thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Crom Carmichael Describes the Dangerous Issues with Mail-Out Voting and Laws

Live from Music Row Wednesday 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 original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
At the end of the second hour , Carmichael discussed the issues of mail-out voting by citing the recent mayhem in the states of Nevada and New York due to poor voting laws .
Leahy : That is President Trump Talking about the pending fraud of the voter mail-out program that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And setting up the signal that this is going to be big-time trouble .
Carmichael : Well I have some additional information from the discussion we had the other day .
There are two big problems .
The two biggest problems with mail-out voting or even absentee voting .
In New York , they had terrible chaos and mayhem .
As we discussed the other day there were 95,000 ballots that were counted in that race and the judge threw out 13,000 other ballots saying there was no way to count to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throw them out .
So that ’ s 14 percent .
OK ?
Carmichael : That would be the equivalent to almost 18 million votes nationwide .
So let ’ s examine why did that happen in New York ?
And the answer is very simple .
New York state has a terrible law when it comes to absentee ballots .
You can request an absentee ballot seven days before the election .
Carmichael : Yes .
You can ’ t process it .
If somebody requests an absentee ballot , first of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they requested for seven days .
Then the election officials receive it with four days to go .
If it ’ s done over a weekend and it has to be , that seven days has to include two days .
So if it ’ s done over a weekend now you are down to two days .
They have to , first of all , authenticate that the absentee ballot request is legitimate .
That takes some time .
Carmichael : Whether it takes a few hours or if there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last minute then it takes days .
And then they turn around and mail those out .
And that may take two or three days to get there .
And then the voter gets it and turns it in .
And that ’ s why they had ballots coming in ten days to two weeks after the election .
And by the way , if you have a return address where its already stamped , it avoids the date stamped machines .
Now you don ’ t even know what the date stamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming back because that ’ s the way that the post office handles return mail where there isn ’ t a stamp and the postage is prepaid .
The mayhem in New York was because of that and they were absentee ballots .
Now , if you do just straight mail out ballots if a state does not regularly and frankly right before they do the mail out ballots clean the voter rolls .
If they don ’ t do that they are going to mail out some number and if they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some blue states they ’ ve gone more than that where they have not cleaned the voter rolls .
They are going to send out hundreds of thousands , or even millions .
20 percent to addresses to where the people don ’ t live there anymore .
And that ’ s what Trump is talking about .
Bill Barr talked about a friend of his in Texas who used to live in Washington state and left Washington state 21 years ago received a mail-out ballot from the state of Washington at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So even in the states where they have existing absentee ballot laws… Carmichael : If they are bad laws .
Now if they say you have to request your absentee ballot a month before the election then there is plenty of time to do all of the appropriate checking to mail out the absentee ballot and for the voter to return it before the election .
There is plenty of time .
So I ’ m in favor of that .
And that ’ s pretty much what we do here in Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you have to vote in person the first time so that you prove in person that you are valid .
But then after that , you can request an absentee ballot but there is a considerable time period before the election that if you haven ’ t requested it by then you can ’ t .
In New York their law is terrible .
And apparently they are not going to change it .
So they are going to do the same thing .
So you can just guarantee it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know how many other states have absentee ballots where you can request it within seven days or even 10 days .
Carmichael : It is .
It is saying I want a disaster so I ’ m going to have a law that creates a disaster .
Leahy : That ’ s a very good way of putting it .
Carmichael : Oh yeah .
This isn ’ t , oh my gosh I never thought of it .
Yes , you did .
And you acted in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mail out voting , what we talked about earlier was when Trump sent out checks , the media made a big fanfare that he sent out $ 1.4 billion worth of checks to dead people .
Which was 1.2 million checks to dead people .
Well , three million people unbeknownst to CNN , die in this country every year .
Yes , there are people who die from things other than COVID .
In fact , the great majority of people that die , 85 percent of the country don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think CNN has missed that fact .
( Laughs ) Carmichael : But 1.2 million checks to dead people simply means that the social security system or the IRS or whatever database they used has not been updated for four to five months .
That ’ s all that would be .
Carmichael : So if you extend that nationwide and you extend that to two years or even in the blue states and you extend it to two years you are now up to what happened in Nevada .
Sixteen percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to dead people or sent to people that have moved .
So that is what Trump is talking about .
I have intelligent friends that are NeverTrumpers .
Not many , but even my intelligent friends are NeverTrumpers will not even listen to the argument .
Leahy : Why is that ?
Carmichael : That ’ s a great question .
By the way , I have no clue what the answer is .
Because these are people who in their business dealings they want the facts before they make a decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience with a left-wing friend of mine from many many years .
We tried to have this conversation .
They don ’ t want to hear it .
Carmichael : They don ’ t even want to hear the facts .
Listen to the full second 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--2020-08-20--Iconic Democrat in Virginia Under Fire

Iconic Democrat in Virginia Under Fire

In Portsmouth , Virginia we could have a new social media acronym : # ProtestPrison Virginia state Senator Louise Lucas ( D-Portsmouth ) , a 32-year political veteran , former candidate for Congress and one of President Barack Obama ’ s earliest and most ardent supporters , is now under possible indictment and has been charged with felonies over Portsmouth ’ s Confederate monument protests .
As a result , one man lays in the hospital with injuries from the protest that care facilitators termed “ life altering.
” Interestingly , Lucas is the treasurer of former Virginia Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McAuliffe is widely expected to run for governor again in 2021 .
“ Her opposition to a racist monument is the definition of what John Lewis called ‘ good trouble , ’ ” McAuliffe tweeted , referring to the Georgia congressman and civil rights leader who died last month .
“ Good trouble ” may not wash when one man is left clinging to life .
The Virginia Star will be following the story , and look for our first news analysis this weekend .
Don ’ t miss it !
John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .
Background Photo “ Portsmouth Confederate Monument ” by Doug Kerr .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Arizona State Rep. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) and 19 other legislators issued a statement following a video that went viral of three black students kicking two white students out of Arizona State University’s multicultural center. They demanded accountability and threatened to withhold funding from the university.
They announced, “It has come to light following the racially-motivated harassment of two students and their subsequent removal from one of the campus’ study facilities that ASU has allowed a culture of institutionalized racism and neo-segregation to take hold on its campus. The racially-charged removal of these students from the multicultural center begs the question of why Arizonans are being forced to spend tens, potentially hundreds, of millions of their hard-earned tax dollars on a building at a public university that some of our citizens are not allowed to use?”
Hoffman is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and concluded that he would “get to the bottom of this and take the appropriate action in the upcoming budget. Not one penny of taxpayer money should be appropriated to a public institution that in any way enables racism or neo-segregation. Period.”
ASU said it is investigating the incident. The angry students may have been “triggered” by a sticker on the laptop belonging to one of the white males, which said “Police Lives Matter,” and the slogan on the other white male’s shirt, which said “Did not vote for Biden.” They told the two young men, “You’re making this space uncomfortable” and “white is not a culture.” They said the Police Lives Matter sticker was racist.
One of the three told the students to leave, and another remarked, “This white man thinks he can take up our space, and this is why we need a multicultural space, because they think they can get away with this sh*t.” One of the two males packs up and leaves, and the other one stands up and looks like he might have been about to leave too.
A fundraiser was started for the harassed students on GoFundMe — one of the students mentioned in the video that he works 60 hours a week to support himself and his tuition, explaining that he’s not entitled — but GoFundMe removed it, refunding the money back to the donors. The company said it violated their “prohibited conduct policy,” which bans content that GoFundMe finds to be “in support of hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind.”
– – –
Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Michigan Announces 13 Commissioners to Redraw District Voting Lines

Michigan has announced the 13 citizens who will be in charge of redrawing Michigan ’ s congressional and legislative boundaries for the next decade , drawing their names in a random selection process on Monday .
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is made of four Democrats , four Republicans and four people not associated with either party .
The state received more than 9,000 applications , from which it then randomly selected 200 semifinalists .
The legislature then struck 20 applicants from the list , leaving 180 finalists .
The state then randomly drew 13 commissioners from these finalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to randomize its selection .
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Committee was created by a November 2018 amendment to Michigan ’ s constitution .
“ This is truly a historic date for Michigan ’ s democracy… ” said Michigan Assistant Secretary of State Heaster Wheeler during the drawing ceremony .
“ This commission of randomly selected Michigan citizens will fairly and transparently redraw our election districts for state legislature and the federal House of Representatives before the 2022 election cycle .
The Democrats named to the commission were Dustin Witjes , 31 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of Lansing ; and Juanita Curry , 72 , and Brittni Kellom , 34 , of Detroit .
The Republicans were Erin Wagner , 54 , of Charlotte ; Cynthia Orton , 55 , of Battle Creek ; Douglas Clark , 73 , of Rochester Hills ; and Rhonda Lange , 48 , of Reed City .
The Independents were Janice Vallette , 68 , of Highland Twp ; James Decker , 59 , of Fowlerville ; Richard Weiss , 73 , of Saginaw ; Steven Lett , 73 , of Interlochen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Orchard Lake .
The commission will begin meeting in the fall of 2020 and will be required to enact district maps no later than November 1 , 2021 .
They will receive roughly $ 40,000 each for their work .
Read more about the commission and view the commissioners ’ applications here .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan Star and Star News Digital Media .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] Photo “ People Voting ” by Wyofile .
CC @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Minneapolis Residents Sue the City and Mayor Jacob Frey Over Defunding Police

Eight Minneapolis residents filed a lawsuit Monday against the City of Minneapolis and Mayor Jacob Frey for the negative repercussions of defunding the Minneapolis Police Department ( MPD ) .
The plaintiffs allege that city officials ’ words and actions concerning law enforcement caused a severe uptick in Metro ’ s crime rates .
The plaintiffs are represented by the Upper Midwest Law Center ( UMWLC ) , who issued a press release the day after the suit was filed .
“ The petition alleges Minneapolis ’ s leaders have violated their duties to fund , employ and manage a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charter .
Rather than work to improve public safety , the City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey are making the city a more dangerous place through defunding , imposing a hiring freeze , cancelling training , and public disparagement of the MPD , causing police departments to retire , quit , take medical leave and make disability claims in unprecedented numbers without replacements.
” The lawsuit emphasizes the disparity between the number of officers required to be employed versus the number of officers currently serving Minneapolis .
The UMWLC and their plaintiffs reference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the city ’ s charter , which states that the city must “ fund a police force of at least .00017 employees per resident.
” The city ’ s current population sits at over 425,000 residents , which would mean that about 743 officers should be employed .
At the start of 2020 , the city had around 825 officers ; not long after the first riots following Floyd ’ s killing , 65 officers left .
Since then , over 200 officers have applied to leave through disability and 80 officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average of MPD officers who leave is 45 .
Crime rates in Minneapolis far exceed the numbers for previous years : a 114 percent increase in homicides , and 224 percent increase in shooting incidents .
The lawsuit began as correspondence between the UMWLC on behalf of the eight petitioners and Minneapolis ’ Interim City Attorney Erik Nilsson .
In the initial letter from August 4 the UMWLC and petitioners notified the city and mayor of their violation of the city charter .
The letter accused city officials of not maintaining the legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and of hiring armed protective agents with taxpayer dollars to protect council members instead of the MPD .
“ [ Y ] our recent words and actions disparaging the Minneapolis Police Department , your failing to abide by the Charter , and your pushing of Charter Amendments to abandon the peace officer formula commitment , are making the City of Minneapolis unsafe , ” the lawsuit says .
Nilsson dismissed every accusation , countering that the claims were “ not susceptible to a legal response.
” Nilsson also stated that the charter requirement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quantifiable number of officers .
The UMWLC then sent another letter informing of their decision to seek the matter further in court .
“ If you [ Nilsson ] were correct , the [ charter ] section should have been written as requiring a certain percentage of the budget or a specific constant dollar amount per capita , ” the UMWLC legal team wrote .
“ Instead , it is an actual peace officer per capita requirement , for the very good reason that citizens are protected by actual peace officers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was then filed in Hennepin County State District Court as a mandamus action .
This would have the court compel city officials to “ take all necessary steps to hire , train , fund and deploy a minimum of 743 licensed police officers.
” MPD officers will continue to decline in numbers .
Frey stated in his budget address last week that an additional estimated 100 officers would leave the force by year ’ s end – they would not be replaced due to a hiring freeze .
The MPD has also suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Jacob Frey ” by Lorie Shaull .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Virginia Democrats Taking a Political Action Breather During Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention ( DNC ) is well underway , and while Republicans are busy in Virginia , Democrat delegates and the Democratic Party of Virginia seem to be taking a break from political action this week .
That ’ s according to Ben Tribbett and Danny Barefoot , two political consultants who work with the Democratic Party in Virginia .
When asked what Democrat delegates were doing this week during the DNC , Tribbett said that delegates are “ all watching online like everybody else.
” Tribbett mentioned a delegate he spoke with was “ just going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a partner with Democratic ad agency Anvil Strategies , echoed this thought .
“ With it being all-virtual and with the special session , I think folks aren ’ t plugged in , ” he said .
There don ’ t seem to be any plans among either Democrat delegates or the Democratic Party of Virginia for political action in the near future , either .
“ I haven ’ t heard of anything in particular that they ’ re organizing viz a viz what normally goes on , ” said Tribbett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little different .
There ’ s no canvassing .
There ’ s a lot more phone-banking .
People are having to engage in a different way because we have a pandemic going on .
I think events are going to come more through the state party than through our delegates , but I haven ’ t seen the state party doing a whole lot.
” Barefoot pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a possible reason behind the seeming absence of activity among Democrats .
When asked why Democrats wouldn ’ t be canvassing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ 100 % because of the pandemic.
” Another possible reason for the apparent lack of action is a new role the executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia Andrew Whitley recently took on .
In addition to working with Virginia ’ s Democratic Party , Whitley is also Virginia ’ s Get Out the Vote ( GOTV ) Director for Joe Biden ’ s Campaign .
Whitley started that position on August 15 .
As of press time , he is also still serving as the executive director for Virginia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s highly unusual that the state party director has two jobs , ” said Tribbett .
“ I don ’ t remember that being the case in 20-plus years.
” “ I think that speaks to the level of engagement that the party is planning .
If they ’ re not even planning to have a full-time executive director that ’ s working on issues , then really , there ’ s not going to be a whole lot going on in Virginia this year .
“ You wouldn ’ t do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a swing state.
” Barefoot said that there hasn ’ t been a lot of planned action among Democrats because the Democratic Party is “ unified.
” “ I think it makes sense , ” he said .
“ The party is unified .
I don ’ t think there ’ s a lot of distance between the Senate and House and Biden .
We have folks plugged in both in Virginia and nationally with the Biden campaign .
I think this is the most unified I ’ ve ever seen a ticket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone is happy to be associated with Biden.
” Barefoot also said that based on polling he ’ s seen and conducted , “ the party is so much more unified than it ’ s been in any other cycle.
” Speaking to dissension against the Biden-Harris ticket seen in places like Twitter , Barefoot thinks only a small group of Democrats aren ’ t on board with Biden .
“ I think social media elevates the handful of people that aren ’ t unified and gives them a voice that they wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barefoot said .
“ In 2008 , when we had a landslide win , about one-fourth of Hilary Clinton ’ s supporters voted for John McCain .
Right now , we ’ re seeing single digits of the Bernie people saying that they ’ re voting for Trump or not voting.
” “ If you dig into the data , the party is unified.
” Sam Medley is a journalist at The Virginia Star and Star News Network .
You can follow Sam on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ” by Anthony Quintano .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Virginia Republicans Gather in Video to Nominate President Trump to a Second Term Ahead of National

Virginia Republicans Gather in Video to Nominate President Trump to a Second Term Ahead of National Convention

In a boisterous video Wednesday , Virginia ’ s Republican delegates gathered to formally announce their nomination of Donald J.
@ @ @ @ @ in 2020 .
All 46 of the delegation ’ s votes went to President Trump @ @ @ @ @ the national convention is a proud tradition held by both Republicans and Democrats .
Due @ @ @ @ @ however , the quadrennial formality was moved from the floor of a convention hall to @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Beach .
The Republican National Convention is set to kick off on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump @ @ @ @ @ of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Akron Sees Crime Spike Mirroring National Trends

Violent crime in Akron , Ohio has increased , which is mirroring an alarming trend across the country .
Just this week an 8-year girl was murdered and a 14-year-old was wounded in a shooting at a birthday party , according to Fox 8 .
Furthermore , two men were killed in separate incidents , Fox 8 reported .
The Beacon Journal said violent crime in Akron doubled in March and more than tripled in May compared to what it was in December .
Fox 8 reported that murder in Akron is up as much as 50 % .
Akron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview that the city was on track to have more shootings by the end of summer than in all of 2019 .
“ Our kids are out here like it ’ s a video game , ” Samples said .
“ They ’ re killing each other without any rhyme , reason , or remorse.
” Samples added that violence is now constant throughout the day .
“ It ’ s no longer at nightfall you start hearing the gunplay , it ’ s all day long now… they ’ re shooting up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
Samples condemned the violence and said the community had to get to the root of the problem .
The councilwoman called on the community “ to take ownership and responsibility.
” Akron is not the only violent place in Ohio .
In neighboring Cleveland , federal agents were tasked to intervene as part of President Trump ’ s anti-crime program , Operation Legend .
In a press release , the Department of Justice said the program would send 25 federal investigators to the city and fund the hiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Cleveland is currently experiencing a significant increase in violent crime , with homicides currently up more than 13 percent and shootings up over 35 percent over 2019 , ” the DOJ press release said .
Statistics cited by the DOJ show similar increases across the country .
Since 2019 , Milwaukee homicides are up 85 percent , nonfatal shootings are up 64 percent .
In Detroit , it has seen an increase of homicides around 31 percent and non-fatal shootings are up 54 percent from last year .
Ben Kolodny is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Michigan Joins Lawsuit Against U.S. Postal Service’s Changes

Michigan has joined a coalition of states that will be filing a lawsuit Tuesday against the federal government over recent changes to the U.S .
Postal Service ’ s ( USPS ) operations .
The lawsuit argues that the changes proposed and already implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy are illegal and threaten the timely mail delivery .
Attorney General Dana Nessel ’ s office said that under federal law , USPS operational changes affecting nationwide mail service must first be submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission and receive public comment .
“ General DeJoy never engaged in that process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As a matter of substance , these changes will have a wide range of negative consequences that violate a diverse array of federal laws , from harming individuals with disabilities in violation of the Rehabilitation Act to disenfranchising voters in violation of the Constitution.
” The coalition asks the court to compel USPS to submit a proposal requesting an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission .
The lawsuit seeks an injunction prohibiting USPS from implementing operational changes until it has the commission ’ s advisory opinion .
“ Recent actions taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attempt to disrupt and delay U.S .
Postal Service operations , ” Nessel said in a statement .
The lawsuit follows President Donald Trump ’ s criticism linking mail-in voting to voter fraud .
The lawsuit alleges DeJoy has made the following changes slowing mail delivery : • Instructing carriers to leave mail behind for the following day ; However , it comes as DeJoy walked back those changes Tuesday .
DeJoy delayed the cost-saving initiatives until after the November election “ to even avoid the appearance of any impact on election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Postal Service to make changes to secure the success of this organization and its long-term sustainability , ” DeJoy said in a statement .
“ I believe significant reforms are essential to that objective and work toward those reforms will commence after the election.
” USPS has lost more than $ 78 billion since 2007 .
In Michigan ’ s August election , 1.6 million votes were cast by mail , breaking the previous record for a statewide election .
According to the news release , the lawsuit will be filed Tuesday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington .
Michigan is joined in the suit by Colorado , Connecticut , Illinois , Maryland , Minnesota , Nevada , New Mexico , Oregon , Rhode Island , Vermont , Virginia , Washington , and Wisconsin .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Northam Proposes to Keep $2.3B in Budget Cuts for Now, Revisit in January

With a $ 2.7 billion budget shortfall and continued economic uncertainty , Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam wants the General Assembly to postpone considerations of higher education spending , teacher pay raises and other spending initiatives he had hoped to include in the budget before the COVID-19 pandemic hit .
The General Assembly passed a biennial budget in April that gutted about $ 2.3 billion from the governor ’ s pre-pandemic budget proposal .
The General Assembly was expected to reconsider some of these proposals based on new revenue projections in a special session that convened Tuesday , but Northam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cuts and urged the General Assembly to reconsider the spending initiatives when they reconvene in January .
Additional funding would have paid for a salary increase for teachers and other state workers , tuition-free community college and investments in behavioral health , transportation and health care .
“ We all share these priorities , and we will return to them in January , when the time is right , ” Northam said Tuesday morning in addressing a virtual joint meeting of the House Appropriations , House Finance , Senate Finance and Appropriations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now look better than we predicted when the pandemic began , we expect the December reforecast to show additional improvement about 16 weeks from now , ” Northam said .
“ But for that to happen and allow us to return to these shared priorities , our economy must show improvement .
… I fully intend to implement and carry out the progressive budget that you and I wrote together this past winter .
It ’ s the right thing to do , and it reflects commitments we made to the people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knows when a vaccine will be available or how much longer the pandemic will continue .
He said the state has continued to make prudent decisions , such as a freeze on hiring and discretionary spending , which saved the state about a half-billion dollars .
When debating the budget , Northam encouraged the General Assembly to preserve financial options and use one-time money to invest in the future rather than use it on recurring funds .
Northam ’ s proposal includes some smaller spending initiatives , which he said are COVID-19 related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to combat evictions and invest in affordable housing , which includes $ 85 million in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund .
Northam said it ’ s essential to keep people in their homes , especially during a pandemic .
The state has seen an uptick in eviction cases , but the Virginia Supreme Court has suspended temporarily them from being enforced .
Northam ’ s proposal includes $ 85 million to expand broadband services to Virginians , which Northam said will be essential for the upcoming school year .
Many schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hybrid of virtual and in-person learning .
He said 200,000 K-12 students and 60,000 college students do not have broadband at home .
The budget proposal also includes $ 2 million for prepaid return postage for absentee ballots sent out for the Nov. 3 election .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square .
He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider , USA TODAY College , National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon .
Background Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--VA Del. Nick Freitas, Former Del. Chris Saxman Blast House Dems for Obscene Abuse of Power

Live from Virginia Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Nick Freitas , Chris Saxman , and Mark Cole to the show .
During the segment , Freitas described the special session events that took place earlier citing the Democrats ’ complete disdain for parliamentary law and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representatives in the House .
Fredericks : We are here live at a Trump/Pence victory rally here in Fredricksburg .
Many of the local Trump officials are here .
Also , we ’ re looking forward to Rob Whitman will be here .
Nick Freitas right now running for Congress Seventh District Republican .
He ’ s with us right now and also Tommy Hicks the co-chair of the RNC will be here at 7 p.m. We have another 30 minutes and then we are going to go live as I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nick Freitas , you are running for Congress in the seven .
So you always talk about that .
But you are also serving in the House and you are a House of delegates member .
And you had a special session today and we hear there was chaos because nothing really got done .
Now the Senate on the other hand hit the gavel at noon .
Not so much in the House .
What happened ?
Freitas : Well we had some problems right off the bat just getting preliminaries out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how we are going to do the voting .
And it ’ s frustrating because a lot of these things could have been done beforehand .
We didn ’ t even get the agenda until 45 minutes before .
And again some of this maybe there are problems and issues but some of it is pure politics with the majority basically picking on the minority and not giving us the information that we need .
There are two things that were incredibly frustrating today .
There has been a huge debate on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to meet and hold committee meetings remotely .
They universally favorite it .
We universally have a problem with it for a couple of reasons .
One of the primary ones is the basic transparency .
The reason we meet in Richmond and do these committee meetings is so everyone can be involved in that .
They can watch over a screen .
But if they want to physically show up and see their legislators at work and if they want to comment on it or speak to it they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation where we are going to try and do this over Zoom calls .
Even if you didn ’ t have technology issues which anybody that ’ s been on a Zoom calls knows you potentially can .
I want you to imagine the power you ’ ve just given somebody now that is managing that Zoom call .
Whether it ’ s the chairman or whatever it is and to just decide they didn ’ t see your request to speak button .
And they didn ’ t see that you wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s problems like that and the House Democrats have the authority to do it and they can change it .
But whenever you are going to do a rules change you ’ ve got to go through a five-day reading .
That ’ s a cooling-off period and gives everyone a chance to see what the new rule is going to be because this governs the way the House conducts itself .
It ’ s serious .
We told them we voted no .
We said we want five days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Figure out a better way to do this and have the public actively involved .
And their response was to come back like 20 minutes later after they already told us we were going to come back anyway and say well no we ’ ve got a new resolution that ’ s just going to give the speaker the authority to do it .
And we said , OK , parliamentary problem here .
You are still changing the rules .
There are rules for changing the rules .
And their attitude was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new interpretation .
And Minority Leader Todd Gilbert did a great job addressing this by talking about how absolutely arrogant it was to do that .
This happens when politicians just get drunk with their own power and their own hubris , and they start changing rules like this .
And it never occurs to them that you are setting a precedent that is now going to be followed by future general assemblies and future speakers .
So instead of these rules protecting both sides and ensuring that we have an orderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call the “ Virginia Way.
” Now it ’ s just going to be , well I ’ m in charge now and I ’ m just going to ram what I want .
And that is not the way we are supposed to do business .
That ’ s how DC does business , it is not the way we are supposed to do business .
But since the Democrats have taken over that ’ s it .
And if that wasn ’ t bad enough .
One of the other things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to have remote meetings .
So now delegates can be at home in their pajamas while they are on a Zoom call at a committee meeting .
They are also going to get per diem while they are there .
Freitas : No .
They are going to get per diem .
We all voted against it and the Democrats voted for it .
Saxman : How do you get per diem if you are staying at home ?
The whole premise behind per diem is to cover your expenses for being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll probably get mileage too because they ’ ll have to go upstairs to their boss .
Freitas : Again it ’ s not like they are spending their money .
They are spending our money .
Saxman : How do you get per diem when you are not going anywhere ?
Freitas : That was our question .
Saxman : The Republican caucus is saying we are not taking per diem .
Freitas : No .
We all voted against it .
It shouldn ’ t be done .
We all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This shows you the genuine difference .
At a time right now when small businesses are struggling and people don ’ t know where their kids are going to go to school .
Saxman : How much is it per diem ?
Saxman : An extra $ 200 a day to stay in their home and do what they would have done anyway and not allow the public to be a part of it .
It ’ s disgusting .
Freitas : Or to at least make it significantly more difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : But again that ’ s where you see the difference .
Saxman : As a former legislator I ’ m outraged that they would change the rules and not go through the prescribed five day waiting period to get public input .
The representation of the Commonwealth of Virginia says we ’ re going to change the rules on the fly , you should be scared .
Saxman : As a citizen of the Commonwealth , you should be scared .
And I ’ m not that guy .
And I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the imagination .
But when you fundamentally change the way the government is organized and structured something is seriously wrong .
Fredericks : Well I don ’ t normally see you get this animated Chris Saxman .
Saxman : Rules are important when it comes to governing .
Fredericks : And the fact is all you guys asked for was to follow the rules and you would have to stay here five days .
Saxman : No , no , no , no .
You didn ’ t even need to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Have a couple of people open it up .
That ’ s the five-day waiting period .
And then we all come back on Sunday .
To decide whether or not… Fredericks : And they could have done the same thing by following the rules .
But they wanted to jam it down your throat so it starts immediately so they can go home what now ?
Freitas : Well , they showed us , right ?
Fredericks : Can they go home now ?
Saxman : They set up the Siegel Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they set the Siegel Center up .
And did they all go home tonight .
Fredericks : They all went home ?
Unbelievable .
Saxman : What in the hell ?
Freitas : We just now passed a resolution that talked about how many bills we can submit .
When I first heard about this what we understood was that the resolution was going to read criminal justice reform , law enforcement reform , and a COVID-19 .
They added another category on there : social justice .
Saxman : What the hell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t fit into the category of social justice ?
Because literally here ’ s what that means .
When Republicans submit a bill it will not be heavily scrutinized of whether it falls between their categories .
But when a Democrat submits a bill and it doesn ’ t fall neatly into COVID-19 or doesn ’ t fall neatly into… Freitas : Because it can literally be anything .
Cole : So what it means is that Democrat bills will be heard and Republican bills will not be heard .
Freitas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up to do .
Listen to the full show here : Photo “ Nick Freitas ” by Nick Freitas .
Background Photo “ Virginia Capitol ” by Anderskev .
CC BY 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Virginia General Assembly 2020 Special Session Day Two

It was relatively quiet during day two of the Virginia General Assembly special session as the House adjourned after less than an hour of meeting , while the Senate was more lively during member ’ s points of personal privilege .
Wednesday marked the first day the House held session electronically , with Speaker Filler-Corn ( D-Fairfax County ) and the House Clerk in the actual chamber of the Capitol building .
The Senate , just like on Tuesday , held its session at the Science Museum of Virginia .
The first morning hour of business in the House began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( HR ) 514 , pertaining to conducting sessions virtually , but , delegates had technology issues with the virtual meeting software and were not present for the reading .
After resolving those technology issues HR 514 was read by the clerk again .
During members requests for points of personal privilege , Del .
Simon ( D-Fairfax ) referenced Republican delegates ’ complaints about HR 516 passed Tuesday , which allotted per diem and travel reimbursements for sessions attended , arguing that the per diem had not been set yet and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjourned until noon Thursday when they will again hold session virtually .
In a statement Wednesday , House Minority Leader Del .
Gilbert ( R-Shenandoah ) continued to voice his displeasure with the majority for passing said resolution .
“ When this Special Session convened , Republicans came to Richmond with the intention to stay and do the people ’ s business , including balancing the Commonwealth ’ s budget , ” Del .
Gilbert said .
“ We know how precious every single tax dollar is at this time .
“ Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the House Republican caucus believes it is wrong to accept these payments , and has instructed the Clerk of the House to withhold travel related per diem payments for Republicans.
” Over in the Science Museum , Senate members were conducting the session accordingly .
After the initial session-opening procedures and roll being taken , the Senate began reporting bills and bill substitutes relating to an array of issues from various committees such as the Judiciary and Education and Health .
Then , some Bills were referred between different committees , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Senate then agreed to multiple memorial and commending resolutions .
Procedures heated up a little between members during requests for points of personal privilege while discussing Senate Bill 5034 , introduced by Sen. Boysko ( D-33 ) , relating to the conditional release of prisoners by the Virginia Parole Board .
Republican and Democrat senators went back and forth on the issue of prison reform including changes to the parole board and releasing offenders back onto the streets , with some senators specifically referencing past heinous crimes against women .
“ Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the neighborhood and reaching out to those victims to want to contact them , that ’ s abhorrent to me.
” Sen. McDougle ( R-4 ) said .
“ There are people certainly that have done horrible acts in their life that deserve forgiveness and our system should be set up so that we can have forgiveness .
But , Mr. President , there are some things that you do where you still have to pay a price , even if we forgive you , even if do the right things going forward.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the subject and some respond to certain comments made by members who spoke , Sen. Boysko clarified her bill and specific amendments .
“ I would like to point out , once again , that the bill does not release or give the option for increased numbers of earned credit for violent felons.
” Boysko said .
“ We have heard today a long discussion about the horrors that women have gone through who are victims of rape .
However , I will say once again , the bill that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have been considering excludes anyone who has perpetrated a violent crime on a woman including rape , including murder , including malicious wounding .
They are not part of the debate in this Senate chamber.
” Senate Majority Leader Sen. Saslaw ( D-35 ) ended the discussions on prison reform and potential recidivism with a lengthy speech on the matter , which was followed by two scheduling questions from Senate Minority Leader Sen. Norment ( D-3 ) .
The Senate then adjourned to reconvene Thursday at noon .
Jacob Taylor is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Todd Gilbert ” by Law Office of Todd Gilbert .
Background Photo “ Virginia House Chambers ” by Germanna CC .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--On New Podcast, Gov. Bill Lee Talks Juggling Public Safety Versus Keeping Tennessee’s Economy Going

Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee said this week that protecting public safety while also protecting the state ’ s small businesses during COVID-19 is his administration ’ s primary “ balancing act ” and it was “ heartbreaking ” to watch small businesses close .
Lee also said he and other state officials used stimulus money to help the state ’ s business owners .
Lee discussed this on a new episode of the Beacon Center of Tennessee ’ s Over-Caffeinated podcast .
Beacon is a right-of-center think tank .
“ As a small business guy , the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business goes philosophically against what most of us actually believe should be happening , except in the case where there is an imminent public threat , ” Lee said .
“ We now know more about what is happening here .
We also recognize it ’ s not just about people ’ s lives but their livelihoods.
” Lee also said Tennessee had to keep its economy going even as he and other state officials worked to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , knowing some people would get it and even die from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to give states stimulus money through the CARES Act , one of the very first things we did was pull aside $ 200 million and designate it for small business relief , companies that are $ 10 million in revenue and below .
We developed a plan for that .
That was in addition to $ 200 million we put in the state budget for businesses to use against Coronavirus relief , ” Lee said .
“ We had just announced last week $ 83 million more .
My belief about stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
That is how you ’ re going to stimulate the economy .
That is how you ’ re going to keep them moving .
That is how you are going to keep people ’ s jobs coming back .
It ’ s been heartbreaking to watch small businesses close.
” Beacon President Justin Owen , meanwhile , said on the podcast that government “ can protect both lives and livelihoods.
” “ It doesn ’ t have to be one or the other .
And I think the people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some states , are under this false assumption that they can just shut on and off the economy like it ’ s a light switch .
You can ’ t do that .
It affects real people , ” Owen said .
“ And there ’ s also this element of elitism that ‘ If everyone just goes home and works on the laptop at their kitchen table for a few months that we ’ ll be OK. ’ For the vast majority of workers in our country that ’ s not feasible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their work is in a plant .
Their work is in a grocery store and in places where they have to physically be .
To say that they are not essential is really a slap in the face .
I ’ ve never met a person who said my paycheck is not essential to me.
” During the podcast , Lee said that a lack of civility in politics “ does not contribute well to the dialogue in this state.
” Lee also said that , academically , children learn better in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already have enough deficit in learning that we don ’ t need to add to that , ” Lee said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Bill Lee ” by Bill Lee .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Steve Bannon Indicted Along with ‘We Build the Wall’ Founder Brian Kolfage and Others Over Alleged C

Steve Bannon Indicted Along with ‘We Build the Wall’ Founder Brian Kolfage and Others Over Alleged Crowdfunding Scheme

NEW YORK , New York ( AP ) — President Donald Trump ’ s former chief strategist Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday on charges that he and three others “ orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of dollars ” from donors to an online fundraising effort to build a southern border wall , making him the latest in a long list of Trump associates to be indicted or charged .
The “ We Build The Wall ” fundraiser was headed by men who pushed their close ties to President Trump and raised more than $ 25 million .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president realize his vision of a physical border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border , especially after Trump ’ s effort to redirect millions in government funds , was held up through lawsuits by open-border activists .
But according to the criminal charges unsealed Thursday , little of the wall was actually constructed .
Instead , the money lined the pockets of some of those involved .
Bannon , who served in Trump ’ s 2016 campaign and the White House , allegedly received over $ 1 million himself , using some to secretly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the project , and to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars of Bannon ’ s personal expenses , prosecutors say .
According to the indictment ( embedded in full below ) , the District Attorney ’ s office say Bannon promised that 100 % of the donated money would be used for the project , but the defendants collectively used it in a manner inconsistent with the organization ’ s public representations .
Prosecutors allege the group faked invoices and created sham “ vendor ” arrangements , among other ways , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All money donated to the ‘ We Build the Wall ’ campaign goes directly to wall !
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Not anyone ’ s pocket , ” the indictment quotes Kolfage as saying on social media .
Bannon is among numerous former Trump associates who have found themselves under indictment or in jail , including his former campaign chair , Paul Manafort , his longtime lawyer , Michael Cohen , and his former national security adviser , Michael Flynn .
An immigration plan unveiled by Trump last year included a proposal to allow public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border wall .
At that point , the GoFundMe campaign launched by war veteran Brian Kolfage had raised more than $ 20 million for wall construction .
But Trump later denounced the project publicly , tweeting last month that he “ disagreed with doing this very small ( tiny ) section of wall , in a tricky area , by a private group which raised money by ads .
It was only done to make me look bad , and perhaps it now doesn ’ t even work .
Should have been built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles , ” he said .
Trump on Thursday told reporters that he knew nothing about the project and never believed in a privately financed barrier .
“ I thought that was a project being done for showboating reasons , ” he said .
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said Trump “ has not been involved with Steve Bannon since the campaign and the early part of the administration , and he does not know the people involved with this project.
” The defendants learned last October from a financial institution that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation and took additional steps to conceal the fraud , according to the indictment .
Charges included conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering .
Kolfage did not return a call seeking comment , but according to the indictment , he once said : “ It ’ s not possible to steal the money .
I can ’ t touch that money .
It ’ s not for me.
” A phone at the office of Bannon ’ s lawyer went unanswered Thursday morning .
Bannon and his spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .
It was not immediately clear who would represent Kolfage at an initial court appearance , and his phone was unanswered .
The indictment said Kolfage “ went so far as to send mass emails to his donors asking them to purchase coffee from his unrelated business , telling donors that the coffee company was the only way he ‘ keeps his family fed and a roof over their head.
’ ” Some donors wrote directly to Kolfage saying they did not have a lot of money and were skeptical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It added that Kolfage would reassure the donors that nobody was being compensated .
In fact , the indictment said , an arrangement had been made among Bannon and his co-defendants to allegedly pay Kolfage $ 100,000 up front and an additional $ 20,000 monthly .
Prosecutors say Kolfage eventually spent some of the over $ 350,000 he received on home renovations , payments toward a boat , a luxury SUV , a golf cart , jewelry , cosmetic surgery , personal tax payments and credit card debt .
We Build the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , originally promoted a project for 3 miles of fence posts in South Texas that was ultimately built and largely funded by Fisher Industries , which has received about $ 2 billion in funding for wall contracts .
The company ’ s CEO , Tommy Fisher , did not respond to calls for comment .
In 2019 , Kolfage and Fisher successfully constructed a half-mile of bollard-style border fence on privately donated land in New Mexico near of El Paso , Texas .
We Build The Wall used early construction to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in along border states .
Construction faced resistance by local authorities in New Mexico and Texas and accusations of improper permitting .
In May , federal officials found that a section of Fisher ’ s privately funded wall violated flood construction standards along the Rio Grande .
It also caused erosion .
Dustin Stockton , who helped start the campaign then left the project to work on the upcoming presidential election , said it seemed clear that federal prosecutors were “ attacking political infrastructure that supports President Trump right before the election.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges yet .
He was not charged in the case .
Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trump ’ s campaign in its critical final months , when he pushed a scorched-earth strategy that included highlighting the stories of former President Bill Clinton ’ s accusers .
After the election , he served as chief strategist during the turbulent early months of Trump ’ s administration .
The blunt-spoken , combative Bannon was the voice of a nationalist , outsider conservatism , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of his most contentious campaign promises , including his travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries .
But Bannon also clashed with other top advisers , and his high profile sometimes irked Trump .
He was pushed out in August 2017 .
Bannon , who served in the Navy and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs before becoming a Hollywood producer , has been hosting a pro-Trump podcast called “ War Room ” that began during the president ’ s impeachment proceedings and has continued during the pandemic .
Kris Kobach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kansas secretary of state , was general counsel for the group that ran the wall fundraising effort .
Kobach , who lost a race for Senate in Kansas earlier this month , is known nationally for advocating restrictive immigration policies .
A day before the indictment was unsealed , Kolfage was interviewed by Bannon on Bannon ’ s “ War Room ” podcast .
He discussed a dispute with the fundraising platform and encouraged future donors to go straight to their website .
Bannon asked him whether he thought the wall could get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promise .
“ I think we stand in a pretty good spot , as long as he gets elected , ” Kolfage said .
Larry Neumeister , Colleen Long , and Jill Colvin are reporters at The Associated Press .
Long and Colvin reported from Washington .
Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York , Nomaan Merchant in Northbrook , Illinois , and Cedar Attanasio in Santa Fe , New Mexico , contributed to this report .
Christina Botteri contributed to this article .
About the Headline Photo : In this Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House strategist Steve Bannon arrives to testify at the trial of Roger Stone , at federal court in Washington .
Bannon was arrested Thursday , Aug. 20 , 2020 , on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme “ We Build The Wall.
” The charges were contained in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court .
( AP Photo/Al Drago , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--New Unemployment Claims Surge Past a Million After One Week Drop Below Threshold

More than 1.1 million American workers filed new unemployment claims last week , a week after the number of claims @ @ @ @ @ for the first time since pandemic-related shutdowns were put in place in March .
According @ @ @ @ @ Labor , 1,106,000 workers filed new claims on a seasonally adjusted basis in the week @ @ @ @ @ ’ s up from the 971,000 new claims filed the week ending Aug. 8 , @ @ @ @ @ 8,000 , according to the department .
Continued claims , which count workers who file @ @ @ @ @ weeks in a row , dropped slightly to 14.8 million .
California again saw the @ @ @ @ @ new claims , with 201,640 .
Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center @ @ @ @ @ comments .
Contact Dan at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Commentary: Can We Recover American Nobility, Piety, and Humanity?

There was a time when a kind of nobility still existed among our leaders .
In Abraham Lincoln ’ s Second Inaugural Address , delivered March 4 , 1865 , while the nation was still riven by a bloody Civil War , he envisioned a future of national healing .
In words now carved in the marble of the Lincoln Memorial , he pledged , “ With malice toward none ; with charity for all ; with firmness in the right , as God gives us to see the right , ” to go on “ to bind up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ do all which may achieve and cherish a just , and a lasting peace , among ourselves .
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” A few weeks later , when the war actually came to a close , the victorious General Ulysses S. Grant , accepting the surrender of General Robert E. Lee , allowed Lee and his men to keep their horses and their swords , and to return to their homes .
The victors , Lincoln and Grant , could understand that the Confederates still deserved some respect .
As Lincoln earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inaugural , the people of North and South “ read the same Bible , and pray to the same God ; and each invokes His aid against the other.
” A little less than a century earlier , following the defeat of the British in the Revolutionary War , John Jay observed in Federalist 2 : That sense of shared humanity , shared piety , and shared nobility has now all but evaporated .
Until the 1960s , there was something like a national consensus on the appropriate approach to politics , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained essentially accurate .
With the civil rights movement and the response to the Vietnam War , however , the shared notion of this country as essentially noble and benign began to erode , as American campuses fell under the ideology of the Left , with its questioning of American traditions regarding race , religion , family , property , and social class .
We are now reaping the bitter harvest of that change in the universities , which spread into our secondary schools , entertainment industry , and media , finally overtaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic Party .
In 1800 , in the first American transfer of political power between rival factions , the defeated Federalist president , John Adams , graciously stepped aside , and , after a decision by the House of Representatives following the most vitriolic election contest that had yet occurred , the Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson became president .
Two-hundred-and-sixteen years later , when Donald Trump won an Electoral College victory over Hillary Clinton , many Democrats declared him an “ illegitimate president ” because Trump failed to win the popular vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the result dictated by our Constitution ( and thus the rule of law ) led to the relentless “ resistance , ” to Obama Administration holdovers ’ clandestine plotting to oust Trump through the Russia collusion hoax , and then to a failed impeachment effort .
We are still a deeply divided country , and it is time for the leaders of both parties to affirm their faith in our shared traditions , and in the existing Electoral College system and the United States Constitution itself .
In a way we are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tearing down of monuments , the riots and looting in many of our cities , and many of our intellectuals telling us that ours is a society replete with systematic racism and injustice .
The troops of Antifa and the activists of Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) are agitating for reparations for slavery , and some have justified looting as a kind of “ do it yourself ” reparations .
The blind rage that leads to such advocacy and conduct is in stark contrast to the words of Lincoln , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jay .
The kind of social justice warrior exemplified by Antifa and BLM , and the kind of ideology and revolutionary fervor promoted by the socialists and anarchists who inspired those movements are antithetical to American tradition .
If Antifa and the BLM are revolutionaries , they are more like French Jacobins or Russian Bolsheviks than they are like our American forebears , who sought simply to preserve the liberties guaranteed by the British common law .
Those now engaged in the tearing down of American monuments are also engaged in shredding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Attorney General Bill Barr recently remarked , they are the heirs of one of the intellectual fathers of the French Revolution , Jean-Jacques Rousseau , with his belief in absolutism , and the perfectibility of humankind .
The Christian beliefs so important in American history were anchored in an understanding of the inherently imperfect nature of humanity , its cupidity , and its need to erect a constitutional structure that protected the American people from their governors , and , ultimately from themselves .
The statue-tumblers dwell on an imagined repressive past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding of human limits .
Theirs is a revanchist enterprise , a romantic undertaking against perceived miscreants , but , like all authoritarian socialist undertakings , it is more likely to create a hell on earth than utopia .
As only intellectuals , sadly , can remain oblivious to the obvious , it is necessary to point it out to them : in our time there is much virtue-signaling , but too little virtue .
Barton Swaim recently observed that the Democrats ’ current push for racial justice requires “ the constant expansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs.
” It includes the belief “ that government at all levels has a duty to monitor the business and social practices of citizens through an array of civil-rights divisions and commissions empowered to prevent any form of discrimination.
” To oppose any of this , Swaim saw , “ opens you to the charge , veiled or explicit , of racism.
” Racism , in our time , is the ultimate evil , and it is no surprise that our president and his supporters have been freely tarred as racists .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of political correctness that abets it , Swaim noted , results in a “ variety of social punishments.
” The presidential election of 2020 offers an opportunity to reject these pernicious beliefs .
In the face of 95 percent broadcast media hostility , it will take the most powerful outpouring of the traditional virtue of the American people to overcome them , but it should and must be done , if American greatness as we know it is not to vanish from the earth .
Stephen B. Presser is the Raoul Berger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University ’ s Pritzker School of Law , and the author of “ Law Professors : Three Centuries of Shaping American Law ” ( West Academic Publishers , 2017 ) .
In the academic year 2018-2019 , Professor Presser is a Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought and Policy at the University of Colorado , Boulder .
Photo “ Pledge of Allegiance ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Tom Joyce
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is leading a group of 21 attorneys general in an amicus brief regarding federal immigration law.
The attorneys general are asking the Supreme Court of the United States to uphold a federal statute to enforce federal immigration law in United States v. Hansen.
“In the middle of this man-made disaster at our southern border, we need every tool and law available,” Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a press release. “The last thing we need is anyone incentivizing migrants to come here illegally and further straining our social safety net. Border communities are being overwhelmed by the influx of people.”
A grand jury charged California resident Helaman Hansen with multiple crimes in 2017 for scamming hundreds of noncitizens out of more than $1 million by promising them a nonexistent path to citizenship.
According to the release, Hansen was charged under a federal statute for encouraging people to come to the United States illegally for “commercial advantage or private financial gain,” according to the release.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals then struck down the statute arguing that the words “encourage” and “induce,” in the law are too broad.
General Brnovich and the attorneys general argue in their amicus brief that the Ninth Circuit decision jeopardizes the constitutionality of criminal law in all 50 states. They worry that the decision may cause other state and federal courts to invalidate existing criminal laws.
The other attorneys general who signed the brief is from the states of: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
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Tom Joyce is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Mark Brnovich” by Mark Brnovich. Background Photo “U.S. Supreme Court” by AscendedAnathema. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Expert Testimony on Study of Emergency Powers: Governor Lee’s Executive Orders Consistent with Power

Expert Testimony on Study of Emergency Powers: Governor Lee’s Executive Orders Consistent with Powers Granted in State Law

In testimony to the Joint Ad Hoc Committee to Study Emergency Powers Thursday , retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice and president and dean of Nashville School of Law William C. Koch , Jr. said Governor Bill Lee ’ s executive orders are entirely consistent with the inherent power in his office and granted to him in state statute .
The 17-member ad hoc committee , consisting of five senators and 12 representatives , was established by the respective speakers of each house at the request of members in light of the emergency status caused by COVID-19 .
The meeting started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zachary ( R-Knoxville ) and Sen. Ferrell Haile ( R-Gallatin ) .
Both talked about the extraordinary times and were complimentary of Lee ’ s actions , operating within the framework of what was established by the legislature 20 years ago .
They both recognized the concerns of citizens relative to the infringement of rights and liberties .
Haile and Zachary also made it clear that the committee was not established to review the individual decisions made by Lee or the judicial branch through each executive order or to establish if it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Additionally , Zachary outlined several questions that committee members should be thinking about as they progress with a total of three meetings over a six-week period .
What authority does the governor and the judicial branch have written in law and what powers are provided by the constitution ?
“ The precedent has been established , ” said Zachary , “ so we as a committee and the upcoming 112th General Assembly must be prepared to address revisions needed to the TCA to ensure the framework needed for future governors and the judiciary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of every Tennessean no matter our future.
” Haile was more cautious , saying that no matter how committee members perceive the powers , they were put into place for times such as these and that they should err on the side of patience .
Rep. Dan Howell ( R-Georgetown ) and John Ragan ( R-Oak Ridge ) both reflected on the balance of power and “ a government of the people , by the people and for the people.
” Sen. Kerry Roberts ( R-Springfield ) reminded that they are not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information to inform their opinions and make recommendations for consideration in January when they are in session .
Josh Houston with the Office of Legal Services reviewed the constitutional and historical background of the current statutory scheme relative to executive powers .
The Tennessee Constitution grants exclusive authority to each branch of government to exercise the powers provided to it by the Constitution , advised Houston , but does not specifically define the powers of each branch .
According to Houston , the Supreme Court has said that theoretically legislative powers are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws , the executive is to administer and enforce laws , and the judicial is to interpret and apply laws .
After declaring the separation of powers a fundamental principle of American constitutional government in another case , Houston relayed that the court said , “ Nevertheless , it has long been recognized that it is impossible to preserve perfectly the theoretical lines between the executive , legislative and judicial branches of government .
There is necessarily a certain amount of overlap .
The three departments are interdependent.
” Relevant to the discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislature authorizes the governor to issue executive orders during emergencies which often require immediate action that can be taken more quickly than convening the legislature .
“ Because the governor ’ s authority in Tennessee to issue executive orders related to emergencies comes from statutory authority delegated by the General Assembly , the General Assembly may amend , repeal or otherwise modify such authority as the General Assembly deems appropriate , ” said Houston .
After reviewing the wartime and natural disaster powers of the executive branch , Houston said the executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis are also longstanding , dating back to at least 1879 .
The main emergency powers section , T.C.A .
58-2-107 , authorizes the governor to declare a state of emergency by executive order , proclamation or activating the Tennessee Emergency Management Plan ; to delegate his emergency powers , as he did allowing local officials to make certain decisions related to COVID-19 ; to extend any law , order , rule or regulation ; and , to govern the conduct of citizens during a state emergency , having the full force and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is prohibited by the Constitution in Article I , Section 25 , martial rule authorized by T.C.A .
58-1-112 allows the governor to use the National Guard with the consent of the General Assembly to protect life and property and to bring the emergency situation under control .
Other than quoting the constitution and the statute , Houston did not distinguish further between martial law and rule .
Other relative statutes are T.C.A .
58-2-119 , 58-2-120 , Title 68 Chapters 1 and 2 , and Title 16 for the judicial branch .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared comments for about 20 minutes , under the disclaimer that his opinions are his own and don ’ t reflect the view of his former colleagues or trustees of the Tennessee School of Law .
He encouraged taking advantage of the fact that COVID-19 is not the first healthcare epidemic that Tennessee has dealt with , mentioning yellow fever , cholera , influenza and tuberculosis .
Koch outlined five principles that undergirded his remarks , saying some of which the committee may agree with and some of them which they may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create power , they mark an occasion when power has to be exercised .
2 .
Answers regarding powers of the three branches of government are going to be found in the constitution , not only the text but by implication , common law and statutes .
3 .
As demonstrated in crises of the past , both the executive and legislative branches are trustees of the welfare of the citizens , but the executive can move more quickly and act with more force than other branches of government .
4 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitution are not created in a vacuum and have to be viewed in the context of community .
Koch gave a brief review of a 1905 Supreme Court decision as to whether Massachusetts could force small pox vaccines , with the legislative act being upheld .
5 .
The history of past epidemics consistently prefer that policies for emergencies be formulated and developed closest to the constituents .
Koch briefly described a 1952 Supreme Court decision in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. et al .
v. Sawyer when President Harry Truman had seized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mills during a threatened strike to maintain production of critical munitions during the Korean War .
One justice ’ s opinion Koch applied to the governor instead of the president , saying that the authority of the governor is at its maximum when his response is based on his inherent powers to protect the health , safety and welfare and on the powers the legislature granted .
Having read his executive orders , Koch assessed , “ That ’ s precisely what Governor Lee ’ s done.
” While not asked for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive orders are entirely consistent with the power inherent with his office and with the power that you granted him in in Title 58 , Chapter 2.
” Koch qualified that the legislature has the power to change the statute in any way , as long as it doesn ’ t violate some other provision of the Constitution .
He suggested consideration of how much the legislature wants to insert themselves and whether that is in their best interest and that of the people .
After about 20 minutes , the meeting transitioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislators that went for about 30 minutes before recessing ahead of schedule for lunch .
Upon resuming , Dean and Professor of Constitution Law at Belmont University and retired U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales gave his testimony .
More casual and without prepared comments , Gonzales said he wouldn ’ t be nearly as much as help as Koch who had served on the Tennessee Supreme Court .
“ I ’ m not and don ’ t hold myself out to be an expert on the Tennessee state Constitution and the authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Gonzales .
Gonzales did reference T.C.A .
58-2-107 and that it grants the executive a great deal of power .
“ In Tennessee , from my reading , is one of very few states that grant the governor such expansive powers in periods of emergency.
” Rather than being a question of whether Lee had the authority to do what he has done , Gonzales thought it would be a better use of the committee ’ s time to look at what limitations the legislature should impose .
He said other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house , impose limitations on the amount of time that a state of emergency could exist , have reporting requirements or require a financial plan be submitted to the legislature when large amounts of money are to be expended .
Gonzales suggested capping the governor ’ s authority and getting a better accounting or transparency after the fact .
He added that it is important for the governor to respond quickly and decisively , but then stand before the people through the legislature and explain why he did what he did .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alluded to his time in the White House under President George W. Bush and how they relate to the executive of the state .
After about 30 minutes , Gonzales left and there was brief discussion amongst the committee members .
Two additional meetings are scheduled for September 3 and September 17 , both at 10 a.m. At the second meeting , the governor ’ s Deputy and Chief Counsel Lang Wiseman , who was originally scheduled to appear at the first meeting , will attend as well Attorney General Herb Slattery and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reynolds .
The video of the Thursday meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee to Study Emergency Power can be watched here .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Michigan to Pay Flint Residents $600 Million Over Lead-Filled Drinking Water

The state of Michigan has agreed to pay $ 600 million to Flint , Michigan residents in a settlement stemming from the 2014 water crisis .
The settlement established a court-monitored compensation fund , which will send payments Flint residents , CNN reported Thursday .
The majority of the money , about 80 % , will be paid to residents who were younger than 18 at the time of the crisis .
“ This partial settlement is the result of 5 years of litigation and 18 months of court supervised negotiations , ” said lawyers representing Flint residents , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to pursue claims against the remaining defendants on behalf of certain residents and local businesses in the City of Flint harmed by the water crisis.
” Representatives from the offices of Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel have been negotiating the settlement for more than a year , NBC News reported .
The settlement is intended to resolve all legal complaints waged against the state government related to the crisis .
However , ongoing lawsuits will continue against other defendants including two engineering firms , CNN reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flint switched its water supply to cut costs , according to the Natural Resources Defense Council ( NRDC ) .
The new water supply , the Flint River , wasn ’ t adequately tested and treated , leading to water quality issues .
Flint residents began complaining about the water which was reportedly foul-smelling and discolored , according to NRDC .
Children in Flint were found to have elevated blood lead levels , according to a 2015 AJPH Research study .
“ Lead is one of the most damning things you can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trajectory , ” Mona Hanna-Attisha , a pediatrician at Flint ’ s Hurley Medical Center , told NRDC .
The crisis led to a Michigan Civil Rights Commission investigation , which concluded that “ systemic racism ” played a role in the crisis .
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Facebook Stirs Anger, Abandons Drilling Gear on Oregon Coast

TIERRA DEL MAR , Oregon ( AP ) — Facebook ’ s effort to build a landing site in a village on the Oregon coast for a fiber optic cable linking Asia and North America has run into serious trouble .
First , a drill pipe snapped under the seabed .
Workers left 1,100 feet of pipe , 6,500 gallons of drilling fluid , a drill tip and other materials under the seabed as they closed down the site , aiming to try again next year .
And then the Facebook subsidiary waited seven weeks before telling state officials about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon Department of State Lands .
Homeowners in Tierra del Mar , which has around 200 houses , no stoplights or cellphone service , had opposed the project from the start , pointing out that it ’ s zoned residential and that having a cable landing site threatened the character of their community and could invite similar projects .
Now they are furious , and political leaders are too .
Tierra del Mar , 65 miles ( 105 kilometers ) southwest of Portland , is home to a mix of professionals and retirees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beach that is fringed with coastal fir trees and the deer , eagles and other birds that inhabit the area .
Facebook representatives had said Tierra del Mar was one of the few places on the U.S. West Coast suitable for the ultra-high-speed cable .
It is to link multiple U.S. locations , including Facebook ’ s huge data center in the central Oregon town of Prineville , with Japan and the Philippines , and help meet an increasing demand for internet services worldwide , the company says .
Construction of the cable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done in just a few weeks and completed by the end of April .
Instead , the drilling will resume again in January — as long as the state doesn ’ t revoke the permit .
Neighbors said the drilling was noisy .
Meanwhile , a lot the size of 10 tennis courts has been stripped of its trees , grasses and other vegetation and is now covered with gravel and concrete .
“ It ’ s basically a parking lot , ” Jeff Bryner , whose house is next door , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The wide , sandy beach seems undisturbed .
But under the seabed close to shore sits the drilling equipment , abandoned by a Facebook subsidiary , Edge Cable Holdings .
Lynnae Ruttledge , a retiree with a vacation home in Tierra del Mar , was one of the community organizers opposing the cable landing site .
“ They left and didn ’ t disclose to anyone that they left drilling equipment that is now underneath our seabed .
And there is no determination that that ’ s wrong , that that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she spoke on the weathered deck of her home .
Ruttledge and her husband , Ed , said they believe state agencies also share the blame , for being lax in vetting the project and in following up on the drilling accident .
The Department of State Lands has left it up to Edge Cable Holdings to provide an analysis of potential health , safety , and environmental impacts because of the presence of the abandoned equipment .
“ It ’ s a travesty to me that they are allowing the perpetrator of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oh , this is what the impact is going to be , ’ ” Ruttledge said .
Department of State Lands spokeswoman Ali Hansen said the analysis will be reviewed by department staff and independent experts as necessary .
Political leaders say Facebook is wearing out its welcome .
State Rep. David Gomberg , a Democrat whose district includes Tierra del Mar , said he was initially neutral on the project and just wanted to ensure that , as it was going through the approval process , locals could pose questions to Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the project has dragged on and of the delay in notifying state authorities that equipment was abandoned after the April 28 drilling mishap .
“ Facebook has not proven themselves to be a friendly or cooperative neighbor , ” Gomberg said Tuesday .
Gov .
Kate Brown is not happy either .
In January 2016 , Brown encouraged the Pacific Telecommunications Conference , which was holding its annual meeting in Hawaii , to consider Oregon as a cable landing site on the West Coast of North America .
But now Brown ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its subsidiaries in Tierra del Mar is “ unacceptable.
” “ We expect state agencies will hold them accountable to the fullest extent allowed by Oregon law .
This incident will also be weighed heavily in future permitting requests , ” spokesman Charles Boyle said .
“ Oregon ’ s coasts and seafloor are not Mark Zuckerberg ’ s dumping ground.
” Facebook spokeswoman Monica Wik said an “ environmental assessment ” determined that it was better to leave the bore pipe 50 feet under the seafloor and that no negative environmental harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retrieval attempt “ is not an environmentally prudent option.
” The company intends to complete the cable landing site between January and April and will continue to follow the guidance of all relevant government agencies , Wik said by email .
The Oregon Department of State Lands has told Edge Cable Holdings that it must reach an agreement with the state on damages to be paid .
Furthermore , within six months it must either remove the abandoned equipment — which is there illegally — without damaging the environment , or obtain an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow the equipment to remain .
Failure to comply could result in termination of the easement agreement allowing construction of the cable landing site , the department said .
The state Land Use Board of Appeals is also considering an appeal , filed before the drilling accident , to rescind approval of the project .
Andrew Selsky is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : Lynnae and Ed Ruttledge , part-time residents , speak during an interview at their home in Tierra del Mar , Ore. , Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they were strongly opposed to Facebook putting a trans-continental cable landing site in their tiny coastal residential community .
Facebook ’ s effort to build a landing site in a village on the Oregon coast for a fiber optic cable linking Asia and North America has run into serious trouble .
( AP Photo/Andrew Selsky )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--DNC Panel Features ‘Mermaid Queen-King’ Who Calls for the Abolition of ICE, Police, and Prisons

The Democratic National Convention on Tuesday featured a panelist who identifies as a “ nonbinary/gender transcendent mermaid Queen-King ” and who called for the abolition of the police , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) and prisons .
According to the panelist ’ s Wake Forest University bio , J Mai is a “ Black-Vietnamese , transgender nonbinary/gender transcendent mermaid Queen-King , ” who recently became a “ licensed minister in the Progressive National Baptist Church.
” “ Why can ’ t folks imagine a world without the cops ?
Why can ’ t folks imagine a world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people expand their imaginations to include community care , to include an abolitionist future ?
” the self-avowed “ mermaid Queen-King ” said .
J Mai stressed that she was talking about real abolition , not a watered-down version .
“ We ’ re talking about abolishing the police , we ’ re talking about abolishing ICE , we ’ re talking about abolishing prisons , ” J Mai said .
J Mai works at the LGBTQ Center at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem , N.C .
According to her bio , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black-Vietnamese , transgender nonbinary/gender transcendent mermaid Queen-King currently living out their ever-evolving truths in Winston-Salem , NC .
A recently licensed minister in the Progressive National Baptist Church , J received their Bachelors in Sociology and Women , Gender , Sexuality Studies at Wake Forest University and is currently working towards a Masters in Divinity at Wake Forest University School of Divinity .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Laura Baigert Discusses Now Independent Party Candidate John DeBerry’s Democratic Socialist Opponent

Laura Baigert Discusses Now Independent Party Candidate John DeBerry’s Democratic Socialist Opponent Torrey Harris

Live from Music Row Thursday 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 Tennessee Star Senior Reporter Laura Baigert to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Baigert discussed the recent state Representative John DeBerry ’ s ousting from the radical Democratic Party in Memphis and his new challenger , Torrey Harris .
She and Leahy later discussed how they could not find any job that Harris had held prior to moving to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are joined on our newsmaker line by our good friend and the best Capitol Hill reporter in Tennessee Laura Baigert .
Laura has been with The Tennessee Star on Capitol Hill reporting for The Tennessee Star for three and a half years .
Laura one of the stories that you ’ ve written about that just fascinates me is John DeBerry .
For 26 years .
Leahy : He was a Democrat and represented his district in Memphis in the state House .
Then earlier this year the basically majority-White executive committee ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him out of the party .
Leahy : Threw him out of the party !
Good grief .
Baigert : Yeah .
That ’ s a story that I think has touched a lot of people across the state .
John DeBerry is truly the state ’ s statesman .
He made a speech from the floor last week that was just remarkable again as he always does .
Actually it was about the bill we were just talking about before the break with the increased penalties between protesting and rioting activities on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But of course , his opponent and there is no Republican in that race .
John DeBerry will be running as an Independent .
And the Democrat nominee took right to social media and issued a statement condemning the honorable John DeBerry for looking out for law and order .
( Laughs ) Leahy : Yeah .
So his opponent is this kid Torrey Harris .
How old is Torrey ?
Leahy : And so in contrast to Representative DeBerry who actually has experienced legal discrimination in his life as a young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Look at this what he said .
From the speech and from your story here ’ s what state representative said on the floor of the House .
“ I am one of those individuals that walked in back doors because the law said I had to .
I ’ m one of those individuals that road on the back of the bus on the back seats that were not cushioned because the law said I had to .
I went to the water and drank collard water because the law said I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where everybody looked at a country that was divided and segregated because the law said I had to.
” John DeBerry has experienced institutional racism back before 1970 .
Institutional racism by the way that his Democratic Party supported .
And now comes this young kid who didn ’ t experience any of that and is condemning state Representative John DeBerry for standing for the rule of law .
Baigert : And after standing for the rule of law and being condemned for it , what happened this weekend ?
More violence broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past weekend .
Baigert : The Democrats just look more foolish all the time because it just plays out exactly what we tell them .
Leahy : Now here is my question for you .
It is a daunting task to run as an Independent in a basically a system dominated by two parties .
Memphis is so dominated by the Democratic Party .
Typically Congressman Steve Cohen will get 70-75 percent of the vote in the general election .
Here we have representative DeBerry running as an Independent .
What are his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this election cycle ?
Baigert : That ’ s a very good question because make no mistake , the Democrats will dump a ton of money and effort into this race .
Not only is Tory Harris a progressive but he ’ s also gay .
So this will make a mark for them that they can not resist .
Because it ’ s an even narrower thing that they can divide people by right ?
( Chuckles ) It will be a big win for them if they were to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Wouldn ’ t you consider Harris the favorite because of the fact that he ’ s backed by the Democratic Party ?
And it would seem to me that he is likely to get lots and lots of money from places outside of Memphis .
Baigert : Oh , I ’ m sure .
I ’ m sure .
Harris up until this point , and I guess it will be how motivated voters are .
It ’ s always about turnout right ?
And the thing is that John DeBerry has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat Torrey Harris at a one on one last year in the primary by like 1,000 votes .
So it ’ s really hard to say how much name recognition DeBerry has .
How devoted his constituents are to him .
How radical the Democrats have become .
So I think there are just so many unknowns .
And of course not being that familiar with the Memphis area which has a very different dynamic than Nashville .
Leahy : Yes it does .
So here ’ s the Torrey Harris campaign website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud community leader and advocate for all human rights and equal opportunity in Memphis .
He came to Memphis in 2011 by way of corporate relocation and has made the obvious decision to choose 901 .
I ’ m looking for what he does for a living ( Baigert laughs ) and it looks like he ’ s a professional activist .
It seems to me .
Thre is a job there somewhere I guess but I can ’ t see it .
He serves as a volunteer with many local organizations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been an outspoken voice for progressive and immediate equality .
Calling for call discussions around what matters to those affected by policies and laws .
Baigert : If you look at how John DeBerry got kicked out of the Democratic Party is was started by a woman who also was a transplant to Memphis who wrote up the paperwork .
She declares herself as part of the Democratic Socialist Party .
Baigert : She ’ s the Memphis leader is how she built herself on Facebook .
Leahy : A carpet bagger Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to be true activists right ?
Leahy : So again , Torrey .
This Torrey Harris fellow is part of the community he serves and plans to continue the discussion around what matters to those within this district , this city , and this state .
Torrey , a young Black African American man understands the adversities of sexuality .
The judgment of one ’ s religious preference .
Having to go the extra mile because of race and how age and gender play a part in fair treatment .
( Laughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know what he does for a living .
He listens and he talks about all of the terrible terrible things that have happened to him in his 30 some odd years ?
Leahy : I think he was definitely born after systemic racism and institutional racism in the United States .
I think he was born long after that .
Leahy : He hasn ’ t had the kind of experiences of that institutional racism that existed before 1970 that state Rep. John DeBerry ’ s had .
Baigert : That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And by the way , John DeBerry was there when he saw their leader in the civil rights movement be shot and killed .
Leahy : In 1968 John DeBerry was there in Memphis .
Leahy : Yeah .
You talk about credibility .
You talk about being a person of substance .
Leahy : You talk about somebody who stood up for civil rights when a time when that was difficult .
That ’ s state representative John DeBerry .
That ’ s not this Torrey Harris kid .
Baigert : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these days is about race .
Leahy : Yeah .
Boy , can ’ t wait to talk about that more .
( Laughs ) Baigert : More .
Right .
We haven ’ t exhausted it enough .
Leahy : We haven ’ t talked about it enough .
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 .
Photo “ John DeBerry ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris ” by Torrey Harris .
Background Photo “ Tennessee General Assembly ” by Tennessee General Assembly .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Indicted State Senator Has Billed State for 10 Times More in Travel Expenses Than Tennessee Colleagu

Indicted State Senator Has Billed State for 10 Times More in Travel Expenses Than Tennessee Colleagues

Indicted Tennessee state Sen. Katrina Robinson has traveled extensively to conferences on the state ’ s dime during her time in office , costing Tennessee taxpayers $ 17,934.56 in the past 20 months – nearly 10 times the average amount of state spending on conference travel for her Senate colleagues .
A federal grand jury indicted Robinson , D-Memphis , last month on 24 counts of embezzlement involving government programs and 24 counts of wire fraud .
Since taking office in January 2019 , Robinson has attended nine conferences – many out-of-state – with expenses paid by the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 6,000 in per diem pay on conference days .
Robinson attended conferences of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators in Fort Lauderdale , Fla. , Dallas and Charlotte , N.C. ; a Women in Government conference in Chicago ; an annual legislative conference of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington ; a National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women conference in Chicago ; a conference of the National Conference of State Legislatures in Nashville ; an Evolution of Marijuana Policy Summit by the National Foundation for Women Legislators in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governments Conference in San Juan , Puerto Rico .
Expenses paid by the state for these trips include conference registration fees , hotels , car rentals , parking , taxis and flight change fees .
Robinson claimed she did not travel significantly more than her colleagues .
“ My travel record is consistent with the average amount seen among most senators , as our travel policy is quite different than state representatives , ” Robinson said in a statement to The Center Square .
The average state-covered expenditure for conference travel among Robinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time frame was just over $ 1,800 .
Only two other senators billed the state for more than $ 5,000 in travel expenses since January 2019 , with neither total greater than $ 7,000 .
Of the 20 Senators who collected per diem pay for time attending conferences , only 11 billed the state for expenses such as airfare , hotels or parking .
While most Tennessee lawmakers in the House and Senate did not make a state-paid trip in the past 20 months , it is not uncommon for legislators to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commonly the National Conference of State Legislatures and the American Legislative Exchange Council .
Many Black legislators in Tennessee also attend meetings of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators .
All requests for state-paid travel are approved through the Senate clerk ’ s office on a case-by-case basis .
“ Only non-political , policy-focused conferences and meetings are approved , ” Adam Kleinheider , a spokesman for Lt. Gov .
Randy McNally , told The Center Square in an email .
“ National and regional legislative conferences and other similar travel are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public policy procedures and practices .
Lt .
Governor McNally believes Tennessee benefits from the sharing of ideas that occur at these conferences.
” Robinson said she appreciated the opportunities to learn .
“ As a first-term legislator who began service with no prior legislative experience , I have welcomed a number of recommendations and invitations for educational and developmental opportunities from my colleagues and leader , ” Robinson said .
“ In my first year I was blessed to be elected to national leadership roles in organizations that elevate Black policy matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Robinson said .
“ I have also been nominated to multiple national committees on education and health .
These positions require me to travel with other legislators as approved by our speaker ’ s office.
” The Senate Democratic Caucus noted nine senators who live outside Middle Tennessee had higher overall state-reimbursed travel and per diem expense totals for 2019 than Robinson , and eight have higher reimbursement totals in 2020 .
However , totals provided by the caucus do not include expenses such as airfare or parking , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all required legislative business between legislative sessions , including required committee attendance , attendance at special legislative sessions and office work such as drafting legislation and meeting with constituents .
In conference travel alone , including noted state expenditures on airfare and taxis , Robinson has traveled on the state ’ s dime more often and more expensively than any other state legislator , including House and Senate leadership .
Robinson is accused of stealing more than $ 600,000 in federal grants meant for her health care education business and using the funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clothing and beauty products , a vehicle for her daughter , wedding and honeymoon expenses , legal fees for her divorce and a campaign event .
Vivian Jones reports on Tennessee and South Carolina for The Center Square .
Her writing has appeared in the Detroit News , The Hill , and publications of The Heartland Institute .