thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Commentary: Let America Work Again

Commentary: Let America Work Again

It was Monday morning on March 10 , 2019 , when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 lurched away from the gate , rolled to a sprint , and peeled its wheels off the runway for the last time .
Aboard , 157 souls including eight Americans and one veteran on vacation doing missionary work , were flying .
Six minutes after takeoff , Flight 302 plunged back to earth , trailing white smoke across the sky until reaching its terminus near Bishoftu , Ethiopia .
All aboard perished when the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft screamed into the ground at nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive crater with wreckage driven up to 30 feet deep into the soil .
That tragedy put visa worker programs in the spotlight after a report in Bloomberg revealed Boeing had cut costs by outsourcing 737 Max production to low-paid foreign subcontractors , coders , and software engineers .
Mark Rabin , a former Boeing software engineer , said the company ’ s decision to outsource “ was controversial because it was far less efficient than Boeing engineers just writing the code.
” It often was the case , he said , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and forth because the code was not done correctly.
” Boeing denies outsourcing played any role in the faulty flight-control software that forced the plane into a fatal nosedive .
Though the flames that consumed Flight 302 have long since flickered out , the economic crisis in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has reignited the debate about outsourcing and visa worker programs .
Over the weekend , 30 college student organizations sent a letter to President Donald Trump : “ Mr .
President , in addition to ending the Bush-Obama [ Optional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge you to suspend the H-1B program.
” These college students are correct to be concerned and they have an interest in paying attention to what the administration does next .
These programs now pose an acute threat to their job prospects and the wages of our best and brightest , especially those in science , technology , engineering , and mathematics .
As things stand , not only will the class of 2020 enter the worst job market since the Great Depression , it will compete with a government-subsidized labor force of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Optional Practical Training is a component of the F-1 visa program , which enables foreign nationals to study as full-time students in the United States .
As a condition for entry , U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services asks F-1 students to maintain a residence abroad that they “ have no intention of giving up.
” In other words , applicants must show their intention to return to their country of origin at the end of their study .
But OPT offers a loophole out of this requirement .
F-1 visa holders can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” employment through OPT , including those who have graduated and should be on their way home .
At the end of that period , foreign nationals in STEM may apply for a 24-month extension .
A tax break of as much as $ 12,000 incentivizes American businesses in hiring OPT workers over equally , or even more qualified young Americans .
Unlike the H-1B , which requires employers to pay workers a wage that corresponds to the occupation and the region where they will be employed , there are no wage requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holders who work the full 36 months with OPT will overstay their visas and slip into illegal status .
Not to worry , though , because they can pursue a green card by transferring to a dual intent visa , such as the H-1B .
With a few twists and turns , then , foreign nationals who entered the United States as temporary students join the ranks of H-1B visa workers displacing Americans in STEM occupations .
As with OPT , there are underhanded incentives not to hire American , such as loopholes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that make it easy for employers to underpay H-1B workers compared to Americans .
The Economic Policy Institute earlier this month found 60 percent of H-1B positions certified by the U.S. Department of Labor are assigned wage levels well below the local median wage for the occupation .
This sad fact is an open secret among H-1B employers .
“ I know from my experience as a tech CEO that H-1Bs are cheaper than domestic hires , ” said Vivek Wadhwa , an advocate for expanding visa worker programs .
“ Technically , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ‘ prevailing wage ’ but this mechanism is riddled with loopholes.
” It ’ s common that employers who share Wadhwa ’ s fondness for outsourcing force Americans to train their lower-paid H-1B replacements as a condition of severance pay .
As a result , there are millions of STEM degree holders in the United States who have given up seeking employment in their fields because firms have incentives either not to hire them or not to retain their services in favor of hiring cheaper visa workers .
This contributes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worker shortage , exaggerated to benefit those who exploit outsourcing .
Critical worker shortages would be reflected in substantially higher pay , but wages in many STEM occupations—such as computer science and information technology—remain stagnant .
The Wall Street Journal acknowledged a direct connection between the H-1B program and “ lower wages and employment for American tech workers ” in 2017 .
Even if there are fewer workers than jobs , the result is a healthy , tight labor market that encourages employers either to make themselves more attractive by offering better wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative is the perpetuation of programs that provide companies with cheap labor at the cost of American jobs .
In the aftermath of Flight 302 , it came to light that Boeing primarily used the H-1B program to outsource .
But OPT hires also may have played a role .
Rabin , who was involved in software testing for the 737 Max , remarked about offices across from Seattle ’ s Boeing Field , where “ recent college graduates employed by the Indian software developer HCL Technologies Ltd. occupied several rows of desks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These “ temporary workers ” made as little as $ 9 an hour to develop and test software , compared to the $ 41– $ 46 hourly wages of a regular hire on a 40-hour workweek .
It shouldn ’ t take planes falling out of the sky or a pandemic to convince American policymakers of the need not only to make great things in America but also to afford Americans the opportunity to make them .
President Trump , as students wrote last week , “ can make this right by ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program.
” Pedro Gonzalez is assistant editor of American Greatness and a Mount Vernon Fellow of the Center for American Greatness .
Photo “ Lockdown Protest ” by Becker1999 .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Blackburn Leads Bill to Fight ‘Digital Authoritarianism’ in China, Russia

Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) introduced a bill Friday that she says would help prevent authoritarian governments in Russia and China from restricting “ Internet freedom.
” “ Leading censors like China and Russia are not only employing more sophisticated means to control the lives of their citizens online ; they are also exporting their censorship and surveillance tactics to illiberal regimes abroad , ” Blackburn said in a press release .
She said authoritarian regimes have leveraged “ COVID-19 response schemes against their own people ” by “ restricting the ability of individuals to distribute or publish information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalties for defying speech restrictions , and limiting access to information.
” That ’ s why she has introduced the Open Technology Fund Authorization Act with Sens .
Rick Scott ( R-FL ) , Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) , and Bob Menendez ( D-NJ ) .
The Open Technology Fund ( OTF ) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to counteracting “ repressive censorship and surveillance , enabling Internet users to exercise their fundamental human rights online.
” Under the bill , the OTF would be established as an independent grantee of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving $ 55 million in appropriations over the next two fiscal years .
The organization would be required to “ develop , maintain , and deliver technologies to circumvent authoritarian governments ’ efforts to restrict Internet freedom.
” Menendez said the OTF provides people around the world with the tools they need to “ promote human rights , the free flow of information , and hold their governments accountable and to ensure the Internet remains a free , stable , and secure arena.
” “ We ’ ve seen nations like Communist China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who attempted to warn the globe about the threat of the coronavirus .
Communist China is violating human rights and oppressing the people of Hong Kong in an effort to silence its critics and pursue global dominance , ” said Sen. Scott .
“ The U.S. can not sit idly by while regimes across the world deny the basic right of free speech.
” According to the OTF , more than two billion people across the globe use its technologies to circumvent online censorship , including Chinese citizens who use OTF ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party ’ s Great Firewall .
“ Keeping the internet free from government censorship and oppressive government surveillance is critical to free expression and political freedom around the world , ” said Sen. Wyden .
“ This bill will aid the fight against authoritarian governments online.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

by Peter Hasson
Twenty-eight congressional Democrats signed a letter Wednesday condemning the Department of Education for ruling that public schools that allow biological males who identify as transgender to play girls’ sports are violating Title IX civil rights legislation.
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined 27 House Democrats in signing the letter, which charged that the department’s order “discriminates against transgender youth” by restricting girls’ sports to biological females.
“The decision of the Department of Education to issue a determination targeting transgender student athletes on the eve of Pride Month is not coincidental. It is a transparent example of their campaign against the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ children,” Connecticut Rep. Jahana Hayes, the letter’s lead signer, said in a press release.
The DOE on May 15 issued a ruling stating that public schools that allow biological males into girls’ athletics are violating Title IX, which protects women’s access to education and athletics.
The Department of Justice previously backed a lawsuit filed by high school girls in Connecticut who said the liberal state’s transgender policies violated their rights.
Sports across the country are on hold due to the novel coronavirus, but biological males who identify as transgender have previously racked up accomplishments in female athletics.
Franklin Pierce University runner CeCe Telfer, for example, won an NCAA DII women’s track championship in May 2019. Telfer is a biological male who identifies as transgender.
University of Montana runner June Eastwood, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was named the Big Sky Conference’s female athlete of the week in October 2019. Both Eastwood and Telfer previously competed on their university’s men’s team before switching to the women’s team.
Rachel McKinnon, a biological male who identifies as transgender, won women’s cycling world championships in both 2018 and 2019.
Wednesday’s letter isn’t the first instance of Democratic politicians arguing in favor of allowing biological males into female athletics.
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar in February 2019 called for an investigation into USA Powerlifting for barring biologically male athletes from women’s events.
A piece of Democratic legislation called the Equality Act, which passed the House with unanimous support from Democrats, would require schools to allow biologically male athletes into girls’ sports, if the male athletes identify as transgender.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, pledged to get the Equality Act passed into law within his first 100 days in office, if he wins the November election.
“Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time,” Biden wrote in a January tweet. “There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights.”
– – –
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Commentary: Liberal Group ‘Veterans Education Success’ Seeks to Re-Instate Obama-Era Education Polic

Commentary: Liberal Group ‘Veterans Education Success’ Seeks to Re-Instate Obama-Era Education Policy Targeting Private Colleges

A new TV ad campaign seeks to overturn a key reform of the Trump administration .
In the name of veterans , the campaign attempts to lure President Trump into breaking his word , endangering educational institutions in a difficult time .
In an ad by “ Veterans Education Success , ” we see servicemembers in uniform , overseas , and hugging their children , and shaking hands with President Trump .
The images remind me of the strong support the President has had among active and retired military , who voted for him by 60-34 percent in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Joint Resolution 76 .
That ’ s a measure designed to reinstate an excessive Obama administration regulation regarding “ borrower defense.
” As explained by the U.S. Department of Education : “ If your school misled you or engaged in other misconduct in violation of certain state laws , you may be eligible for ‘ borrower defense to loan repayment forgiveness , ’ which is the forgiveness of some or all of your federal student loan debt.
” The Trump regulation protects students who are defrauded by schools ’ misrepresentations , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairly between legitimate claims and frivolous ones .
Under the Obama rule , advocacy groups encouraged a flood of claims , valid or not , into the new Trump Administration .
Schools that did nothing wrong could be forced to put their credit on the line to cover huge potential loan-forgiveness , even if claims are ultimately found false .
Johnny C. Taylor Jr. , former president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund supporting historically black colleges and universities ( HBCUs ) , noted that the old rules could too easily lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their best to serve students .
The new rules , he wrote , are better for HBCUs , which primarily serve low-income students who are among the first in their families to attend college .
“ The new [ Trump administration ] rules provide flexibility for schools to make changes to their course offerings and graduation requirements based on costs , student interest and employer needs without being characterized as fraudulent.
” So why is Veterans Education Success trying to stop the new rules ?
The answer is rooted in the hatred that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for education choice .
They oppose homeschooling , charter schools , and other alternative forms of K-12 education because they like the idea of a government-run school monopoly .
When it comes to post-secondary education , they want to protect the shared monopoly of government-subsidized and well-endowed colleges and universities even as the quality of higher education declines and the cost skyrockets .
Around 2010 , the Obama administration targeted proprietary colleges and universities , so-called “ for-profits , ” working with left-wing foundations , class-action lawyers , teachers unions , short-selling investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value ) , and politicians like Senator Tom Harkin ( D-IA ) , who chaired the Senate education committee .
Harkin ’ s work was so biased that Republicans walked out on a committee hearing he held on the topic .
Harkin aide Carrie Wofford founded Veterans Education Success in 2013 .
Since then , the main activity of VES has been to attack proprietary schools in the name of veterans .
Veterans , VES told us , attend these institutions because they are tricked into doing so .
VES views the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as too weak to think for themselves .
In fact , most people who attend such schools do so because the schools tailor themselves to the needs of veterans , of people with children or full-time jobs , and of those who need to go to colleges nearby or online – but VES arrogantly thinks it knows better .
Wofford is a fixture among liberal Democrats in Washington .
She was mentioned as a possible Obama secretary of labor .
She ’ s the niece of the late Senator Harris Wofford ( D-PA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was a longtime aide to Senator Ed Markey ( D-MA ) , senior counselor to Obama ’ s FCC chairman , and the head of Global Public Policy and Philanthropy at Twitter .
Remember the Human Rights Campaign , at whose annual dinner in 2016 Hillary Clinton infamously attacked “ deplorables ” ?
Wofford has served on HRC ’ s board of directors .
Wofford ’ s vice president at VES is Ricki Seidman , a Clinton administration Justice Department official who was a senior investigator for Investigative Group International , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye for the Clinton political machine .
( Dick Morris , once Bill Clinton ’ s chief strategist , called efforts at political espionage by Lenzner and the Clintons “ a kind of secret police going on here , ” “ absolutely chilling.
” ) Seidman is best known for her efforts to dig up dirt on Supreme Court nominees such as Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas .
She coached Christine Blasey Ford in the Brett Kavanaugh hearings .
In the 2008 campaign , she was Joe Biden ’ s communications director .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the VES campaign .
President Trump , his administrations ’ appointees , Congressional Republicans , and veterans at large need to see and understand VES ’ ideological furiosity and where it really wants to go .
Among veterans , it ’ s a Trojan Horse .
As recently as January 13 , the Trump White House vowed to protect the administration ’ s reform of the old , onerous Obama regulation .
Further , the President on May 19 issued an Executive Order calling on “ agencies to rescind , modify , waive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inhibit economic recovery.
” It ’ s not the time to hurt schools on which veterans depend for educational opportunity , and it ’ s not the time to listen to the likes of VES .
Steven J. Allen , J.D.
, Ph.D. , is Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Capital Research Center in Washington , D.C. Photo “ Veterans Education Success Ad ” by Veterans Education Success .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Abbreviated Tennessee General Assembly This Year Delays Consideration of Crime Victim Law

Tennessee General Assembly members will apparently wait another year before they consider Marsy ’ s Law for Tennessee , which , according to advocates , would strengthen the rights of crime victims in Tennessee ’ s State Constitution .
Advocates for the law said this week that members of the legislature have postponed considering the law .
This , because COVID-19 forced legislators to shorten this year ’ s session .
Marsy ’ s Law advocates said this in an emailed press release .
“ We are very disappointed , but it became clear that there is simply not enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps in both the House and Senate needed for passage this year , ” said State Rep .
Patsy Hazlewood ( R-Signal Mountain ) , who sponsored the legislation in the Tennessee House .
“ But the need is clear .
Crime victims are counting on us .
We look forward to beginning again when the next legislature convenes in January.
” State Sen. John Stevens ( R-Huntingdon ) said in the press release that legislators this year had other priorities .
“ This is one of many important issues that will unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the General Assembly works to quickly address important budget items and other COVID-related issues before adjourning for the year , ” said Stevens , who sponsored the bill in the state senate .
“ We are grateful to our legislative colleagues , to local law enforcement , and especially to the crime victims and their family members who have underscored the importance of this legislation and protecting victim rights.
” As The Tennessee Star reported last week , supporters had hoped legislators would have at least considered Marsy ’ s Law before they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This resolution , if passed , would ensure that crime victims have equal , constitutional rights on the same level as those accused and convicted of crimes , according to a Marsy ’ s Law press release .
If it had passed in two consecutive general assemblies this year , the constitutional amendment guaranteeing these protections would have gone on the November 2022 ballot for voters to approve .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Senators Graham, Cornyn, Murkowski and Lankford Among Republicans Set to Block Trump’s Guest Worker

Senators Graham, Cornyn, Murkowski and Lankford Among Republicans Set to Block Trump’s Guest Worker Immigration Pause

Several Republican senators asked President Donald Trump to preserve key guest worker programs for foreign nationals , revealing a split in the conservative base on how to best protect U.S. workers and the economy .
Nine GOP senators signed onto a letter delivered to the president on Wednesday , asking that he keep in place non-immigrant temporary visa programs as a means to aid the recovery of the U.S. economy .
Their request came in sharp contrast to immigration hardliners who have recently pressed Trump to scrap the programs amid record job losses .
At issue are the H-2A and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visas allow foreign nationals to stay in the United States to work in the agriculture and other typically unskilled industries on a temporary basis .
The GOP lawmakers on Wednesday argued that , despite the enormous job losses , continuing these visa programs will help businesses get back on their feet as the U.S. economy slowly reopens .
“ We write today to urge you to consider the important role non-immigrant temporary visa programs will play in aiding post-pandemic economic recovery in America , ” the lawmakers began .
“ Any changes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent additional damage to the already struggling American small businesses who rely on the assistance made possible through these visas , ” they continued .
The letter was signed by Sens .
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , John Cornyn of Texas , Mike Crapo and James Risch of Idaho , Michael Rounds of South Dakota , Todd Young of Indiana , Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska , and James Lankford of Oklahoma .
It was first publicized by Michelle Hackman of The Wall Street Journal .
The GOP lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dramatic economic decline in the United States .
They acknowledged in their letter that almost 33 million Americans are unemployed and nearly 8 million small businesses in the country are at risk of closing down their doors permanently .
Because of the current economic situation , many immigration hardliners are pressing Trump to suspend guest worker programs , arguing that the influx of migrant workers takes jobs away from Americans .
While Trump did announce in April a pause on entry of green card applicants living abroad , critics say this doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. workers .
The Federation for American Immigration Reform ( FAIR ) , a leading immigration restrictionist organization based in Washington , D.C. , delivered a letter to the president in April , demanding to know why his order included exceptions for hundreds of thousands of foreign workers .
Roughly 30 different Republican student groups signed a letter last week asking Trump to suspend the H-1B program and completely abolish the Optional Practical Training ( OPT ) program .
The leader of this push , San Diego State College Republicans President Oliver Krvaric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these programs were continuing while so many American citizens are out of work .
Nevertheless , the GOP senators on Wednesday argued that this concern is unwarranted because employers must first verify that they could not find any Americans willing to fill these jobs before tapping H-2A and H-2B workers .
“ Due to the temporary and seasonal nature of the work , it is exceedingly difficult to find American workers , even now , who wish to work only on a temporary basis , ” they said .
“ Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary or seasonal.
” “ Much of the furloughed or laid off workforce are likely looking to return to the jobs they were forced to leave , ” they continued .
Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Proposed Commission Would Recommend How Tennessee’s Education Systems Can Move Forward After COVID-1

Proposed Commission Would Recommend How Tennessee’s Education Systems Can Move Forward After COVID-19

Members of a proposed commission might soon prep Tennessee ’ s education officials for another wave of COVID-19 or even another crisis on the same scale .
But only if a majority of members of the Tennessee General Assembly and Gov .
Bill Lee say yes to the idea .
Members of a Tennessee House K-12 Subcommittee on Tuesday voted to send this proposal to the full committee .
Speaker Pro Tempore Bill Dunn ( R-Knoxville ) said Tuesday that COVID-19 and the recent tornadoes that battered Middle Tennessee prove unexpected events can disrupt the state ’ s educational system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to look to the future on how best to mitigate the disruptions , ” Dunn said .
“ This [ proposal ] would create a Tennessee Commission on Education Recovery and Innovation , and it would look at both short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 and the natural disasters that have occurred.
” Under the current proposal , this commission would have nine members .
Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee , Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton ( R-Crossville ) and Lt. Gov .
Randy McNally ( R-Oak Ridge ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Rep. Mark White ( R-Memphis ) told The Tennessee Star Wednesday that he wants members of this commission to devise the best possible strategies for Tennessee as they move forward .
“ We have all this federal money coming in and also state money being dispensed .
At the end of the day , 12 months from now , I don ’ t want to be in a place where we spend all this money as state and federal governments and nothing has really changed .
Hopefully this virus is through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
But we need to make sure that we are acting appropriately , ” White said .
“ We want the right background of people on the commission so that they can draft a strategic plan for us to make sure we are not as fumbling going forward on anything .
If and when this bill passes , which I think it will , the hard part will be making sure we get the right appointees on there .
And then we want them to look at the challenges that we faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school down back in March .
We want some good minds .
That is the gist of the bill.
” This commission , if enacted into law , Dunn said Tuesday , would meet and present their first report by Jan. 1 of next year .
Subsequent reports and action plans would follow , he added .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--California DA Launches Investigation into Whether Tara Reade Lied While Testifying as Expert Witness

A California district attorney ’ s office is investigating whether 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden ’ s accuser Tara Reade lied while acting as an expert witness .
Reade testified for a number of years in domestic violence cases as an expert witness for the Monterey County District Attorney ’ s office , Politico reported .
Media coverage of Reade ’ s academic credentials has thrown her years testifying as an expert under the spotlight , prompting concerns that Reade lied about her credentials in order to qualify as an expert .
“ We are investigating whether Ms. McCabe gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brannon , the Monterey County chief assistant district attorney , told Politico on Tuesday .
Brannon added that their office does not know how many cases Reade acted as a witness in .
“ We have no database or search engine to use to determine in how many cases she testified , ” Brannon said .
“ However , that effort is ongoing.
” Reade did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Six cases in which Reade testified are being reviewed by the 6th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in four California counties , Executive Director Patrick Murray told Politico on Thursday .
“ I have at least six cases where she testified and I have lists pending from various attorney groups where she testified as a violence expert .
I expect that list will expand significantly , ” Murray said .
“ We ’ re trying to get the lists together .
We ’ re aware of Ms. Reade , we ’ re in the mode of trying to review the transcripts to see if she misrepresented herself in court.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was informed she testified as an expert .
Last week I was also informed she lied about her credentials .
I didn ’ t connect the dots on the significance of those two things until yesterday when I was contacted by an attorney.
” The Biden accuser ’ s legal representation , Douglas Wigdor of Wigdor LLP , announced Friday that he will no longer be representing Reade ’ s allegations against Biden , but said in a press release that the firm still strongly believes that Reade has been “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the media coverage she has received.
” Reade accused Biden , a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate , of kissing her , touching her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent when she worked for him as a Senate staffer in 1993 .
Biden and his campaign have denied Reade ’ s allegations repeatedly .
“ Much of what has been written about Ms. Reade is not probative of whether then-Senator Biden sexually assaulted her , but rather is intended to victim-shame and attack her credibility on unrelated and irrelevant matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ We genuinely wish Ms. Reade well and hope that she , as a survivor , is treated fairly.
” Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Tara Reade ” by Megyn Kelly .
Background Photo “ Monterey County District Attorney ’ s Office ” by Monterey County District Attorney ’ s Office .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Twitter Dings Trump’s Tweets But Refuses to Fact Check Chinese Officials’ Virus Misinformation

Twitter has declined to take action against Chinese officials who spread coronavirus misinformation even after the company fact-checked President Donald Trump for suggesting California ’ s mail-in ballots are fraudulent .
A tweet from Chinese politician Lijian Zhao in March suggesting that the U.S. inserted coronavirus into China has not been removed or fact-checked .
Twitter has previously said that Zhao ’ s tweets do not violate the company ’ s rules , but Twitter updated its policies on May 11 , effectively making tweets from world leaders subject to misinformation labels .
Twitter did not immediately responded to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment on Zhao ’ s tweet following the fact check on Trump .
The company ’ s fact check on Trump ’ s tweet Tuesday came amid criticism that Twitter has not doing enough to push back against what many critics believe to be the president ’ s misinformation .
Twitter ’ s fact check states : “ Get the facts about mail-in ballots , ” and redirects users to articles refuting Trump ’ s claim that California ’ s move to offer mail-in ballots will lead to widespread voter fraud .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ misleading information about voting processes and have been labeled to provide additional context around mail-in ballots , ” a Twitter spokeswoman told the Daily Caller News Foundation Tuesday .
“ This decision is in line with the approach we shared earlier this month , ” she added before citing a May 11 Twitter blog post announcing the new labeling system .
The spokeswoman reiterated the company ’ s existing rules but did not provide a reason for speaking anonymously .
Twitter announced in a May 11 blog post that moderators will filter such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , disputed claims and unverified claims .
Misleading information will carry a label or outright removal , depending on the severity , while unverified claims will not have any action taken against them .
Disputed claims will contain a label or a warning .
The label system “ will also apply to Tweets sent before today , ” the blog post said .
“ Moving forward , we may use these labels and warning messages to provide additional explanations or clarifications in situations where the risks of harm associated with a Tweet are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be confused or misled by the content , ” Twitter noted in the post .
Twitter used the policy change to just the Trump fact check , a first for any big tech company .
Zhao , the spokesman and deputy director of the Foreign Ministry ’ s Information Department , tweeted in early March that , “ It might be the US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan.
” He also falsely suggested in the tweet that Centers For Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield was “ arrested.
” Zhao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter to push a theory suggesting coronavirus originated at the U.S. Army , according to data collected by the Alliance for Securing Democracy .
The theory accelerated after other Chinese embassy accounts in France and Jordan retweeted Zhao ’ s post , the data show .
He ’ s not the only Chinese official not to receive a factcheck or label of any kind .
“ Mr .
President is right .
Some people do need to be injected with , or at least gargle with it .
That way they won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hatred when talking , ” Hu Zhaoming , a spokesman for the Chinese Communist Party , wrote on Twitter in April .
He was referring to reports of Trump wondering if an “ injection ” of “ disinfectant ” could help with people with the virus .
China has posted 90,000 tweets mentioning the pandemic since the beginning of April from 200 diplomatic and state-run media accounts , data from the dashboard shows .
Schafer ’ s analysis also shows that Twitter content from Chinese accounts doubled since Januar The White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Foundation ’ s request for comment about the fact check .
Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Xi Jinping ” by Palácio do Planalto .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--‘I Dial And Dial And Dial’: California’s Million-Dollar Aid Program for Illegal Aliens Clogged by Th

‘I Dial And Dial And Dial’: California’s Million-Dollar Aid Program for Illegal Aliens Clogged by Thousands of Calls

California ’ s multi-million dollar aid program for illegal aliens has been bogged down by technical issues , with many applicants inundating phone lines every day to no avail , according to NPR .
The implementation of California ’ s Disaster Relief Fund , a $ 125 million initiative backed by Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom that provides one-time cash payments to undocumented immigrants , remains rocky as there are simply too many callers for workers to handle .
Reports of jammed phone lines and unanswered calls have plagued the program ’ s rollout .
“ I dial and dial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signal , ” a Salvadoran migrant identified as “ Jaime ” told NPR about the situation .
Like the thousands of other applicants , Jaime is living in the U.S. illegally and does not qualify for other coronavirus pandemic federal assistance programs , NPR reported .
“ I feel like the opportunity goes away every day , the funds are running lower every day , and no one picks up my call , ” he said .
One problem facing the Disaster Relief Fund , backed by Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the number of illegal aliens living in California .
The program — a joint public-private partnership that takes $ 75 million from state taxpayers and another $ 50 million from philanthropic organizations — is distributing $ 500 to individuals and as much as $ 1,000 per household .
Currently , there is funding for 250,000 eligible applicants .
With an estimated 2 million illegal aliens working in California , this potentially leaves around 1.75 million illegal aliens without any aid , NPR reported .
The funds are being doled out on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rush of calls from people hoping to receive funding before it runs out .
The problems began in the first minutes of the program ’ s launch May 18 .
An estimated 630,000 calls were made to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles , one of 12 nonprofit organizations tapped by California to vet applicants , within the first 90 minutes .
Many callers reported that they could not get through just minutes after phone lines officially opened up to the public .
By 10 a.m. Pacific Time , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lines crashed .
Because of their undocumented status , illegal aliens in the U.S. do not qualify for federal coronavirus aid , such as the CARES Act passed by Congress .
While some major U.S. cities have implemented their own relief programs for the undocumented , Gavin ’ s relief fund for California ’ s illegal alien population is being described as a first of its kind .
Judicial Watch , a conservative watchdog group , sued Newsom over the program before it began .
Judicial Watch argued that federal immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible for state or local public benefits without explicit authority from a state legislature — something Newsom did not obtain , according to Judicial Watch .
The lawsuit has been dismissed by the state Supreme Court .
Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe Talks Svetlana Lokhova and Michael Flynn Russia Ho

Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe Talks Svetlana Lokhova and Michael Flynn Russia Hoax

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 Tennessee Star ’ s National Correspondent Neil McCabe to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , McCabe explained his exclusive story about UK scholar Svetlana Lokhova who has been falsely linked to Michael Flynn as his spy recruiter .
He proceeded to lay out the timeline of the Russian hoax narrative and suggested that Stefan Halper , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar ( CIS ) , should be looked at further .
Leahy : We are joined now by my good friend and former Breitbart colleague and veteran Washington journalist and now the national correspondent for The Tennessee Star and the Star News Digital Media newspapers , Neil McCabe .
Neil , good morning !
McCabe : Good morning Mike .
Great to talk to you .
Leahy : You ’ ve broken an exclusive story .
This one is a humdinger .
Tell us about the female UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Mike Flynn ’ s Russian spy recruiter .
McCabe : I did speak to Svetlana Lokhova and its an interesting story of somebody that ’ s almost on of these Jimmy Stewart/Alfred Hitchcock movies where there was like a completely regular person who had nothing to do with events gets sort of sucked in .
She got pulled in to the Flynn sort of controversy quite accidentally .
I think the first way to really understand it is that retired lieutenant Michael T. Flynn had his top-secret compartmentalized information clearance which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This means if you ask for it you can see any program and you can ask about any program .
That clearance was renewed in April 2016 .
August of 2016 , the FBI opened an investigation into Flynn because they think he ’ s an agent of Russia .
Leahy : Well they don ’ t think he ’ s an agent of Russia , they want to pretend he ’ s an agent of Russia .
McCabe : Well , there you go .
That ’ s a better way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an agent of Russia .
How do you give a guy who was the head of the intelligence defense intelligence agency and retired three-star general and the greatest this country has ever produced ?
That guy in April he gets the full stamp of approval and then August , four months later he ’ s an agent of the Russians .
Leahy : How does that happen ?
They created it out of thin air apparently .
This was the Obama administration , right ?
McCabe : The Obama administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was still director of the intelligence agency and he attended one of these spy dinners .
Like who ’ s a spy and who ’ s not a spy .
( Leahy laughs ) It was academics and NI5 , NI6 .
It was a huge group dinner .
And Lokhova , she gives a presentation on her research when she was a graduate student and later became a fellow .
Her research was based on Russia spies of the 1930s who went around the United States completely unchecked .
They would basically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the secrets and take pictures of whatever they wanted .
Kind of like what the ChiComs do now .
She gave a presentation and she presented a vintage postcard from the Stalin era to Flynn .
This became sort of the predicate for saying that Flynn has been compromised .
I don ’ t know how much deeper you want to go into it .
Leahy : This woman is in her 30s at the time and her name is again Svetlana Lokhova right ?
That ’ s her last name .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ born in Russia or the UK ?
McCabe : She was born in Russia .
She became a British citizen .
She has an English husband .
She is a mother .
The way it was reported in some places and certainly on social media and you ’ ve seen some of these reports that I sent you that she went home in a cab with Flynn .
You talk to the woman and she says its absolutely absurd .
Leahy : Yes .
Made up .
So this started in 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have here in your story from the left-wing UK publication The Guardian .
March of 2017 here is what they wrote : “ Flynn ’ s eradicate conduct has troubled US intelligence officials for some time .
Multiple sources have told The Guardian involved an encounter with a Russian-British graduate student who Flynn met on a trip to Cambridge in February of 2014.
” That ’ s it .
They are planting the seed there .
A honey pot story right ?
McCabe : That ’ s Margot Cleveland in The Federalist called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Christopher Andrew and he wrote a story in the London Sunday Times which The Times has taken down where he goes into more detail into this sort of relationship .
And so what you have is they needed an excuse to go after Flynn .
They had just given him the highest clearance this nation has .
What happens in August of 2016 I think , the Neil McCabe narrative , is the Trump campaign is not collapsing like everybody thought it would after the Republican convention .
So what you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI begins an investigation into Carter Page and to Paul Manafort .
Then also into George Papadopolous .
Later that week , you have Stefan Halper meeting with the FBI .
Then on the following Monday which would be August 15 you have Peter Strzok sending the insurance policy text to Lisa Page .
Also on August 15 , you have the black ledger coming out on Manafort .
And then on August 16 , you have the FBI opening the investigation into Flynn .
Leahy : And by the way , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affiliated with the Trump campaign ?
McCabe : It was really around June or July .
Leahy : Ok .
So just about a month before .
Then our friend Steve Bannon takes over the campaign in August right around the time they started to turn around the campaign and that ’ s when the FBI begins their investigation into these phony charges against Flynn .
McCabe : Yes .
The guy Stefan Halper whose name has been floated around .
I actually visited his house when I was with One America News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I just wanted to talk to the guy .
He ’ s a guy who we knew that he got millions of dollars from the office of assessment of the Pentagon for doing studies I believe it ’ s the IG that researched those studies and found that out of about 800 footnotes , 800 were bogus .
( Leahy laughs ) So he ’ s obviously paid for something else .
And now we know , because of a very interesting leak in The New York Times that Halper was working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work for the Pentagon .
He had all these interactions .
He offered to hire Papadopoulos to work in some of these studies .
He invited Carter Paige to stay at his home in Great Falls , Virginia which is Virginia horse country .
Lokhova is a victim in this and she was used as sort of an excuse .
The guy we should be asking about is Stefan Halper .
There is a lot of stuff out there about him .
What do we really know ?
I don ’ t even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country in the last few years .
Leahy : That ’ s Neil McCabe about his report on Svetlana Lokhova .
She ’ s got a new book called , Spygate Exposedabout her experience at the heart of the Russian collusion hoax and how the FBI , CIA , and media all conspired to destroy Mike Flynn .
Neil McCabe , thank you for joining us .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Commentary: Are States That Refuse to Reopen Losing the Consent of the Governed?

What happens to a government when the consent of the governed breaks down ?
History has many instances of this some ending with peaceful transformation , others with successful revolution as in our own history and still others with military crackdowns as we currently see in Hong Kong .
Thomas Jefferson wrote in our nation ’ s founding document , the Declaration of Independence , which was written as a series of reasons why the American colonists no longer accepted the rule of King George III .
The opening two paragraphs of this seminal document used to be memorized by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercises , a practice which was largely abandoned in the 1960s .
So as a refresher , here is what Jefferson penned : “ When , in the course of human events , it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another , and to assume , among the powers of the earth , the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature ’ s God entitle them , a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the separation .
“ We hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal , that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights , that among these are life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness .
That , to secure these rights , governments are instituted among men , deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed .
That , whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends , it is the right of the people to alter or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new government , laying its foundation on such principles , and organizing its powers in such form , as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
” Paying particular attention to the second paragraph , our nation ’ s founding was based upon the idea , “ That , to secure these rights , governments are instituted among men , deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
” Right now , at this point in American history , many state governments are teetering on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governed with the economic lockdowns which have not only crippled our medical and economic systems , but are creating a quiet desperation among many of our people as they attempt to survive the isolation imposed by draconian stay home orders .
This past Memorial Day weekend , we witnessed rallies , church services and people gathering at beaches , boardwalks , rivers and other recreational gathering places , simple acts of defiance exemplified by the decision of many to not wear a mask .
Some governors and mayors continue to believe that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people will comply , and in some areas like New York City , which due to the blunders of their failed leaders , has experienced the brunt of the nation ’ s death toll , many of their people continue to obey .
But across much of America , the government better get out of the way before they lose their legitimacy and the people just ignore their edicts en masse .
Once the consent of the governed has been lost , it is very difficult to regain .
Fortunately , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of fair and free elections to serve as a pressure relief valve .
Elections are the ultimate gauge of the consent of the governed , and this is why all Americans should be very concerned about efforts by the totalitarian party to undo the one-person-one-vote principle through ending state voter identification requirements and mandating mail-in balloting .
According to RealClearPolitics reporting , federal Election Assistance Commission data since 2012 shows “ that nearly one in five of all absentee ballots and ballots mailed to voters residing in states that do elections exclusively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This amounts to more than 28 million ballots .
Now critics of this analysis argue that many of these lost ballots were deliberately not cast by those who received them and certainly in some cases that is true .
However , in last months virtually all mail-in election in Wisconsin , in just one mail processing center , three tubs of mailed-in ballots were discovered with no postmark , uncounted .
In 2018 , Broward County , Florida police found a bin marked “ provisional ballots ” with unmarked ballots in the trunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the notoriously weak ballot security in this Democratic Party stronghold includes letting live ballots float around to be cast or not cast by anyone who might have possession of them .
Consent of the governed demands that the people believe that elections are honest .
And in a time when states like California utilize a system for ballot collection which has been determined by other states to be fraught with fraud potential , the sense that we have free and fair elections has never been more under legitimate attack .
Law-abiding Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil disobedience to pandemic shutdown edicts in much of our nation .
The shutdown has created unprecedented unemployment , increased suicides and the inhumanity of not being able to be with our loved ones during their most vulnerable last hours of life in the hospital .
The Senate should reject the left ’ s attempt to change our election systems at this critical moment , making them less secure than ever .
One only needs to remember the year 2000 , when George W. Bush won Florida and hence the election by under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million cast to understand that we can not have our elections decided by a single post office failing to deliver marked ballots , or worse by an entrepreneurial political party gathering and casting ballots for unsuspecting voters .
Our nation is at a tipping point , and if we lose the consensus that the consent of the governed is honestly represented at the ballot box , the results will be tragic with the end being the likely fall of the United States of America as we know it .
Rick Manning is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photo “ Minnesota Lockdown Protesters ” by Lorie Shaull .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Tennessee Star Senior Reporter Laura Baigert Discusses Two Grassroots Nashville Campaigns Opposing M

Tennessee Star Senior Reporter Laura Baigert Discusses Two Grassroots Nashville Campaigns Opposing Mayor Cooper’s Property Tax Increase

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 Tennessee Star Senior Reporter Laura Baigert to the newsmakers line .
During the second hour , Baigert discussed the two grassroots groups opposing Mayor John Cooper ’ s 32 % property tax increase and how that will affect Davidson County homeowners and renters .
Leahy : I ’ m talking with our ace reporter covering Capitol Hill , who is our senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens fighting back against Mayor Cooper ’ s proposed 32 % property tax increase is up now at The Tennessee Star .
tennesseestar.com .
Laura , this is I think a typical grassroots series of groups that are opposing it .
We don ’ t have just one group , we have two groups .
Tell us about the two groups and what they are trying to do .
Baigert : So one is a little more clandestine and maybe wanting to be very inclusive with folks and they have a really slick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this property tax is going to be to a homeowner and a renter on their tax bill .
So if you have an average $ 300,000 house with a 32 % property tax increase you are going to see an increase in your property tax bill of about $ 750 .
And it talks a little bit about how renters are going to feel the impact and probably even more severely because these property management companies and owners of these apartments and all don ’ t just mark up rent by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They get to throw a percent on it and throw a few bucks in their own pockets along the way .
Leahy : Now this first group is called LowTax4Nash.com .
And what is that they want people to do ?
Baigert : They have identified things that could be cut right out of the budget .
They have eight different proposals that can cut the $ 332 million out of the budget that is causing the 32 % property tax increase .
They have very specific things that you can identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council with an email that will be automatically be sent to them when you pick things that you think you can live without .
It actually shows what the impact on your tax bill will be based on those average property values .
So it ’ s pretty slick by showing that there are definitely places that can be cut in the budget that apparently Mayor Cooper hasn ’ t put any effort into doing .
Leahy : Yes .
There is no effort by the mayor to cut anything .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this terrible economic period by five percent .
Leahy : Now there ’ s another group and they are also on the web called NoTax4Nash.com .
You can either go low or you can go no .
That ’ s on the web at NoTax4Nash.com .
Tell us about that group .
Baigert : So that ’ s being spearheaded by Michelle Foreman who grew up in the Nashville area and who I interviewed yesterday and she is seeing that this has long been a problem in Nashville and its time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was particularly unconscionable and egregious that Mayor Cooper would dump this property tax increase on people when so many have lost their jobs right now and have no revenue .
And she has a healthcare background and sees that people could get back to work but the mayor hasn ’ t allowed them too .
She started this effort spearheading and working with some other people .
I think Carol Swain may be involved and she ’ s been on the show talking about it as well and some other folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week and pointed out some things that should be able to be cut .
They could actually take them right off the LowTax4Nash website .
And Michelle did indicate that Mayor Cooper was amenable to making some budget cuts .
So they have another meeting scheduled and we ’ ll see how that goes .
Now , what people need to know who are going to be impacted by it that you don ’ t reach out to your councilperson and tell them you are not happy with this and tell them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not live with in terms of the tax increase , the mayor ’ s budget will automatically go into effect June 30 .
So unless somebody proposes something else and that gets passed by the council you are stuck with this .
The time to act is now .
Leahy : Yes .
And so you can go to the NoTax4Nash.com website and sign up for an email alert .
The action item they want to do is have you talk to your local council member is that right ?
Baigert : Right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you there .
The LowTax4Nash.com website , once you pick out what you think you can live without it will automatically generate an email to the council members and the mayor giving your feedback .
Leahy : From your reporting Laura , the key that you just mentioned is there has to be an alternative proposal to the mayor ’ s proposal .
Leahy : The mayor has not yet submitted his proposal but we ’ re thinking it ’ s basically going to be a 32 % property tax increase with virtually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the horizon any possible alternative to be submitted ?
Baigert : Well , I would think some of the council members will look at something .
Bob Mendes who is the chairman of the finance may look at something .
But some people are actually talking about more than 32 % .
The champion for the lowest taxes you are going to get is Steve Glover who is a council member-at-large .
He is the one who has been spearheading the effort and has been very vocal in terms of criticizing this kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the rally ’ s on Lower Broadway when folks were protesting to get back open , Steve went out there and talked about the tax increase and how you ’ re going to have to fight that .
Especially when so many of these people are out of work and their business has been closed down and they have no revenue .
And yet you ’ re going to hoist this bill on them .
Only the government can justify something like that .
Leahy : Yes .
It doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The economy is crashing .
Private companies here like restaurants are laying people off left and right .
Hotels are laying people off left and right .
But the city government is not cutting expenses .
From most everything I can see they are increasing spending by five percent .
And they think that the businesses that got hit so hard are the ones that should bear the burden .
It just doesn ’ t seem fair or equitable to many people .
Baigert : No .
It doesn ’ t .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year was $ 2.3 billion .
This year it is $ 2.4 billion even though Mayor Cooper ’ s presentation to the council says that he knows they are going to be over $ 200 million short in revenue against this year ’ s budget .
If they started with this year ’ s budget and tacked on five percent .
How do you do that when you know you are going to be short ?
You are using the wrong baseline to start with .
Leahy : I ’ ll tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in my early youth I was a Democrat .
Waaay back .
And back in the late 1970s , I worked as a budget analyst in Washington , D.C. for the Environmental Protection Agency .
And this was when Jimmy Carter had introduced the idea of “ zero-base budgeting.
” But a Democrats idea of zero-based budgeting is exactly what you said .
( Baigert laughs ) They didn ’ t start off with zero .
Leahy : They increased last year ’ s budget by five percent and called that zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat common core math .
( Laughs ) Baigert : Yep .
And when you are doing that at a time whereas you said the reason that they are in a shortfall is largely because of their tourism business that ’ s come to a screeching halt and yet you are asking those very same people , we had a story on this about how Nashville was one of the hardest-hit metropolitan areas in the COVID-19 crisis .
I looked at many many other budgets , most of them are not increasing anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other 25 to 30 metropolitan largest cities in the United States .
Nobody is talking about a tax increase .
Baigert : Well Jim too and John Cooper .
Leahy : Thank you for that correction .
Baigert : Don ’ t you have to wonder a little bit about the connection there though ?
Maybe because of that D.C. connection they are looking at if it goes bad enough we could push for a bailout .
Leahy : Well I think that ’ s probably what their plan is .
Laura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this morning .
We ’ d like to have you here every week .
And it ’ s easier by phone but we ’ d love to have you come back in the studio again if you ’ d do that .
Baigert : Sure will .
Thank you , Michael .
Listen to the full second hour : 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--2020-05-28--The Doctrine of Media Untruth: Carmichael Examines Victor Davis Hanson’s Recent Proclamation of Medi

The Doctrine of Media Untruth: Carmichael Examines Victor Davis Hanson’s Recent Proclamation of Media in Our Society Today

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. – all-star panelist Crom Carmichael joined host Leahy in the studio .
During the third hour , Carmichael weighed in on Victor Davis Hanson ’ s recent description of the media and it ’ s coordination with the left-wing Democrats as it rises to levels of new mediocrity .
As an example , he went on to correlate the Russia hoax investigation and its connection to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be found in the opposite of the narrative .
Leahy : We are joined now by our good friend and the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael .
Crom , you ’ ve done some research over the break and you have the correct name now for the topic we discussed about the left-wing media and Democrats .
Carmichael : Yes .
It is called the Doctrine of Media Untruth .
Leahy : The Doctrine of Media Untruth .
And to whom do we owe .
Carmichael : He really is .
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the definition .
But this is the quote by Victor Davis Hanson , “ When knowledge , wisdom , and independent thought , even basic competence is no longer a prerequisite for success than the media naturally slid into mediocrity and mastered networking and ubiquitousness instead of valuing independence.
” That ’ s the fundamental underlying quote .
Then he goes on to say , “ As a general rule , when The New York Times , The Washington Post , National Public Radio , Public Broadcasting Sevice , CBS , NBC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a narrative the truth is often found in simply believing just the opposite.
” ( Leahy laughs ) And that is the Doctrine of Media Untruth .
Carmichael : Yes .
Let ’ s look at some examples here recently .
We now know for a fact that the Russia hoax was a hoax and that everybody in the media knew it .
But they went ahead and pushed anyway .
We know that they had a direct line to Adam Schiff and Adam Schiff in all those secret meetings , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But they couldn ’ t get them declassified and released and that ’ s when we finally learned about Crowdstrike and that these so-called 17 agencies had all said the same thing that that was completely phony .
But the media trumpeted it over and over again .
So the Russia hoax would be a very good example .
Then the second one and the most recent one would be the coronavirus of the data and science and all of these things that turned out to be just completely false .
And still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called journalism that are still false .
And now we have the Democrats who are scared to death that the economy is going to recover , which is a sad thing .
Now the most recent is mail-in voter fraud .
Carmichael : By the way , it doesn ’ t take any brains at all , let me give you an example because it was on the news last night .
In Nevada , the Democrats control the Clark County , which is the Las Vegas area .
Carmichael : They control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The person who is in charge of sending out the ballots is the one who is in charge of the current data .
That person says there are 200,000 people who have been over the years removed from the voter lists of their names and addresses because they have either not voted for long periods of time or the post office has said they no longer live at that address .
Leahy : So these people either moved or died or something ?
Carmichael : Or something .
The Democrats in control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those addresses .
Carmichael : Why would they do that ?
Why would they do that if they didn ’ t intend to cheat ?
Leahy : It ’ s the only possible explanation .
Carmichael : It ’ s the only possible explanation .
But yet , you have Twitter who now has a truth squad .
So Twitter is now part of the media mob that is the Doctrine of Media Untruth .
If Twitter is outraged about something then you know that the truth is exactly the opposite .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our society goes because the media was supposed to be the institution that protected the people against bad government .
And now it ’ s acting the opposite .
The media is now protecting the bad government from the people .
Leahy : Part of it is an issue of scale .
It ’ s also the technology associated with the dominance of the internet by Google , Facebook , and Twitter .
Carmichael : I agree that those things are how they do it but that ’ s not the reason for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intellectual decision .
It has to be a decision by people who have this immense reach to decide to side with the liars .
The people who don ’ t care about that truth .
The Michael Flynn case that we ’ re talking about , that whole thing was a giant fabrication in order to be able to spy on Trump and try and bring him down .
Carmichael : The whole thing was a fabrication just made up out of whole cloth and yet the media all participated in it including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the worst by the way .
Carmichael : Yes .
But Facebook is interesting .
There was a story in The Wall Street Journal about how the people down in the organization want to use their algorithms in ways that really hurt those people who like Trump saying what he said about voter fraud .
These people at Facebook would like to be able to delete any messaging among Facebook members about that subject that would support Trump .
Carmichael : Because they think it ’ s wrong that they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have their own version of free speech , and it ’ s theirs .
Carmichael : Yes .
Here ’ s what is interesting .
I ’ m watching a series on TV and I recommend it to anyone .
I think that it may be on the History Channel about John Adams and I ’ m now into the third or fourth , I think there are seven programs .
Leahy : Paul Giamatti plays John Adams and the former baseball commissioner .
Carmicheal : By the way , there are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our Declaration of Independence and common sense audiotapes so that was kind of fun .
Carmichael : But here ’ s what ’ s interesting .
There was this back and forth between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson sitting in France over whether or not how governments are formed and whether or not they have a proper moral underpinning and can one generation obligate the next generation .
It ’ s a very very interesting conversation .
But then at one point , it said the United States came out of conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because that is true .
We argued with the British .
And we end up fighting for our independence because we had a disagreement .
And now you have people who want to stifle disagreement .
Leahy : Yes .
The marketplace of ideas is gone .
Replaced by the marketplace of the left .
Carmichael : Well , that ’ s what they would like it to be .
And right now they don ’ t have control of everything because of talk radio .
Leahy : We can take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio , Fox News , The Wall Street Journal , and there are a lot of podcasts now .
Joe Rogan who was a Bernie Sanders supporter and the shutdown has enlightened him let ’ s put it that way .
Joe Rogan is someone that I would describe him as someone who has a very very large audience who ’ s been wrong but he ’ s been honestly wrong .
He ’ s not a dishonest person .
And now this shutdown and how the Democrats are handling it and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And he is now truly angry at how the blue state governors are just destroying the lives of literally millions of people .
Leahy : Middle-class people mostly .
And they seem to like it .
Carmichael : And they are very proud of it .
That ’ s a very sad and frightening thing because you look at periods of history where average people get an enormous amount of power and how abusive they become .
Which is , by the way , another reason that the media if it were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very people who are being hurt and not trying to support the disinformation put out by the government .
Leahy : I think that ’ s exactly right .
And that ’ s the problem we face now as we go into the 2020 election .
Carmichael : Yes .
And this voter fraud , there will be voter fraud now because there will be some states where the governors force mailing out hundreds of thousands or millions of ballots to homes where the people who are living in those homes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll tell you the three states to be looking at for that .
These are basically states that voted for Donald Trump in 2016 that currently have Democratic governors .
Michigan , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , and North Carolina .
Carmichael : I ’ m not sure that they can do that .
I think there will be legal battles .
I ’ m not sure that those states will be able to get away with it because they don ’ t control the legislature in all of those states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states .
The legislature is Republican .
Carmichael : And I don ’ t think they ’ ll be able to get away with it .
Carmichael : But they will certainly try to get away with it , and it ’ s a crime .
Listen to the full 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 “ Victor Davis Hanson ” by @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Oil and Gas Industry Reports Record-Breaking Job Losses in April

The oil and gas industry lost 26,300 jobs in April , the largest drop of industry jobs in a single month , according to job data dating to 1990 .
Texas saw a record surge of more than 2 million claims for unemployment in roughly a six-week period after Gov .
Greg Abbott ’ s executive order in March shut down businesses he deemed nonessential to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , and to tanking oil prices resulting from an oil war between Saudi Arabia and Russia .
The economic fallout also sent commodity prices to historic lows .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas Workforce Commission ( TWC ) , drilling , completion , production and related sectors employed 192,600 people in Texas in April , a 12 percent drop from March figures .
The number of oil and gas jobs held in April is comparative to levels reported in November 2016 .
The oil field service sector , which includes drilling rig operators , hydraulic fracturing crews and equipment manufacturers , was the hardest hit by the economic downturn .
About 22,300 of the total oil and gas industry jobs lost in April came from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Among them were workers from major oil and gas companies .
Since January , Halliburton has laid off more than 1,900 people working in Texas ; Midland-based ProPetro let go of more than 1,400 employees ; Houston-based NexTier Oilfield Solutions laid off nearly 1,000 employees .
West Texas Intermediate , the U.S. benchmark for crude oil , plummeted to its lowest price on record , and the largest single day drop of more than 90 percent on April 20 .
U.S. oil futures were also at their worst recorded level April 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1983 .
To break even , companies need to hit $ 60 a barrel .
Today , crude oil prices are at the $ 30 per barrel range .
With profit losses , exploration and production companies have cut their budgets and staff and scaled back drilling and completion activities .
Abbott has said that the record job losses are directly tied to the shutdown and once restrictions are lifted and the state opens up beyond phase 2 , these jobs will come back .
The Texas oil and gas industry endured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 and 2016 , the Texas Oil & Gas Association notes .
Its president , Todd Staples , told the Houston Chronicle , “ While many of these necessary reductions have negatively impacted workforce levels , the industry is poised to rebound as the world economy gets back on track and supply and demand levels normalize.
” According to multiple reports , U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette briefed the president on a plan to provide financial aid to oil drillers , however no such plan has come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas oil and natural gas industry is no stranger to volatile swings and operators have proven themselves nimble and innovative in challenging times , ” Staples wrote in a column published by the Waco Tribune-Herald .
“ We are fortunate in Texas to have the energy infrastructure in place to continue to responsibly produce , transport and refine oil and natural gas into the fuels , products and power that Texans need .
As the nation ’ s leader in oil and natural gas production , pipeline miles and refining capacity , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy and everyday needs.
” Bethany Blankley is a contributor to The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Shocking Footage Shows Minneapolis Protesters Wreaking Havoc on Police Precinct, Destroying Squad Ca

Shocking Footage Shows Minneapolis Protesters Wreaking Havoc on Police Precinct, Destroying Squad Cars, Looting Target

Officers with the Minneapolis Police Department were reportedly attacked with rocks and paintballs Tuesday night as protesters rioted in response to the death of George Floyd .
Video from the tragic Monday night incident shows a Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed Floyd , who repeatedly said he couldn ’ t breathe .
Floyd was pronounced dead shortly after he was taken into custody .
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the scene of Floyd ’ s death Tuesday night for a peaceful protest , which turned violent and destructive later in the evening as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department ’ s Third Precinct building .
Footage captured by reporters on the ground shows protesters destroying multiple squad cars and shattering the glass doors at the entrance to the Third Precinct .
According to audio picked up from the department ’ s dispatch scanner , officers were attacked with rocks , paintballs , and fireworks , WCCO reported .
Others apparently broke into a liquor store across the street from the precinct .
Protesters continued to gather outside the Third Precinct throughout the evening Wednesday , including one individual who reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
Some shattered the precinct ’ s windows with rocks while others looted electronics and clothing from a nearby Target , wheeling away carts full of merchandise .
The department told reporters Wednesday that it decided to use tear gas and rubber bullets on the protesters because one of the buildings that was broken into had guns and ammunition inside .
“ Today a group of individuals have convened at the Third Precinct who have participated in assaultive behavior and destruction of property .
Their actions are placing people at great risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said in a statement released Wednesday .
“ We will continue to safeguard First Amendment speech and assembly .
However , that should not come at the expense of other ’ s personal safety .
I ’ m urging those who are gathering to please do so peacefully .
Criminal behavior will not be tolerated , ” he added .
Gov .
Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison discussed the protests during a Wednesday press conference .
“ We certainly don ’ t want to see things turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think this is a pretty normal response people are giving , ” said Walz .
“ We certainly believe there ’ s a right that people have to gather.
” He said he ’ s not condoning vandalism or violence and called on authorities to do everything they can “ to deescalate the situation.
” “ I would urge law enforcement to exercise restraint , ” Ellison added .
“ I would also urge protesters to remember that they ’ re there to lift up the memory and give justice for Mr. Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way that will enhance that and not distract attention away from what happened to Mr. Floyd.
” Video and pictures from the protests can be viewed below : Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Protesters ” by Lorie Shaull .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Whitmer Asks EGLE to Investigate Failure of Midland Dams

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to the Michigan Department of Environment , Great Lakes and Energy on Wednesday asking the department to investigate what caused the failure of the Edenville and Sanford dams .
The two dams failed last week after heavy rainfall in mid-Michigan .
The resulting flood displaced around 10,000 people across several counties and was so heavy it was classified as a 500-year flood , meaning it is likely to happen only once every 500 years , according to MLive .
Whitmer issued an emergency declaration and sent in the National Guard .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , destroyed public infrastructure , ruined homes and businesses and caused major natural resource damage , ” Whitmer said in a statement .
“ We must ensure accountability and prevent a disaster like this from happening again .
I want to thank the first responders and volunteers who have stepped up to help in this time of unprecedented need.
” An investigation commissioned by federal investigators revealed that it was reported in 2018 that federal energy regulators had yanked the Edenville Dam operator ’ s licenses over concern that the dam could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to MLive .
Capacity issues at the dam have been cited as a problem as early as the late 1990s .
Whitmer has asked EGLE to investigate not only what caused the two dams to fail , but also dam safety in Michigan .
She also asked the department to provide recommendations on policy , legislative , budgetary and enforcement reforms that will help prevent the event from repeating elsewhere .
“ Among other factors , I ask that you examine the storm event , the structural integrity of the dam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the handoff of regulatory oversight from the federal to state government , ” Whitmer said in the letter .
The governor said it “ warms my heart ” to see an outpouring of generosity for the area affected by the flood .
“ As residents begin the painstaking task of picking up the pieces from this disaster , they deserve to know why these dams failed , uprooting their homes , businesses and lives in the process , ” Whitmer said .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Email her at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Gov. DeWine Calls in Ohio National Guard to Help Test All Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes

Gov .
Mike DeWine unveiled Tuesday the formation of the Congregate Care Unified Response Teams that will help test residents and staff in Ohio ’ s nursing homes , according to the governor ’ s press release .
Nursing homes across America , including Ohio , have been hotspots for the coronavirus .
“ A large number of our deaths in Ohio from COVID-19 have occurred in regard to nursing home patients .
Nursing homes contain some of the most vulnerable members of our society , ” DeWine said during Tuesday ’ s press conference .
The Associated Press reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio ’ s coronavirus deaths came from nursing homes .
To get a better sense of the coronavirus situation in the state ’ s nursing homes , the Congregate Care Unified Response Teams , which features medically trained Ohio National Guard members , will begin testing on residents and staff within nursing homes this week .
“ Nursing facilities have been aggressive regarding testing and managing COVID-19 outbreaks on their own , but this effort will provide them with additional resources , ” the governor said .
“ As we continue to ramp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must deploy our resources in a way that will save the most lives.
” According to DeWine ’ s press release , the response teams will test people in a two-phase plan : • All staff in all Ohio nursing facilities will be tested to help nursing home administrators gauge the status of the virus in their facilities and help isolate the virus to stop it from infecting their community .
• Testing will be conducted in facilities where residents or workers have confirmed or assumed positive cases .
Testing will be conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of residents will be based on a clinically-driven strategy that targets those who have likely been exposed to COVID-19 .
By testing residents based on their potential interaction with a confirmed COVID-19 case , the nursing facility will be better equipped to isolate the virus and contain spread within the facility .
As of Wednesday , Ohio has 31,191 cases and 1,842 deaths , according to the Ohio Department of Health .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Minneapolis Mayor Calls for Charges Against Officer in George Floyd Case

Mayor Jacob Frey called on the Hennepin County Attorney ’ s Office to pursue charges against a Minneapolis police officer involved in a viral incident that led to the death of George Floyd .
The global community erupted in outrage after video showed a Minneapolis officer , who has been identified in some reports as Derek Chauvin , pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed Floyd , who repeatedly said he couldn ’ t breathe .
According to a statement from the Minneapolis Police Department , Floyd was allegedly engaged in an act of “ forgery ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday night incident .
The responding officers called for an ambulance after Floyd “ appeared to be suffering medical distress.
” He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center where he died a short time later .
“ I ’ ve wrestled with , more than anything else over the last 36 hours , one fundamental question : Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail ?
” Frey said during a Wednesday press conference .
“ If you had done it , or I had done it , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I can not come up with a good answer to that question , and so I ’ m calling on Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to act on the evidence before him , I ’ m calling on him to charge the arresting officer in this case , ” Frey continued .
Chauvin and the three other officers involved in the incident were terminated Tuesday , Frey confirmed in a statement posted to Twitter .
Frey declined to elaborate on the specific charges he would like to see pursued .
The Hennepin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement that both the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the case .
“ At the end of the investigation , the findings will be presented to our office for consideration of prosecution .
We promise a thorough , expedited review consistent with our on-going commitment to justice .
Every person is entitled to fairness ; no person stands above the law , ” said the statement .
“ Our office will have no further comment until we announce our decision on prosecution.
” The Legislature ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked the Hennepin County Attorney ’ s Office to “ immediately open a murder investigation of the officers involved.
” “ As POCI legislators , we fear police brutality has become a de facto accepted policy outcome for Minnesota .
Predictably every year , Minnesota residents , specifically those of color and indigenous descent , are subjected to police violence , ” the caucus said in a statement .
“ We will continue our efforts to create state laws that bring accountability , greater humanity , and community-centered public safety – all with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killings of people of color and indigenous people at the hands of our law enforcement entities.
” The mayor ’ s full Wednesday press conference can be watched below : Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Jacob Frey ” by KSTP-TV .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--New Email Shows Gretchen Whitmer’s Office Gave the ‘Green Light’ to Award Coronavirus Contract to De

New Email Shows Gretchen Whitmer’s Office Gave the ‘Green Light’ to Award Coronavirus Contract to Democratic Firms

Democratic Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer distanced herself from a much-criticized decision to award a no-bid contract to two Democratic firms to handle the state ’ s coronavirus contact tracing .
But a senior adviser in the Michigan Department of the Health and Human Services said that the executive office of the governor [ EOG ] gave the contract a “ green light , ” a newly public email shows .
“ We got the green light from EOG to move forward with a slightly different organizational arrangement of the contact tracing volunteer work , ” Andrea Taverna , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an April 17 email obtained and published by Bridge Magazine .
“ This would still be working with Mike Kolehouse , so work there isn ’ t lost — it ’ s just organized somewhat differently , ” Taverna wrote .
Kolehouse is a Democratic political consultant who runs Great Lakes Community Engagement , the firm that received the no-bid contract from the Whitmer administration .
Kolehouse ’ s firm planned to hire a Democratic data firm working on Whitmer ’ s re-election campaign as a sub-contractor on the project .
Whitmer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s short list of potential running mates , canceled the project April 21 after facing criticism .
Her press secretary told The Washington Post that same day that the governor ’ s office was “ uncomfortable ” with the arrangement .
“ The executive office is uncomfortable with this vendor for the same reason others are .
The public needs to have confidence that this tracing work is being done by a nonpartisan firm , ” press secretary Tiffany Brown told the Post .
The next day , April 22 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hire the Democratic firm .
“ The department thought that that vendor was the best one for some reason .
I don ’ t know what that reason was , but I do know that the Department of Health and Human Services does not have a political bone in their theoretical body , ” the governor said .
“ When it was brought to my attention , I told them to cancel it.
” “ The vendor was identified and ultimately approved by officials with DHHS and MPHI , not the executive office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Foundation in an email .
“ The communications director responded to a question in an email about the optics of using a vendor that does work primarily for non-profits .
He was not approving a contract .
Based on a previous phone conversation , he raised concerns that using a political vendor would be a distraction from the important work that needed to be done , ” she added .
“ To be clear , the communications director is not in the approval chain of department contracts and the full expectation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would follow its procurement process.
” Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Background Photo “ Michigan Capitol ” by Brian Charles Wilson .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Tennessee Lt. Governor Suggests Annual Sales Tax Holiday May Be Off the Table This Year

Lt .
Governor Randy McNally ( R-Oak Ridge ) suggested that the annual sales tax holiday is one of the things that would not be done this summer to help compensate for the state ’ s revenue shortfalls .
The revelation by the lieutenant governor was included in a WBIR 10News report in conjunction with adjustments the Tennessee General Assembly expects to make to the fiscal year 2021 budget .
Before adjourning until June 1 in an effort to help contain the spread of COVID-19 , the legislature passed a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2021 , which begins July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ original budget proposal for the fiscal year 2021 was for $ 40.8 billion , reflecting a 3.7 percent increase over the fiscal 2020 budget of $ 39.3 billion .
It also marked the first time the state ’ s budget topped $ 40 billion .
Significant adjustments were made to both the current year ’ s budget and next year ’ s budget , due to the anticipated economic downturn .
The revenue report through March 2020 was $ 605.7 million ahead of the budgeted estimates for the eight-month period , The Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic shutdown , after lowering the growth rate of the fiscal year 2020 from 3.75 to 2.5 percent , the fiscal 2021 budget projected revenue increase over 2020 was also lowered from 3.1 percent to 0.3 percent .
These actions lowered the original fiscal 2021 budget by $ 854 million and resulted in what the General Assembly passed in March and referred to as a “ preliminary budget.
” In addition to having to cut as much as another $ 1 billion out of the upcoming fiscal 2021 budget , McNally told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may need to be made up in the current fiscal year in order to be able to “ close the books.
” The sales tax holiday is set out in Tennessee law for certain items sold between the last Friday of July through the following Sunday , which would be July 31 to August 2 this year .
In preparation for the new school year , items eligible for the sales tax exemption include clothing , school supplies and school art supplies with a sales price of $ 100 or less and computers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or less .
Since the sales tax holiday is set in law , it would take a majority vote by both the House and the Senate and Lee ’ s signature in order to permanently remove or temporarily suspend the provision .
Sales tax accounts for about $ 10 billion of the state ’ s budget .
The sales tax holiday , while giving savings to Tennesseans shopping for children returning to school , also results in lost revenue of about $ 10 million for the state , a Department of Revenue representative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax holiday represents 0.1 percent of the state ’ s sales tax , it represents a mere 0.025 percent of the state ’ s total revenues .
Meanwhile , legislators of the 111th General Assembly have sponsored bills that would extend aspects of the sales tax holiday through a proposed “ Food Tax Holiday Act , ” which would exempt the retail sale of food and food ingredients from sales tax for the months of June and July 2020 , and a proposal to exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--U.S. Unemployment Claims Top 40 Million Since March

More than 40 million Americans have filed unemployment claims since mid-March , when state governments across the U.S. began restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 , including closing businesses deemed nonessential .
Last week , an additional 2.12 million workers filed claims , according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Thursday , the 10 consecutive week in which new jobless claims were in the millions .
The 2.12 million claims from the week ending July 23 is down 323,000 from the 2.44 million workers who filed for benefits in the week ending May 16 and is the lowest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending March 15 .
California once again led the nation in the number of new claims with 212,343 last week .
Virginia had the biggest spike in claims with a 31 percent jump , and Washington state had the steepest drop with a 61 percent decline .
An economic adviser to the Trump administration has predicted that the nation ’ s unemployment rate will top 20 percent when numbers are released June 5 , according to Politico .
At least nine state unemployment trust funds have already applied to borrow money from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
States are gradually restarting their economies by letting some businesses – from gyms , retail shops and restaurants to hair and nail salons – reopen with some restrictions , meaning some workers who previously filed unemployment claims during the COVID-19 restrictions are returning to their jobs .
But whether the U.S. economy will rebound quickly once restrictions are fully lifted remains to be seen .
“ The U.S. unemployment crisis will not stand in the way of a near-term economic recovery but is also unlikely to go away quickly , ” Goldman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty is unusually large , we still see the U.S. unemployment rate around 8 % in late 2021 , well above the levels in most other advanced economies.
” Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square .
He welcomes your comments .
Contact Dan at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--New Numbers Show Tennessee’s ‘Staggering Increase in Unemployment’

Officials with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released statistics Thursday showing what they call “ a staggering increase in unemployment for each of Tennessee ’ s 95 counties ” in April .
This , as many businesses closed to help slow the spread of COVID-19 , according to a TDLWD press release .
“ The unprecedented and historic spike in unemployment impacted some counties more drastically than others , but no area of Tennessee escaped the pandemic ’ s effect on the state ’ s workforce , ” the press release said .
The TDLWD statistics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • Fayette County had Tennessee ’ s lowest unemployment rate in April .
At 9.4 percent , the county ’ s rate increased by 6.1 percentage points when compared to its revised March rate of 3.3 percent .
• Weakley County had the second-lowest unemployment rate for the month at 9.6 percent , followed by Hardeman County at 9.7 percent .
• Fayette , Weakley , and Hardeman were the only counties in the state with unemployment rates below 10 percent in April .
• Sevier County recorded Tennessee ’ s highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s new jobless figure of 29.5 percent represents a staggering spike of 26 percentage points when compared to its revised March rate of 3.5 percent .
• Neighboring Cocke County had the second-highest jobless rate in April at 25.6 percent , a 20.9 percentage point increase from the previous month .
Grundy County ranked third-highest with a rate of 25.3 percent , which is a 21.1 percentage point spike when compared to March ’ s rate .
• When comparing Tennessee ’ s three largest cities , Nashville had the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s rate of 15.9 percent is a 13.5 percentage point increase over its revised March rate of 2.4 percent .
Memphis recorded a rate of 14.3 percent , a spike of 10.1 percentage points from the previous month , and Knoxville ’ s April rate of 14.7 percent is an 11.8 percentage point jump .
• Statewide , unemployment reached a historic high in April .
The seasonally adjusted rate of 14.7 percent surpassed the previous all-time high figure of 12.9 percent in January 1983 .
Unlike the statewide unemployment rate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the press release said .
A complete in-depth analysis of unemployment data for each of Tennessee ’ s counties is available here .
The state of Tennessee will release the statewide unemployment rate for May 2020 at 1:30 p.m. Central Thursday , June 18 , according to the press release .
TDLWD officials , in a separate press release they sent via email , said that as of May 23 Tennesseans had filed 26,041 new unemployment claims .
Also , as of May 23 exactly 310,126 Tennessee residents had continued unemployment claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 16 , exactly 314,487 people in the state had continued unemployment claims .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Long Lines ” by Gabriel White .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Scott McClallen
First, COVID-19 disrupted classes in 2020, and now it’s teachers keeping kids out of class in 2022.
More than 29,000 Minneapolis students couldn’t attend class Monday as a teachers’ union strike entered its 10th school day.
The striking teachers are seeking a “living wage,” smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools.”
The strike began March 8 with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) and Education Support Professionals (ESP) saying the groups were demanding “a living wage” for ESPs, smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools,” the union posted on Facebook.
In a video posted on Facebook page Sunday, union officials said they want ESPs to have a minimum $35,000 annual salary.
Teacher Chapter President Greta Callahan said parties have been negotiating.
“This contract needs to get settled,” Callahan said. “We want kids back in school and it feels like we are the only ones acting like that right now.”
Average teacher salaries in St. Paul are $85,000, compared to the average Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) teacher salary of $71,535.
World Population Review says the average Minnesota teacher makes $59,221.
The Sahan Journal reported that despite the high teacher salary, raises for the Minneapolis district have lagged in recent years.
MPS said it shared its “last, best, and final” offer on Sunday that includes: 2% cost of living increases, with up to 12% raises for new teachers, in year one of the contract and 2% increases for all in the second year.
Increase starting wages for 85% of current ESPs to $23 per hour or more, bringing most full-time ESPs close to $35,000 annually.
Increase wages over two years between 8.2% and 34.6% (depending on job classification), with an average increase of 15.6%.
Move the lowest-paid ESPs from $15.45 per hour to $18 per hour.
Pay ESPs $6,000 in bonuses ($3,000 in each of the next 2 years).
$3.5 million to additional hours for ESPs.
Four additional paid duty days for professional development.
“We know that our students want to be back in school with their teachers and ESPs and our staff desperately want to see our students,” Minneapolis School Board Chair Kim Ellison said in a video. “We believe this is the fastest way possible to get our students back to school.”
The proposal would cost $9.3 million in the first year and $13.4 million in the second.
“MPS is reaching beyond its financial means on behalf of our ESPs and will need to make more than $10 million in reductions for the next school year as a result,” the MPS website says.
“We’ll be back out on the line tomorrow fighting for safe and stable schools!” the MFT tweeted Sunday.
The state’s education funding formula is based on enrollment, which has declined at MPS from 32,732 in 2019 to in 2022, 29,100.
The school doesn’t have data on where the roughly 3,632 kids who left went, MPS media coordinator Crystina Lugo-Beach told The Center Square in an email.
MPS said all pre-K through 12th classes would be canceled “for the duration of the strike.” Axios reported that the district is facing a a $21.5 million budget deficit for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
– – –
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.
Photo “Minneapolis Public Schools” by Minneapolis Public Schools.