walter Blackman
Rep. Nancy Barto
Rep. Kelly Townsend
Rep. Anthony Kern
Rep. Bret Roberts
Rep. Kevin Payne
Rep. Mark Finchem
Rep. David Cook
Rep. Bob Thorpe
Rep. John Fillmore
Sen-Elect Rogers
Rep-Elect Hoffman
Rep-Elect Kaiser
Rep-Elect Wilmeth
Rep-Elect Parker
Rep-Elect Burges
Rep-Elect Barton
Rep-Elect Nguyen
– – –
Debra Heine is a regular contributor to American Greatness.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-08--PJ Media Founder Roger Simon Talks Georgia and the Senate Runoff

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the founder of Pajamas Media and Senior Political Editor for The Epoch Times , Roger Simon to the studio to talk Georgia , its Governor Kemp , and how the Senate runoff will play out .
Leahy : Welcome back to the Tennessee Star Report .
We are in the studio with Crom Carmichael the original all-star panelist and Roger Simon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Epoch Times .
Roger , you were down in Georgia last week .
The governor there yesterday is refusing to call a special session of the legislature that would be designed to change all of the laws that allow for signature verification fraud on the absentee ballots .
Also possibly to address the issue of the presidential electors .
You were on the ground .
What do you think the average conservative Georgian thinks of their governor now ?
Simon : They are mighty angry .
And I would be very surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Secretary of State Raffensberger , difficult name , do not get primaried .
Leahy : Yeah , you think they ’ ll be primaried .
Simon : I think that essentially they ’ re dead men walking in a certain way .
On the other hand , they ’ re not doing anything .
And the reasons they ’ re not doing anything is very suspicious .
I mean , you know that old musical Arabella ?
Le grisbi is the root of all evil .
And le grisbi is the French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was spent on the Dominion machines .
Leahy : Approved by the Secretary of State in July 2019 .
Simon : Well , both of them were involved .
First , it was Governor Kemp who was originally the Secretary of State .
Leahy : Who got the ball rolling on Dominion .
Leahy : Oh , yeah .
We have a story about him at The Georgia Star News .
Simon : Well , it ’ s worth reading .
And the guy is a fantastic person and he ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 50 years and he ’ s been watching everything in this .
He knows more than anybody .
The fact that 107 million dollars and it ’ s another 150 million in maintenance… Leahy : Over the next 10 years .
Simon : Over the next 10 years .
But these guys set up a bond for 20 years .
Leahy : They were getting paid by a bond Crom .
The maintenance is paid for by a bond for this Dominion software .
Simon : They ’ re going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Venezuela .
Carmichael : I know all about the history of them .
Simon : Yes .
They ’ re going to be paying for them for 20 years .
It ’ s like you are still paying for your totaled car .
Carmichael : So they bonded it so that it wouldn ’ t hit the budget all at one time .
But they wrote a check for it .
They wrote a check for 107 million .
Carmichael : Was it a down payment or the whole thing for 107 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then the contract gives them… Simon : It ’ s a 20-year bond .
What they say is these machines are no good for more than 10 years .
So in other words another 10 years that we pay for things they are not even using .
Leahy : A 20-year bond to pay the maintenance of these things for 10 years .
Unbelievable .
It ’ s crazy !
Carmichael : The technical foul that you ’ re talking about .
Sidney Powell has talked about how she has affidavits from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the algorithms , the machines are connected to the internet and so she says that votes actually flipped .
Carmichael : Trump votes actually flipped to Biden .
So does that mean that Georgia is stuck with these machines ?
Or does it mean that the legislature could come in and change it ?
Simon : The legislature could come in .
In fact , the legislature is according to the Constitution is in charge of the election .
So the legislation can do anything you want .
It could just say what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots .
Most countries in Europe believe it or not , do not allow voting machines because they know they are corrupt or potentially corrupt because everybody knows you can fool around with your computer .
You have your Dell you are sitting right in front of you right now and you know a smart character could probably use a cell phone and give you a few surprises .
Carmichael : Kemp , the governor down there almost reminds me a little bit of a governor that we used to have here in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sundquist the Republican who became a traitor and voted to try to push a state income tax .
Carmichael : Yeah , but in you know in a kind of an ironic kind of way , he ’ s the most important Republican in the last 100 years because he outed all the Democrats in Tennessee who were for state income tax because they thought they were going to get one .
And so Sundquist not only destroyed his own reputation but he also outed all the Democrats who lost the next election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two elections because now everybody knew that they were in fact in favor of it .
But Kemp sounds like somebody who is actually an antagonist to his own party and therefore to the people who elected him .
Simon : Exactly .
Look everybody knows he is an interesting character .
It may have happened inadvertently .
He may have had initially positive instincts , but found himself in this situation now .
Leahy : And the one thing we know is he won ’ t do is convene a special session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the runoff .
Simon : Like he could you know .
Everybody talks about it down there and they don ’ t do it .
That ’ s what primaries are for .
And you know where the irony ’ s of or what ’ s going on across the country Mike ?
There may be a ray of positive sunshine in all this and similar to what you described Crom in Tennessee earlier .
People are looking at this now and I know I am and wondering how many elections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matters .
And I think everybody is going to be starting to wake up to that .
And it may be that what will come of this is real elections in this country .
This great democracy .
Carmichael : Well , you certainly hope so .
But we need to hold the Senate this time .
Because I ’ ve been reading all these things that the Democrats have planned to do which essentially will almost make it impossible to regain the political power necessary to fix the problems .
Leahy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were down there .
Big runoff .
The balance of power in the Senate hangs in the balance here .
The election between Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock the Democrat .
And between David Perdue and John Ossoff .
I call him the Pajama Boy Democrat .
Who wins those two elections ?
Simon : Whoa !
You know the Yogi Berra line .
Predictions are hazardous , particularly about the future .
Simon : Yeah , but I think actually that the Republicans will eek out of it .
Carmichael : I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the founder of Pajamas Media and Senior Political Editor for The Epoch Times, Roger Simon to the studio to talk Georgia, its Governor Kemp, and how the Senate runoff will play out.
Leahy: Welcome back to the Tennessee Star Report. We are in the studio with Crom Carmichael the original all-star panelist and Roger Simon. Roger is the Senior Political Editor for The Epoch Times. Roger, you were down in Georgia last week. The governor there yesterday is refusing to call a special session of the legislature that would be designed to change all of the laws that allow for signature verification fraud on the absentee ballots. Also possibly to address the issue of the presidential electors. You were on the ground. What do you think the average conservative Georgian thinks of their governor now?
Simon: They are mighty angry. And I would be very surprised if both the governor and even more the Secretary of State Raffensberger, difficult name, do not get primaried.
Leahy: Yeah, you think they’ll be primaried.
Simon: I think that essentially they’re dead men walking in a certain way. On the other hand, they’re not doing anything. And the reasons they’re not doing anything is very suspicious. I mean, you know that old musical Arabella? Le grisbi is the root of all evil. And le grisbi is the French slang for money. 107 million dollars was spent on the Dominion machines.
Leahy: Approved by the Secretary of State in July 2019.
Simon: Well, both of them were involved. First, it was Governor Kemp who was originally the Secretary of State.
Leahy: Who got the ball rolling on Dominion.
Simon: I talked to this man Garland Favorito.
Leahy: Oh, yeah. We have a story about him at The Georgia Star News.
Simon: Well, it’s worth reading. And the guy is a fantastic person and he’s been an IT tech guy for like 40 or 50 years and he’s been watching everything in this. He knows more than anybody. The fact that 107 million dollars and it’s another 150 million in maintenance…
Leahy: Over the next 10 years.
Simon: Over the next 10 years. But these guys set up a bond for 20 years.
Leahy: They were getting paid by a bond Crom. The maintenance is paid for by a bond for this Dominion software.
Simon: They’re going to be paid for these machines which were vetted in Venezuela.
Carmichael: I know all about the history of them.
Simon: Yes. They’re going to be paying for them for 20 years. It’s like you are still paying for your totaled car.
Leahy: Yeah, exactly.
Carmichael: So they bonded it so that it wouldn’t hit the budget all at one time. But they wrote a check for it. They wrote a check for 107 million.
Leahy: A down payment for 107 million.
Carmichael: Was it a down payment or the whole thing for 107 million?
Leahy: The first payment, then the contract gives them…
Carmichael: Is it a 20-year contract?
Simon: It’s a 20-year bond. What they say is these machines are no good for more than 10 years. So in other words another 10 years that we pay for things they are not even using.
Leahy: A 20-year bond to pay the maintenance of these things for 10 years. Unbelievable. It’s crazy!
Carmichael: The technical foul that you’re talking about. Sidney Powell has talked about how she has affidavits from people who work for Dominion saying that the algorithms, the machines are connected to the internet and so she says that votes actually flipped.
Simon: Yes.
Carmichael: Trump votes actually flipped to Biden. So does that mean that Georgia is stuck with these machines? Or does it mean that the legislature could come in and change it?
Simon: The legislature could come in. In fact, the legislature is according to the Constitution is in charge of the election. So the legislation can do anything you want. It could just say what we should all have which is written ballots. Most countries in Europe believe it or not, do not allow voting machines because they know they are corrupt or potentially corrupt because everybody knows you can fool around with your computer. You have your Dell you are sitting right in front of you right now and you know a smart character could probably use a cell phone and give you a few surprises.
Carmichael: Kemp, the governor down there almost reminds me a little bit of a governor that we used to have here in Tennessee named Sundquist.
Leahy: Don Sundquist the Republican who became a traitor and voted to try to push a state income tax.
Carmichael: Yeah, but in you know in a kind of an ironic kind of way, he’s the most important Republican in the last 100 years because he outed all the Democrats in Tennessee who were for state income tax because they thought they were going to get one. And so Sundquist not only destroyed his own reputation but he also outed all the Democrats who lost the next election or the next one of the next two elections because now everybody knew that they were in fact in favor of it. But Kemp sounds like somebody who is actually an antagonist to his own party and therefore to the people who elected him.
Simon: Exactly. Look everybody knows he is an interesting character. It may have happened inadvertently. He may have had initially positive instincts, but found himself in this situation now.
Carmichael: Now, he’s embarrassed.
Leahy: And the one thing we know is he won’t do is convene a special session of the legislature to address these problems before the runoff.
Simon: Like he could you know. Everybody talks about it down there and they don’t do it. That’s what primaries are for. And you know where the irony’s of or what’s going on across the country Mike? There may be a ray of positive sunshine in all this and similar to what you described Crom in Tennessee earlier. People are looking at this now and I know I am and wondering how many elections in the past have been fixed in these matters. And I think everybody is going to be starting to wake up to that. And it may be that what will come of this is real elections in this country. This great democracy.
Carmichael: Well, you certainly hope so. But we need to hold the Senate this time. Because I’ve been reading all these things that the Democrats have planned to do which essentially will almost make it impossible to regain the political power necessary to fix the problems.
Leahy: Last question for you Roger. You were down there. Big runoff. The balance of power in the Senate hangs in the balance here. The election between Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock the Democrat. And between David Perdue and John Ossoff. I call him the Pajama Boy Democrat. Who wins those two elections?
Simon: Whoa! You know the Yogi Berra line. Predictions are hazardous, particularly about the future.
Leahy: (Laughs) I love that.
Simon: Yeah, but I think actually that the Republicans will eek out of it.
Carmichael: I hope you are right.
Listen to the third hour here:
– – –
Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-08--Biden’s HHS Pick – Currently California Attorney General Xavier Becerra – Thinks AR-15s Are ‘Not in

Biden’s HHS Pick – Currently California Attorney General Xavier Becerra – Thinks AR-15s Are ‘Not in Common Use’

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra , President-elect Joe Biden ’ s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , said AR-15s are akin to military-grade weapons and not useful for self defense in a 2019 court filing .
The AG ’ s statements were included in a court case that challenged California ’ s gun ban titled Rupp v. Becerra , in which multiple state residents sued government officials to overturn the prohibition of certain semi-automatic firearms .
Becerra , an advocate for the Affordable Care Act , was announced as Biden ’ s pick to lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times .
“ Assault rifles may be banned because they are , like the M-16 , ‘ weapons that are most useful in military service ’ ’ ; and ‘ they are also not ‘ in common use ’ for lawful purposes like self-defense , ’ ” Becerra wrote in defense of California ’ s weapon ban .
The AG also argued , citing Kolbe v. Hogan , a prominent gun case , that an M-16 , a military rifle capable of firing fully automatic , is less lethal than an AR-15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully automatic fire , the court document read .
Becerra also presented an argument from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence which alleged that “ assault weapons ” possess “ no legitimate civilian purpose.
” “ In addition to utilizing military features useful in combat , but which have no legitimate civilian purpose , assault weapons are exceedingly dangerous if used in self defense , because the bullets many of the weapons fire are designed to penetrate humans and will penetrate structures , and therefore pose a heightened risk of hitting innocent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates nearly 20 million rifles that may be classified as “ assault weapons ” by the state of California have been in circulation in the U.S. since 1990 , according to a report .
Becerra also teamed up with Giffords Law Center , a prominent anti-Second Amendment group , and filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump ’ s administration to demand the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco and Firearms ( ATF ) “ correct its interpretation of what qualifies as a firearm , ” according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit sought to effectively ban 80 % receivers , which are unfinished firearm components that are not classified as complete guns in the eyes of the ATF .
The AG referred to the unfinished components as “ ghost guns.
” Companies like 80 % Arms sell unfinished handgun and rifle receivers where the buyer can order items directly to their home without undergoing a background check .
“ Ghost guns are untraceable weapons that have been used in mass shootings throughout the country and right here in California — from Santa Monica in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and at Saugus High School just last year , ” Becerra said in the release .
“ We can ’ t afford to wait for another tragedy to happen before we take action .
It ’ s time for ATF to prioritize the safety of our communities by calling these products what they are : firearms , and regulating them accordingly .
”

by Jake Dima
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, said AR-15s are akin to military-grade weapons and not useful for self defense in a 2019 court filing.
The AG’s statements were included in a court case that challenged California’s gun ban titled Rupp v. Becerra, in which multiple state residents sued government officials to overturn the prohibition of certain semi-automatic firearms. Becerra, an advocate for the Affordable Care Act, was announced as Biden’s pick to lead HHS Sunday, according to the New York Times.
“Assault rifles may be banned because they are, like the M-16, ‘weapons that are most useful in military service’’; and ‘they are also not ‘in common use’ for lawful purposes like self-defense,’” Becerra wrote in defense of California’s weapon ban.
The AG also argued, citing Kolbe v. Hogan, a prominent gun case, that an M-16, a military rifle capable of firing fully automatic, is less lethal than an AR-15, which is incapable of transitioning to fully automatic fire, the court document read. Becerra also presented an argument from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence which alleged that “assault weapons” possess “no legitimate civilian purpose.”
“In addition to utilizing military features useful in combat, but which have no legitimate civilian purpose, assault weapons are exceedingly dangerous if used in self defense, because the bullets many of the weapons fire are designed to penetrate humans and will penetrate structures, and therefore pose a heightened risk of hitting innocent bystanders,” the Brady Center wrote.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates nearly 20 million rifles that may be classified as “assault weapons” by the state of California have been in circulation in the U.S. since 1990, according to a report.
Becerra also teamed up with Giffords Law Center, a prominent anti-Second Amendment group, and filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration to demand the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) “correct its interpretation of what qualifies as a firearm,” according to a late September press release.
The lawsuit sought to effectively ban 80% receivers, which are unfinished firearm components that are not classified as complete guns in the eyes of the ATF. The AG referred to the unfinished components as “ghost guns.”
Companies like 80% Arms sell unfinished handgun and rifle receivers where the buyer can order items directly to their home without undergoing a background check.
“Ghost guns are untraceable weapons that have been used in mass shootings throughout the country and right here in California — from Santa Monica in 2013, to Tehama County in 2017, and at Saugus High School just last year,” Becerra said in the release. “We can’t afford to wait for another tragedy to happen before we take action. It’s time for ATF to prioritize the safety of our communities by calling these products what they are: firearms, and regulating them accordingly.”
– – –
Jake Dima is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-08--Virginia Military Institute Removes ‘Stonewall’ Jackson Statue

Virginia Military Institute began tearing down a statue of Confederate Gen. Thomas “ Stonewall ” Jackson Monday morning after school leadership approved the removal in October .
Virginia Military Institute ’ s ( VMI ) Board of Visitors unanimously approved Gen. Thomas “ Stonewall ” Jackson statue ’ s removal in October after the school was accused of systemic racism and of fostering a hostile environment for black cadets .
An Oct. 17 Washington Post report laid out several accusations of racism and insensitivity at VMI .
“ VMI does not define itself by this statue and that is why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interim Superintendent Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins said in a Monday statement , according to CBS affiliate WDBJ-TV .
“ We are defined by our unique system of education and the quality and character of the graduates the Institute produces.
” “ Though change can sometimes be difficult , it is time for our beloved Institution to move forward , ” Wins said .
Wins said the removal has “ evoked strong opinions ” on both sides , and that the statue will be relocated to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to WDBJ .
The statue had been located in front of student barracks on VMI ’ s Lexington , Virginia campus .
William Bunton , a black senior at VMI , and other black students interviewed by The Post alleged that VMI has fostered a racist environment .
One graduate filed a complaint in 2019 after she witnessed a white professor “ reminisce ” about their father ’ s Ku Klux Klan membership and until recently freshmen had to salute the Jackson statue despite its Confederate ties , The Post reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wondering , ‘ Why am I still here ?
’ ” Bunton told The Post .
Democratic Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam ordered an investigation into the racism allegations on Oct. 19 , days after The Post report .
The state ’ s House of Delegates and Senate approved the $ 1 million investigation on Nov. 9 , The Associated Press reported .
A group of black VMI alumni , led by Kaleb Tucker , started a campaign to remove the statue in June following the death of George Floyd who died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests .
More than 1,600 people had signed Tucker ’ s Change.org petition as of Monday afternoon .
Tucker stated that there has been “ story on top of story of racism ” at VMI which have been swept under the rug .
He said removing the statue of Jackson would show VMI was beginning to acknowledge its racist past .
VMI superintendent Gen. J.H .
Binford Peay III defended the statue in a July letter to cadets , faculty and staff .
“ Unlike many communities who are grappling with icons of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to many of the historical figures that are the subject of the current unrest .
Stonewall Jackson was a professor at VMI , a West Point graduate who served in combat in the Mexican War , a military genius , a staunch Christian , and yes , a Confederate General , ” Peay wrote .
Peay was forced to resign shortly after Northam ordered an investigation into the school , according to CBS News .
VMI , which was founded in 1839 , is the oldest state-supported military college in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Stonewall Jackson ” by Bubba73 CC3.0

by Thomas Catenacci
Virginia Military Institute began tearing down a statue of Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson Monday morning after school leadership approved the removal in October.
Virginia Military Institute’s (VMI) Board of Visitors unanimously approved Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson statue’s removal in October after the school was accused of systemic racism and of fostering a hostile environment for black cadets. An Oct. 17 Washington Post report laid out several accusations of racism and insensitivity at VMI.
“VMI does not define itself by this statue and that is why this move is appropriate,” VMI Interim Superintendent Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins said in a Monday statement, according to CBS affiliate WDBJ-TV. “We are defined by our unique system of education and the quality and character of the graduates the Institute produces.”
“Though change can sometimes be difficult, it is time for our beloved Institution to move forward,” Wins said.
Wins said the removal has “evoked strong opinions” on both sides, and that the statue will be relocated to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War in New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, according to WDBJ. The statue had been located in front of student barracks on VMI’s Lexington, Virginia campus.
Here are a couple photographs of the removal of Stonewall Jackson at VMI. pic.twitter.com/eA5tNoorKm — Kevin M. Levin (@KevinLevin) December 7, 2020
William Bunton, a black senior at VMI, and other black students interviewed by The Post alleged that VMI has fostered a racist environment. One graduate filed a complaint in 2019 after she witnessed a white professor “reminisce” about their father’s Ku Klux Klan membership and until recently freshmen had to salute the Jackson statue despite its Confederate ties, The Post reported.
“I wake up every day wondering, ‘Why am I still here?’” Bunton told The Post.
Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered an investigation into the racism allegations on Oct. 19, days after The Post report. The state’s House of Delegates and Senate approved the $1 million investigation on Nov. 9, The Associated Press reported.
A group of black VMI alumni, led by Kaleb Tucker, started a campaign to remove the statue in June following the death of George Floyd who died in Minneapolis police custody in May sparking nationwide protests. More than 1,600 people had signed Tucker’s Change.org petition as of Monday afternoon.
Tucker stated that there has been “story on top of story of racism” at VMI which have been swept under the rug. He said removing the statue of Jackson would show VMI was beginning to acknowledge its racist past.
VMI superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III defended the statue in a July letter to cadets, faculty and staff.
“Unlike many communities who are grappling with icons of the past, VMI has direct ties to many of the historical figures that are the subject of the current unrest. Stonewall Jackson was a professor at VMI, a West Point graduate who served in combat in the Mexican War, a military genius, a staunch Christian, and yes, a Confederate General,” Peay wrote.
Peay was forced to resign shortly after Northam ordered an investigation into the school, according to CBS News.
VMI, which was founded in 1839, is the oldest state-supported military college in the U.S., according to the school’s website.
– – –
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Stonewall Jackson” by Bubba73 CC3.0