thetennesseestar--2020-10-08--Richland County Is Close to Becoming the First Ohio County to Reach ‘Code Purple’ on Ohio’s Emergenc

Richland County Is Close to Becoming the First Ohio County to Reach ‘Code Purple’ on Ohio’s Emergency Map

Richland County is teetering on the verge of becoming the first Ohio county to reach code purple on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System ( OPHAS ) .
According to OPHAS , purple means that the county is experiencing “ severe exposure and spread ” and residents are to leave home for only “ supplies and services.
” The Ohio Star discussed the county ’ s numbers with Richland Public Health Commissioner Sarah Humphrey .
The health commissioner anticipates that five of seven indicators will be triggered – technically keeping Richland County in code red .
During the phone interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richland County will trigger indicators : 1,2,3,4 and 6 – and not triggering indicators 5 and 7 .
Whether staying in red or moving to purple matters from a policy perspective is now in question .
During a press conference on Tuesday , Governor Mike DeWine said “ going purple has no consequences or sanctions from the state of Ohio .
And that ’ s the same way as being red.
” Consequently , Humphrey said , “ Knowing that he will give some latitude will give us some workarounds .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning.
” “ Given what the governor said today during the press conference – businesses , schools , everyone can stay open .
Richland County is open for business , ” Richland County Commissioner Marilyn John told The Star in an interview .
The Star reached out to DeWine ’ s Press Secretary Dan Tierney to gain clarity and certainty on what the governor said during the presser .
Tierney wrote in a text message response “ the advisory system provides guidelines for Ohioans to make decisions based upon the spread in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state mandates associated with a county reaching purple on the advisory system , although the system advises additional precautions based upon documented community spread and increased health care utilization , ” said Tierney .
But getting schools on the same wavelength may be difficult .
Back in July the Ohio Education Association ( OEA ) released a position statement that claimed “ under Ohio ’ s warning system , OEA believes that any school or campus building located in a county designated as Level 4 ( purple ) or Level 3 ( red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Richland County continues to be in code red .
Yet schools were still holding in-person learning .
According to John , several of the county ’ s school districts were already preparing to transition to a remote learning environment , anticipating that the county would reach the highest level of public emergency on Thursday .
“ They are already preparing for the county to go purple on Thursday , ” said Whitney Schroeder , a mother to two kids in the Lexington School District in Richland County .
“ They are sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” She continued “ they seem to think it ’ s mandated by the state despite what the Governor said.
” In July when OPHAS was introduced , DeWine said the system was designed as an early warning tool that would allow local leaders to make decisions in their own communities .
John said she was not clear on the county ’ s updated numbers according to Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) despite being in contact with Richland County Public Health and the local health agency ’ s willingness to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioner was told what being on the watch list means or the consequences of moving to purple .
On Tuesday , The Star assessed Richland County on COVID lagging indicators found on the state ’ s dashboard ( cases , hospitalizations , deaths , recoveries ) and leading indicators per OPHAS ( the seven indicators ) .
The dashboard shows “ what is ” and does not indicate a high-level public emergency .
OPHAS shows “ what if ” and has the county on the verge of being the first among 88 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – when two-tenths of the population is infected and 14 people are hospitalized in the county .
Since January , 0.08 percent of the entire population has recorded a COVID infection .
Based on The Star ’ s assessment , the following is how Richland County stands according to the state ’ s COVID website .
Indicator 1 – increase in new cases per capita .
This indicator is flagged if greater than 50 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks .
Richland County triggered this indicator with 95 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the per capita ratio at 78 cases per 100,000 residents .
Based on data provided by Richland Public Health ( RPH ) , Indicator 1 will stay triggered as the number will move to the high incidence level at 102.35 cases per capita .
Thus , Richland County will remain in red as long as this indicator stays above the 100 cases per capita level – a spot the CDC deems high incidence .
However , the cases seem to be tied to the outbreaks at Mansfield Correctional Institute and Richland Correctional Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 – October 2 , when 161 cases were recorded .
Prisoners , prison employees , and prison employee family members accounted for the bulk of cases – 40 cases were recorded in the community , six from a pop-up testing site that operated on September 26 .
COVID-positive cases from prisoners are not counted in indicators one and two but cases from prison employees and their families are .
This indicator is activated if there is an increase in new cases for at least five consecutive days in the last three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 20 – September 26 , when the 7-day average number of new cases increased from 4.57 to 8.86 .
This indicator is turned on if the proportion of cases that are not in a congregate setting goes over 50 % in at least one of the last three weeks .
Richland County set off this indicator all the way back between September 9 – 15 when 64 % of cases were outside congregated settings .
Since that time ( September 16 – 22 and September 23 – 29 ) the county has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the indicator weighs a three-week period , it remains triggered almost a month later .
This indicator is ignited if there is an increasing trend of at least 5 consecutive days in the number of visits to the ED for COVID-like illnesses .
Richland County triggered this indicator on September 24 – 29 , when the 7-day average ED visits climbed from 3.29 to 7.71 .
The prison population is counted in this indicator even though the prisoners are sent to Columbus to receive care at Ohio State University Medical Center .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an increasing trend over five consecutive days in the number of people going to a healthcare provider with COVID-like symptoms who receive a confirmed or suspected diagnosis .
Richland County triggered this indicator on September 10 – September 14 when outpatient visits went up from 14.57 to 23.43 .
As of October 5 , Richland County is sitting at 23.29 and has not experienced a five consecutive day increase since September 10 .
Consequently , this indicator should move to “ not met ” if Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Star previously reported how indicator 5 contains data that is not COVID-specific and may be tripped by how a doctor chooses to document patient visits and how medical coders mark visits .
As was highlighted in the report , due to the potential for liability blowback , one emergency room and private practice doctor said physicians will likely record some information in the patient file pertaining to COVID in order to be safe in the future .
That information may be what triggers the visit under this indicator .
This indicator is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 5 consecutive days in the number of new hospitalizations due to COVID over the past 3 weeks .
Richland County triggered this indicator between September 20-28 when the 7-day average rose from 0.29 to 4.0 .
According to RPH Commissioner Humphrey on September 30 the county number was 4.7 and then dropped progressively , kicked back up October 2 but dipped again 2.71 on October 5 .
This is another indicator the prison population can activate and according to anecdotal information , Humphrey said there was a substantial uptick due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richland County received 37 new prisoners , 25 who ended up testing positive and a number in the “ teens ” who ended up in both the hospital and emergency department .
An incident that may have triggered indicators four and six – despite the fact that the prisoners received care in Franklin County .
This indicator is flagged when the percentage of the occupied ICU beds in each region goes above 80 % for at least three days in the last week and more than 20 % of ICU beds are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not triggered this indicator and shows not sign of doing so .
The county has recorded 1085 cases since the beginning of 2020 , 157 hospitalizations and 20 deaths .
The county ’ s last death associated with COVID was September 10 .
Of the 1085 cases recorded in Richland County , 757 have recovered as of October 7 .
The data points are already gathered regarding whether Richland County will remain red or be moved by the governor to purple .
The Star sent an email to Melanie Amato , press secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a final ruling on the matter .
Amato responded , “ The Governor will address this at his 2pm press conference tomorrow.
” Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

Richland County is teetering on the verge of becoming the first Ohio county to reach code purple on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System (OPHAS).
According to OPHAS, purple means that the county is experiencing “severe exposure and spread” and residents are to leave home for only “supplies and services.”
The Ohio Star discussed the county’s numbers with Richland Public Health Commissioner Sarah Humphrey. The health commissioner anticipates that five of seven indicators will be triggered – technically keeping Richland County in code red.
During the phone interview with The Star, Humphries anticipates that Richland County will trigger indicators: 1,2,3,4 and 6 – and not triggering indicators 5 and 7.
Whether staying in red or moving to purple matters from a policy perspective is now in question.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Governor Mike DeWine said “going purple has no consequences or sanctions from the state of Ohio. And that’s the same way as being red.”
Consequently, Humphrey said, “Knowing that he will give some latitude will give us some workarounds. Let’s see how we can continue in-person learning.”
“Given what the governor said today during the press conference – businesses, schools, everyone can stay open. Richland County is open for business,” Richland County Commissioner Marilyn John told The Star in an interview.
The Star reached out to DeWine’s Press Secretary Dan Tierney to gain clarity and certainty on what the governor said during the presser. Tierney wrote in a text message response “the advisory system provides guidelines for Ohioans to make decisions based upon the spread in their community.”
“There are currently no state mandates associated with a county reaching purple on the advisory system, although the system advises additional precautions based upon documented community spread and increased health care utilization,” said Tierney.
But getting schools on the same wavelength may be difficult. Back in July the Ohio Education Association (OEA) released a position statement that claimed “under Ohio’s warning system, OEA believes that any school or campus building located in a county designated as Level 4 (purple) or Level 3 (red) must remain closed to in-person instruction.”
Richland County continues to be in code red. Yet schools were still holding in-person learning.
According to John, several of the county’s school districts were already preparing to transition to a remote learning environment, anticipating that the county would reach the highest level of public emergency on Thursday.
“They are already preparing for the county to go purple on Thursday,” said Whitney Schroeder, a mother to two kids in the Lexington School District in Richland County. “They are sending home assignments and instructions for remote learning.” She continued “they seem to think it’s mandated by the state despite what the Governor said.”
In July when OPHAS was introduced, DeWine said the system was designed as an early warning tool that would allow local leaders to make decisions in their own communities.
John said she was not clear on the county’s updated numbers according to Ohio Department of Health (ODH) despite being in contact with Richland County Public Health and the local health agency’s willingness to provide insight.
Neither the agency nor the commissioner was told what being on the watch list means or the consequences of moving to purple.
On Tuesday, The Star assessed Richland County on COVID lagging indicators found on the state’s dashboard (cases, hospitalizations, deaths, recoveries) and leading indicators per OPHAS (the seven indicators).
The dashboard shows “what is” and does not indicate a high-level public emergency.
OPHAS shows “what if” and has the county on the verge of being the first among 88 to reach the highest level of public emergency – when two-tenths of the population is infected and 14 people are hospitalized in the county.
Since January, 0.08 percent of the entire population has recorded a COVID infection.
Based on The Star’s assessment, the following is how Richland County stands according to the state’s COVID website.
Indicator 1 – increase in new cases per capita.
This indicator is flagged if greater than 50 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks.
Richland County triggered this indicator with 95 new cases over the past two weeks to put the per capita ratio at 78 cases per 100,000 residents.
Based on data provided by Richland Public Health (RPH), Indicator 1 will stay triggered as the number will move to the high incidence level at 102.35 cases per capita.
Thus, Richland County will remain in red as long as this indicator stays above the 100 cases per capita level – a spot the CDC deems high incidence.
However, the cases seem to be tied to the outbreaks at Mansfield Correctional Institute and Richland Correctional Institute.
The flashpoint in cases occurred September 24 – October 2, when 161 cases were recorded. Prisoners, prison employees, and prison employee family members accounted for the bulk of cases – 40 cases were recorded in the community, six from a pop-up testing site that operated on September 26.
COVID-positive cases from prisoners are not counted in indicators one and two but cases from prison employees and their families are.
Indicator 2 – Increase in new cases
This indicator is activated if there is an increase in new cases for at least five consecutive days in the last three weeks.
Richland County triggered this indicator from September 20 – September 26, when the 7-day average number of new cases increased from 4.57 to 8.86.
Indicator 3 – Non-congregate cases
This indicator is turned on if the proportion of cases that are not in a congregate setting goes over 50% in at least one of the last three weeks.
Richland County set off this indicator all the way back between September 9 – 15 when 64% of cases were outside congregated settings.
Since that time (September 16 – 22 and September 23 – 29) the county has been below the 50% threshold but because the indicator weighs a three-week period, it remains triggered almost a month later.
Indicator 4 – Sustained increase in Emergency Department (ED) visits for COVID-like illnesses
This indicator is ignited if there is an increasing trend of at least 5 consecutive days in the number of visits to the ED for COVID-like illnesses.
Richland County triggered this indicator on September 24 – 29, when the 7-day average ED visits climbed from 3.29 to 7.71.
The prison population is counted in this indicator even though the prisoners are sent to Columbus to receive care at Ohio State University Medical Center.
Indicator 5 – Increase in outpatient visits
Outpatient visits activate the indicator when there is an increasing trend over five consecutive days in the number of people going to a healthcare provider with COVID-like symptoms who receive a confirmed or suspected diagnosis.
Richland County triggered this indicator on September 10 – September 14 when outpatient visits went up from 14.57 to 23.43.
As of October 5, Richland County is sitting at 23.29 and has not experienced a five consecutive day increase since September 10. Consequently, this indicator should move to “not met” if Ohio Department of Health (ODH) data matches Richland Public Health Data.
The Star previously reported how indicator 5 contains data that is not COVID-specific and may be tripped by how a doctor chooses to document patient visits and how medical coders mark visits.
As was highlighted in the report, due to the potential for liability blowback, one emergency room and private practice doctor said physicians will likely record some information in the patient file pertaining to COVID in order to be safe in the future. That information may be what triggers the visit under this indicator.
Indicator 6 – Sustained increase in new COVID hospital admissions.
This indicator is tripped by an increasing trend of at least 5 consecutive days in the number of new hospitalizations due to COVID over the past 3 weeks.
Richland County triggered this indicator between September 20-28 when the 7-day average rose from 0.29 to 4.0.
According to RPH Commissioner Humphrey on September 30 the county number was 4.7 and then dropped progressively, kicked back up October 2 but dipped again 2.71 on October 5.
This is another indicator the prison population can activate and according to anecdotal information, Humphrey said there was a substantial uptick due to the prison population. The Star learned that Richland County received 37 new prisoners, 25 who ended up testing positive and a number in the “teens” who ended up in both the hospital and emergency department. An incident that may have triggered indicators four and six – despite the fact that the prisoners received care in Franklin County.
Indicator 7 – Intensive care unit bed occupancy.
This indicator is flagged when the percentage of the occupied ICU beds in each region goes above 80% for at least three days in the last week and more than 20% of ICU beds are being used for COVID.
Richland County has not triggered this indicator and shows not sign of doing so.
The county has recorded 1085 cases since the beginning of 2020, 157 hospitalizations and 20 deaths.
The county’s last death associated with COVID was September 10.
Of the 1085 cases recorded in Richland County, 757 have recovered as of October 7.
The data points are already gathered regarding whether Richland County will remain red or be moved by the governor to purple. The Star sent an email to Melanie Amato, press secretary at the Ohio Department of Health to get a final ruling on the matter.
Amato responded, “The Governor will address this at his 2pm press conference tomorrow.”
– – –
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star. Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV. Follow Jack on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-10-08--In the Dead of Night, House Speaker Filler-Corn Removed Confederate Statues for $83K – and Lied Abou

In the Dead of Night, House Speaker Filler-Corn Removed Confederate Statues for $83K – and Lied About the Documents

Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn ( D-Fairfax ) faces a lawsuit for falsely denying the existence of records documenting the $ 83,000 removal of the Capitol ’ s Confederate monuments .
The plaintiff in the case , David Webster II , requested documents under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) from Filler-Corn upon learning she ’ d removed the monuments .
In her response , Filler-Corn states repeatedly “ The requested records do not exist.
” However , Webster II discovered many of the documents in question .
The records reveal that Filler-Corn paid a little over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associates , a public conservation and restoration company .
In an exclusive interview with The Virginia Star , filing attorney Timothy Anderson explained that Filler-Corn ’ s statements served as the lawsuit ’ s basis .
“ My client filed the FOIA request on the monuments .
She [ Filler-Corn ] wrote back , ‘ the documents don ’ t exist , ’ and we knew that had to be untrue because this is a big job that happened overnight .
We knew there had to be documents.
” If the judge rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Webster II , then Filler-Corn must pay Webster ’ s attorney fees .
If the court also finds that Filler-Corn “ willfully and knowingly ” withheld the documents , then she would also pay a literary fund anywhere from $ 500 to $ 2,000 .
“ FOIA is clear : even if they [ the government officials ] don ’ t have the documents but know who does , they ’ re supposed to tell you , ” stated Anderson .
“ She just said , ‘ they don ’ t exist.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberate attempt to interfere with his ability to get documents he ’ s entitled to as a citizen through the FOIA.
” Anderson also pointed out that there wasn ’ t an emergency that necessitated an expedited removal of those statues and busts overnight .
He criticized Filler-Corn for not revealing where the pieces are now located .
“ At the end of all this , we still don ’ t know where they are .
There seemed to be absolutely no piece of paper in Virginia saying where the monuments are .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are ?
The 900 pound statue of General Lee that was on the spot where Lee accepted command of the Confederate forces – where is it ?
” Delegate Hyland Franklin “ Buddy ” Fowler Jr. ( R-Spotsylvania ) told The Virginia Star that nobody in their caucus knew about the plans to remove the monuments until after it occurred .
“ It ’ s time for everybody involved to come clean .
I didn ’ t sense a special emergency with removing these historical busts or anything , ” remarked Fowler .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Speaker has , but it begs the question : if you spend $ 83,000 on this , what are we taking that money away from ?
” Additionally , Anderson mentioned that Filler-Corn may soon face more legal issues – such as possibly breaking state procurement laws .
The trial is scheduled for this Friday , October 9th at 10 am EDT .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Bloomberg QuickTake Now .

Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) faces a lawsuit for falsely denying the existence of records documenting the $83,000 removal of the Capitol’s Confederate monuments.
The plaintiff in the case, David Webster II, requested documents under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) from Filler-Corn upon learning she’d removed the monuments. In her response, Filler-Corn states repeatedly “The requested records do not exist.” However, Webster II discovered many of the documents in question.
The records reveal that Filler-Corn paid a little over $83,000 to B.R. Howard & Associates, a public conservation and restoration company.
In an exclusive interview with The Virginia Star, filing attorney Timothy Anderson explained that Filler-Corn’s statements served as the lawsuit’s basis.
“My client filed the FOIA request on the monuments. She [Filler-Corn] wrote back, ‘the documents don’t exist,’ and we knew that had to be untrue because this is a big job that happened overnight. We knew there had to be documents.”
If the judge rules in favor of the plaintiff, David Webster II, then Filler-Corn must pay Webster’s attorney fees. If the court also finds that Filler-Corn “willfully and knowingly” withheld the documents, then she would also pay a literary fund anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
“FOIA is clear: even if they [the government officials] don’t have the documents but know who does, they’re supposed to tell you,” stated Anderson. “She just said, ‘they don’t exist.’ My client felt like that was a deliberate attempt to interfere with his ability to get documents he’s entitled to as a citizen through the FOIA.”
Anderson also pointed out that there wasn’t an emergency that necessitated an expedited removal of those statues and busts overnight. He criticized Filler-Corn for not revealing where the pieces are now located.
“At the end of all this, we still don’t know where they are. There seemed to be absolutely no piece of paper in Virginia saying where the monuments are. Does anyone know where these priceless artifacts are? The 900 pound statue of General Lee that was on the spot where Lee accepted command of the Confederate forces – where is it?”
Delegate Hyland Franklin “Buddy” Fowler Jr. (R-Spotsylvania) told The Virginia Star that nobody in their caucus knew about the plans to remove the monuments until after it occurred.
“It’s time for everybody involved to come clean. I didn’t sense a special emergency with removing these historical busts or anything,” remarked Fowler. “There’s money set aside that the Speaker has, but it begs the question: if you spend $83,000 on this, what are we taking that money away from?”
Additionally, Anderson mentioned that Filler-Corn may soon face more legal issues – such as possibly breaking state procurement laws.
The trial is scheduled for this Friday, October 9th at 10 am EDT.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Statue Removal” by Bloomberg QuickTake Now.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-08--Show Me the Money: Congressman Morgan Griffith Outlines Pelosi Plan to Line the Pockets of Fat Cat M

Show Me the Money: Congressman Morgan Griffith Outlines Pelosi Plan to Line the Pockets of Fat Cat Millionaires in Bogus Stimulus Plan

Live from Virginia Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed US Congressman of Virginia ’ s ninth district to the show to outline why Trump refused to continue negotiations on a second stimulus package with Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
Fredericks : Joining us now the man of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southwest Virginia Morgan Griffith .
Congressman , welcome .
Fredericks : So good to have you on Congressman .
Okay , lots of talk about let ’ s talk about today .
Let ’ s start with the president saying , You know , what we ’ re done negotiating on a new CARES Act where trillion dollars apart .
Nancy ’ s playing games .
We ’ re done .
all of a sudden media melts down and says that everybody ’ s going to be starving in the streets now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Griffith : Well in Nancy Pelosi has been playing politics with it since we passed the last update forgetting that one .
That was June or July when you know did a little bit of a tweak to it .
Everything since then has been politics .
It ’ s absolutely outrageous .
She ’ s holding up people .
I wish Trump had been able to get the message out a little bit better than he ’ s stepping away because she ’ s playing politics .
Because that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s all they ’ re doing .
They passed this bill last week and it takes us back to the old SALT system , and let me explain that because that ’ s important in my district is probably important in your listening area over on the eastern part of the state as well .
What they want to do is they want to have us pay our federal income taxes .
And pay you a little bit more to the federal government then the federal government gives places like New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax cut on local taxes .
So the people of Saltville are paying in part the local taxes for millionaires who live in San Francisco like Nancy Pelosi .
The people in Marion are having to pay for people in Manhattan who may have a condo that overlooks Central Park and costs more money than most of the people in Southwest Virginia will ever see in their entire lifetimes .
But we don ’ t give them a tax break by putting the tax on poor people and people of lesser means .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck in there because they need the fat cat millionaires .
She sticks that into a bill about COVID .
Give me a break .
Fredericks : No wonder the president is walking away and he should have talked about things like that .
How do you get this out in the fake news media ?
Because all the fake news media saying well now people just going to suffer .
Trump doesn ’ t care .
There ’ s no negotiation .
Nancy wants to give everybody money .
She wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of course , the fake news legacy media , which is all a bunch of liars picks up that line and that ’ s what they run with .
Griffith : Yep .
That ’ s what they run with .
And in reality , we had a PPP bill on the floor are that was available to go to the floor .
And that ’ s why she put together a whole new , you know package of whatever the name of the bill was part two or part three is because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to vote on something before they went home .
So she put together something with poison pills in it that she knew was never going to fly with the Republicans or the Senate .
And in fairness , I ’ m not sure even with Democrats the Senate would have passed that thing .
It just doesn ’ t make sense for America unless you ’ re a millionaire .
It didn ’ t make any sense .
Look we did the numbers back when we pass the Tax Cut and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Southwest Virginia in the 9th Congressional District , you would have to have a house in the most expensive taxed area in Southwest Virginia .
You would have to have a house , this is in Southwest Virginia , that cost more than $ 830-840,000 before you would pay one penny under the Republican version of giving people a little bit of a break on their local taxes .
That ’ s why it ’ s very clear that this thing is for millionaires .
Because you have to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in most parts of Virginia .
Maybe not Northern Virginia , but in the rest of Virginia , you ’ d have to have a house well over a value of a million dollars in order to be benefited from what Nancy Pelosi put into a COVID package just last week .
You tell me how that ’ s dealing with COVID .
You tell me how that ’ s helping average American families .
It ’ s not .
She held a bill up for that and a couple of other poison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s holding up help for American families in order to help people who have you know , somewhere between let ’ s say seven hundred thousand and in some jurisdictions on up houses .
If you can afford that kind of a house , you don ’ t need relief from your local taxes at that level .
You need some , but you don ’ t need that level .
Or maybe you need to go talk to your city council and say , you know , what ?
Y @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us and you all should do something about that because that ’ s part of the way that New York City and San Francisco and some of these other places are able to have such high local taxes .
They would promise you you ’ re not going to pay it all because the federal government can give you a tax break .
Well , who is paying it ?
The people in Saltville are paying it .
People in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia are paying it .
The people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tomato fields on the Eastern Shore that ’ s who is paying it .
They ’ re paying it so fat cats in San Francisco and New York City and other rich places don ’ t have to pay as much federal income tax .
It ’ s not right .
It ’ s wrong and it really does pull back in my opinion that mask off the Democrat Party that there for the little guy .
They ’ re not for the little guy .
There for the fat cat billionaires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fat cat billionaires .
Look where the money ’ s coming from .
Show me the money and I ’ ll show you who they support and who they ’ re working for in D.C. Fredericks : So basically it ’ s a transfer of wealth to get to urban rich people that are the biggest donors to Pelosi ’ s campaigns , right ?
So they just take that money they saved and they give part of it to her for her campaign for her caucus or whatever other causes they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so basically that ’ s what she held up PPP for .
Am I having Deja Vu Morgan Griffith or did the Democrats , were they not screaming for years during Obama for a clean bill or something ?
Remember they kept saying say we want a clean resolution .
We want a clean bill to keep the government open .
Am I dreaming that ?
Griffith : You ’ re not dreaming that .
And look I ’ m a big proponent no matter who ’ s in control of what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , you know single purpose and are not thousand-page bills or 800-page bills and that get to the point deal with what they ’ re supposed to do with and move on .
And both parties have been guilty of that .
But in this case , they not only are guilty of throwing a bunch of stuff in there claiming it does one thing when it does multiple things including the tax relief .
And also , you know cut some money that previously was in that in her earlier version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that they are just doing this for political reasons .
and they threw this whole thing in so it ’ s even worse than just jamming things up because you got a time crunch .
They jam things up intentionally so they could use it politically .
And you know , I think it probably would have been better if the president had said we ’ re willing to negotiate as soon as I take the politics out of this thing , but I don ’ t think you ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to wait till after the election .
If she came to the table and said we ’ re going to have a clean bill , more power to it .
Fredericks : I wish the person said that I wish she said just what you said .
Number one .
I wanted a clean bill and as soon as we get a clean bill at $ 1,200 checks and PPP I ’ m all in .
We ’ re going to sign it .
Secondly , why didn ’ t he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He certainly isn ’ t at a lack for words these days .
So I mean all he simply said is I ’ m done negotiating with her and then everyone immediately jumped on him and said he ’ s talking everybody to go to hell .
The spin on this thing is horrible from a PR standpoint and we all know why .
You just outlined in very detailed terms why he walked away from the table .
Why has not that message got out in the White House ?
Griffith : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ m sorry .
I wish I could tell you the answer… Listen to the full show here :

Live from Virginia Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond, WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia, WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 (7-9 PM) Hampton Roads, WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed US Congressman of Virginia’s ninth district to the show to outline why Trump refused to continue negotiations on a second stimulus package with Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Fredericks: Joining us now the man of the hour. Congressman 9th District, Virginia Southwest Virginia Morgan Griffith. Congressman, welcome.
Griffith: Good morning.
Fredericks: So good to have you on Congressman. Okay, lots of talk about let’s talk about today. Let’s start with the president saying, You know, what we’re done negotiating on a new CARES Act where trillion dollars apart. Nancy’s playing games. We’re done. all of a sudden media melts down and says that everybody’s going to be starving in the streets now. What’s the deal with this?
Griffith: Well in Nancy Pelosi has been playing politics with it since we passed the last update forgetting that one. That was June or July when you know did a little bit of a tweak to it. Everything since then has been politics. It’s absolutely outrageous. She’s holding up people. I wish Trump had been able to get the message out a little bit better than he’s stepping away because she’s playing politics. Because that’s exactly what’s happening.
That’s all they’re doing. They passed this bill last week and it takes us back to the old SALT system, and let me explain that because that’s important in my district is probably important in your listening area over on the eastern part of the state as well. What they want to do is they want to have us pay our federal income taxes. And pay you a little bit more to the federal government then the federal government gives places like New York City and Manhattan and San Francisco a tax cut on local taxes.
So the people of Saltville are paying in part the local taxes for millionaires who live in San Francisco like Nancy Pelosi. The people in Marion are having to pay for people in Manhattan who may have a condo that overlooks Central Park and costs more money than most of the people in Southwest Virginia will ever see in their entire lifetimes. But we don’t give them a tax break by putting the tax on poor people and people of lesser means. That’s what she’s stuck in there because they need the fat cat millionaires. She sticks that into a bill about COVID. Give me a break.
Fredericks: No wonder the president is walking away and he should have talked about things like that. How do you get this out in the fake news media? Because all the fake news media saying well now people just going to suffer. Trump doesn’t care. There’s no negotiation. Nancy wants to give everybody money. She wants to do PPP. He walked away. Of course, the fake news legacy media, which is all a bunch of liars picks up that line and that’s what they run with.
Griffith: Yep. That’s what they run with. And in reality, we had a PPP bill on the floor are that was available to go to the floor. And that’s why she put together a whole new, you know package of whatever the name of the bill was part two or part three is because a number of her members wanted to be able to vote on something before they went home. So she put together something with poison pills in it that she knew was never going to fly with the Republicans or the Senate.
And in fairness, I’m not sure even with Democrats the Senate would have passed that thing. It just doesn’t make sense for America unless you’re a millionaire. It didn’t make any sense. Look we did the numbers back when we pass the Tax Cut and Jobs Act. We did the numbers. In Southwest Virginia in the 9th Congressional District, you would have to have a house in the most expensive taxed area in Southwest Virginia.
You would have to have a house, this is in Southwest Virginia, that cost more than $830-840,000 before you would pay one penny under the Republican version of giving people a little bit of a break on their local taxes. That’s why it’s very clear that this thing is for millionaires. Because you have to have a house worth close to a million dollars in most parts of Virginia. Maybe not Northern Virginia, but in the rest of Virginia, you’d have to have a house well over a value of a million dollars in order to be benefited from what Nancy Pelosi put into a COVID package just last week.
You tell me how that’s dealing with COVID. You tell me how that’s helping average American families. It’s not. She held a bill up for that and a couple of other poison pills she put in there. But she’s holding up help for American families in order to help people who have you know, somewhere between let’s say seven hundred thousand and in some jurisdictions on up houses. If you can afford that kind of a house, you don’t need relief from your local taxes at that level.
You need some, but you don’t need that level. Or maybe you need to go talk to your city council and say, you know, what? Y’all are taxing the heck out of us and you all should do something about that because that’s part of the way that New York City and San Francisco and some of these other places are able to have such high local taxes. They would promise you you’re not going to pay it all because the federal government can give you a tax break.
Well, who is paying it? The people in Saltville are paying it. People in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia are paying it. The people who work in the poultry facilities or in the tomato fields on the Eastern Shore that’s who is paying it. They’re paying it so fat cats in San Francisco and New York City and other rich places don’t have to pay as much federal income tax.
It’s not right. It’s wrong and it really does pull back in my opinion that mask off the Democrat Party that there for the little guy. They’re not for the little guy. There for the fat cat billionaires. Who’s financing them? Fat cat billionaires. Look where the money’s coming from. Show me the money and I’ll show you who they support and who they’re working for in D.C.
Fredericks: So basically it’s a transfer of wealth to get to urban rich people that are the biggest donors to Pelosi’s campaigns, right? So they just take that money they saved and they give part of it to her for her campaign for her caucus or whatever other causes they’re doing also supporting the Dems. so basically that’s what she held up PPP for. Am I having Deja Vu Morgan Griffith or did the Democrats, were they not screaming for years during Obama for a clean bill or something? Remember they kept saying say we want a clean resolution. We want a clean bill to keep the government open. Am I dreaming that?
Griffith: You’re not dreaming that. And look I’m a big proponent no matter who’s in control of what we need. We need smaller bills that do, you know single purpose and are not thousand-page bills or 800-page bills and that get to the point deal with what they’re supposed to do with and move on. And both parties have been guilty of that.
But in this case, they not only are guilty of throwing a bunch of stuff in there claiming it does one thing when it does multiple things including the tax relief. And also, you know cut some money that previously was in that in her earlier version for police. But the bottom line is that they are just doing this for political reasons. and they threw this whole thing in so it’s even worse than just jamming things up because you got a time crunch.
They jam things up intentionally so they could use it politically. And you know, I think it probably would have been better if the president had said we’re willing to negotiate as soon as I take the politics out of this thing, but I don’t think you’re going to do that. Which is why we have to wait till after the election. If she came to the table and said we’re going to have a clean bill, more power to it.
Fredericks: I wish the person said that I wish she said just what you said. Number one. I wanted a clean bill and as soon as we get a clean bill at $1,200 checks and PPP I’m all in. We’re going to sign it. Secondly, why didn’t he say exactly what you just said? He certainly isn’t at a lack for words these days. So I mean all he simply said is I’m done negotiating with her and then everyone immediately jumped on him and said he’s talking everybody to go to hell. The spin on this thing is horrible from a PR standpoint and we all know why. You just outlined in very detailed terms why he walked away from the table. Why has not that message got out in the White House?
Griffith: I can’t answer that one, I’m sorry. I wish I could tell you the answer…
Listen to the full show here:
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thetennesseestar--2020-10-08--Richmond’s Summer of Blood

Richmond’s Summer of Blood

Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith announced 24 homicides occurred July 1 through September 3 , a 60 percent increase compared with the same period in 2019 .
In Smith ’ s quarterly report violent crime overall was up four percent .
Cases of arson were up by 17 percent , for a total of 21 .
“ After the civil unrest we still have experienced some arsons , ” Smith said .
Smith was hired at the beginning of July after downtown Richmond suffered violent protests .
The wave of violence in Richmond isn ’ t limited to riots .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalate into violent acts , ” Smith said .
“ We ’ ve also seen some of the historical beefs between communities and neighborhoods.
” Smith said a lack of trust in police is making investigation more difficult .
“ When you make us the villain , some people start to believe that narrative , ” Smith said .
“ When you start to investigate crimes , the number one resource is the community .
The community knows before we know.
” “ Gun violence in the city is a public health crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Virginia Star .
“ We need to focus on comprehensive solutions to address this issue .
Our focus has to be on prevention , looking at the root causes for this level of violence , and creating economic opportunities for young people in the city .
We need to engage social workers , faith leaders , community organizations and residents in communities directly impacted by violence and crime to create initiatives that increase public safety .
This has to be a community-driven process.
” Mayor Levar Stoney forced out the previous Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June as riots spread through Richmond .
“ I have high expectations for the Richmond Police Department , our law enforcement .
At a very minimum , I expect them to be willing to come around the table with the community to reform and reimagine public safety , ” Stoney told ABC News in June .
Councilmember and candidate for mayor Kim Gray blames the crisis on Stoney ’ s mismanagement .
“ The overall situation of lawlessness in our city is what I believe is contributing to our spike in crime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Our mayor has turned his back on the city.
” Mayor Stoney did not reply to a request for comment by press time .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith announced 24 homicides occurred July 1 through September 3, a 60 percent increase compared with the same period in 2019. In Smith’s quarterly report violent crime overall was up four percent. Cases of arson were up by 17 percent, for a total of 21.
“After the civil unrest we still have experienced some arsons,” Smith said. Smith was hired at the beginning of July after downtown Richmond suffered violent protests.
The wave of violence in Richmond isn’t limited to riots. “We have seen some small arguments escalate into violent acts,” Smith said. “We’ve also seen some of the historical beefs between communities and neighborhoods.”
Smith said a lack of trust in police is making investigation more difficult. “When you make us the villain, some people start to believe that narrative,” Smith said. “When you start to investigate crimes, the number one resource is the community. The community knows before we know.”
“Gun violence in the city is a public health crisis,” mayoral candidate Alexsis Rodgers told The Virginia Star. “We need to focus on comprehensive solutions to address this issue. Our focus has to be on prevention, looking at the root causes for this level of violence, and creating economic opportunities for young people in the city. We need to engage social workers, faith leaders, community organizations and residents in communities directly impacted by violence and crime to create initiatives that increase public safety. This has to be a community-driven process.”
Mayor Levar Stoney forced out the previous Police Chief, William Smith, in mid June as riots spread through Richmond. “I have high expectations for the Richmond Police Department, our law enforcement. At a very minimum, I expect them to be willing to come around the table with the community to reform and reimagine public safety,” Stoney told ABC News in June.
Councilmember and candidate for mayor Kim Gray blames the crisis on Stoney’s mismanagement.
“The overall situation of lawlessness in our city is what I believe is contributing to our spike in crime,” Gray told The Virginia Star. “Our mayor has turned his back on the city.”
Mayor Stoney did not reply to a request for comment by press time.
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-08--Trump, Whitmer Spar on Twitter Over Michigan Supreme Court Ruling

President Trump on Wednesday praised the Michigan Supreme Court ’ s ruling overturning Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s emergency powers , calling it a “ big win ” for the state .
The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday struck down Whitmer ’ s emergency ruling , saying the governor had issued her numerous executive orders pertaining to coronavirus restrictions unconstitutionally , rendering them null .
Whitmer had cited her authority under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945 .
Republicans said that the governor should have used a 1976 , which requires legislature approval after a continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ The Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945 ] is an unlawful delegation of legislative power to the executive branch in violation of the Michigan Constitution , ” Justice Stephen Markman wrote in the majority opinion .
“ Accordingly , the executive orders issued by the governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic now lack any basis under Michigan law.
” Whitmer shot back at the president , telling him that American citizens are still waiting for a second round of pandemic relief .
Trump said on Tuesday that he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full pandemic relief bill until after the election , although he later said that he would pass a standalone bill for $ 1,200 relief checks “ immediately.
” Whitmer has repeatedly pushed back on the state ’ s Supreme Court ruling , filing an order on Monday asking the court to clarify that the ruling does not take place until October 30 .
The governor said that such a “ transition period ” would protect Michigan workers.
” Republican legislators have disagreed with Whitmer , saying that the court ’ s order takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Human Services has issued its own mask mandate .
Whitmer has also said she will issue similar rulings under “ alternative sources of authority.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Photo “ Gretchen Whitmer ” by Gretchen Whitmer .
Background Photo “ Michigan Supreme Court Justices ” by michigan.gov .

President Trump on Wednesday praised the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency powers, calling it a “big win” for the state.
The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday struck down Whitmer’s emergency ruling, saying the governor had issued her numerous executive orders pertaining to coronavirus restrictions unconstitutionally, rendering them null.
Whitmer had cited her authority under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945. Republicans said that the governor should have used a 1976, which requires legislature approval after a continued emergency declaration lasting 28 days.
“[The Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945] is an unlawful delegation of legislative power to the executive branch in violation of the Michigan Constitution,” Justice Stephen Markman wrote in the majority opinion. “Accordingly, the executive orders issued by the governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic now lack any basis under Michigan law.”
Trump praised the ruling on Wednesday.
We just got a BIG win for the people of Michigan. Open up your Churches and your Schools. Auto companies pouring in and expanding (thank you Mr. President!). Have fun! https://t.co/Bmj9f32DZV — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
Whitmer shot back at the president, telling him that American citizens are still waiting for a second round of pandemic relief.
Mr. President, millions of hardworking Americans are relying on you for a COVID-19 relief package. Get to work. https://t.co/vBeWt2KXCd — Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) October 7, 2020
Trump said on Tuesday that he had told leaders to end talks about the full pandemic relief bill until after the election, although he later said that he would pass a standalone bill for $1,200 relief checks “immediately.”
If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy? @MarkMeadows @senatemajldr @kevinomccarthy @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
Whitmer has repeatedly pushed back on the state’s Supreme Court ruling, filing an order on Monday asking the court to clarify that the ruling does not take place until October 30. The governor said that such a “transition period” would protect Michigan workers.”
Republican legislators have disagreed with Whitmer, saying that the court’s order takes effect immediately.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued its own mask mandate. Whitmer has also said she will issue similar rulings under “alternative sources of authority.”
– – –
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.
Photo “Gretchen Whitmer” by Gretchen Whitmer. Background Photo “Michigan Supreme Court Justices” by michigan.gov.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-08--About 840,000 U.S. Workers File New Claims for Unemployment Benefits

An additional 840,000 American workers filed initial unemployment claims in the week ending Oct. 3 , down about 9,000 from the previous week ’ s revised number but still well above pre-pandemic levels .
According to the U.S. Department of Labor , the advance seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 percent for the week ending Sept. 26 , a decrease of 0.7 percentage points from the prior week .
Unemployment rate data lags the new initial claims report by a week .
For the second week in a row , new claims from California were estimated by the department .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it works on a backlog of benefits and institutes new fraud prevention measures Continued claims , which count those who have filed for benefits at least two weeks in a row , fell by about a million to 11 million .
Part of that drop in continuing claims is a result of workers losing eligibility after 26 weeks of receiving benefits .
After calling off stimulus negotiations with Congressional Democrats earlier this week , President Donald Trump said he would like to see standalone bills to provide another direct payment to Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support small businesses .
In late March , when government restrictions shutting down businesses deemed nonessential to help slow the spread of COVD-19 were first put into place , new weekly unemployment claims peaked at more than 6 million .
Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square .
He welcomes your comments .
Contact Dan at [ email protected ] Photo “ Unemployment ” by Bytemarks CC2.0

by Dan McCaleb
An additional 840,000 American workers filed initial unemployment claims in the week ending Oct. 3, down about 9,000 from the previous week’s revised number but still well above pre-pandemic levels.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the advance seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 percent for the week ending Sept. 26, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points from the prior week. Unemployment rate data lags the new initial claims report by a week.
For the second week in a row, new claims from California were estimated by the department. California paused its reporting for two weeks as it works on a backlog of benefits and institutes new fraud prevention measures
Continued claims, which count those who have filed for benefits at least two weeks in a row, fell by about a million to 11 million. Part of that drop in continuing claims is a result of workers losing eligibility after 26 weeks of receiving benefits.
After calling off stimulus negotiations with Congressional Democrats earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he would like to see standalone bills to provide another direct payment to Americans and to renew the Paycheck Protection Program to support small businesses.
In late March, when government restrictions shutting down businesses deemed nonessential to help slow the spread of COVD-19 were first put into place, new weekly unemployment claims peaked at more than 6 million.
– – –
Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square. He welcomes your comments. Contact Dan at [email protected]
Photo “Unemployment” by Bytemarks CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-10-08--Davidson County Election Commission Provides Tennessee Code Citation It Says Allows It to Move Date

Davidson County Election Commission Provides Tennessee Code Citation It Says Allows It to Move Date of Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act Referendum to December 15

Davidson County Elections Administrator Jeff Roberts on Thursday cited the portion of the Tennessee Code that the Davidson County Election Commission says permits them to move the prospective election date for voters to say yes or no to the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act from December 5 , as prescribed in the petition , to December 15 , as the commission voted to do in its September 25 meeting .
“ The specific section of the code is 2-3-204 , ” Roberts said .
“ The version used in your article was amended in 2016 , ” he added .
Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The Tennessee Code Annotated to The Star in his email : ( a ) Elections on questions submitted to the people shall be held on dates set by the county election commission but not less than seventy-five ( 75 ) days nor more than ninety ( 90 ) days after the county election commission is directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question .
If the election is to be held in more than one ( 1 ) county , the county election commissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( b ) Resolutions , ordinances or petitions requiring the holding of elections on questions submitted to the people which are to be held with the regular August election , the regular November election , any regularly scheduled municipal election or the presidential preference primary shall be filed with the county election commission not less than seventy-five ( 75 ) days prior to such election .
( c ) If the date for an election on a question , as set by a county election commission or by two ( 2 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ninety ( 90 ) days of an upcoming regular primary or general election being held in the jurisdiction voting on the question , the commission or commissions may reset the date of the election on a question to coincide with the regular primary or general election , even though this may be outside of the time period established herein .
All dates dependent on the date of the election shall be adjusted accordingly and any acts required to be done by these dates shall be performed timely if done in accordance with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Section 2-3-204 of the Tennessee Code Annotated differs from the outdated version cited in earlier Tennessee Star articles in one key regard .
As reported , The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum , if approved , would roll back Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s 34 to 37 percent tax increase .
As reported last month , the Nashville Election Commission voted three to two to neither approve nor reject the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act .
They instead passed the matter on to a chancery court to guide them on how to proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” date of the election from Saturday , December 5 to Tuesday , December 15 .
As The Star reported previously , the Davidson County Election Commission was “ directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question ” on September 17 .
December 1 is 75 days from September 17 , and December 16 is 90 days from September 17 .
At the September 25 meeting of the Davidson County Election Commission , Chairman Emily Reynolds stated , in a comment directed at Davidson County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested to us , and this is based on the Tennessee Code , we can set an election date that is not earlier than November 30 and not later than December 15.
” During the subsequent discussion , one commissioner noted that Tuesdays and Thursdays were the days Davidson County voters were accustomed to vote in special elections .
The current version of Section 2-3-2014 ( a ) of The Tennessee Code Annotated makes it clear that “ Elections on questions submitted to the people shall be held on dates set by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes that it must be held 75 to 90 days , “ after the county election commission is directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question.
” As The Star reported previously , “ the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question ” is Section 19.01 of the Nashville Davidson County Metro Chart , which can be seen below : Section 19.01 of the Nashville Davidson County Metro Charter describes the legal duties of the Davidson County Election Commission subsequent to that certification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the metropolitan clerk , signed by ten ( 10 ) per cent of the number of the registered voters of Nashville-Davidson County voting in the preceding general election , the verification of the signatures to be made by the Davidson County Election Commission and certified to the metropolitan clerk .
Such resolution or petition shall also prescribe a date not less than eighty ( 80 ) [ days ] subsequent to the date of its filing for the holding of a referendum election at which the electorate of the metropolitan government will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendments proposed .
The metropolitan clerk shall immediately certify to the county commissioners of election copy of such resolution or petition and it shall thereupon be the duty of said commissioners of election to hold a referendum election with respect thereto .
The ballot shall be prepared so as to set forth a brief description of the amendment worded so as to convey the meaning of said amendment , said description to be set forth in the original amendatory resolution , that the language of each amendment in full be posted conspicuously in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a local newspaper , numbered as the same is numbered in the resolution of the council or in the petition , and to provide the voters a choice to vote “ For Ratification ” and “ Against Ratification ” of each proposed amendment .
Note that the charter uses very specific language about the role of the petition in scheduling the date of the election : According to the Find Law Dictionary , “ prescribe ” means “ to lay down as a rule or guide ; specify with authority [ the times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Senators and Representatives , shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof ‘ U.S .
Constitution art .
I ’ ] ” The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act prescribed Saturday , December 5 as the date of the election , for several reasons .
First , greater turnout was anticipated on a Saturday , and second , 20 days before Christmas provided more time before Christmas Holiday events .
In addition , it provided a buffer of more than 30 days after the November 3 general election .
Nashville attorney Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protection Act and , with the help of Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee , secured the 27,000 signatures on the petition that required the Davidson County Election Commission to schedule the referendum election , told The Star on Thursday afternoon that he believes the commission has interpreted the law incorrectly , and that the election date should be December 5 , as was prescribed in the petition signed by 27,000 Davidson County residents .
“ Metro is dishonestly relying on authority the election commission has to move election dates , but they don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the people have selected , ” Roberts told The Star .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Law Library ” by ONULaw23 CC3.0 .

Davidson County Elections Administrator Jeff Roberts on Thursday cited the portion of the Tennessee Code that the Davidson County Election Commission says permits them to move the prospective election date for voters to say yes or no to the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act from December 5, as prescribed in the petition, to December 15, as the commission voted to do in its September 25 meeting.
Roberts responded to The Tennessee Star Thursday morning.
“The specific section of the code is 2-3-204,” Roberts said.
“The version used in your article was amended in 2016,” he added.
Roberts provided this current version of section 2-3-204 of The Tennessee Code Annotated to The Star in his email:
2-3-204. Elections on questions. (a) Elections on questions submitted to the people shall be held on dates set by the county election commission but not less than seventy-five (75) days nor more than ninety (90) days after the county election commission is directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question. If the election is to be held in more than one (1) county, the county election commissions shall meet and set the date jointly. (b) Resolutions, ordinances or petitions requiring the holding of elections on questions submitted to the people which are to be held with the regular August election, the regular November election, any regularly scheduled municipal election or the presidential preference primary shall be filed with the county election commission not less than seventy-five (75) days prior to such election. (c) If the date for an election on a question, as set by a county election commission or by two (2) or more commissions jointly, falls within ninety (90) days of an upcoming regular primary or general election being held in the jurisdiction voting on the question, the commission or commissions may reset the date of the election on a question to coincide with the regular primary or general election, even though this may be outside of the time period established herein. All dates dependent on the date of the election shall be adjusted accordingly and any acts required to be done by these dates shall be performed timely if done in accordance with the adjusted dates.
The current version of Section 2-3-204 of the Tennessee Code Annotated differs from the outdated version cited in earlier Tennessee Star articles in one key regard.
Section 2-3-204 (a) currently reads:
Elections on questions submitted to the people shall be held on dates set by the county election commission but not less than seventy-five (75) days nor more than ninety (90) days after the county election commission is directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question.
Prior to 2016, Section 2-3-204 (a) read:
Elections on questions submitted to the people shall be held on dates set by the county election commission but not less than forty-five (45) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the county election commission is directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question.
As reported, The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum, if approved, would roll back Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s 34 to 37 percent tax increase. As reported last month, the Nashville Election Commission voted three to two to neither approve nor reject the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act. They instead passed the matter on to a chancery court to guide them on how to proceed, and also moved the “conditional” date of the election from Saturday, December 5 to Tuesday, December 15.
As The Star reported previously, the Davidson County Election Commission was “directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question” on September 17. December 1 is 75 days from September 17, and December 16 is 90 days from September 17.
At the September 25 meeting of the Davidson County Election Commission, Chairman Emily Reynolds stated, in a comment directed at Davidson County Election Coordinator Roberts, “You have suggested to us, and this is based on the Tennessee Code, we can set an election date that is not earlier than November 30 and not later than December 15.”
During the subsequent discussion, one commissioner noted that Tuesdays and Thursdays were the days Davidson County voters were accustomed to vote in special elections.
The current version of Section 2-3-2014 (a) of The Tennessee Code Annotated makes it clear that “Elections on questions submitted to the people shall be held on dates set by the county election commission,” but also notes that it must be held 75 to 90 days, “after the county election commission is directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question.”
As The Star reported previously, “the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question” is Section 19.01 of the Nashville Davidson County Metro Chart, which can be seen below:
Section 19.01 of the Nashville Davidson County Metro Charter describes the legal duties of the Davidson County Election Commission subsequent to that certification:
[U]pon petition filed with the metropolitan clerk, signed by ten (10) per cent of the number of the registered voters of Nashville-Davidson County voting in the preceding general election, the verification of the signatures to be made by the Davidson County Election Commission and certified to the metropolitan clerk. Such resolution or petition shall also prescribe a date not less than eighty (80) [days] subsequent to the date of its filing for the holding of a referendum election at which the electorate of the metropolitan government will vote to ratify or to reject the amendments proposed. The metropolitan clerk shall immediately certify to the county commissioners of election copy of such resolution or petition and it shall thereupon be the duty of said commissioners of election to hold a referendum election with respect thereto. The ballot shall be prepared so as to set forth a brief description of the amendment worded so as to convey the meaning of said amendment, said description to be set forth in the original amendatory resolution, that the language of each amendment in full be posted conspicuously in the voting place and be published in a local newspaper, numbered as the same is numbered in the resolution of the council or in the petition, and to provide the voters a choice to vote “For Ratification” and “Against Ratification” of each proposed amendment.
Note that the charter uses very specific language about the role of the petition in scheduling the date of the election:
Such resolution or petition shall also prescribe a date not less than eighty (80) [days] subsequent to the date of its filing for the holding of a referendum election
According to the Find Law Dictionary, “prescribe” means “to lay down as a rule or guide; specify with authority [the times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof ‘U.S. Constitution art. I’]”
The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act prescribed Saturday, December 5 as the date of the election, for several reasons. First, greater turnout was anticipated on a Saturday, and second, 20 days before Christmas provided more time before Christmas Holiday events. In addition, it provided a buffer of more than 30 days after the November 3 general election.
Nashville attorney Jim Roberts, who organized the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act and, with the help of Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee, secured the 27,000 signatures on the petition that required the Davidson County Election Commission to schedule the referendum election, told The Star on Thursday afternoon that he believes the commission has interpreted the law incorrectly, and that the election date should be December 5, as was prescribed in the petition signed by 27,000 Davidson County residents.
“Metro is dishonestly relying on authority the election commission has to move election dates, but they don’t have the power to change the date that the people have selected,” Roberts told The Star.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Law Library” by ONULaw23 CC3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-09--Tennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson Describes His Role in Government and Reflects on

Tennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson Describes His Role in Government and Reflects on 2020 and the Year Ahead

Live from Music Row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed TN State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson to the studio .
During the second hour , state Senator Johnson discussed his role as Senate Majority Leader in relation to Governor Lee and how it ’ s slightly changed during the pandemic .
Leahy : We are delighted to have in studio with us our good friend state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Good morning .
Michael good to be back with you .
Leahy : We are always delighted to have you on here .
Your next career could easily be radio host .
Right ?
You ’ ve done a lot of radio work .
Johnson : Well , I did , you know , I when I was in high school , I worked for our little AM radio station in this little small town of Burnet , Texas .
Johnson : This is about 50 miles northwest of Austin .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5,000 people .
And there was a little AM country music radio station that I talked my way into getting a job there when I was about 14 years old .
( Leahy chuckles ) And I had a great time and great experience there and work there off and on throughout high school and in college .
And you know , you do it .
So I think it did help maybe it was some of my developing some of my communication skills and learning to read and articulate and do those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve always enjoyed it .
Big fan of talk radio , music radio , and all of it .
So so I always enjoy being in here with you .
Leahy : I always loved radio as well and my feeling is that a long-form talk radio program where you can have a guest in the studio is the very best way to communicate and have an interesting dialogue .
Television to me , A , first you got to look pretty right .
Yeah , which is at five o ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson : Challenging for anyone .
It ’ s challenging .
Yeah , it ’ s challenging for us anytime Leahy : You said that right and then you ’ ve got like , you know two minutes and there ’ s no follow-up .
And so I don ’ t like that .
and of course , you know , the old saying is Well , you got a face for radio .
And I think I do this morning at least .
So we ’ re delighted to have you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ today Jack ?
Johnson : I tell you the world it just seems as is upside down .
And just when you think it can not get more bizarre something else happens .
Whether it ’ s the president being diagnosed with COVID-19 which is the latest thing I guess that ’ s kind of rocked the country .
And thankfully it appears he ’ s doing well and on his way to a speedy recovery .
I ’ ll be glad when 2020 is behind us .
Leahy : Isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : It really is and I just hope and pray and I believe and I ’ m optimistic that ’ 21 is going to be a much better year .
And maybe we can try to start getting back to where we were before .
And I ’ ll tell you on the state level and hopefully , we ’ ll have a chance to talk about it .
Thankfully , you know , literally , I remember talking to rotary clubs and chamber groups and civic organizations back in December , January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this all happened about the incredible condition that the state of Tennessee was in absolutely the best fiscal condition we ’ ve ever been in .
And I look back on that now with such gratitude because it has really put Tennessee in a good position to weather this storm and we are coming out of it from an economic standpoint .
It would be helpful if Nashville would expedite its efforts .
Leahy : That ’ s a very kind way of putting it .
I have been a little bit more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson : Yes .
I ’ ve heard .
It would be helpful .
The governor said so as well .
But the reason I say that is because I ’ m so excited and anxious for Tennessee to get back .
You know in February this year we had the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded for the state of Tennessee .
More money in our savings account than we ’ ve ever had .
And so yes , we ’ ve taken a hit as every local government and state government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that our impact has been minimal .
It has been less than other states like California , New York , and New Jersey so we ’ re well-positioned to come out of it .
So again , getting 2020 behind us and looking forward to a great 2021 , which will hopefully get started here very soon .
Leahy : It ’ s hard to imagine how 2021 could be worse than in 2020 .
But you know , we didn ’ t anticipate 2020 would be so awful .
Johnson : No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no idea .
And yeah and I don ’ t want to take anything for granted but I ’ m hopeful and prayerful that we ’ re going to turn a leaf here .
Leahy : Tell me a little bit about the job of the Senate Majority Leader state Senate .
That ’ s a big job actually and it ’ s an important job historically here in Tennessee .
Now , we ’ re not in session .
What does your job entail when we ’ re not in session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a great question .
And I love kind of educating people about it because there is so much fixation and news coverage and discussions about Washington and how dysfunctional Washington is .
And it is .
I have no disagreement with any of that .
But our state government works differently .
And it ’ s important for Tennesseans to understand that we truly have what is referred to as a citizen part-time legislature .
And we ’ re actually in session meaning we are going to the Capitol every day and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing those things .
That ’ s only about three to four months out of the year .
There ’ s no set time .
we can take as long as necessary .
We convene on the second Tuesday of every year in January .
Second Tuesday in January .
That ’ s in the Constitution .
And that ’ s when we start our legislative session .
And we typically wrap up late April early May .
And so that ’ s when we ’ re really busy and focusing on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time my role as Majority Leader is to effectively be the governor ’ s sponsor if you will of the governor ’ s legislative package .
So if the governor has a legislative package that he wants to get passed .
And he obviously runs the executive branch .
Leahy : But if he has an agenda and he wants to have the legislature look at it obviously , you ’ ve got the House .
The lower chamber with 99 members .
And then the Senate with a true 33 members , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy that works with the governor then to introduce his agenda into the Senate .
Johnson : That ’ s right .
And and and so we work very closely with the administration .
And of course , it ’ s the governor and all the various department heads and that and that type of thing .
And I ’ m there not just to be the governor ’ s yes man to be very clear .
We do have separation of powers and that ’ s very important .
We are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive branch .
and I ’ m a big fan of Governor Lee .
And we ’ re very very good friends .
But it ’ s also it ’ s my responsibility to try to advance his legislative agenda as best I can .
It ’ s also my responsibility to come back and say hey , I think we ’ re going to have an issue here .
I ’ m not sure we can get this done .
And so I work with our committee chairman and our members in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And perhaps the governor wants to get something done .
But we need to tweak it or massage it a little bit before we can get it passed through the chamber .
And and and by the way my good friend William Lamberth , I know you know William .
Leahy : Yes .
And he ’ s a William and Mary graduate .
My daughter went to William and Mary .
Johnson : Yes , and he is my counterpart in the house .
He is the House Majority Leader .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There might be something that he can get passed in the House but I have trouble in the Senate or vice versa .
So it ’ s that that that whole process there .
So that ’ s kind of doing the legislative session .
And then when we ’ re out of session as we are now , we ’ re still meeting and talking about the upcoming session about what we want to get done .
We ’ re in a unique situation right now because of the COVID situation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
We ’ ve had to make some significant cuts to our budget because we have to maintain a balanced budget , unlike Washington , our budget is truly balanced .
Johnson : Yes it is .
It has to be balanced .
And so we gave the executive branch at the governor ’ s office some broad authority to make cuts across state government .
Even though we ’ re not in session there ’ s a lot of communication and and and and working together with the administration to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now I ’ m traveling the state .
I ’ ve been all over the state recently and will continue for the next 26 days supporting our members who are up for re-election this year .
Leahy : That ’ s right and you focus mostly on the Senate side right now .
Leahy : What ’ s going on out there ?
What what are you finding out as you ’ re going out ?
Is it twenty-eight to five right now ?
28 Republicans and five Democrats .
Leahy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is there any indication here in Tennessee that there will be any significant changes from that mix in the state Senate .
Johnson : Really not .
we have a couple of races that we ’ re watching very closely .
But we feel very good that will hold our 28 .
People ask can you get 29 and the answer is really no .
There are three Democrats that are in the Shelby County and in the Memphis area and two in the Nashville area .
And so our target is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supermajority .
And I believe we ’ ll be able to do so .
And let me just say and it probably won ’ t surprise you , Michael , there is enormous enthusiasm across this state for President Trump .
( Laughs ) It is off the charts .
Leahy : Is it off the charts ?
Obviously , these people haven ’ t been reading the polls .
Johnson : As it stands today , I really believe President Trump will not only meet but will surpass the numbers that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last year he won .
I think 60-36 by about 24 points in Tennessee .
Johnson : It ’ s anecdotal .
Yeah , but I tell you the enthusiasm is so incredible out there .
It ’ s just very exciting .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Jack Johnson ” by Jack Johnson .

Live from Music Row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed TN State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson to the studio.
During the second hour, state Senator Johnson discussed his role as Senate Majority Leader in relation to Governor Lee and how it’s slightly changed during the pandemic.
Leahy: We are delighted to have in studio with us our good friend state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. Good morning, Jack.
Johnson: Good morning. Michael good to be back with you.
Leahy: We are always delighted to have you on here. Your next career could easily be radio host. Right? You’ve done a lot of radio work.
Johnson: Well, I did, you know, I when I was in high school, I worked for our little AM radio station in this little small town of Burnet, Texas.
Leahy: Burnet, Texas. Where is Burnet, Texas, Jack?
Johnson: This is about 50 miles northwest of Austin. And yeah, so about population probably about 5,000 people. And there was a little AM country music radio station that I talked my way into getting a job there when I was about 14 years old. (Leahy chuckles) And I had a great time and great experience there and work there off and on throughout high school and in college.
And you know, you do it. So I think it did help maybe it was some of my developing some of my communication skills and learning to read and articulate and do those things. I love radio. I’ve always enjoyed it. Big fan of talk radio, music radio, and all of it. So so I always enjoy being in here with you.
Leahy: I always loved radio as well and my feeling is that a long-form talk radio program where you can have a guest in the studio is the very best way to communicate and have an interesting dialogue. Television to me, A, first you got to look pretty right. Yeah, which is at five o’clock in the morning very difficult.
Johnson: Challenging for anyone. It’s challenging. Yeah, it’s challenging for us anytime
Leahy: You said that right and then you’ve got like, you know two minutes and there’s no follow-up. And so I don’t like that. and of course, you know, the old saying is Well, you got a face for radio. And I think I do this morning at least. So we’re delighted to have you. What is going on in the country today Jack?
Johnson: I tell you the world it just seems as is upside down. And just when you think it cannot get more bizarre something else happens. Whether it’s the president being diagnosed with COVID-19 which is the latest thing I guess that’s kind of rocked the country. And thankfully it appears he’s doing well and on his way to a speedy recovery. I’ll be glad when 2020 is behind us.
Leahy: Isn’t that the theme of everyone?
Johnson: It really is and I just hope and pray and I believe and I’m optimistic that ’21 is going to be a much better year. And maybe we can try to start getting back to where we were before. And I’ll tell you on the state level and hopefully, we’ll have a chance to talk about it. Thankfully, you know, literally, I remember talking to rotary clubs and chamber groups and civic organizations back in December, January, and February of last year before this all happened about the incredible condition that the state of Tennessee was in absolutely the best fiscal condition we’ve ever been in. And I look back on that now with such gratitude because it has really put Tennessee in a good position to weather this storm and we are coming out of it from an economic standpoint. It would be helpful if Nashville would expedite its efforts.
Leahy: That’s a very kind way of putting it. I have been a little bit more direct but you’ve heard.
Johnson: Yes. I’ve heard. It would be helpful. The governor said so as well. But the reason I say that is because I’m so excited and anxious for Tennessee to get back. You know in February this year we had the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded for the state of Tennessee. More money in our savings account than we’ve ever had.
And so yes, we’ve taken a hit as every local government and state government has and the country has but I think that our impact has been minimal. It has been less than other states like California, New York, and New Jersey so we’re well-positioned to come out of it. So again, getting 2020 behind us and looking forward to a great 2021, which will hopefully get started here very soon.
Leahy: It’s hard to imagine how 2021 could be worse than in 2020. But you know, we didn’t anticipate 2020 would be so awful.
Johnson: No, we didn’t. We had no idea. And yeah and I don’t want to take anything for granted but I’m hopeful and prayerful that we’re going to turn a leaf here.
Leahy: Tell me a little bit about the job of the Senate Majority Leader state Senate. That’s a big job actually and it’s an important job historically here in Tennessee. Now, we’re not in session. What does your job entail when we’re not in session?
Johnson: Sure. That’s a great question. And I love kind of educating people about it because there is so much fixation and news coverage and discussions about Washington and how dysfunctional Washington is. And it is. I have no disagreement with any of that. But our state government works differently. And it’s important for Tennesseans to understand that we truly have what is referred to as a citizen part-time legislature.
And we’re actually in session meaning we are going to the Capitol every day and working on legislation and the budget and doing those things. That’s only about three to four months out of the year. There’s no set time. we can take as long as necessary. We convene on the second Tuesday of every year in January.
Second Tuesday in January. That’s in the Constitution. And that’s when we start our legislative session. And we typically wrap up late April early May. And so that’s when we’re really busy and focusing on the business of the state. During that time my role as Majority Leader is to effectively be the governor’s sponsor if you will of the governor’s legislative package. So if the governor has a legislative package that he wants to get passed. And he obviously runs the executive branch.
Leahy: You’re in the legislative branch.
Johnson: That’s right.
Leahy: But if he has an agenda and he wants to have the legislature look at it obviously, you’ve got the House. The lower chamber with 99 members. And then the Senate with a true 33 members, right? So you’re the guy that works with the governor then to introduce his agenda into the Senate.
Johnson: That’s right. And and and so we work very closely with the administration. And of course, it’s the governor and all the various department heads and that and that type of thing. And I’m there not just to be the governor’s yes man to be very clear. We do have separation of powers and that’s very important. We are the legislative branch. He’s the executive branch. and I’m a big fan of Governor Lee. And we’re very very good friends.
But it’s also it’s my responsibility to try to advance his legislative agenda as best I can. It’s also my responsibility to come back and say hey, I think we’re going to have an issue here. I’m not sure we can get this done. And so I work with our committee chairman and our members in the Senate to work through that. And perhaps the governor wants to get something done. But we need to tweak it or massage it a little bit before we can get it passed through the chamber. And and and by the way my good friend William Lamberth, I know you know William.
Leahy: Yes. And he’s a William and Mary graduate. My daughter went to William and Mary.
Johnson: Yes, and he is my counterpart in the house. He is the House Majority Leader. So I work very closely with him. There might be something that he can get passed in the House but I have trouble in the Senate or vice versa. So it’s that that that whole process there. So that’s kind of doing the legislative session.
And then when we’re out of session as we are now, we’re still meeting and talking about the upcoming session about what we want to get done. We’re in a unique situation right now because of the COVID situation and the financial impact it had on the state. We’ve had to make some significant cuts to our budget because we have to maintain a balanced budget, unlike Washington, our budget is truly balanced.
Leahy: Is that a constitutional requirement?
Johnson: Yes it is. It has to be balanced. And so we gave the executive branch at the governor’s office some broad authority to make cuts across state government. Even though we’re not in session there’s a lot of communication and and and and working together with the administration to make those cuts. And of course, right now I’m traveling the state. I’ve been all over the state recently and will continue for the next 26 days supporting our members who are up for re-election this year.
Leahy: That’s right and you focus mostly on the Senate side right now.
Johnson: That’s correct.
Leahy: What’s going on out there? What what are you finding out as you’re going out? Is it twenty-eight to five right now? 28 Republicans and five Democrats.
Johnson: That’s correct.
Leahy: So when you go out and talk, is there any indication here in Tennessee that there will be any significant changes from that mix in the state Senate.
Johnson: Really not. we have a couple of races that we’re watching very closely. But we feel very good that will hold our 28. People ask can you get 29 and the answer is really no. There are three Democrats that are in the Shelby County and in the Memphis area and two in the Nashville area. And so our target is to hold our 28 to five Republican supermajority. And I believe we’ll be able to do so. And let me just say and it probably won’t surprise you, Michael, there is enormous enthusiasm across this state for President Trump. (Laughs) It is off the charts.
Leahy: Is it off the charts? Obviously, these people haven’t been reading the polls.
Johnson: As it stands today, I really believe President Trump will not only meet but will surpass the numbers that he got for last year.
Leahy: Last year he won. I think 60-36 by about 24 points in Tennessee.
Johnson: It’s anecdotal. Yeah, but I tell you the enthusiasm is so incredible out there. It’s just very exciting.
Listen to the full second hour here:

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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 “Jack Johnson” by Jack Johnson.