Friday, February 27, 2009
Politics / Woods Kim McMillan: The Great Conciliator
Posted by Jeff Woods on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 5:09 AM
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The Memphis Flyer's Jackson Baker gave Kim McMillan a little space in his column this week to make her pitch for why Democrats should nominate her for governor. Give it your best shot, Kim.
Well, let's see, she started her campaign before anyone else. There's that. Also, she's not so sure about tax reform anymore. She supported the income tax at one time (oops!), but she realizes now that Tennessee probably isn't ready for commonsense. She knows the importance of creating a network of small donors just like Barack Obama did. That's especially important since the high-dollar people won't give to her. And here's the real clincher in her argument: She's the great conciliator. She cites how "she successfully walked a tightrope between embittered Democratic factions" when the Democrats bounced Rosalind Kurita and when Chip Forrester and Charles Robert Bone battled for the party chairmanship.
As far as Pith knows, McMillan never said or did anything about either controversy. Some might call that spineless. Hah! What do they know? It's actually the pathway to greatness! Next, she'll put up yard signs proclaiming "Elect Kim McMillan: She's Neutral."
Metro Report Alleges Mishandling of MEAC Funds, Recommends Fraud Charges
Posted by Jim Ridley on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 12:36 AM
In recent years, at least two of Nashville's public-education-government access (or PEG) TV channels have been affected by squandered resources and slipshod management. Those are among the allegations of a report to be issued by Metro's Office of Financial Accountability, which recommends bringing fraud charges against Michael Catalano, the former executive director of the Metropolitan Educational Access Corporation that oversees Channels 9 and 10.
Catalano disputed the claims earlier this week in an interview with the Tennessean's Brad Schrade, saying that at worst he was just a poor accountant. The report disagrees, saying Metro Legal "should take the necessary steps or actions to prosecute MEAC's former Executive Director for fraud."
Returning a phone call Wednesday, Catalano said that he had an attorney and declined comment, beyond describing the situation as "a mess."
The report is carefully labeled as a "monitoring review" rather than an audit, which is significantly wider in scope. Nevertheless, based on a review of financial records from the fiscal years 2006, 2007 and 2008, as well as discussions with MEAC associates, the report alleges that more than $45,000 in MEAC funds have been misappropriated, with the former executive director involved.
The items under dispute include: unexplained ATM withdrawals; Catalano's personal Comcast cable bills; unexplained payments totaling more than $2,200 to a close associate whom the report contends was Catalano's roommate; travel and restaurant expenses; and $6,150 in payments for "storage fees" that the report concludes actually went to Catalano's landlord for rent.
Also at issue is another $18,237 paid over an 18-month period to Catalano, believed to be for fundraising commissions. The problem, according to the report, is that there's no paper to back them up. The report says Catalano called the independent payroll processing contractor who cut the checks and told them the figure to add to his salary each month, "without any formal documentation or board approval."
Also at issue is another $18,237 paid over an 18-month period to Catalano, believed to be for fundraising commissions. The problem, according to the report, is that there's no paper to back them up. The report says Catalano called the independent payroll processing contractor who cut the checks and told them the figure to add to his salary each month, "without any formal documentation or board approval."
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Crazy Crap Humane Society's Monkey Ban: Bad for You, Me and Tennessee
Posted by Brantley Hargrove on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 3:15 PM
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Monkeys are good for the human soul. Those comprehending eyes, the way they can be taught to use utensils--in an awkward, ham-fisted kinda way--and the clothes they sometimes wear. What, I ask, is more adorable than an ape in a bow tie? They're like people!
So why, then, does a ban on primate ownership exist in Tennessee? Their propensity to maul people beyond recognition and without provocation, and to fling hands-full of doo like so much snow notwithstanding, I don't see what the big deal is. Handsomely appointed chimpanzees waddling down Broadway would not only raise our profile, it'd lift my spirits in a way few things other than midgets can.
The Humane Society is pushing legislation for a universal ban on private ownership of primates as pets, effectively spoiling the fun for everybody. And the evidence they produced in defense of this is scant, just read the pitifully small list of monkey-related incidents--only 46 disastrous or potentially disastrous attacks in 4 years, two of which occurred in Tennessee? So what if they all carry a form of the Herpes virus? It'll take a lot more than horrific, eye contact-initiated maulings and incurable diseases to convince me that our fellow simians are a bane.
So call your U.S. senator and tell him/her, 'No to Monkey Prohibition! We want our monkeys and we want them now!'
Breaking News / Kotz / Legislature / Politics Tennessee's Unemployment Rate Takes a Great Leap Forward
Posted by Pete Kotz on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 3:13 PM
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This is not good news: Tennessee's unemployment rate for January jumped by an entire point over the previous month, coming in at a majestic 8.6 percent. To put it in perspective, the state hasn't seen an 8-plus rate since 1986. 
So, Governor Bredesen, do you still want to reject that stimulus money for unemployment? Or would you mind getting a little creative here and see what you can do for Tennesseans down on their luck? It won't get you interviewed on Fox News. But when your grandchildren are in college 20 years from now, at least they won't have to study about what a dick you were back in 2009.
Just asking...
Hargrove No Booze Across State Lines? Tennessee, You Are Obnoxious!
Posted by Brantley Hargrove on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 1:05 PM
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There's been a law on the books for years that bans folks like you and me from bringing wine, liquor or beer from other states into Tennessee. You know that trip to Sonoma you're planning on taking? Better drink all that cab first, because packing it in your suitcase makes you a criminal. Hell, you can't even ship it to yourself.
My first instinct would be to flaunt this law, which is clearly unjust, anti-competitive and irritating as hell. But then I wonder: How is this even legal? The Constitution prohibits states from discriminating against out-of-state businesses, but my interpretation is simply too loose. Only licensed wholesalers and manufacturers can bring hooch in currently, according to an opinion penned by the state attorney general.
In 2005 the United States Supreme Court ruled that states cannot ban direct Internet purchase from out-of-state wineries while allowing in-state wineries to do the same thing--a ruling against hypocrisy I suppose. New state legislation will seek to lift that ban. And it would clearly be a boon: Tennesseans will be happy because they can purchase bottles not found on the shelves of your local liquor store, and Tennessee wineries can sell to out of state customers.
Until then, get caught with a small amount and that's a $500 fine. More than three gallons and you're looking down the barrel at a felony.
Politics / Woods Forrester Tries Again to Calm Storm Over Freeman
Posted by Jeff Woods on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Democratic Party chair Chip Forrester trumpets his openness and transparency in his latest YouTube message and defends new treasurer Bill Freeman. "I'm awful proud to have Bill on board," he says. But one of the biggest complaints from party executive committee members is that Forrester was keeping a little secret when he asked them to make Freeman the treasurer. Forrester just didn't get around to mentioning Freeman's history of Republican giving.
"I wish we'd been given more information when we selected him," committee member Don Farmer of Milan tells Pith. "There was a lack of knowledge. We took the recommendation of our chairman. That's why Freeman was selected. It was based on the chairman's recommendation. Chip never gave us any of the information that's now coming out. All we were told was that he's a good Democrat."
A resolution calling for Freeman's ouster is circulating within the committee, and Farmer says he's for it.
"In Mr. Freeman's interest, I think it would be to his advantage if he would step aside and just resign on his own. It's causing friction in the whole Democratic Party from east to the west. Everybody's talking about it."
Farmer adds, "It's really damaged Chip's integrity." To be fair, Farmer voted for Charles Robert Bone for chairman, so he's not exactly one of Forrester's BFFs. But Pith is hearing even from Forrester supporters that he may have to sacrifice Freeman at some point to save himself.
Courtesy of Braisted
Legislature / Politics / Woods Kelsey Taunts Governor on Stimulus
Posted by Jeff Woods on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 11:51 AM
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House jester Brian Kelsey filed his resolution today urging Gov. Phil Bredesen to reject millions of dollars in federal stimulus money rather than expand access to unemployment insurance programs in ways that many other states did a long time ago. Twenty-three House members signed on as co-sponsors.
"Expanding these entitlements without long-term funding will surely lead to a tax increase in Tennessee," Kelsey said. "The fiscally responsible action is to refuse to take stimulus funds that require Tennessee to expand entitlements permanently when federal funds will disappear after two years."
Actually, the resolution may not be necessary. Bredesen is saying he might turn down the money for the same reasons Kelsey gives. Tennessee would receive an extra $140 million to expand benefits to low-wage and part-time workers who have lost their jobs. The governor says he's afraid it'll mean a little tax increase for businesses in two years when the federal money disappears.
"I am glad the governor is coming around to our position now," Kelsey said, rubbing it in with Democrats. "Tennesseans will benefit from this fiscal responsibility."
Bredesen went on Fox news yesterday to talk about the stimulus package. Realizing he shares the viewpoint of crazy Republican governors on this issue, Bredesen repeatedly pointed out that he really, really likes 98 percent of the stimulus. It's just this teeny weenie part of it that he questions.
By the Way / Hannan / Law and Order / Politics Legalized Marijuana: Our Economy's Leafy Savior?
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 11:44 AM
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One California pol thinks he has the stickiest, ickiest answer to his state's mountain of debt: Legalize pot.
San Francisco assemblyman Tom Ammiano wants to allow all Californians over 21 (not just the ones with glaucoma, wink wink) to buy weed. His projected grass-gross from the heavily-taxed bud: $1.3 billion.
Ammiano's bill has as much chance of passing the Left Coast's legislature as a hotboxed Honda does of getting out of a Metro PD traffic stop. But according to Statistician Superstar Nate Silver, the Californian kind-fan may be on to something.
With the help of fancy graphs, Silver predicts that 60% of the country will be in favor of legalization by the year 2022. At which point he says "things will get interesting" (Far out, man!).
Of course, given the progressive nature of Tennessee's current legislative agenda (guns in saloons and overly warm parking garages), we can expect Mary Jane to walk the streets of Nashville safely sometime around the year 3000.
Extra Credit: For a look at how Tennessee reacts to its citizens growing weed to help ease the pain of the sick and dying check out "Marijuana Martyr," Jeff Woods' April 2007 cover story on the prosecution of public health official Bernie Ellis.
Legislature / Politics / Woods Odom Escapes Media Frenzy, Goes into Hiding in the House
Posted by Jeff Woods on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 11:15 AM
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House Democratic leader Gary Odom, who would normally break an arm to jump in front of a camera, failed to show today for his party caucus' weekly news conference. He had an appointment that he just had to keep, his top minion, Skip Cauthorn, told the press. Meanwhile, Democrats who did attend wouldn't comment on Odom's travails within the caucus. "We've said all we're going to say about that," caucus chair Mike Turner said. Turner did say that he notified Odom of the time of the press conference. "Why wouldn't I?" Turner asked. "Don't answer that."
Yesterday, Turner and Rep. John Litz met with reporters without Odom's knowledge to contradict Odom's comments to the Memphis Flyer last week. Odom said former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh was out to lunch while Odom himself orchestrated the ascension of Kent Williams to the speaker's office. He also blamed Naifeh for the party's election defeats dating all the way back to Al Gore's loss of Tennessee in the 2000 presidential race.
In his only public comments on the controversy, Odom told The Tennessean yesterday that, after yapping about it virtually nonstop for nearly two months, he's suddenly decided that debating who did what with Williams is "a pointless discussion." Also, he sees the whole affair as "a bit bizarre."
Update: Another Naifeh-Odom dispute at Humphrey on the Hill.
Film 'Dare Not Walk Alone': Acclaimed Civil Rights Doc Screens Tonight and Tomorrow
Posted by Jim Ridley on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Aspiring documentarians can find some inspiration in the story of director Jeremy Dean, who as a college student in St. Augustine, Florida worked to repair stained glass windows in an African American neighborhood. While there, he began to hear stories about the city during the civil-rights era--including the flabbergasting detail that on St. Augustine's beaches at the time, even the Atlantic Ocean was segregated.
Dean had to wait tables and scrape pennies to afford the archival footage he needed to tell the story of St. Augustine's checkered past, and the efforts that led to pioneering civil-rights legislation. But the resulting doc, Dare Not Walk Alone, has won awards at festivals around the country. This week Dean will host two local screenings co-sponsored by the International Black Film Festival of Nashville: one 7 p.m. tonight in the Watkins College Theatre in MetroCenter, and another 7 p.m. tomorrow at Gallatin's historic downtown Palace Theatre. Tickets are $7.
Above is a clip that gives whole new meaning to the term "no day at the beach."
