Ways the State of Tennessee could save some money

Rep. Stacey Campfield has listed some good cost saving nuggets here….

Show me the money!!!
Tonight the caucus got together and started to talk brass tacks on the budget. So far it is looking like we are going to be able to cut a lot of what the governor wants to spend on and keep from having to increase taxes as much.

The bond package is looking dead. That will save tens of millions in debt and interest. we will remove the tax increase implementation on cable boxes. The fonce tax increase is looking to be cut if not eliminated. It is already down to out of state owners and properties larger then quadplexes. The money the gov wanted to spend on pre K from the general fund will now be coming out of lottery reserve funds instead. We started to brainstorm on other ideas to save the state money. In no order some of my favorites are…

1. Sell, lease or close all the state golf courses that are not making money. $2.3 million. I hear one is planning a major renovation that will put it deeper in the red.

2. Stop construction on the party bunker until more money comes it. Some people suggested to just fill it in with dirt. Cant say I really against the idea much.

3. Cut funding for the arts and non profits and planned parenthood. About $8 million there. I like the arts but if it quality it will be able to stand on its own.

4. Cut funding for the study of earthquakes. that is over a million dollars in state money alone a year. They have been studying them for going on 30 years. I think we know enough for now.

5. Freeze all non emergency travel.

6. Opt out of the federal highway gas tax. It is optional and if we opt out and keep the gas tax at its current level the state will have more money then what it gets from the fed.

7. This one I must say is about my favorite. Just off the 10th amendment resolution several of us have been talking about how we give money to the fed we don’t need to give them. They are only entitled to money from products made in Tennessee but sold outside of Tennessee.

We currently also give the fed money on some things even if it is made and sold inside Tennessee. Many of us think because of the 9th and 10 amendment they aren’t entitled to it.

We are looking into the legality of saying a wide variety of items that the fed taxes should have the locally sold percent held back. Items such as alcohol (Can you say Jack Danial’s, George Dickle, etc.) Tobacco and guns that are manufactured and sold in Tennessee are just a few of the items we came up with off the top of our heads. If they are made and sold in Tennessee then why are we giving the fed money for it?

If we were to keep part of the money for just the percent that is sold in Tennessee we could be talking millions upon millions. The fed may squawk but I want to see them argue against the constitution.

Revenue Cameras are a back-handed tax source

Whose interest does Gerrymandering serve?

Knoxville’s Rep. Campfield discusses the very messy business of redistricting. Each party gets their hands dirty, trying to balance practically drawn zones wth the political tug to increase their own survivability.

Messin with the numbers

from Camp4u by the rep

Frank Cagle does a good article on gerrymandering. His solution is to redraw the lines now.

Republicans would probably pick up a few seats if they are fair. Democrats are in a tough spot. If they are lucky in the next election and can pick up a seat then they can draw the lines all crazy again. They will put Republicans in Democrat districts or put sitting incumbents in districts with other sitting Republican incumbents. Even if that happens Republicans could still win.

Most figure even with the pen they wont be able to hold on any longer. There is a slim chance Democrats might be able to hold where they are if they pull it all off but it probably wouldn’t last long. If Republicans stay in control and do the same thing to Democrats that Democrats have done (Or would do) to Republicans then the Republicans could jump up into the 60+ members in the house. A huge loss for the Dems.

The question is the classic “pay me a little now or pay me a lot later” scenario, do Democrats bite the bullet, take a little loss now and avoid a big loss down the road or do they hold off and pray for a hail marry to come through even if it still may not put them over the goal line.

Attacking Glen Casada’s Credible Cause

State Rep. Stacy Campfield goes to bat for fellow conservative and Republican Glen Casada. Defending him against the blitzkrieg attack machine, sent out to discredit his very credible request.

“Men are from Mars, Women are from…..

 First Democrats played the sex card by attacking Eric Swafford claiming he was from Mars (A clear reference to the book “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”) Yes, Eric is a man. There are several real men in the Republican party. That is another thing our party does not lack. But just because there seems be a lack of real men on the other side of the aisle does not mean Republicans lack for strong women either. In fact we have several strong Republican women who have proven they will stand up against sexism. Not vote for it to become speaker of the house.

The attack did not work.

Now, Democrats have dug to a new low by sending their partisan attack machine after Glen Casada for trying to defend our president.

Glen Casada, The one person in the caucus (possibly the entire legislature) with a Spanish sounding name is being singled out for attack among the thousands of people who have signed on to defend our president. Are Democrats now playing to the anti Spanish sentiment felt among some race based groups of their storied past? If Democrats are to ever flourish again in Tennessee they must move away from their segregationist (Bull Connor, Robert “KKK” Byrd) mentality.

Why do Democrats attack people who want to clear our presidents name? Could it be because Republicans want to defend a person of color from false attacks? Is Democrat racism a factor?

I think the answer is quite clearly yes.

It is sad to see how desperate Democrats have become in their diminished role. Don’t they know we have serious issues facing our state. We don’t have time to divide up the state legislature for partisan Democrat race/sex baiting games. Lets talk about the serious issues we face. The constitutional freedoms, rights and responsibilities we all should be working to uphold, not some sexist, racist attacks and silly partisan name calling.