Monday, August 29, 2005
Ethics, Smethics
I completely forgot to publicize this article about Mr. Hargett. This former speaker of the house quit his job there so he could be a lobbyist for Pfizer. This is the epitome of unethical government behavior. Pfizer knows that ripping consumers off has to be protected and the best way to do that is to get in the pockets of legislators, just like our own Hilly boy. This definitely explains why Hargett sent a letter to the JC Press praising Hilly boy. Hargett probably wanted to work for King Pharmaceuticals, at least until the higher paying Pfizer came knocking.
Of course, the Democrats are stupid for not supporting the bill calling for legislators to wait one year before becoming a lobbyist after leaving the Legislature. That would have stopped this for at least a year.
Unlike Hilly boy, even Rep. David Davis is not too happy with Hargett:
and...
In unrelated news, Hilly boy has his coffee shop up for sale. I guess the Gregory's are not too fond of supporting a business that loses money simply for the sake of appearances. Anyway, its only purpose was for Hilly boy to pose as a pseudo-business owner during the election. Supposedly he has had it for sale ever since he won the election. And as I have suspected, when Hilly boy is done using something, he will discard it after he gets what he wants. I would guess the voters of the 7th District are next.
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“If there was ever any question that the Tennessee Republican Party is in the back pocket of the drug companies, this ought to settle it. As it turns out, Representative Hargett got out just in time — just one week after his party told the Legislature’s Joint Ethics Committee that it wanted a new ‘revolving door’ policy. ... There’s no doubt: Pfizer and the drug companies own the Tennessee Republican Party.”
Of course, the Democrats are stupid for not supporting the bill calling for legislators to wait one year before becoming a lobbyist after leaving the Legislature. That would have stopped this for at least a year.
Unlike Hilly boy, even Rep. David Davis is not too happy with Hargett:
Davis said the one-year cooling-off period before exiting state lawmakers can become lobbyists is needed. Twenty-six states mandate a period of time that must elapse before a former legislator can represent clients before the legislature, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“I don’t care if they are a Republican or Democrat. ... I think that’s one of the things we need to do in ethics legislation is stop this revolving door,” Davis said.
and...
In unrelated news, Hilly boy has his coffee shop up for sale. I guess the Gregory's are not too fond of supporting a business that loses money simply for the sake of appearances. Anyway, its only purpose was for Hilly boy to pose as a pseudo-business owner during the election. Supposedly he has had it for sale ever since he won the election. And as I have suspected, when Hilly boy is done using something, he will discard it after he gets what he wants. I would guess the voters of the 7th District are next.
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Saturday, August 27, 2005
More Hilly boy News
Thank goodness Bredesen doesn’t agree with Hilly boy that it is not government’s place to create jobs.
and...
Here's some interesting news. I just don’t think Hilly boy had much to do with developing this tax break for businesses that hire disabled workers. I think he just asked if he could attach his name to something. I do wonder if Hilly boy will sponsor any other legislation that benefits companies that give jobs to people who presently are supported by TennCare. Will he sponsor tax credits to companies that hire minorities (or anyone for that matter) with a limited education and skill set? Probably not, since that seems to go against his anti-affirmative action leanings.
I definitely don’t think everything Hilly boy does is bad. I am just principally opposed to him as an outsider puppet of (mostly Gregory directed) PACs.
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and...
Here's some interesting news. I just don’t think Hilly boy had much to do with developing this tax break for businesses that hire disabled workers. I think he just asked if he could attach his name to something. I do wonder if Hilly boy will sponsor any other legislation that benefits companies that give jobs to people who presently are supported by TennCare. Will he sponsor tax credits to companies that hire minorities (or anyone for that matter) with a limited education and skill set? Probably not, since that seems to go against his anti-affirmative action leanings.
I definitely don’t think everything Hilly boy does is bad. I am just principally opposed to him as an outsider puppet of (mostly Gregory directed) PACs.
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Runaway Pharmacy Costs are Killing TennCare
Take a look at this article, written obviously from a hospital point of view. Regardless, I find Mr. Vonderfecht to be right on the mark here. Rising pharmacy costs, from the people who are funding Hilly boy, are what's killing TennCare.
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Pharmacy costs are "the most dangerous [threat] to the TennCare program. Since 2000, the portion of the TennCare budget used to pay pharmacy bills has more than quadrupled from $379 million to $1.6 billion. The number of TennCare prescriptions filled and paid for by taxpayer dollars has tripled."
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ALTACE Info
Here's a Drug Digest article about Drug Comparisons of ACE-Inhibitors. It includes ALTACE, which was developed by the Gregory clan & has earned them hundreds of millions in $ from TennCare contracts.
DrugDigest is a noncommercial, evidence-based, consumer health and drug information site dedicated to empowering consumers to make informed choices about drugs and treatment options. The entire site is available free of charge and can be accessed at
http://www.drugdigest.org/.
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DrugDigest is a noncommercial, evidence-based, consumer health and drug information site dedicated to empowering consumers to make informed choices about drugs and treatment options. The entire site is available free of charge and can be accessed at
http://www.drugdigest.org/.
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Did the Hilly boys fund their college through the family non-profit organization?
You might be interested to learn --- according to the Appalachian Educational Communications Corporation 2001 Form 990 filed with the Internal Revenue Service --- that AECC made "grants for scholarships, fellowships, student loans..."
This AECC scholarship activity was occurring about the same time that Rep. Matthew Hill (and possibly his brother Timothy) were enrolled as undergraduate students at ETSU --- do you suppose that the Hilly Boys were "Appalachian Educational Communications Corporation Scholars?"
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Senator Ramsey Files Campaign Expenditure with a Non-Existing Entity
Appalachian Radio Group (ARG) is a fictional, non-existing legal entity - Appalachian Radio Group is a moniker that both the State of Franklin PAC President Dr. Kenneth C. Hill and his son, State Rep. Matthew Hill refer to their combination of the 501(c)(3) tax exempt Appalachian Education Communications Corporation ( AECC ; primarily WHCB 91.5 FM , the Cameo Theatre [sic], and WHGG 1090 AM "The Mighty 1090") with the for-profit Information Communication Corporation ( ICC; WPWT 870 AM - Kenneth Hill owns a 51% ownership share of ICC while AECC owns the other 49% of WPWT):
RON RAMSEY
2004 Post-General
Category:
Post-General
10/24/2004 to 12/31/2004
APPALACHIAN RADIO GROUP
340 EDGEMONT AVE.
BRISTOL, TN 37620
11/11/2004 $320.00
FOR ADVERTISING
In actuality, Senator Ramsey should have properly listed either Information Communications Corporation or WPWT within his campaign expenditure reports as the for-profit WPWT 870 AM likely carried the Ramsey advertising.
Searches of both Federal Communications Commission license/ownership records and Sullivan County business licenses will bear out that Ramsey's incorrect listing of Appalachian Radio Group is an attempt to distance his campaign expenditures with a radio station owned by the State of Franklin PAC President Kenneth C. Hill.
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RON RAMSEY
2004 Post-General
Category:
Post-General
10/24/2004 to 12/31/2004
APPALACHIAN RADIO GROUP
340 EDGEMONT AVE.
BRISTOL, TN 37620
11/11/2004 $320.00
FOR ADVERTISING
In actuality, Senator Ramsey should have properly listed either Information Communications Corporation or WPWT within his campaign expenditure reports as the for-profit WPWT 870 AM likely carried the Ramsey advertising.
Searches of both Federal Communications Commission license/ownership records and Sullivan County business licenses will bear out that Ramsey's incorrect listing of Appalachian Radio Group is an attempt to distance his campaign expenditures with a radio station owned by the State of Franklin PAC President Kenneth C. Hill.
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Boss Ramsey: He's A Good Ol' Boy - Post by Melvin Purvis
I think that Boss Ramsey calling for the federal investigation of Senator Ford (a black former state senator from Memphis, in part for his spending part his campaign funds for a personal expenditure --- paying for his daughter's wedding) is a extremely good example of "the kettle calling the pot black" that is demonstrating a strong racial bias of the part of the federal and state investigators...feel free to use that observation if it rings true for you.
Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and accounting practices of various federal agencies (such as the Internal Revenue Service) define non-monetary assets ---such as the two "campaign" cars purchased by Tennessee State Senator Ron Ramsey) --- much differently from the definition of expenses pertaining to the use of campaign funds as cited within T.C.A § 2-10-114(7)(b).
In a basic accounting interpretation of the campaign finance laws in Tennessee, campaign expenses would simply cover the costs consumed (e.g. gasoline expense, automotive repair expense, motor vehicle rental expense, etc.) in the "...process of producing revenue", that is to say, generating campaign dollars for the re-election of Ramsey.
As I read it, Ramsey tripped up with state law (never mind senate ethics) by attempting to rationalize his purchase of his two personal automobiles ("legislative cars") with his campaign funds by acquiring these two motor vehicles under the guise of a T.C.A. § 2-10-102 (6)(A)(B) chapter definition of expenditure.
And perhaps unfortunately for Boss Ramsey, the Tennessee senate majority leader missed one important phrase that seemingly negates his legal use of campaign funds to purchase a set of campaign cars: as used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 2-10-102. Chapter definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
[...]
(6)(A)"Expenditure" means a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing a measure or the nomination for election or election of any person to public office;
(B) "Expenditure" also includes the use of campaign funds by an officeholder for the furtherance of the office of the officeholder;
[...]
In my estimation, it is the following section of state law that actually cites the pertinent legal use of campaign funds (and more specially, campaign expenses) in Tennessee --- T.C.A § 2-10-114(a)(7) and § 2-10-114< both define the letter of Tennessee state law with regard to "...any ordinary and necessary expenses", all without any provision by state law allowing politicians to acquire non-monetary assets with campaign funds:
Tennessee Code Annotated § 2-10-114.
Campaign funds - Allocation of unexpended contributions - Use of funds.
(a) Any candidate for public office in this state with an unexpended balance of contributions after the election shall elect one (1) or a combination of the following for allocation of such funds within sixty (60) days of such election:
[...]
(7) The funds may be used to defray any ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the office of the officeholder. Such expenses may include, but are not limited to, the cost of advertisements, membership fees, and donations to community causes.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (a), no candidate for public office shall use any campaign funds either prior to, during or after an election for such candidate's own personal financial benefit or any other nonpolitical purpose as defined by federal internal revenue code. A violation of this subsection (b) is a Class 2 offense as defined in § 2-10-110(a)(2).
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Thursday, August 11, 2005
Ramsey's other legislative car (not the Caddie)
As the Dukes say, "Yeeee-hawwwww!" And just for fun, here's the WATE (Knoxville TN TV station) Ramsey speeding forum board.
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Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Cruisin' in My Cadillac (Ramsey, not Jack Johnson)
In a follow up story to the original report on Ramsey, he changed course a little. Previously Ramsey said he had never heard from the guy who taped him, though now Ramsey admits they had multiple correspondences. Additionally, Ramsey now says he may have been speeding. Nice admission.
I think my favorite part of this story is how Ramsey admits that his "legislative car" is a 2001 Cadillac. Must be pretty rough to be him.
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I think my favorite part of this story is how Ramsey admits that his "legislative car" is a 2001 Cadillac. Must be pretty rough to be him.
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Monday, August 08, 2005
Speed Demon Ron Ramsey
As much as I loved the comments on the previous post, I felt obligated to pass on this info. I don't really have that much of an opinion on Ron Ramsey, but since he wants to be the next governor he keeps popping up in the news. It appears that Mr. Ramsey has quite a lead foot, according to this Republican speed detector. On the first link you can actually see video of Ramsey in action. I also found this article that described one of Ramsey's staff members, who makes $76,000. Nice job if you can get it. Scroll down to the post titled "NEXT-A Waste of Money?"
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Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Post by Reformer: Rep. Matthew "Tommy Boy" Hill - Closet Liberal
No, no, it is not what you may be thinking...this posting is just
an observation about what literally is coming out of the
Jonesborough closet of State Rep. Matthew Hill: clothing with the
Tommy Hilfiger designer label.
Voice Monthly recently featured a news
article pertaining to both State Rep. Matthew Hill and his wife
within the July edition of the monthly, throw-away tabloid
publication based within Northeast Tennessee.
This edition of Voice Monthly featured a much enlarged campaign
photo revealing that Hilly boy, is in fact, a Tommy Boy.
While claiming to be non-political through a disclaimer at the
end of the text, Voice Monthly published two photos directly from
the Hill campaign files, including a Voice cover choice featuring
Rep. Hill wearing his Tommy Hilfiger designer label shirt.
Rep. Hill recently commented during a brief appearance of the WPWT
"Local View with Jody Lee" talk show that "...not everyone needs
to wear Tommy Hilfiger [in order] to survive."
Apparently, Hilly boy does.
This is a particularly strange fashion choice for Rep. Hill as the
designer Tommy Hilfiger is himself a noted and generous
contributor to Democratic political campaign causes and
candidates. During the 2004 Presidential elections back at the
Hill Rez, various guests and WPWT hosts were pitching "W"
branded ketchups as the more politically prudent (albeit, more
highly priced per the Barnum Theory) alternative for the
Republican ketchup connoisseurs who became repulsed at the
thought of dousing their GOP Freedom Fries with any Heinz branded
condiment.
Other bizarre Tommy Boy links:
Refuge --- a faith-based youth program of Love in Action
International that runs a religion-based, boot camp program
in Memphis intended to change the sexual orientation of gay men
and women prohibits wearing of Tommy Hilfiger labeled clothing,
according to the July 17, 2005 issue of the NY Times.
Mr Gay Nottingham (UK) Julien Chambon, 22, attributed 2003 title
win to wearing Tommy Hilfiger pants (or is that underwear?)
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Hilly boy's favorite family
Here is yet another Gregory owned interest that is headquartered at 340 Edgemont Ave. in Bristol, TN. Susan Gregory’s Ride Revolution is located out on the Johnson City "Motor Mile" (Bristol Highway) across the highway from Greystoke KIA-Jeep. Susan Gregory made sizeable campaign contributions to the TNCON PAC and to the MATTHEW HILL election campaign (at least $6000).
Recently I heard a local radio host on 92.7 talk about how much of a conflict of interest it is for Hilly boy and family to be so entwined with this Gregory property. Hopefully more people will continue to take notice.
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Recently I heard a local radio host on 92.7 talk about how much of a conflict of interest it is for Hilly boy and family to be so entwined with this Gregory property. Hopefully more people will continue to take notice.
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Magical Matthew Hill
I was e-mailed this info, and it is at least amusing if nothing else.
Hilly boy’s daddy’s radio station, WHCB, sponsors a series of camps each year. What is interesting is that campers can take courses in magic, among other things. This is a little humorous simply because of how much disgust many of Hilly boy’s supporters have for Harry Potter and the subject of magic. They might want to look at their own representative too.
Another interesting thing about WHCB is the cost of their camps:
• $240 for two weeks
• $120 for one week
• $130 for a half day for two weeks
• $65 for a half day for one week
• $50 for one class for one week
• $35 one class for two weeks
That is an awful lot of money considering how much Gregory money the Hills swim in.
With a scent of tele-evenagelist like zeal, here are a few excerpts from the Hill reservation’s station Web site:
• “Many listeners like to Underwrite a full day or half day of broadcasting: Full Day Underwriting $1200, Half Day Underwriting $600”
• “Purchase a book from Dr. Kenneth Hill.” [Isn’t the public so privileged to be able to buy books from Daddy Hill himself?]
• “If God so directs and desires, He can actually pour the thousands and even millions, of dollars
directly into His work when He knows that His children will be unobstructed channels.”
• “WHCB 91.5f FM is listener supported, non-commercial, educational, broadcast service owned and operated by Appalachian Educational Communication Corporation (AECC). AECC is an educational,
non-profit, IRS-approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. WHCB needs and appreciates your financial support. WHCB 91.5 FM maintains programs where Bible teaching takes precedence above any other type of programming.” [Forgetting for a moment that the Cameo Theatre --- owned by AECC --- was used to screen a partisan political film attacking 2004 U.S. Presidential candidate John Kerry, an act that is illegal for non-profits]
• "... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. [MAT 25:40]” [Why does the Hill rez suggest that they themselves are the least of these?]
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