Monday, March 1, 2010
Legislature / Politics / Woods Favoritism at the Capitol: Phone Lines Go Dead and Everybody Denies Everything
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 3:21 PM
We've spent some of our day checking into why Sens. Doug Jackson and Jim Tracy would tag-team legislation to benefit a single dude--Murfreesboro firearms manufacturer Ronnie Barrett--and we now can officially report that it's a very touchy subject.
As we wrote this morning, Tracy's amendment to Jackson's bill, which whizzed out of the Senate Transportation Committee on a 9-0 vote, commands the Transportation Department to drop its opposition to extending a county road in front of Barrett's ammo factory so he can expand his business. These senators wouldn't do this just because Barrett--the boyfriend of GOP Rep. Donna Rowland--is a big political contributor, would they?
Tracy won't return our call, and Jackson hung up on us when we caught him on his cell phone and asked him to explain himself. "If you've got a question, send me an email and I'll respond by email. Thank you. Have a good day," Jackson said before the line went dead. We sent a few questions, but the senator hasn't replied.
Barrett hung up on us too, but not before claiming the whole deal is just one big coincidence. It's true the road runs in front of his factory and that he's been embroiled in this big dispute with the Transportation Department over it and that he's even filed a lawsuit. But he says, "I tell you what, that bill's for Rutherford County. That's for a Rutherford County road that would be running in front of my place."
Q: It's not for you?
Barrett: No, the county roads belong to the county.
Q: So you're saying these legislators aren't showing favoritism to you by doing this for you as a political friend and contributor?
Barrett: No, there's no favoritism in any of this stuff at all. This is a thing between the county and the state.
The Barrett bill's House sponsor, Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, also is feigning surprise that any of this is worthy of media attention. In an interview with Pith here at Legislative Plaza this afternoon, he seemed amenable to the Jackson/Tracy amendment.
"Ronnie Barrett's not a political friend of mine. I've never received a penny from him that I know of. I'm looking at it as economic development. Just like what we did for Volkswagen. Did we do what we did for Volkswagen to help somebody's political friend?"
At least one legislator, Rep. Kent Coleman, D-Murfreesboro, thinks it all stinks and he's actually willing to say so. "I'm shocked that we would pass a bill to help one person. I can't imagine why somebody would do something like this," Coleman tells Pith.
Tomorrow, with plenty of unfinished people's business still on their plates, many of our lovable legislators are rolling out of Nashville to go to a firing range to shoot machine guns and stuff. Barrett's paying for the bullets.
Comments (10)
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This is a highly irresponsible piece of journalism by SouthComm. The "reporter" has about nineteen different conflicts, including being a journalist, and should in no way be writing on this subject.
This is to say nothing of the fact that Woods is a vocal advocate of journalism, which as we all know has an agenda to tell us what's going on. And what's going on is none of our business. It's an agenda, folks.
Woods has literally zero credibility on this and should not have been provided this platform.
God bless guns, and God Bless Sens. Tracy and Jackson for doing the Lord's business!
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wow, this stinks to high heaven. I would imagine that TDOT has something to say about Tracy and Jackson going over their heads and approving a road that they denied due to drainage and environmental concerns. Looks like Tracy and Jackson don't give a damn about any of that as long as they can help out a single big donor.
Let's send Jim Tracy to Washington so he can show us what selling out really smells like. He'll be the cheapest lay on K Street if all it cost is a few thousand dollars to buy his vote.
Tracy was also the guy that carried the "Kill Old People Cheap Act" - the one that exempted nursing homes from liability. But, hey! Nursing homes give him a bunch of campaign contributions too.
yep, and sloppy nursing home giant NHC gave Tracy's congressional campaign $10,000 just last month, and the adams family that owns it all gave him another $50,000 more.
The NHC exec/lobbiest Gerald Coggin got arrested for patronizing prostitution last week, ut it didn;t stop he and his wife Joann from giveing Tracy another $10,000. its all in the FEC filing report:
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00472373/449600/sa/ALL
Tracy-- pull your name out now-- before its too late! Get tied to Donna Rowland and Barrett and your dead in the water!
well, today it is announced that Donna Rowland is doing all of the people in 34th district a favor by not running again for office.
But, what is she up to? will a marriage be coming soon. So that she can try to decieve the people in her hubby's district. oh, I hope not.
I for one do not know anything about the enviromental concerns about the road that Ronnie asked for. But, I never really saw any harm in the road being built. I live out in the area which his business is in. It is in poor shape. Their are big trucks that have to come in that way also..it does need to be widen. I am glad if he gets it.
But, to use money for power is dangerous grounds. Yes, we see many doing so daily in government. Look in Bible-there were many then who were corrupt and used such back room deals to get what they desired-no matter at the expence of others. But, look at the result it brought to them. I pray for them. Cause it is sad to see those who claim God's name but the words and actions that proceed forth from their heart is totally opposite.
Lets get active this time around..start voting for those who may not have the money to run big campaigns of lies...they only tell ya what they think you want to hear. Then they go in and create more trash and bring us further into judgement of this day that approaches. Let's do our research. Lets pray. Ask God- who is the one? who should go forth now? lest it is to late and He has turned us over to what we ingnored. When we turn from God- we reap that which we sowed. Oh, may grace be upon us for them who hands do not work such lies and deciet.
God will bless those who bless you and curse them who curse you.
Serve the people. Donna do the people a favor...we ask that you dont seek to serve us. It is like getting a bad nurse who had a bad day- no compassion. Only self seeking gain. Let one who is filled with compassion and love serve us. Maybe visit the doc. for some of the mistakes you had done..oh, not the plastic ones..they are fake and nothing much can be done with that..but those that of your heart. Visit Jesus sometime. He is great at fixing bitter hard hearts.
oh, my....the Lord's Business ????
Really. Have you ever read His word?
For the sake of claming His name upon things not of Him- oh, little one be careful of doing so.
This is addressed to the very first comment-which I would assume was more then likely coming from an insider to one of these things which is done in darkness. Just common sense. Cause if you knew GOD- you would know that the fruit of them who claim they are of God reaps as if their were more then a few bad riped bananna's in their basket. Hey when the fruit is ripe..there is nothing left.
May the people humble themselves. Oh, I should not even give them a hint of what which way to go..but dern it, love and compassion seems to guide me and my eyes do not seek pleasure in seeing anyone fall. I would rather see a heart who is turned back to God..or to Him for first time- humbled. Doing what is right. For to admit, hey I was wrong- is more powerful then claiming you know it all and you are so right in all you do..that is turn off to the people they seek to serve..
yeah, right..serve the people..
It is a game to them.
The who's who of what? money?
Money has wings. It flies away and you dont know where it went. Solomon in all his glory-had whatever he seeked..desired..wisdom he had. cattle . treasure from many kings and queens..ivory and gold filled his palace..yet he said, this is all vain..passes away. It is God alone who is beauty and riches.
