Legislating for Dummies
Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2009/04/08 - 9:14am

Tennessee has double-digit unemployment, some of the highest foreclosure rates and lowest graduation rates and worst air quality in the nation, nearly a quarter of our population doesn't have health insurance, and state government is practically bankrupt in the face of a $1 billion budget shortfall.

So what are our brilliant legislators legislating?

• Guns in restaurants and bars
• Guns in local parks
• Banning abortion
• Banning gay adoption
• Enabling polluters
• Protecting big coal
• Protecting abusive nursing homes
• Protecting telecom monopolies
• Refusing federal unemployment aid
• Voter suppression
• Unverifiable voting

And so on. And in their spare time, they're filing lawsuits demanding to see President Obama's birth certificate. It's a tawdry late-night cable episode of Republicans Gone Wild. And even worse, some so-called Democrats are on board. No wonder they don't want people to vote or to have their votes counted.

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Andy Axel's picture

Priorities!

Submitted by Andy Axel on Wed, 2009/04/08 - 10:41am.

Don't forget the initiative in public secondary schools to supplement the existing 8 oz. standard for soda drinks with an additional 4 oz.

____________________________

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap! Special holidays, Sundays and rates!

Virgil Proudfoot's picture

What, no flag protection?

Submitted by Virgil Proudfoot on Wed, 2009/04/08 - 10:43am.

You mean they haven't proposed a constitutional amendment to protect the flag? Oh well, the session is still young.

onetahiti's picture

Excellent post, R.Neal

Submitted by onetahiti on Wed, 2009/04/08 - 11:31am.

"Republicans Gone Wild" indeed. Our legislature is bringing ridicule upon Tennessee and shame to themselves.

-- OneTahiti

citizenX's picture

WELL SAID

Submitted by citizenX on Wed, 2009/04/08 - 6:41pm.

Well said, R. Neal. I like the way you think.

Stick Thrower's picture

Credit where (and when) it's due though...

Submitted by Stick Thrower on Wed, 2009/04/08 - 10:39pm.

Tim Burchett sponsored a bill to make credit card companies honor a postmark as date of payment. A little more about it here.

SENATE BILL 2084
By Burchett
...
(a) If any card holder submits a payment to a card issuer by mail, then such payment shall be credited to the card issuer's account as being received on the date the payment is postmarked.
(b) A violation of subsection (a) constitutes an unfair and deceptive act or practice.

It's probably impossible to enforce across state lines, but it's a nice idea anyway.

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