Doing Dunn
Posted on June 26, 2009 at 8:02 am
Yesterday, it was reported that Rep. Bill Dunn of Knoxville when he was the state House Minority Leader in 2006, received $15,000 in political contributions from Bill Haslam and his family. The money was given to a leadership PAC, GET R DUNN, which is now closed.
This little tidbit comes up because Bill Dunn was the lone Republican to vote against a bill in committee during the last day of the legislative session which would have lifted the ban on raising political contributions during session.
This, of course, was a devastating blow to the gubernatorial campaign of Lt. Ron Ramsey who desperately needs to raise funds during session next year to be able to compete with Bill Haslam, whose ability to self-finance is well known and well-established.
So, is this a big deal that Dunn received this money three years ago? Does it mean that Dunn is in the pocket of Haslam, that he was returning a favor for the Haslam family support back then?
I mean that’s the implication here, right? What other reason is there to report such a thing unless one thinks that it is a reasonable conclusion to draw from the facts?
The interesting thing is that another reporter who picked up the story clearly doesn’t think so. Tom Humphrey at the end of his blog post on the story, a blog post that could lead the reader to believe Dunn was in Haslam’s pocket, adds a disclaimer.
“Note: Dunn has had an impeccable reputation for honesty that, so far as an old reporter can recall, has not been subject to challenge,” Humphrey wrote.
A bit of a mixed message there it would seem. After all, the Haslam family is very generous to Republican causes and candidates. Ron Ramsey himself has received money from Haslam. Many many Republicans have.
If I were looking for motive, I wouldn’t be looking at the money per se. I would look at the reason why that Dunn PAC got the money from is now closed. The reason, of course, is that a representative who has been ousted from leadership has little need for a PAC.
Leadership PACs are for raising money for political friends in order to get and keep their votes when you run for leadership. Bill Dunn is no longer in leadership.
Why is that? Well, he was replaced by Jason Mumpower, a protege of Ron Ramsey. Ramsey back when House Republicans were choosing their leadership in 2006 was the Senate Minority Leader and likely had already made his deal with Senator Rosalind Kurita and knew he was on the cusp of being Lt. Governor.
Building a Republican majority in the house to compliment what was to become his Senate Majority was likely very important to Ramsey, still is. Even more important than building a Republican Majority was building a Republican majority which had loyalty to him. A Bill Dunn-led House Republican Caucus would have been an ally for Ron Ramsey. A Jason Mumpower-led Majority was a better one.
Now, like Tom Humphrey says, Bill Dunn has an impeccable reputation for honesty and the like, and would not put petty grievances above his unvarnished and studious investigation of legislation. However, if one were looking for a ulterior motive for Dunn’s vote, a look at that leadership vote back in the day would seem as good as any.
In the end it doesn’t really matter. A Democrat, Rep. Mike Turner, voted for the measure and another Democratic vote, Craig Fitzhugh, changed at the last moment from yes to no. Bill Dunn shouldn’t bear the the brunt of the weight for this vote.
Because in the end, while it may be unfair for legislator to be impeded raising money for the a gubernatorial race while the legislature is session, nobody really cared out this rule until 2010 approached.
The passing of this bill, whenever it happens, if it happens, is going to look bad. Ramsey might be able to raise money but he will be seen as having pushed through a piece of legislation which he personally benefits from.
That and the fact daily stories about this Ramsey donor or that one who had business before the legislature will become a frequent occurrence if this bill passes. The money he can raise may be cancelled out by the heat he gets for changing the law and taking the money.
Ramsey has been put in a tight spot here, that much is true. But Bill Dunn’s vote and whatever the reasoning behind it, is the least of Ron Ramsey’s trouble now.
UPDATE: Rep. Mike Turner in the comments:
“I voted for the bill because it would help level the playing field, which is tilted towards money and wealth. As for my friend Bill Dunn done he is one of the most honest thoughtful people i have ever met, his argument against the bill was solid and reasoned. He pointed out that my reason’s for voting for the bill might be correct but he thought it sent the wrong message and might open the system to abuse, which is also a sound reasoning. How ever he made a better case against the bill than I did for it and even convinced Craig Fitzhugh ( another honest and reasoned person ) to change his vote. However we still have system that favors the wealthy when it comes to fundraising and we will look at this bill again in January, when we will not be up against a deadline ( the ending of the session ) and have more time to look at both the pro’s and con’s of the bill.”
They Can Flap Their Gums All They Want
Posted on May 16, 2009 at 7:24 pmLt. Gov. Ron Ramsey spits a line you will no doubt hear on the campaign trail from him in some shape or form almost continuously until at least August 2010:
“Mayor Haslam mentioned a lot about education,” Lt. Gov. Ramsey said. “I’m kind of a been-there, done-that kind of guy. Some of these guys can talk the talk and are good people, but I’m the only who’s been there and walked the walk.”
Blogger Thinks Haslam Dodging Conservative New Media
Posted on May 12, 2009 at 7:31 amJohn Scott reports:
The Tennessee ConserVOLiance, an alliance of right-of-center new media activists in Tennessee, is hosting a series of forums to introduce the candidates to bloggers and those bloggers to the candidates. Each meeting consists of the candidate speaking to the attendees for about half the meeting time and then answering questions for the remainder of the time. The candidates are on the record for the entire time, and field any and all questions posed. All of the candidates have been invited to participate. Zach Wamp began the forum in March, meeting three different times with bloggers in each of Tennessee’s grand divisions - East, Middle, and West Tennessee. Bill Gibbons followed suit in April. Ron Ramsey is scheduled to do the same in June.
What happened to May? Well, that was expected to be the month for Bill Haslam to take a turn. At least a half dozen emails and as many phone calls have been placed to the Haslam campaign over the last 60 days to line up his forum dates. While the other candidates were eager to participate, to date the responses from the Haslam campaign have reportedly been non-committal. There seems to be a significant contrast between Mr. Haslam’s feelings about new media and that of the other candidates.
UPDATE: Just communicated with Haslam campaign manager Jeremy Harrell and he assures Post Politics that the Haslam campaign is very interested in meeting with the state conservative alternative media and has been in communication with ConserVOLiance big cheese Ken Marrero AKA Blue Collar Muse about coordinating meetups just like the other GOP candidates.
May is still a possibility although some cities of the blogger tour may have to wait until June.
UPDATE II: Ken Marrero apparently has a different take on the negogiations:
I have sent at least a half dozen emails and made as many phone calls to the Haslam campaign over the last 60 days trying to line up Forum dates for Haslam in May. You may have noticed that I haven’t got any Haslam forums schdeduled for May. That’s because, while I have received a couple of responses from the campaign, they have been pretty non-commital. I have reached the conclusion that reaching out to Bloggers, New Media and other eActivists is not a priority for the Haslam campaign at this time. Perhaps that will change for any one of a number of reasons. But to let the matter pass without noting it is unfair to the other candidates who have made themselves available to us, faced our questions and addressed our concerns. More to the point, the entire idea of candidate forums with bloggers came about because one of the candidates, Zach Wamp, approached us first. General Gibbons and Lt. Governor Ramsey have also been eager to meet with us. That one of the four candidates chooses not to participate is as noteworthy as if they had all accepted or declined the opportunity. In any event, some of you have asked me about the Haslam forum and that is the answer.
Very Slightly, I Would Say
Posted on May 1, 2009 at 3:10 pmThe Washington Post says the chances of the Democrat’s holding the executive residence in Tennessee has improved:
6. Tennessee (D): Democrats’ chances of holding the Tennessee governorship improved slightly last week when Mike McWherter, the son of legendary Volunteer State Governor Ned Ray McWherter, announced he would seek the state’s top office. Thanks to his well-known last name, McWherter is the favorite in the Democratic primary although it remains to be seen how good a candidate he will be in his own right. Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam remains the frontrunner for the GOP nod and would start a general election with an advantage over any of the Democratic candidates. (Previous ranking: 5)
UPDATE: So do you agree? Is Mike Wherter the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination?
Loading ...SHOCKER: Mayor Will Raise No Taxes During His Gubernatorial Campaign
Posted on at 1:13 pmFrom Hayes Hickman:
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam unveiled his new budget this afternoon and, as expected, does look like the current budget.
The $165.3 million budget does not contain any new taxes.
A $3 million revenue shortfall has been shored up by cutting expenses by $3 million. He also said the city will not have to dip into its fund balance for operating expenses.
Bye, Bye To Tom Ingram
Posted on April 30, 2009 at 4:06 pmDC says farewell to the man who will architect the gubernatorial campaign of Bill Haslam:
And, last night Sen. Lamar Alexander’s longtime COS, Tom Ingram, held a rather festive farewell party at The Monocle.
It was a packed house, with Sens. Lamar Alexander, Mitch McConnell, Mark Warner, Bob Corker and Former Labor Sec Elaine Chao, plus Minority Leader John Boehner, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the White House Legislative team, Chuck Schumer’s CoS Mike Lynch, new staff director of the SRC Ryan Loskarn, Jim Jeffries with Alexander, Denzel McGuire of Kyl’s office, Stephen Replogle with the SRC, Rhonda Bentz of Navigators LLC and Jen Morris of McConnell’s office.
Guests were treated to a warm and funny speech by Sen. Mark Pryor’s COS Bobby Russell, Ingram’s DC roommate and cofounder with Ingram of the Bipartisan Chiefs of Staff breakfasts.
Putnam County Presidents’ Day Dinner Hosted At Tech
Posted on April 28, 2009 at 5:42 pmFrom the Daily News:
The Presidents’ Day dinner will be held this Saturday evening at the campus of Tennessee Tech University at 6:00 P.M. in the Roaden University Center on the second floor in the multi-purpose room.
Tre Hargett , Tennessee Secretary of State will be the featured speaker with Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, Mayor of Knoxville Bill Haslam, and Lt. Gen. Dave Evans as other notable speakers.
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Wilson County Gubernatorial Straw Poll
Posted on April 20, 2009 at 10:44 amResults of from the county’s “Presidential Dinner” via Zach Wamp’s Twitter:
Wamp-55
Ramsey-51
Haslam-16
Gibbons-8
A Kooky Entry On The Kook Power Rankings
Posted on April 17, 2009 at 8:23 amMaybe I’m missing something but how does Mayor Haslam’s family’s settlement of price-gouging lawsuit make him a “kook”? I don’t get it.
3. Mayor Bill Haslam: The Knoxville mayor and top GOP gubernatorial candidate settled a price gouging case with the attorney general for ripping off customers of his Pilot Travel Centers during Hurricane Ike. He’s also rumored to charge neighbor kids 20 bucks for the privilege of mowing his lawn.
TNDP Gets In On The Haslam Bashing
Posted on April 16, 2009 at 2:22 pmNo sense in letting a good Republican connection to price-gouging during a rough economy go to waste:
The Tennessee Democratic Party has helped bring attention to the price gouging by Pilot Corp. and other gas stations in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Pilot Corp. was caught marking up prices at three gas stations in Knoxville and one in Powell.
TNDP Chairman Chip Forrester praised the settlement. “In the wake of a natural disaster, oil companies made a huge profit at the expense of drivers all over the country. I’m happy that Tennesseans are finally getting their money back,” Forrester said.
Bill Haslam is the former vice-president of Pilot Corporation, a petroleum corporation founded by his father Jim Haslam and headquarted in Knoxville. Haslam is currently the mayor of Knoxville and also a Republican candidate for Governor.
Ramsey On The Haslam Truck Stop Price-Gouging Settlement
Posted on at 12:52 pmThe Lt. Governor subtly confirms, yes, you will likely see this in a mailer some day:
“I won’t bring that up … yet. The fact that this is the third state that’s happened in, I wasn’t going to point that out.”
UPDATE: Democrat Ward Cammack gives us a little general election preview:
“Government should never allow unscrupulous businesses to take advantage of consumers during times of crisis. As governor, my administration will build on Governor Bredesen’s vigilance in cracking down on such indefensible actions.”
Haslam Truck Stops Settle With AG Over Price Gouging
Posted on at 10:35 amPilot Oil and Pilot Travel Centers are among many gas retailers settling with the state this morning over alleged price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Customers from four Haslam-family owned stores will be eligible for refund:
Attorney General Bob Cooper filed settlements today with 16 companies and individuals who own 27 gas stations in Middle and East Tennessee over allegations of price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Once signed by a judge, the settlements will result in $73,447 in potential restitution for consumers. Collectively, the settlements amount to the largest enforcement sweep under the State’s price gouging statutes in the State’s history. The Attorney General also filed suit against Knoxville-area retailer, Weigel Stores, Inc., for alleged unlawful price increases under the Tennessee Price Gouging Act of 2002 and the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act at seven gas stations.
“In these trying economic times, consumers need their hard-earned dollars to stretch as far as possible. I want to make sure that consumers are treated fairly – especially at the pump,” said Bob Cooper. “Tennessee laws make a distinction between profits and profiteering. Under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, it is unlawful to unreasonably raise the price of an essential consumer good in response to a natural disaster, crime, or act of terrorism regardless of whether those events occurred in Tennessee or somewhere else.”
See the full release here.
UPDATE: Haslam responds:
“I’m proud to be a part of a Tennessee family business that employs almost 14,000 Americans in 40 states - over 1,800 of them in Tennessee.
“When you have that many employees, there are bound to be occasional issues. The company’s commitment always has been to deal with those issues quickly and in the best interests of its customers.
“I’m sure that’s what is happening this time.”
SEE ALSO: The company fighting the AG sends notice.
The Gubernatorial Battleground
Posted on April 13, 2009 at 8:00 amWe’re right in the middle of it:
“The growth of our party in the last 20 years has very much been in this collar around Nashville,” said Rep. Wamp, a declared candidate, of the socalled “collar counties” around the state capital. “Without a candidate in the Republican Party at this point from (Middle Tennessee), it’s a real battleground.” East Tennessee counties remain Republicans’ main base with Chattanooga, Knoxville and Tri-cities media markets reaching some 49 percent of the GOP primary vote in Republicans’ 2006 U.S. Senate primary, according to election returns.
Lt. Gov. Ramsey, R-Blountville, the state Senate speaker who is testing the waters for a bid, said conventional wisdom holds that he, the congressman and Mr. Haslam would split East Tennessee since each has power bases there.
The declared candidate from West Tennessee, District Attorney Gibbons, likely will take the Shelby County area, he said.
“So the two most important areas in this gubernatorial race in my opinion are the collar counties around Nashville… and rural West Tennessee including Jackson,” Lt. Gov. Ramsey said.
The Middle Tennessee collar counties include Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Robertson and Cheatham. Once largely rural, they have exploded in growth in recent years. And many of their new voters are Republican. “All of us understand that Middle Tennessee is going to be a major battleground on the Republican side,” said District Attorney Gibbons. “At this point there’s no candidate from Middle Tennessee. My guess is there won’t be.” Mayor Haslam, also a declared candidate, said he intends to compete in all areas of the state but noted, “Middle Tennessee is an essential part of that.”
(FT: Woods)
Bill Haslam Joined The NRA In ‘Late February Or Early March’
Posted on April 9, 2009 at 6:49 pmR. Neal hears Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam saying that the Mayors Against Illegal Guns group he recently left has shifted course, he just doesn’t see the evidence:
In defense of what some might perceive as pandering to the NRA crowd, Mayor Haslam says the Mayors Against Illegal Guns group, which claims more than 300 mayors from across America as members, went off in a different direction after he joined.
Looking over their website, I don’t see much if any policy shift. And while some of their proposals may not sit well with gun enthusiasts, who oppose any and all gun regulation, the group certainly isn’t proposing anything as remotely radical as banning guns.
You can see the Bill Haslam’s letter to MAIG here. The March 19 doesn’t provide specifics. Bill Haslam, by the way, also recently joined the National Rifle Association, according to a spokesman, in late February or early March.
The Adjective, Not The Noun
Posted on at 9:01 amDiscussing gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam on guns — and generally:
Haslam may be conservative but he is not a conservative.
He can claim the adjective, but not the noun. He is not a man animated by red meat conservative cultural issues. His handlers may mold a message and create a persona that gives the impression to conservatives that he is “one of them” but it will be just that: a creation.
Sen. Kyle Says Ramsey Can Resign If He Doesn’t Like Fundraising Rules
Posted on April 2, 2009 at 8:20 amThe Memphis state Senator on the Lt. Governor’s complains about not being able to raise funds for gubernatorial race during session:
“The governor himself can raise money,” Lt. Gov. Ramsey said. “If you’re a sitting congressman you can raise money. Why shouldn’t someone in the legislature, if they’re running for an office, also be able to raise money?”
Sen. Kyle said he agrees with the lieutenant governor to “an extent.” But he pointed out that Sen. Ramsey and Senate Republicans opposed changing state law several years ago to allow two Democratic House members running in special Senate elections to raise funds back home.
“I’m not necessarily supportive based on the positions he and other Republicans have taken over the years,” Sen. Kyle said.
“Ron has a simple remedy,” Sen. Kyle said, recalling how his wife resigned a judgeship to run for the then-state Public Service Commission. “There’s no rule that Ron has to be in the Senate.”
Asked about Lt. Gov. Ramsey’s remarks, Mr. Haslam, a declared candidate, grinned and said, “I’m not worried about Ron. He’ll be OK. I’m assuming they put the law in for a lot of reasons, and I don’t know that I even have an opinion on that. Selfishly, I like it the way it is now.”
But he said, “If they’re going to change it, they need to go back and review why it was put in place in the first place.”
Additional commentary on the issue here.
Haslam Leaves Mayors Against Guns Group?
Posted on April 1, 2009 at 3:32 pmConservatives have had a lot of questions about Haslam’s involvement in the group but now Say Uncle reports the Mayor is no longer listed on the website.
UPDATE: Haslam campaign manager Jeremy Harrell on the Mayor’s disappearance from the list:
Bill has resigned from the group. He did so because he believes MAIG has expanded its mission in ways that go far beyond fighting criminal gun use, including a number of ideas that he does not share.
BLAST FROM THE PAST: In January, Haslam expresses concern that he would appear to be “pandering” to pro-gun folks if he quit the group.
Haslam, I’m Guessing, Doesn’t Have Pics Like These
Posted on at 11:50 am
Lt. Governor and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey at a legislative range day. Rep. Stacey Campfield looks on.
SEE ALSO: Say Uncle
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