Monday, March 1, 2010
Legislature / Politics / Woods Sen. Doug Jackson Responds
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Senator, here are my questions: 1. With your amendment to SB94, are you showing favoritism to a political friend? 2. Could an ordinary Tennessean expect the same special treatment--legislation to fix a personal dispute with TDOT? 3. Did Sen. Tracy ask you to do this for him? 4. Are you attending the Barrett-hosted event at the firing range tomorrow? Should legislators take time off to attend such events when there's people's business to conduct at the Capitol?
Jeff, I'll try to answer your questions in the order they were listed, but I do want to note first that the purpose of this bill is to grant an easement through the Department of Transportation to Rutherford County. This bill would not give ownership of any access road to any private citizen or corporation. I met Ronnie Barrett one day when my son and I were shopping at his Outpost Armory, near his Barrett Firearms Manufacturing plant. He explained the issue to me and showed me where he and TDOT initially agreed the access road would occur. It makes sense to extend that road and funnel traffic into his entrance, and it's a small thing to ask from someone whose company has expanded job opportunities in a recession and is helping protect our soldiers. I'm not sure what you mean by "ordinary Tennessean," but I can assure you that when we have someone like Mr. Barrett, who is creating jobs and building a world-class product to help our American soldiers fight two wars, I am going to do what I can to help him. I don't know Mr. Barrett well, and I have spoken with him only a few times. Sen. Tracy did not ask me to run this amendment, and I have never received a campaign contribution from Mr. Barrett, nor have I solicited one. I can't speak for other legislators, but I will not attend the firing range event tomorrow precisely because I have the people's business to conduct in Judiciary Committee tomorrow afternoon. Cordially, Sen. Doug Jackson
Comments (9)
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Looks like Ronnie barrett's machine gun shoot is gonna get some low attendance after this stunt. The entire legislature is buzzing about this sleazy story, and now Ronnie and his machine gun shoot are radioactive.
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Well lets see.... a senator from Jackson travels to murfreesboro and happens to be 'shopping' at Barrett's establishment?
Probably after he had been introduced with Barrett's girlfriend state rep Donna Rowland-- I smell a rat here... check with Donna, I'm sure she is cooking this up!
I wish the media would stop trying to drive down the cost of buying votes on Capitol Hill with stories like this. We are in the middle of a recession, folks.
Speaking of real journalists who understand this, here's Kleinheider's tweet to the person who broke the story the day before it broke:
@matthewhurtt True that. However, there is a difference between being 'subjective' and having an agenda. 10:41 PM Feb 28th
Kleinheider has a lot to teach us about agendas, and you'd all be wise to learn. Throughout the 2009 elections, Kleinheider was the paragon of objectivity. Not a soul could tell who he was voting for.
To the untrained eye, all the posts about Ron Paul would appear to be a healthy counter balance to Obama McCain, but Nay. It wasn't hackery with an agenda. It was a gay love that transcends agendas.
Look, it was beautiful. Kleinheider and Ron Paul. Go ahead and attack him for that if you will, but gay love does not an agenda make, unless it involves Doogie Howser in some way. It is sweet, yet innocent. Some call it Libertarian, but I say that's just code for let's get gay for Ron Paul.
Mr. Woods, you should talk to someone at TDOT about why it takes an act of the legislature to do it. TDOT does industrial access roads often for manufacturing businesses so the reasons they refuse to do one for Barrett could be educational.
Clueless Granny writes, "...a senator from Jackson travels to murfreesboro..."
Did Sen. Jackson move from Dickson County to Madison County?
Maybe TDOT decided not to build the road because it's an unnecessary waste of taxpayer money.
Environmental impact analyses didn't support it either.
Just saying ...
Barrett is paying for the road extension so no taxpayer money is involved.
@Just saying... Maybe that is why TDOT didn't want to build it. That's what I'd like for Woods to find out.
If TDOT is building it, then there's taxpayer money involved one way or another. At the very least it's time those TDOT engineers could have spent working on shoring up problem areas.
Wow! Did TNGA Senator Doug Jackson get a "free" gun at the Outpost Armory...?
I am only asking as the Outpost Armory was reported as providing members of the Tennessee General Assembly with all of the "free" ammo that they recently sent down range at Arnold Air Force Base.
