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Blue Dog pharma

"Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross — a Blue Dog Democrat playing a key role in the health care debate — sold a piece of commercial property in 2007 for substantially more than a county assessment and an independent appraisal say it was worth. The buyer: an Arkansas-based pharmacy chain with a keen interest in how the debate plays out."---Politico's Propublica

Also, from NPR, "Who's representing the uninsured?"


See Tennessean blog: Coop defends the Blue Dogs in health care debate

TN GOP Commends U.S. House Members for Letter to Obama Regarding Acorn

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 CONTACT: Kim Ketchel, (615) 269-4260, kim@tngop.org TN GOP COMMENDS U.S. HOUSE MEMBERS FOR LETTER TO OBAMA REGARDING ACORN NASHVILLE, TN - Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney today commended Tennessee U.S. House Reps. Marsha Blackburn, John J. Duncan, Phil Roe and Zach Wamp for signing a letter from U.S. House Republicans to President Obama requesting he terminate all federal funding to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and its affiliates. "Our Senators and Congressmen are leading the fight to protect Tennesseans' hard-earned tax dollars," said Devaney. "It is astounding that ACORN continues to receive taxpayer funds from the federal government in spite of recurring reports that point to corruption and criminal activity within the organization. I'd like to thank our members for signing this letter to President Obama and standing up on behalf of their constituents here in the Volunteer State." Full text of the letter signed by Reps. Blackburn, Duncan, Roe and Wamp is available here and follows: September 15, 2009 The Honorable Barack H. Obama President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President We write to you today in the wake of new reports of potentially criminal activity involving associates of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) to respectfully request that you use your authority to publicly disclose and terminate all federal funding to ACORN and its affiliates. It is evident that ACORN is incapable of using federal funds in a manner that is consistent with the law. Immediate action is necessary to ensure that no additional tax dollars are directed to ACORN. Simply put, ACORN should not receive another penny of American taxpayers' money. Congressional pressure, coupled with the impact of recent media reports, prompted the U.S. Census Bureau on September 11 to end its partnership with ACORN. We support this decision by the Census Bureau, and believe it is vital that all other federal agencies with ties to ACORN follow the Census Bureau's example by severing all ties to ACORN and its affiliates, whether those ties consist of partnerships or the awarding of federal funds, including federal funds distributed through state and local governments from federal block grants. This is a matter of common sense and respect for taxpayer dollars. Last year, millions of Americans were outraged to learn their tax dollars were being used to subsidize an organization linked to multiple instances of voter registration fraud and other illicit activity. An analysis of federal data by the Office of the Republican Leader determined that ACORN has received more than $53 million in direct funding from the federal government since 1994, and has likely received substantially more indirectly through states and localities that receive federal block grants. The Census Bureau has made the commendable decision to sever ties with ACORN, and it is now critical that all remaining federal entities with ties to ACORN do the same. We ask that you use your authority to ensure that all federal funding of ACORN is publicly disclosed and terminated immediately. To facilitate this effort, the Republican staff of the Oversight Committee has compiled a complete list of the corporations that form the ACORN Council, and we would be pleased to share it with you and members of your administration. We thank you for your attention to this request. ####   Paid for by the Tennessee Republican Party Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate Committee

Dems: Keep 62 Blue

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Want to turn Tennessee blue in 2010? If so, we need your help in District 62 today!   A hugely important but little known race is happening right now. State Representative Curt Cobb resigned his seat to serve in the Bedford County Court. This triggered a special election on October 13th. Curt's brother, Ty Cobb, is the Democratic nominee. As you know, Republicans currently hold a thin 50-49 majority in our state House of Representatives. A Republican victory in District 62 would give them a 3-vote majority, which would push issues like the job creation and education farther back on the agenda. Our mission is clear: Keep 62 Blue. To do this, we must contact as many voters as possible in the last month of the campaign. Will you join the fight? Sign up now for canvassing shifts in District 62. The voters of District 62 deserve a representative who will deliver for them in the General Assembly. Ty Cobb has been delivering for 22 years as a UPS driver - now, let's send him overnight express to the Capitol. Special elections are won on the ground - and we can't win without your help. Click here to sign up for a shift now. District 62 includes all of Bedford County and parts of Lincoln and Rutherford counties, including the towns of Shelbyville and Fayetteville. It's one hour from Nashville, 2 hours from Chattanooga, and 3 hours from Knoxville. We can arrange for carpools - you just bring the walking shoes. Early voting begins Wednesday, Sept. 23. This weekend, you can make a difference by talking to voters before they head to the polls.   If you cannot make it this weekend, we will be canvassing the next three weekends and phonebanking during the week as well. Click here to sign up for any of these vital tasks. A huge victory in District 62 will build momentum for Democrats across Tennessee. If you care for the well being of our state, the time for action is now. Open the door to a blue Tennessee by signing up for canvassing shifts today. Sincerely, Chip Forrester Chair, Tennessee Democratic Party P.S.: If you can't make it to District 62 but still want to help, please consider donating to the Tennessee Democratic Party so we can take the fight to the Republicans across Tennessee in 2010. You can donate at anytime by visiting donate.tndp.org. Paid for by the Tennessee Democratic Party. Not authorized by any candidate or committee. www.tndp.org

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Tennessee's solar power farm could attract kids' study

Gov. Phil Bredesen met with reporters following his keynote speech to his seventh Economic and Community Development Conference.

Gov. Phil Bredesen got in touch with his inner school teacher while speaking with reporters about Tennessee's $62.5 million federal solar power grant. "I also see (the solar power farm) as an educational center. There will be a visitor center which is literally a pull-off from the Interstate. I'm hoping no school kid will travel that Interstate without stopping in to learn a little bit about solar power," he said.

Bredesen, a Harvard physics graduate, recalled how the 1957 launch of Sputnick, the first robotic spacecraft, led him to study science. "I think there'll be kids (who) see ... that solar farm and say this is something I'd like to do," he predicted.

Tennessee won approval for a $62.5 million federal economic stimulus grant to fund a solar power farm in Haywood County and solar institutes at Oak Ridge and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

"We should be making some (solar) electricity before I step out of this office," the governor, whose term ends in 2011, predicted to reporters. He expects the fast track project to give Tennessee a strong corporate recruitment position in the solar sector.

Commissioner Matt Kisber said, "the largest solar farm East of the Mississippi River in our state ... will be that visible point that will show Tennessee as a leader in the solar industry." Along with the governor, Kisber expects such green energy projects to attract corporations to the state to create jobs.

“I’m gratified by the news out of Washington not only because it allows us to move forward on these two very important projects, but because I believe the Solar Institute and the Solar Farm can be real catalysts for corporate investment in Tennessee,” Bredesen said.

The governor delivered his good news during his keynote speech at his seventh Economic and Community Development Conference. "I was planning on this for the Fourth of July, and my mother's birthday and Labor Day," Bredesen told the crowd, "but it came today, and there cannot be a more appropriate time to announce this." Hundreds of community leaders from across the state attended the event.

Commenting on the state building commission's recent approval delay for solar site land acquisition, the governor said, "I think the constitutional officers had some very legitimate questions. He kidded that he wished he had been told ahead of time to keep his blood pressure steady. He said the commission members made "a very reasonable request (for a more specific map of the parcels to be acquired). If I had been there I would have made that same request."