Blame Bush: “Tennessee transportation officials were notified last week that they will need to subtract an additional $66 million from promised federal money for road work. The federal government has cut nearly a quarter-billion dollars from Tennessee's expected road money since 2005,” says the Tennessean.
What, you thought those tax cuts were just free money, magically pulled out of the president’s posterior? As a result, Tennessee will either have to raise state taxes to compensate (not going to happen) or resort to toll roads, where private companies get to nickel and dime you to death while making huge profits for a service the government should be providing at cost. Looks like the state legislature is opting for toll roads. Don’t forget -- Republican irresponsibility caused the mess.
On The Money: Nashville Mayor Karl Dean presents his budget to the Metro Council today. Most departments will see their budgets cut at least five percent, except for the schools, which will see a small increase. The cuts are the result of a bad economy and shrinking tax revenues.
Primary Challenge: The dashing Tom Leatherwood (most manly name ever) will challenge Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in the Republican primary. The Nashville Post doesn’t say why. Does he seriously think he can win? Maybe he was dumb enough to believe Congressional Quarterly’s speculation of a McCain/Blackburn ticket?
Gore 2008? Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL) isn’t giving up on the idea that Al Gore will be the Democratic nominee this year. He thinks Gore/Clinton or Gore/Obama might emerge from a contested convention.
Round ‘Em Up: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) want Nashville to get its own immigration judge, which makes sense if Metro is going to continue its efforts to deport every illegal immigrant booked by the Sheriff’s Department on unrelated charges. Mayor Karl Dean supports the plan as well. I’m okay with it--mostly because I hate to see Memphis have anything we don’t.
Not So Fast: The Metro Council zipped right though the first and second reading of a new ordinance allowing churches and schools to put up fancy LED signs in residential neighborhoods. Normally, the third reading is just a formality -- but not this time. The proposal is suddenly back with the Planning Commission for major revisions after homeowners realized what was going on. Nice to see the voters are awake.
- Rick Lewis
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