Tim Cash

For the record I am conservative in my thinking but try hard to keep an open mind and give all an opportunity to voice their opinions. Many of my friends have differing views than mine when it comes to politics, but very few who disagree that much of what our Country was founded on is disintegrating before our very eyes. In the end, whether of liberal beliefs or conservative – we are ALL AMERICANS.

This did not just start yesterday, there has been an eroding of America for many years now. Those of you who are 30 or older need only look back to your years as a child, when we all said the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom. Many of our children have never pledged allegiance to our Flag:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Many of our children are not learning values in the classroom or at home – the days of going to the principle’s office for a smack on the rear are gone and ‘just wait till your father gets home’ means nothing. For me, either of those options merely needed to be mentioned to keep me on the straight and narrow growing up. There is almost a twisted sense that each person is owed something from those who have been successful in life instead of getting up off the couch and finding a job. What’s that you say? There are no jobs out there? Unemployment is at 9 percent? HOGWASH!

The problem with Americans is that we feel that the jobs that are available are beneath us. We are quick to complain about the immigrants who are moving into our country – guess what folks – they are here because there is WORK. Work, that is right, I said it! They are doing the manual labor or menial jobs that many of us would not even consider as a viable option. They are here because of the promise for a better life! One free from persecution where the sky is the limit. I hate to say it, but these same immigrants place more value of being in America than many of those who were born in America.

Whoa is me! Whoa is me! Folks we have not seen bad. Bad is the Great Depression. Bad is persecution of women and children living under Taliban law years ago in Afghanistan. Bad is being of Jewish decent in Germany during Hilter’s brutal reign. Bad is being one of the victims of 9/11. Bad is the Widow and Children of one of our Fallen Heroes. Need I say more?

We have many issues in our Country in this day and age. No one person can be blamed for the financial crisis that hit us. We probably will never know how many or even who was to blame as the powerful in our country seem to protect their own – from corporate America to our elected leaders. You only need to look at the billions of YOUR tax dollars that have been given to numerous corporations that were deemed ‘Too Big To Fail’ to realize this. There have not been, nor will there be any accountability – let alone any repayment (well, unless you consider repayment by you, me and our children as repayment).

Only today I received an email from a lady who wanted to let me know that I should refrain from supporting a group of mothers who cared about their children in the Armed Forces. She was polite in her dissent, but wanted to state her dissatisfaction with me publicly supporting them as this was viewed as a group that was partisan. Partisan? REALLY? Mothers fearing for their children’s safe return is now partisan? COME ON!

This last week saw closed door meetings with political leaders and the attack on a news organization by our very own administration. All the while, our Generals charged with carrying out combat operations in Afghanistan are desperately awaiting a decision from our government. I got it that there are those of you who disagree with our presence in Afghanistan but this is a battle we must fight there and that we must win. If we do not, we will only see more tragedy on our own soil.

If you really want to participate in the direction of this great country, I strongly suggest you do so by exercising the rights that our founding fathers gave us (and no I am not talking about the right to bear arms):

• The right of free speech
• The right to vote

These two PEACEFUL means granted to all Americans by our Founding Fathers are so very powerful. They have been there since day one but sadly many choose not to exercise either right. Rather, the remain silent in terms of speech and vote. Only after the fact to they choose to cry foul – knowing all along that they were simply too busy or afraid to speak out or stand in line at the polls to cast their ballot. Those who fill the halls of our local, state and federal capital buildings are there because those who believed they could make a difference went to the polling stations and voted them in.

It is time for everyday Americans to wake up, to give notice of their displeasure or support of the direction that our elected leaders are taking this Great Country. Being an elected leader means that you are prone to having people who both support you and oppose you – it comes with the job! At no time should they be calling for the banishment of free speech or free press.

I will leave you with the words of The Star Spangled Banner which was composed by Francis Scott Key in 1814:

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn at her Town Hall meeting in Clarksville, TN

Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn held a town hall meeting yesterday afternoon with her constituents. During the roughly hour long meeting Blackburn repeatedly expressed her opposition to the Democrats’ health-care reform principles. The meeting was quiet and orderly. Blackburn punctuated her responses using frequent Republican Party talking points, like not allowing bureaucrats to stand between patients and their doctors and hospitals. In all fairness, it must be said that is exactly what Health Insurance companies do on a daily basis. She also expressed her support for leaving the for-profit insurance companies in overall control of the health care system.

Blackburn took questions from the audience on topics ranging from the obvious questions on healthcare reform to lobbying, the growing number of cabinet Czar positions, immigration reform, tort reform, and emergency room misuse. Many members of the audience raised their hands to ask questions, however just a select few were able to ask them. Of those, the majority of those who were allowed to ask questions supported Blackburn positions on healthcare reform, however that could easily be a result of how those questioners were selected.

The Civic Hall was packed for Marsha Blackburn's Town Hall meeting

Blackburn presented some unbelievable numbers, including a claim that 4,000,000 jobs would be lost if H.R. 3200 was made into law. The high cost of healthcare and other benefits are frequently cited as the primary concerns holding businesses back from hiring more employees. She also did not address the ever increasing amount of money made by the C.E.O’s and top executives of the health insurance companies, which is paid for by increasing their customers premiums each year.  (The numbers and C.E.O.’s below are from 2008)

• Aetna – Ron Williams – $24,300,112
• Amerigroup – James Carlson - $5,292,546
• Centene – Michael Neidorff - $8,774,483
• CIGNA – H. Edward Hanway – $12,236,740
• Coventry Health Care – Dale Wolf – $9,047,469
• Health Net – Jay Gellert – $4,425,355
• Humana – Michael McCallister – $4,764,309
• UnitedHealth Group – Stephen Hemsley – $3,241,042
• Universal American – Richard Barasch – $3,503,702
• WellPoint – Angela Braly – $9,844,212

These 9 CEO’s made the as much as 2,521 families living in Clarksville, TN ($33,885 per family). Their salaries ate up the combined yearly premiums of 29,547 Tennesseans (Average per individual $2891.25).

In the end, those who went into yesterday’s town hall meeting opposing healthcare reform still, oppose it. Those who went in supporting it, still support it. There is one point that everyone can agree on, doing nothing is not an option!

President Obama debunks the myths around health reform, and discusses the public option proposal in which many of them are rooted. But he focuses his address on the stark moral and historical turn…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Immigration measures see passage

Republicans scored two major victories this week as two measures that will combat illegal immigration passed out of subcommittees and will now be heard before a full committee. Republicans have supported the legislation for several years, dating back to the “Tennessee Trust” initiative House Republicans proposed in 2006 as a “contract” with voters.

English in the Workplace

The “Protecting English in the Workplace,” or House Bill 480, legislation was overwhelmingly approved this week by the Employee Affairs Subcommittee, with Republicans praising the bi-partisan nature of the committee. The bill sponsor said he believes there is a pressing need for the legislation, which would clarify that it is not against the law for businesses to require that English be spoken on the job. Having worked on the legislation for several years, House Republicans argue that the legislation is needed so that businesses may take the necessary safety precautions without fear of being sued. Businesses where employees are continuously handling toxic products or food containers have a need to require English so that employees understand what they are handling. In the same vein, businesses such as factories have signs displayed in English that communicate critical
safety information to employees that can protect them. The sponsor pointed out there is a provision in the bill that exempts employees during scheduled breaks such as lunch.
The bill closely mirrors legislation brought to the U.S. Senate in 2008 by Senator Lamar Alexander, who said that the legislation was necessary to prevent frivolous lawsuits targeting businesses that felt English should be spoken on the job due to safety concerns. “Protecting English in the Workplace” now faces the House Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee.

Sanctuary Cities

A “sanctuary city” is a term given to a city in the United States that follows  certain practices to protect illegal aliens. Thirty-eight cities in the U.S. have been recognized as sanctuary cities, but many sources have identified over 200 city or county governments nationwide as having practiced such policies. As originally written, the bill would cut off economic and community grant money to any Tennessee city that might declare itself a “sanctuary city” for illegal aliens. Because of the difficult economic times facing the state and local governments, the sponsor agreed to work with other members to change that penalty provision, and maintained the bill aims to be a pre-emptive strike to guard against the adoption of such policies by cities in the state.

The legislation, House Bill 1354, cleared the Criminal Practice and Procedure Subcommittee and will now face the full House Judiciary Committee.

Republicans pass legislation to honor fallen Tennessee National Guardsmen

House Bill 1346 passed on the House floor Thursday, with an overwhelming number of House members applauding the measure, and signing onto the legislation as co-sponsors. The bill requires the Adjutant General to notify the Governor in the event of the death of any Tennessee National Guard member that is called into active military service and who is stationed outside the United States. In any month in which one or more notifications of death are given to the Governor, the Governor will be required to proclaim a day of mourning and order the state flag to be flown at half mast to honor the deceased National Guard member or members.

The law will only apply to the Tennessee National Guard because the Adjutant General is not notified of deaths from other military branches. The Republican sponsor explained that he would be interested in expanding the legislation in the future to include all those serving in the military from Tennessee who are killed overseas as a result of their service, if possible.

Common-sense legislation continues to die along party lines in Elections Subcommittee

For the third week in a row, the Democrat-controlled Elections Subcommittee has killed common-sense voting legislation along party lines. The Republican-sponsored House Bill 639 was presented in the Elections Subcommittee this week, and would require photo identification to vote. Republicans have fought for the provision for several years, arguing that the measure is needed to combat voter fraud and ensure that every vote counts. The legislation eventually died on a tie vote.

The bill is the third common-sense Republican legislation to protect the integrity of elections that has been bottled up in the Elections Subcommittee. Another bill, one that would have required photo identification to register to vote, died last week by a tie vote in the same subcommittee. Two weeks ago the subcommittee killed legislation that would have made it easier for military men and women serving overseas to vote by absentee ballot.

House Republicans vowed to revive the legislation, if possible, in another form. The Senate has already passed the Senate version of the bill with an overwhelming 29-3 vote.

In case you missed it…

• A proposal that would change jail cell regulations advanced out of the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday. The Republican-sponsored measure was approved unanimously, and would prohibit the Tennessee Corrections Institute from decertifying a jail facility based on square footage of a jail cell if the measurement meets the requirements of the American Correctional Association’s Manual of Correctional Standards. The sponsor said the bill was needed to ensure that local governments across the state are not required to pay more money than they have to on either existing jail facilities or construction of new jail facilities.
• Legislation that would prohibit sending or reading text messages while driving cleared the Calendar and Rules Committee this week. House Bill 107 will now move to the House floor. Transportation Committee members last week discussed the possibility that texting while driving fell under the “distracted driving” statute, but ultimately determined that the legislation would clarify the law and allow law enforcement some discretion.
• House Bill 431 was passed by the K-12 Education Subcommittee this week, and seeks to expand the recognition of home schoolers’ diplomas. The bill requires that diplomas issued by home schools be recognized by all state and local governmental entities as having the same rights and privileges of diplomas issued by public school systems.
• A bold education initiative called “Education Pays” was passed out of the House Education Committee today, winning approval from representatives from both sides of the aisle. House Bill 556 seeks to encourage  student academic achievement through award of Education Pays rewards. An “Education Pays reward” is a reward of cash or other thing of value given to students or the parent or guardian of a student or both in recognition of academic achievement. The bill authorizes funding of an Education Pays pilot program through private funds.
• A bill to curb aggressive driving passed out of the House Budget Subcommittee this week, and will now face the Finance, Ways and Means Committee. House Bill 18 creates a new violation of aggressive driving if the driver is guilty of at least three of the following violations in one continuous episode:
  • Overtaking on the right
  • Overtaking and passing in no passing zones
  • Following too closely
  • Failing to yield for emergency vehicles
  • Failing to yield to pedestrians
  • Failure to signal turn
  • Speeding
  • Stopping, standing, or parking in prohibited places
  • Following fire trucks
  • Improper use of HOV lanes
• The Budget Subcommittee passed the “Market Regulation Act of 2009″ this week, which is legislation brought forth by AT&T Tennessee that would deregulate much of AT&T’s operations. The Republican sponsor of the bill said the proposal can lower rates and level the playing field, and would maintain Tennessee’s probusiness and pro-job reputation. In addition, the state could see more companies relocating here, investing, and creating jobs with the passage of the legislation. The Senate has already passed the legislation.
• House Bill 959 passed out of the Budget Subcommittee this week and will next be presented to the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee. The bill would seal the records of handgun carry permit holders that are currently public record. Tennesseans became outraged earlier this year when the Commercial Appeal, a Memphis-based newspaper, published the handgun carry permit database in an easily searchable format on their website. Republicans criticized the paper, calling the action ‘irresponsible’ and ‘dangerous.’ The House GOP contended that in addition to printing a list that would make it easier for criminals to steal weapons, non-gun owners were also at risk because it would be easy for criminals to use the database to find homes that likely did not have a firearm.

The week ahead…

House Sessions: 4:00 p.m. Monday, April 27, 2009 in the House Chambers  and 9:00 a.m. Thursday, April 30, 2009 in the House Chambers

With just hours to go, prospective voters wait in line to register at the Montgomery County Election Commission.

Kandi Johnson and Adam Green politicking at University Drive and Madison Street on Monday.

Given the appalling primary turnout (12%) in Montgomery County, this burst of energy and interest in the upcoming election is, to say the least, both refreshing and inspiring.

Political pundits are accustomed to voting records and voter histories to predict the course of any given election. It remains to be seen what this surge of “new blood” will bring to the politcal battlefield. What it does say is that initial interest sparked over the Iraq conflict and issues such as immigration has exploded into serious concern about the U.S. economy.

Hey, Washington. Pay attention. The people you represent are about to speak. Loudly. In greater numbers, it seems, than we have seen in decades.

The line was 80-deep at mid-afternoon at the Election Commission office.

]]> http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/07/residents-turn-out-in-record-numbers-for-voter-registration/feed/ 0 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/04/coda-offers-debate-alternative-at-vanderbilt-university/ http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/04/coda-offers-debate-alternative-at-vanderbilt-university/#comments Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:00:32 +0000 Chris Lugo http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=10029 Nashville, TN:  The Coalition for October Debate Alternatives (CODA) released the program and format today for the Presidential Candidate’s Alternative Debate to be held October 6 at 7 p.m. at  4309 Stevenson Hall (seating for 250), Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee.  Those candidates who have confirmed attendance include Charles Jay of the Boston Tea Party, Brad Lyttle of the US Pacifist Party, Frank McEnulty of the New American Independent Party, Brian Moore of the Socialist Party, Darrell Castle, Vic Presidential Candidate of the Constitution Party, and Gloria La Riva of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.  The moderator of the debate will be Bruce Barry, Vanderbilt Professor at the Owen School of Management. The event is free and open to the public on a first come basis.  For those who are unable to watch the debates in person, the debate can be viewed live on the website of Vanderbilt University.  The debate will also be archived on the internet at Vanderbilt University’s Youtube page.

The format for the debate will consist of policy and platform questions concerning the economy, foreign policy, health care, the environment, civil liberties, the federal budget, reproductive rights, international trade, gun rights, campaign finance reform, immigration, education and race and gender.  Each candidate will be given two minutes to make introductory statements and then one or two minutes per question to answer policy and platform questions.  The debate will end at 8:30pm with a candidate’s reception to follow in the lobby of the Stephenson Center.

For more information about the Presidential Candidate’s Alternative Debate visit their web site.

Attending this event will be Charles Jay of the Boston Tea Party, Brad Lyttle of the US Pacifist Party, Frank McEnulty of the New American Independent Party, Brian Moore  of the Socialist Party, Darrell Castle of the Constitution Party and  Gloria La Riva  of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.  Bruce Barry  will serve as moderator for this event.

Debate Format:

7:00 PM:    Introduction and Opening Statements (2 Minutes Per Candidate)
7:15 PM:    Policy and Issue Questions (1 or 2 Minutes Per Candidate)
8:20 PM:    Closing Statements  (1 Minute Per Candidate)
8:30 PM:    Debate End and Candidate’s Reception

Ground Rules: Candidates are encouraged to keep within time limits announced. A time keeper will present placards to candidates showing time limits of response. Once over time moderator has discretion to close comments and move on to next candidate.  Moderator has discretion to clarify candidate’s response and encourage dialogue between candidates.

Topic List: (Data Source: Project Vote Smart)

The Economy: Americans are concerned about the safety of their retirements, pension and ability to obtain a mortgage.  The value of the dollar is dropping and investor confidence is at an all time low, what will you do to improve our nation’s economy?  What will you do to reduce our national indebtedness and in doing so restore world confidence that investing in America is a good option?  What is your solution for the thousands of Americans who are facing foreclosure or have lost their housing? Do you support increased funding for national job-training programs that retrain displaced workers or teach skills needed in today’s job market?  Would you support an increase in the federal minimum wage?  What are your feelings about the rights of workers to form unions?

Federal Budget: Americans want to know where their candidates stand on the federal budget.  The allocation of funds for federal programs is one of the most important roles the president plays in shaping public policy.  How would you have voted on a federal bailout of Wall Street?  What conditions would you attach to such a bailout?  What are your budget priorites on federal issues such as defense, education, the environment and health care? Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?  Please indicate your plans for the social security system?  Would you work to ensure the viability of the social security system?  Would you raise the retirment age for individual eligibility to receive full benefits?

Foreign Policy: What is your foreign policy agenda for the United States?  Would you support an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan?  What would you do if elected President regarding US relations with Iran?  What are your feelings about pre-emptive use of military force as an instrument of national policy? Do you support long-term use of National Guard troops to supplement the armed forces in assignments overseas?  Should the United States provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?  Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?  Do you support greater economic and diplomatic sanctions against North Korea?  Finally, should the United States be involved in peace keeping activities in countries like Sudan, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Burma?  Do you support the United States granting aid to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives?

Health Care: The issue of access to quality, affordable health care is a concern for many voters.  Nearly fifty million Americans do not have access to health care but at the same time some people advocate that the United States has the best health care system in the world.  What are your thoughts on the issue of access to health care?  Do you support universal single payer health care? What would you do to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for Seniors? Do you support the legalization of medical marijuana?

Education: Please indicate your policy platform on the issue of education. Would you support increased funding of our nation’s k-12 public schools. What are your feelings about mandatory standards and testing requirements for students?  What are your feelings about the use of vouchers?  What will you do regarding federal funding and support for our nation’s public college students? Do you support increased or decreased funding for pell grants for college students?

Abortion and Reproductive Rights: Many Americans have strong feelings about issues related to reproductive rights and abortion. Do you feel that abortion should always be legal, should only be legal within the first trimester, when the woman’s life is endangered, in the case of incest or rape, or should always be illegal?  How do you feel about federal subsidies being used on abortion procedures? Do you support federal funding for research on existing embryonic stem cell lines?  Do you support federal funding to create lines of stem cells from new embryos?

Same Sex Marriage: What are your feelings regarding the issue of same sex marriage?  As a candidate for federal office, do you believe that same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?  Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry or do you support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman? Should sexual orientation be included in federal anti-discrimination laws?

Crime and Punishment: More Americans are incarcerated now than at any point in our history, what role do you believe the federal government should play on issues of crime and punishment?  Do you support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released?  Do you support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs?  Do you support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment?  Would you support the decriminalization of the possession of small amounts of marijuana? How do you feel about reduced prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes? Do you support the elimination the use of the death penalty for federal crimes?

Race and Gender: Race and gender continue to be defining issues in federal policy.  As a candidate do you believe the consider race and gender in government contracting decisions?  Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions?

Campaign Finance Reform: As you know, campaign finance reform has continued to be an issue of importance to voters.  Currently seven states have adopted some form of campaign finance reform which involves the allocation of public dollars for candidates.  On the federal level one candidate has said that the current system of public campaign finance is broken, while another candidate has accepted campaign finance limits.  How do you feel about the issue of campaign finance reform and elections?  Do you support campaign finance reform of the current election financing system? If elected would you support public taxpayer funding for candidates who comply with spending limits?  Do you support instant runoff voting or election day as a national holiday?

The Environment: What would you do regarding the environment and energy policy?  Please indicate your policy issues regarding offshore oil drilling and drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.  What will you do to move America towards a clean energy future?  Do you support strengthened fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel powered engines?  Do you support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel?  What will you do to increase development of alternative energy?  Do you consider nuclear energy to be an alternative energy source that needs to be developed for national energy security? Do you support international mandatory emission targets to limit global warming?

Gun Rights: Please indicate your position on the issue of the second amendment.  Do you believe that Americans should be allowed to carry conceal weapons?  Should current enforcement and restrictions on the purchase of guns be strengthened?  Should individuals be allowed to carry guns on college campuses?  Do you support a ban on the ownership of handguns except by law enforcement or other government officials?

Immigration: Please indicate your policy platform on the issue of immigration.  Would you support amnesty for undocumented workers who are already working in the United States?  Do you believe that undocumented workers should be offered a path to citizenship?  Do you support harsher punishments for employers who knowingly hire immigrants who are not in this country legally?  Do you believe that people who are not here legally should be returned to their countries of origin, even if it means breaking up their families?

International Trade: Please indicate your position on matters of trade?  Do you support economic globalization and free trade agreements such as NAFTA, CAFTA and GATT?  Would you work to withdraw the US from international free trade agreements?  Would you support the continued participation of the United States in the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank?  Do you support the United States imposing economic sanctions on China for human rights abuses?

Civil Liberties: Civil liberties are of the utmost concern to many Americans.  The Bush administration has argued that there must be a balance between respect for civil liberties and the need to fight the terrorists.  Should law enforcement agencies have greater discretion to monitor domestic communications?  Do you support a repeal of the patriot act?  What role should the department of Homeland Security play in national affairs?  Would you support the creation of a federal level Department of Peace?

For more information contact Chris Lugo, 615-593-0304, ; Elizabeth Barger, 931-964-2119, ; or Eric Schecter, 615-414-4572, .

House GOP leaders pleased with Supreme Court verdict upholding lethal injection

House GOP leaders said this week that they were pleased with the opinion issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Baze vs. Rees case that upheld the use of lethal injection as a means of execution. In a 7-2 ruling Wednesday, the Supreme Court held that Kentucky’s three-drug protocol did not amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

In September of 2007, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ruled that Tennessee’s method of lethal injection was unconstitutional. Soon after, Governor Phil Bredesen issued a moratorium pending the outcome of the death penalty case facing the U.S. Supreme Court. As a result, two executions were put in jeopardy of not being carried out. Pervis T. Payne was scheduled to be executed on December 12, 2007, for two counts of murder stemming from a brutal stabbing he committed in Shelby County. Mass-murderer Paul Dennis Reid gunned down seven victims execution style, killing more people than anyone else on Tennessee’s death row, and drawing seven death sentences.

The Republican leaders pointed out that by the time a criminal in this state reaches the point of execution, they have been afforded every opportunity—appeals, access to lawyers, and judicial review—to ensure that their rights are properly carried out and protected. The leaders called for the Governor to lift the moratorium and carry out the executions as planned, adding that the justice a jury of their peers determined should be administered.

Ninety-six inmates reside on death row in the state of Tennessee, with the  next execution scheduled to take place in April of 2009.

Immigration provision killed on House floor

House Republicans attempted to add a commonsense immigration provision to a bill before the House on Thursday. The Republican-sponsored amendment would have clarified that employers are able to require that their employees speak English on the job. The move sparked outrage on the other side of aisle, and the amendment was killed, with a 51 to 46 vote.

Earlier this year, Republicans introduced legislation that would have enacted the “Protecting English in the Tennessee Workplace Act.” The bill, similar to that of Senator Lamar Alexander’s legislation on the federal level, specified that it is not an unlawful practice to require an employee to speak, or an applicant for employment to agree to speak, English while engaged in work. The sponsor argued that it was not unreasonable to protect businesses by clarifying that they are allowed to set their own policies, and that requiring that English be spoke on the job often boils down to a safety precaution. He cited businesses where employees are continuously handling toxic products or food containers, or in factories, where critical safety information is displayed in English. The bill eventually failed in the Employee Affairs subcommittee.

Long Term Care proposals moving forward

Republicans have been at the forefront of legislation to help elderly and disabled citizens “age in place” by receiving more home and community based care options — and generally to give them more choices about their health care.  This week marked the passage of House Bill 941 out of Health and Human Resources Committee, legislation that would offer financial allowances to consumers, giving them the freedom to choose which services they want within their spending plans.

The program began as a demonstration in Arkansas, Florida, and New Jersey. Currently, 12 more states are implementing self-directed personal care programs. Findings of a demonstration project jointly supported by the U.S. House and Human Services and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showed that recipients with disabilities who direct their own supportive services were significantly more satisfied and appeared to get better care than those receiving services through homecare agencies.

Another piece of legislation championed by Republicans for several years was rolled into an Administration’s bill and passed unanimously in the House this week. The bill encourages personal responsibility by rewarding those who purchase long term care insurance. Currently, to receive state dollars for long term care, participants are required to “spend down” their assets—sometimes losing family heirlooms or land. House Bill 4206 would allow those types of assets to be retained, dollar for dollar, to equal the amount of a long term care  insurance purchase, rewarding the participants and allowing them more freedom.

• House Bill 2750 passed out of Finance, Ways and Means this week and is making its way to the House floor. The bill would authorize a governing body to use electronic forms of communication that would be available to the public in an effort to solve some of the problems associated with the dust-up over the Sunshine Law in Knoxville. The sponsor said he believes that with technology expanding the way people communicate, using this technology could solve some of the problems with the Open Meetings Act.
• House Bill 1421, the “Competitive Cable and Video Services Act,” passed out of the Commerce Committee this week and is headed to Finance, Ways and Means. The Senate bill is moving forward as well, with legislators having announced last week that a compromise was finally reached on the legislation after nearly two years of negotiations.
• Two DUI bills saw passage this week, as Republican lawmakers continue their efforts to strengthen the state’s DUI laws. House Bill 831 requires a judge to impose on a DUI offender certain conditions such as participation in an alcohol and drug safety school, or a drug and alcohol assessment or treatment. House Bill 3661 would create within the TBI a “Repeat DUI Offender” registry of persons who have two or more DUI convictions and whose license is currently suspended or revoked. The registry would be available on the Internet, similar to the way sexual offender information is provided.
• The much-anticipated spring Sales Tax Holiday is approaching, and will occur April 25-27, 2008. The date, originally set for March 21-23 on Easter weekend, was changed by the General Assembly in order for consumers to enjoy the full three days of tax-free items. Consumers and retailers can call (800) 342-1003 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.state.tn.us/revenue/salestaxholiday for more information.

• House Bill 2484 exempts places of worship from posting of signage to indicate nonsmoking enclosed areas as required by the Non-Smoker Protection Act. (Agriculture Committee)
• House Bill 3602 creates a statewide board of building appeals. (Commerce Committee)
• House Bill 3807 requires a utilization review of medical services in workers’ compensation cases to be done by a physician licensed in Tennessee in the same specialty as the physician providing the services. (Consumer & Employee Affairs Committee)
• House Bill 4029 creates a pilot program to make laptops available to juniors and seniors attending high school who are also enrolled in college courses at the eligible postsecondary institutions. (Education Committee)
• House Bill 2876 creates a Class D felony for fifth and subsequent DUI offenders with a minimum 360 consecutive day sentence; counts all convictions within 10 years of DUI date when calculating prior offenses and includes convictions of vehicular assault, vehicular homicide while intoxicated, and aggravated vehicular homicide. (Finance, Ways and Means)
• Senate Joint Resolution 0687 provides for the popular election of the lieutenant governor. (State & Local Government Committee)
• House Bill 2513 requires the Tennessee lottery corporation to use numbered balls in selecting lottery winners. (State & Local Government Committee)
• House Bill 2860 creates a presumption when determining the amount of bail that any defendant not lawfully present in the United States is a risk of flight; requires jailers to determine citizenship status of persons charged with a felony or with a second or subsequent DUI. (Budget Subcommittee)
• House Bill 2903 requires the general appropriations act to first fund K-12 education and then remaining functions of state government. (Budget Subcommittee)

The crackdown on undocumented workers has taken a frightening turn in the past several months. Perhaps the most heinous expression of this crackdown is the fear that it has instilled in immigrant women. Many women have reported to confidential sources that they have been raped, beaten and abused, but are unwilling to call the police to report the crimes committed against them.  Their fear is based on the sobering reality that when they call the police, they are often times  arrested and deported because they lacked proper immigration documents, even though they are victims of a crime.

Unfortunately for immigrants, the police have turned into agents of enforcement for issues of citizenship, and men, women and children are being arrested and incarcerated because they lack documentation.  This is a direct result of the right wing immigrant bashing ideologues who have gained power at the hands of the most vulnerable members of our society.

Here in Nashville we are deporting children, without their parents, after detaining them and holding them for undetermined lengths of time.  When these children arrive in their countries of origin, they are lost in a world they are unfamiliar with.  Many of these children do not speak Spanish and have never been to their countries of origin, except for the circumstance of having been born there.

Families are also being torn apart as the reverse of this situation is happening.  Parents are taken into custody by federal agents, often while at work in farm fields or in a factory.  Their children come home to find that their parents have disappeared, without any communication or information as to their whereabouts.  Many of these children do not fall under the custody of the state.  Indeed, many times the government does not even know of their existence because parents are afraid of their children being deported as well.  They fear their children will be sent to a country where they face a lifetime of poverty and misery.

Fathers are being taken from their families by the police. They are taken into custody for minor traffic infractions such as speeding or driving with a burned out taillight, and then held in custody for lack of proper documentation and deported.  this is an especially difficult hardship leaving families without their primary wage earner and with little hope of ever seeing their fathers again. This is the situation which the right wing ideologues in this country have created for the people who build our houses, mow our yards, pick our vegetables, and make our garments.

If there was ever a situation which called for justice, this is it. If there was ever a time for us to do for the least of our brothers and sisters this is the time.  Immigrant workers are not criminals. They are hard working people who love their families and love their adopted country.  They are willing to do jobs that no one else is willing to do and to work their way up the ladder the way all newly arrived immigrants have done since the founding of this country.  Let us never forget that we are all descended from immigrants.  Some of us came here willingly, others came here under duress and force but now we are all free to partake in the American dream.  Let’s give our newest generation of immigrants the same chance.

Our society is experiencing a a revival of a concept called Sanctuary. Over the centuries, the church in an effort to protect individuals and families, proclaimed the availability of Sanctuary, a practice that is alive, sprouting up anew, and being rediscovered in the United States.

Sojourner Magazine (Sept-Oct 2007) gives an interesting and consciousness-raising of this idea for helping people. It’s viewed by dozens of religious and political leaders as an expression of and way of implementing the teachings of Jesus toward the deprived and the disadvantaged.

The New Sanctuary Movement offers shelter, hope and security to immigrants whatever their status, but especially to those identified as illegals. This gracious offer of kindness, hope and protection, though, is precipitating turmoil and pain as well. In this movement, immigrants, even illegal ones, are seen as the children of God. In all criticism of these immigrants, I’ve yet to see this theme, yet in our attitudes and opinions on this subject we are called upon by our faith to recognize them [illegals] as children of God.

The Catholic Church and other major denominations are boldly proclaiming through action as well as pronouncement that even undocumented immigrants presently living in the United States are children of God. This prophetic voice is pricking our consciousness.

One such prophet of inclusiveness is Cardinal Roger Mahoney, as exemplified here:

“In December, 2005, a bill passed the House of representatives that would have turned all 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States in to felons and made it a felony to help or serve them. When Cardinal Roger Mahoney (right), in his 2006 Ash Wednesday sermon, called upon Catholics throughout the country to continue to serve immigrants regardless of their level of legal documentation — no matter what the personal or legal consequences — his words had a tremenous impact. Many say he awakened the moral imagination of the country; certainly his words changed the public and legislative debate by making immigrant families visible as children of God.”

– Sojourner Magazine, Sept/Oct 2007

Those who are being persecuted and prosecuted are contributors to the American way of life. The provide needed labor and more, as in the case of Juan, who fled Guatemala after his father suffered a political kidnapping. Juan’s mother received asylum in the United States but Juan encountered difficulty and ended with an order of deportation. Juan had built a small business here, paid taxes here, owned his own home, and never received a traffic ticket, volunteered in his community, adored his citizen children, and was active with his extended family in his church. yet he lived every day anticipating an eviction notice from his adopted country of asylum and deportation from it.

The New Sanctuary Movement surrounds Juan with attention by reminding the legal process of his contributions to our secutiry. Boldly, they proclaimed him a child of God.

We, too, can practice mental sanctuary by seeing these souls who appear to be and are speaking Spanish (and other languages) as children of God. When you encounter such a person in the shopping aisles, just silently repeat “He/She is a child of God.” We can have a compassionate attitude by avoiding stereotypes of those we call illegals. Juan’s story is just such an example of how these children of God, our brohters and sisters, contribute to the overall welfare of America.

In our community we have many immigrants, legal and illegal, and we have the privilege of treating them with respect, understanding, compassion and justice.

A major principle for guiding our response in treatment of any and all immigrants can be found in the words of Jesus: “Therefore, wherever you want men to do to you, do also unto them.” [Mt 7:12]

Let this situation and debate on the status of immigration challenge us to affirm and promote “Justice, equality and compassion in human relations.” [Unitarian Covenant]

In 2000, we were met with a very interesting choice for President of the United States. The Clinton administration was coming to a close with Vice President Al Gore emerging as the heir-apparent. Gore was everything that Clinton was not, apparently. Gore was from Tennessee (he had a home in Carthage), he was a successful senator, and now had a bird’s-eye view of the Federal government as Vice President of the United States.

Alas, Gore also had the appearance of being a stodgy dullard with no personality whatsoever. Further, Americans weren’t too sure about electing yet another member of the Executive branch that might have been a part of “Monicagate” (or is that “Lewinskygate?”). Gore was perceived as an “evil” liberal, and talk radio show hosts had a field day with his lack of charisma.

Enter the popular governor of Texas, the only Republican who could have unseated the equally-popular Democrat, the late Anne Richards. George W. Bush was well-liked, had a sense of southern charm, and loved to wink at audiences. He instantly rose to stardom as the Republican nominee for President in the 2000 election. His message of “compassionate conservatism” won the hearts of the media as well as voters. He won my vote as well.

The 2000 election became the longest Presidential election since the 1824 election, the last time the son of an American president ran against a popular Democrat from Tennessee. In that election the race was so close, that John Q. Adams made a controversial agreement with opposing candidate John Calhoun. In the end, Congress had to vote, and Adams was selected.

The endless recounts of the Florida votes frustrated all Americans and gave the media a limitless supply of photo opportunities (remember the shot of that guy with the magnifying glass as he carefully inspected for hanging chads?). In the end, the Supreme Court of the United States stepped in and put a stop to it. Gore finally conceded, and George W. Bush became the 43rd President of the United States.

Since then, President Bush was met with the devastating attacks of September 11th, 2001. The whole world was both shocked and awed at the destruction of the World Trade Center, and the attack at the Pentagon. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that day. It was an event that not only shaped the way we would travel from that point on, but it shaped the Bush presidency as well.

Since then, “Terror” became a clear enemy. It was no longer left to law enforcement. The FBI wasn’t doing enough. We had to declare war. And we did. When it became apparent that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan was also harboring Al-Qaeda, they were first in the sights of the President. The bombing began on a Sunday morning, on October 7th.

For a time, most Americans were behind the President. Patriotic fever was everywhere. It was less than a month after the fateful attacks which crippled our economy, and the Stars and Stripes were everywhere to be seen. If it were red, white, and blue, it sold like hotcakes. People fixed flags to their cars, their homes, their clothes, and their front yard. Full-sized flags were attached to pickup trucks and motorcycles everywhere. It was a resurgence of national pride and patriotism like we hadn’t seen since World War II.

Patriotic Fever was, alas, temporary. Like everything in American society, life went on. The flags began to fade, and our daily lives once again took over. Congress quietly passed the Patriot Act. President Bush started looking toward another target: Iraq.

There was an element of Patriotic Fever that didn’t go away, however. It was the kind of “patriotism” that would instantly label any critic of the President as “un-American” or even “traitorous.” This was a dark side of patriotism that would only grow darker. Immigrants everywhere began to be viewed with suspicion. First, it started with people of Arab descent. Whether they were from the Middle East or India, people with dark skin and funny accents were even more ostracized than ever before.

The War in Iraq started in 2003 with an invasion based on faulty information that there were weapons of mass destruction in the country that was already crippled by war in the early 1990s. Since then, there hasn’t been a single WMD found. Only a few empty canisters that once held chemical weapons have been located. Saddam’s two sadistic sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed in a firefight with the 101st Airborne in Mosul in July of that year. Saddam Hussein himself was later apprehended and imprisoned.

Once again, the country had reason to celebrate. We casually dismissed the atrocities at the Abu Ghraib prison. We ignored the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. We ignored the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. After all, the President said these were enemy combatants. Among the hundreds of military prisoners there, only one was tried, and he gave a guilty plea.

According to the Human Rights Watch:

The federal courts in the United States have proven far better equipped to try terrorists than military commissions. In the past five-and-a half years, the federal courts have successfully convicted hundreds for terrorist offenses, including dozens for terrorist acts committed abroad. By comparison, the military commissions have secured just one conviction – by guilty plea. That was Australian David Hicks, who received a nine-month sentence that he is serving at home.

People have been detained without charge, and without representation. The rule of law is thrown out the window, and due process is denied.

In the meantime, President Bush had other battles to fight. He banned genetic research using any new fetal tissue, research that could lead to effective treatment or even a cure of diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, it was too close to the abortion issue. Aborted pregnancies would be completely discarded instead of put to possible good use.

Also, Bush called for a Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. By this time, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court had handed down its ruling which mandated legal gay marriage, which began on May 17th of 2004. As expected, the issue polarized Americans against each other. Twenty-five states have since passed constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage. Other states have passed laws granting civil unions to same-sex couples, while other states and municipalities have passed domestic partnerships.

The Patriotic Fever wasn’t over yet. Our distaste for immigrants has added Latin-Americans to the list of those of whom we are suspicious. President Bush has done little to quell this growing xenophobia, even though is own nephew is half Cuban. There’s been a lot of talk about how the 14 Million “illegal immigrants” are wrecking the country.

Bush’s response has been to sign a law that builds a 500-mile wall between the United States and Mexico. Passport requirements have been tightened (to the point that it’s actually causing problems—passport applications have exceeded the workload of INS officials). Bush has been completely irresponsible in his actions, by actually encouraging this growing xenophobia. Mexicans, Cubans, and other Hispanics are all treated by native Americans with growing contempt.

This contempt has grown to the point that life-long native Hispanic Americans are often asked for their “green card.” Here in Clarksville, one woman was asked for her green card when she applied for her driver’s license renewal. She explained that she was born in Puerto Rico, an American territory. She brought back her birth certificate. The employee again asked for her green card. Naturally, she was incensed. She was born a citizen, and had no need for one.

Similar demands for “green cards” have popped up throughout the country, with growing frequency. The President has a responsibility to ALL Americans, and he has failed in that responsibility toward our Hispanic citizens. This is “patriotic fever” at its worst, and it’s only getting darker. Hispanics, Arabs, and gays are all on the “un-American” list, and the list is getting longer.

Our President has been a divider, not a uniter. He has polarized our country against each other, and has done so during a time of war; an unjust war. More than 3500 American men and women have been killed in Iraq. Most Americans are critical of the war, and rightfully so. His approval rate has remained low, and now even many soldiers wonder why they’re still in Iraq.

In a final blow to the Constitution, President Bush has signed a new National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive which effectively suspends the Constitutional separation of powers in the event of a “national emergency.” This new Directive revokes a directive from then-President Clinton which mandates a continuation of operations and a continuation of government under their rightful authorities. Bush’s directive is succinct in its application: All government will continue with himself as “leader.” One clause says this clearly:

The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government.

Even conservative columnists are critical of this new directive. An article in the right-leaning World Net Daily website says:

“Catastrophic emergency” is loosely defined as “any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions.”

Conservative activist Jerome Corsi is a little more blunt:

Translated into layman’s terms, when the president determines a national emergency has occurred, the president can declare to the office of the presidency powers usually assumed by dictators to direct any and all government and business activities until the emergency is declared over.

“King” George has clearly sacrificed the good of the country for his own agenda. The United States of America was founded to escape from tyranny. It’s tragic that while the country celebrates the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence, we are forced to deal with a much more subtle, but no less prevalent, form of tyranny which is much closer to home.

It’s tyranny that says that we should not criticize our government, we shouldn’t question our president, and we shouldn’t ever protest. Tyranny is a systemic belief that we should always do as we’re told, and never, ever, even ask why. The government knows best, and we should comply.

No, my friends. The government does NOT know best. The Fatherland has no place in our pantheon of liberty, and the more we sink into the darkness of xenophobic and homophobic attitudes, the deeper we’ll sink into a quagmire of tyranny where freedom is once again the fleeting hope of subversives and where democracy becomes the doctrine of rebels.

President Bush, I voted for you in 2000. I sincerely regret that vote, and I’m not entirely convinced that it would have mattered if I didn’t. You will indeed have much to answer for one day. I just hope that day is sooner, rather than later.

NOTES: The INS plans to revise its list of questions in 2008 (a pilot program is using these new questions at selected INS sites). Also, the questions in the test below are as asked on the official United States Immigration and Naturalization Services Web site. Candidates are not given multiple choices in the naturalization interview, which is conducted orally.

Take the test: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19552808

You answered 95% of questions correctly. Here’s your rating:

• 0-20%: Maybe you’re still thinking too much about the Old Country.
• 25-40%: Mmmm. Do you really want to be a citizen? This kind of performance isn’t going to impress those nice immigration folks.
• 45-60%: Not too bad, but you really need to break out the civics books again — word is, the INS is looking for an 80 percent score.
• 65-80%: Hey, you may make a good citizen yet! Look at your wrong answers and a little revision should do the trick.
• 85-100%: Welcome to the United States! (And, truth be told, you know more about this great land than most Americans.)

I missed #19, sorry I had not studied INS forms…

Many are being stopped, questioned, and later let go only after finding out that they are not of Hispanic origin.  I wonder how many of these incidents go unreported.  This is totally against the law and we are now dealing with a Sheriff Department out of control. This county does not have the 287 g program that is currently in operation in Davidson County.  The hoods have come off and there is now open discrimination going on.

Maury County Sheriff Enoch George said, “The department is not targeting anybody”.  George also stated, ‘I can’t just walk up to someone and ask to see their identification,” he said.  “Probable cause does not need to be established before any detaining can happen.”

I have talked to the Mayor of Columbia and it’s Chief of police who have both stated the value of the Hispanics in Maury County.  The Chief of Police has even asked for H.O.P.E. to give in-service training to all of his police officers.  H.O.P.E. is currently giving in-service training to the police force of Clarksville, TN.  

We must all understand that if we do not stand up to this racist department it will only mean that others will fall.  I served 21 years in the U.S. Army and understand the security of our borders, however don’t use public security as a reason to attack defenseless people based their nationality and skin color. 

Pastor Tommy Vallejos, Director of H.O.P.E: (931) 320-4741

Terry McMoore, Director Urban Resource Center, (931) 378-1999
 

A Washington Post article disagrees. A Military Path to Citizenship, By Max Boot and Michael O’Hanlon, Thursday, October 19, 2006; Page A29