Hilly Boy's Deception (as in the Lovely Tennessee Rep. Matthew Hill)

The following information comes from Tre Hargett's Week In Review on Februrary 24. I have a feeling, with his desire to be a lobbyist & a legislature at the same time, that Hilly boy is not working hard on this topic. All that Gregory money would need to be cut off for true ethical reforms in Tennessee's government, but Hilly boy is not interested in the well going dry.

Tre Hargett's Week In Review on Februrary 24
Ethics and Efficient Government

With ethics questions remaining a hot topic this week in the press, the House Republican Caucus is continuing its exploration of legislation that will more effectively define ethical standards for legislators and lobbyists. Legislation is surfacing from both Republicans and Democrats on the issue, and the House Republican Caucus Task Force on Ethics and Lobbying is meeting weekly to discuss the best ways to keep those involved in state government – from legislators to lobbyists – accountable to the citizens and to the law. During Wednesday’s meeting, task force members discussed several potential bills that address campaign contributions, lobbyist practices and the opportunities available to recent retired legislators. Expect movement of these bills in the coming weeks.

During the House Subcommittee on State Government, one Republican member proposed a bill to define “immediate family” for the purposes of discerning who can obtain a Tennessee General Assembly license plate from a legislator. The bill defines eligible persons as a spouse, child, step-child, brother, sister, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, parent or grandparent. HB248 has been rolled for further discussion.
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Hilly boy gives the press the best quotes. He can't stand that a judge wants the rich legislators to at least acknowledge that the poor are now up a creek & Tennessee is taking back the paddle it gave those people. I've never been a big fan of TennCare, but there has got to be a better plan than telling all those people 'See Ya. Wouldn't Want to be Ya.'

Here we learn that the election for the governor of Tennessee will hinge on our area. Sorry, but I am pretty sure that Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga have more sway (and voters) than we do. Nice use of the term 'folks,' which finds its way into every Hilly boy story.

By the way, Hilly boy recieved plenty of insurance PAC money during his campaign. This session was a way for the Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors to say 'How are you going to repay us?'
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For a boring read on Hilly boy go here. I see he is making the rounds on all the most watched tv shows, like those that air at 11 p.m. on Sundays. I like how he says he is afraid of the Tennessee State Supreme Court. That inspires confidence.

And I am kind of disappointed in Patton based on this article here. We already have too many lobbyists in Tennessee as it is; about four for every one lawmaker. Though I will take Patton as a lobbyist over any of the Gregorys' or Hilly boy's cronies any day.
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All of the Tennessee General Assembly members from Northeast Tennessee who are championing the establishment of a new East Tennessee State University College of Pharmacy are seemingly in agreement that their proposed pharmacy school in Johnson City will be built without any new taxpayer dollars -- the legislative members of the pro-ETSU pharmacy school clique are adamant that their new pharmacy college proposal for Johnson City could be funded with only "student tuition" and "donor contributions.”

"Donor contributions?” While at first blush these Northeast Tennessee legislators seem to have some first hand experience with actually contributing to the ETSU Foundation (the ETSU Foundation apparently oversees various contributor funds benefiting both ETSU programs and students), you may be be surprised to learn that only one current member of the Tennessee General Assembly actually donated any money to the ETSU Foundation from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004.

The current edition of ETSU Today, 2003-2004 Honor Roll Edition is listing Senator Dewey "Rusty" Crowe as a co-contributor to "The Century Club" within the $100 to $249 range.

State Senator and Tennessee Senate Republican Leader Ron Ramsey is also among those ETSU College of Pharmacy advocates from Northeast Tennessee calling for the proposed Johnson City pharmacy school to be financed largely through the generosity of private donations. While Ramsey is additionally listed as a 2004 ETSU Foundation Member within the ETSU Today, 2003-2004 Honor Roll Edition (and Ramsey has within recent years, his own children enrolled as students at ETSU), neither Ramsey nor his campaign fund is listed among the private contributors to the ETSU Foundation.

Even former State Representative Bob Patton, who was defeated (and thoroughly outspent last fall during the 7th House District general election by the pharmaceutical PAC and life insurance PAC-connected Matthew Hill of Jonesborough), is listed as a "BUC" $100 to $249 contributor to the ETSU Pirate Club that helps support ETSU athletic programs. Neither Rep. Hill, himself an ETSU alumni, or his well-financed Hill campaign is listed among the 2003-2004 ETSU Foundation donors. How surprising.
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So where was Hilly boy at the latest legislative meeting of the Johnson City - Jonesborough - Washington County Chamber of Commerce? Maybe he saw the poll at the Jonesborough Hearald and Tribune and decided his constituents were not all that excited about a Pharmacy school. (Only 600 votes, but 90% said they did not support it.) More than likely he just didn't care. I thought he made campaign promises that he would not do things like this.
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What is ironic about the following information is that on the radio Hilly boy used to make fun of students who attended public schools while admitting that when he was in one he was a “special ed math student” (see the Jan. 16, 2005 post by Reformer). I guess he can speak from experience as he helps this committee address Tennessee’s problem of students with math deficiencies. I am just a little worried that Hilly boy’s proposal will be to lower math standards so that it is harder for students to have a math deficiency, though they won’t be any better at math.

This information was gleaned from the Feb. 10 Tennessee Republican House and Senate Caucus newsletters from Tre' Harget (also heavily funded by Gregory money).

Capitol Hill Week in Review from Republican Leader Tre Hargett February 10, 2005 House Republican Caucus actively assessing Tennessee’s hot topics.

(NASHVILLE, Tenn., Thursday, February 10, 2005) – >>> Children and Families

The state of Tennessee’s education system remained a hot topic this week and will continue to dominate House and Senate proceedings as the legislative session progresses. Members of the House Committee on Education heard a report this week regarding the status of math education in the state. The study concluded that Tennessee’s children displayed deficiencies in math skills both at the elementary level and in high school. Republican legislators reiterated concern over the lagging math test scores and they plan to look into how to revamp curriculum to address the needs of the children.

With proposals before the General Assembly from Pre-K expansion to bolstering our state’s institutions of higher education, the House Republican Caucus is poised to study the best ways to educate the state’s students and propose legislation that will hit at the heart of making Tennessee schools better. The Caucus Task Force on Education will embark on its first meetings next week, addressing both the governor’s proposals as well as the Caucus’s initiatives.

Rep. David Hawk (R-Greeneville) will chair the committee. Members include Rep. Joey Hensley, M.D. (R-Hohenwald), Rep. Frank Nicely (R-Strawberry Plains), Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville), Rep. William Baird (R-Jacksboro), Rep. Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville), Rep. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville), Rep. Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough), Rep. Dewayne Bunch (R-Cleveland), Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) and Rep. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown).
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Here's another example of Hilly boy wasting time and ultimately taxpayer money on a bill that accomplishes absolutely nothing. Good job freshman representative!

He introduced a bill that gives firefighters access to the city manager's office, when even firefighters themselves say they already have that access.
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Not too much to complain about here really. Still, I am convinced that Hilly boy doesn't know how to do anything else but repeat what Rusty, David and Jerome tell him to say.
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Here are some fun pictures that speak more loudly than words. The building is the Leitner (Gregory owned) Pharmaceutical Building at 340 Edgemont in Bristol, Tennessee. Check out the January 16, 2005 post "Deception is the Name of the Game" to learn more about the building. Also note the appropriate symbol for the State of Franklin PAC. And after all the Gregory money they get WHCB and the Hills still ask you for more.
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Here are some links to stories that echo my thoughts, as a Christian who lives in Tennessee, about taxes.

1.) Alabama has an insane income tax, but just like Tennessee, they over rely on sales tax. How can timber industries own 71% of Alabama’s land, but only pay 2% of property taxes? Tennessee is doomed to moral depravity until there is a fair income tax.

2.) And much like Tennessee, Alabama is proud of their history of the rich oppressing the poor. I guarantee John Giles earns at least a six figure salary and might have had to cut one of his vacation trips if Alabama’s tax reform had passed.

3.) Our genius politicians are running Tennessee into the ground because we can’t have an income tax. There sure is nothing like a 10% sales tax on diapers and food though. The anti-income tax stance simply benefits the rich and squeezes the poor. I believe the Old Testament says a lot about the nation of Israel doing that, usually before their country was overthrown by an enemy nation.

What is amazing is that most of the country folks who oppose the income tax would not even have to pay it! They have been tricked into fighting for the rich, thinking they are fighting for themselves.

Perhaps the business owners in the surrounding states have just paid our politicians. Because that is where Tennessee’s retail sales are going.

4.) A state property tax could easily net Tennessee $1 billion, and allow us to lower our insanely oppressive sales tax, which accounts for 65% of Tennessee’s revenue.

5.) And lastly, our stupid politicians who gave us approximately a 10% sales tax essentially helped Tennessee adopt the lottery as a tax subsitute. State lotteries are poor subsitutes for taxes because they make their money by bilking the poor. The rich know that other avenues give a better return on their money. In addition, the staffs for lotteries are overpaid.
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It looks like some sensible people may reside in Tennessee after all. It's time for the Gregorys' dirty money and all their political pawns to take notice.

As if making millions from price increases to Altace, a life-saving drug paid for by Tennessee taxpayers was bad enough. It appears that the the Gregory family used a charity to to manipulate King Pharmaceuticals' sales figures and inflate its stock values. A class action lawsuit (there are at least 29 lawsuits total) alleges that the King booked sales to the King Benevolent Fund to ensure that the company met its earnings targets, and that John Gregory personally profited from these inflated sales figures reported by his company.

Did we mention that King lost $111 million dollars in 2004?

All I can say is that those with sense need to act fast because these wackos are not showing signs of caring one bit about integrity and ethics.
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Don't expect Hilly boy to fight for lower costs of prescription drugs when he is in so deep in the Gregory family wallet.

Check out how Altace drug price increases helped King make plenty more in 2002.

The following information is extracted from the King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. SEC 10-K yearly reports that are available online from both the U.S. Securties and Exchange Commission (EDGAR search) and the King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Investors) web site.

King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2002 10-K p.58 Altace price increases

Net sales of Altace(R), an ACE inhibitor, grew to $450.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, a 58% increase from $284.7 million during the prior year. Altace(R) new prescriptions totaled approximately 3.5 million and total prescriptions equaled approximately 10.6 million during 2002, increases of 41% and 50%, respectively, over the prior year according to IMS America monthly prescription data. Monthly total prescriptions of Altace(R) exceeded one million for the first time during December 2002 according to IMS America data. Contributing also to the continued sales growth of Altace(R) is the sustained shift to 10mg Altace(R), the same dose used in the landmark HOPE trial. Specifically, total prescriptions for 10mg Altace(R) during 2002 increased approximately 71% over the prior year, in comparison to an increase of 36% for the other strengths of Altace combined, according to NDC Health monthly prescription data.

* Additionally, price increases contributed to the continued sales growth of Altace(R) during 2002.
*****
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2001 10-K Gross Profit, p. 18

Total gross profit increased $135.7 million or 137.9% to $235.1 million in 1999 from $98.4 million in 1998. The increase was primarily due to increased gross profit from branded pharmaceutical products, offset by a decrease in contract manufacturing gross profit contribution.

The gross profit from branded pharmaceutical products increased $139.9 million or 148.0% to $234.3 million from $94.5 million. This increase was primarily due to increases in gross profit from the Altace product line acquired in December 1998, and the Lorabid product acquired in August 1999.
*****
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2001 10-K RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS, p.17

IF SALES OF OUR MAJOR PRODUCTS OR ROYALTY PAYMENTS TO US DECREASE, OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.

Altace(R) accounted for approximately 32.6% and Levoxyl(R) accounted for approximately 12.1% of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2001, and Altace(R), Levoxyl(R), Thrombin-JMI(R), Lorabid(R), and royalty revenues collectively accounted for approximately 61.9% of our net sales during the same period. We believe that sales of these products will continue to constitute a significant portion of our total revenues for the foreseeable future.
Accordingly, any factor adversely affecting sales of any of these products or products for which we receive royalty payments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
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Just click here to see that this Hill enterprise has almost $3 million in assets, which are defined in part as donations. I wonder who would give them money?

In addition, their expenses sure are high at over $856,000. The salaries and/or wages of AECC employees and management will likely make up most of this catergory. Remember AECC is a “non-profit” organization.
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Is it too late for the Tennessee Democratic Party to quietly work toward having freshman State Rep. Matthew Hill (R-H7) pick-up an additional house committee or subcommittee assignment pertaining to Native American Affairs? Let me explain:

I’ve attached a collection of various FCC 323 forms filed by State of Franklin PAC President Dr. Kenneth G. Hill supporting the FCC application renewal process that Dr. Hill went through in the process of re-upping the FCC ticket for several of his (and his son, Rep. Matthew Hill, R-H7) "Appalachian Radio Group" stations.

Me thinks that Big Chief Ken Hill speak with forked tongue --- while Dr. Hill affirms on his State of Tennessee voter registration card that his race is "White", he also files license applications with the Federal Communications Commission as "American Indian.” Unfortunately for all on the Hill rez, Dr. Hill's current WPWT 870 "Good Morning Tri-Cities" radio talk show host (Timothy) confirmed through indirect, on-air questioning that Big Chief Hill is, in fact, not America Indian.

You will also find a couple of links back to the FCC Indian Tribal Initiative program as well...you will know that my words are true and fly straight as an arrow through the morning sky.

I have this as an html file, but I have been having trouble posting it. Hopefully I can find a website to save this to and then I can link to it from here. Or if you are interested I can email it to you. Meantime, here are some useful links:

The consolidated FCC 323 "Ownership Report for Commercial Broadcast Station" forms pertain to the Hill family's self-described "Appalachian Radio Group" --- a somewhat questionable term that is actually an "umbrella group" reference employed by both the Tennessee State Representative Matthew Hill (R-H7, Jonesborough) and the State of Franklin PAC President Dr. Kenneth C. Hill to describe their intertwined network of both the 501(c)(3) Appalachian Education Communications Corporation (AECC) non-profit radio stations --- and other non-profit assets owned by AECC such as the Cameo Theater down the street in Bristol. Virginia --- along with their for-profit WPWT 870AM radio station operations of the Information Communications Corporation (ICC).

In the FCC report, the "Owner Information" section reveals that the State of Franklin PAC President Dr. Hill has repeatedly checked the radio buttons on his FCC 323 filings for American Indian or Alaska Native on the 2003 and 2004 FCC 323 filings (other similar FCC filings were found but not included here for the sake of brevity) --- which is a rather strange choice as Dr. Hill has affirmed his race as being "White" on his application for his State of Tennessee voter registration card (the supporting documents are on file with the Sullivan County Election Commission Office; digital copies are attached here), and that his other talk radio show hosting-son, Timothy Hill, stated during his "Good Morning, Tri-Cities" radio program that his father was not an American Indian, nor was there was not any significant Native American ancestor found in close proximity along his Hill family bloodline.

The Federal Communication Commission does have an Indian Tribal Initiative program that seeks to provide Native Americans with greater abilities, assistance programs and resources to participate ant to compete within the U.S. telecommunications industry (including both AM and FM radio broadcasting), but there is no indication that Dr. Hill affirmed his race as American Indian in order to receive any consideration within the FCC Indian Tribal Initiative program.


Federal Communications Commission Indian Tribal Initiatives Site Map.

Indian Tribal Initiatives brochure.

FCC MQ AM Radio Database Query [AM Query (detailed output + CDBS links) the data files used for this query are updated each morning].

FCC MQ FM Radio Database Query [MM Query (detailed output + CDBS links) the data files used for this query are updated each morning].

(Search by WPWT 870 AM or WHCB 91.5 FM or use the FCC file numbers:

BON - 20040310AAO (FCC 323 Ownership Report for Commercial Broadcast Stations)

BON - 20040310ACH (FCC 323 Ownership Report for Commercial Broadcast Stations)

BOA - 20030501AAT (FCC 323 Ownership Report for Commercial Broadcast Stations)

BOA - 20030501AAV (FCC 323 Ownership Report for Commercial Broadcast Stations)
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These next three posts provide links that help demonstrate the campaign financial relationships between the Tenn. Conservative PAC, the State of Franklin PAC, Rep. Matthew Hill, and the various Gregory family members (formerly of King Pharmaceuticals' Inc.).

This information was collected from various public sources, including: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 10-K (yearly reports); U.S. Federal Communications Commission for both Appalachian Educational Communications Corporation (WHCB) and Information Communications Corporation (WPWT);
Tennessee Secretary of State Business Information searches; Tennessee Secretary of State Election Campaign Finance (using the downloaded code forthe online TNSOS campaign finance reports and combined Q1, Q2, and Q3 2004 report, and various web sites for the Bristol, Tennessee based SJ Strategic Investments (Gregory owned including Leitner Pharmaceuticals) and the King Benevolent Fund.

The Tenn Con PAC address is 340 Edgemont Ave. in Bristol (the Gregory owned Leitner building). Everyone who donated money is a Gregory, or is very intimately tied to them. Of the approximately $221,000 donated, $215,000 came from the Gregorys. Almost all of this money went to the candidates, just like Hilly boy, who promised to toe the Gregory line.

Check out how the Tenn. Conservative PAC is paying SJ Strategic Investments $170 monthly rent for office space within a $4.22 million dollar property or the Lazarus Foundation office within the Leitner Pharmaceutical Building.

*I have this as an html file, but I have been having trouble posting it. Hopefully I can find a website to save this to and then I can link to it from here. Or if you are interested I can email it to you.

Links:

Tennessee Secretary of State
Tennessee Secretary of State Business
TN SOS Business Information Search
TN Business Name Availability Search
Tennessee Secretary of State Elections
TNSOS Election Calendar
TNSOS Campaign Finance
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The treasurer of this PAC is employed at 340 Edgemont Ave. in Bristol (the Gregory owned Leitner building). They gave out over $27,000 to their handpicked candidates.

*I have this as an html file, but I have been having trouble posting it. Hopefully I can find a website to save this to and then I can link to it from here. Or if you are interested I can email it to you.

Links:

Tennessee Secretary of State
Tennessee Secretary of State Business
TN SOS Business Information Search
TN Business Name Availability Search
Tennessee Secretary of State Elections
TNSOS Election Calendar
TNSOS Campaign Finance
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Hilly boy received $27,625 in pre-primary contributions, $12,650 in post-primary contributions and $12,200 in pre-general contributions. Of that total $34,525 came from Gregory & friends. Very little of his campaign contributions actually came from the 7th District. That is why I don’t like or want Hilly boy in office.

*I have this as an html file, but I have been having trouble posting it. Hopefully I can find a website to save this to and then I can link to it from here. Or if you are interested I can email it to you.

Links:

Tennessee Secretary of State
Tennessee Secretary of State Business
TN SOS Business Information Search
TN Business Name Availability Search
Tennessee Secretary of State Elections
TNSOS Election Calendar
TNSOS Campaign Finance
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