The Limits Are The Thing
Posted on May 18, 2009 at 8:09 amWhile Ron Ramsey seems optimistic about passing a bill this session that would free up he and other gubernatorial candidates across the aisle to raise money during next year’s legislative session, Kent Williams is not so sure noting that the bill, progressing nicely in the Senate, finds itself in a closed House subcommittee.
Either way, what is noteworthy about this bill is not just the lifting of the legislative ban. Certainly, this is important for all candidates but another portion of the bill is just as important, if not more.
This bill retroactively indexes for inflation the limits individual contributors can give to a candidate over a two year period. A bump from $2,000 to $2,800 for legislative candidates and a bump from $5,000 to $7,000 for gubernatorial candidates.
That is big. Now no Republican is going to be able to match the dollars that Bill Haslam spends, just as no Democrat will be able to match Ward Cammack. It isn’t about catching them because even if they were caught, each could simply write a check.
The point is funding the campaign they need to run the race they need to run. And a legislator is going to be hard pressed to fund a viable campaign with contribution limits set in 1995 and a fundraising ban during much of the year. The campaigns can manage without one, but not both.
Ramsey can deal with the session band — if when session is out he can go to his biggest contributors and hit them up (and their wives and their children) for an extra 2K. You start getting 2K more a maxed out contributor, your coffers start filling up quick.
So while the focus in the media is on lifting the ban, indexing the limits are just as important. Ramsey, if he wants to mount a legitimate campaign against Haslam, can deal with a ban or unindexed limit — but not both.
A bill fixing one or both of these problems needs to pass before lawmakers leave for the year in a few weeks or the Ramsey campaign may be done before it even starts.
SEE ALSO: Daily News Journal
Celebrating The Democratic Gubernatorial Primary
Posted on May 7, 2009 at 2:39 pmWell, actually the President’s 100 Days:
Join the Union University College Democrats for their Celebration of the First 100 Days of the Obama Presidency. The evening will begin with a short business meeting of the Madison County Democratic Party Executive Committee on Union’s campus at 6:00 pm. Starting at 7:30 the newly-elected Madison County Chair, Attorney Robert Hill; TNDP Chair, Chip Forrester; Senator Lowe Finney and gubernatorial candidates Kim McMillan, Ward Cammack, Mike McWherter and Senator Roy Herron will speak.
Sweet Senate Democrats Elect To Swing Lowe
Posted on April 30, 2009 at 11:08 amSen. Lowe Finney will be the next Senate Democratic Caucus chair:
Senator Lowe Finney of Jackson was elected Thursday to succeed Senator Roy Herron as chair of the State Senate Democratic Caucus at the end of the current legislative session.
Senator Herron, of Dresden, has stated his intention to relinquish his position as caucus chair at the end of the session to run for governor.
“I am honored to serve the Senate and Tennessee as Democratic Caucus Chairman,” Senator Herron said. “I look forward to working with Senator Finney in his new responsibilities.
“I am confident that Lowe will work hard and do well by the caucus.”
Following his election on a unanimous vote, Senator Finney said:
“I am humbled by the confidence that my Senate Democratic Caucus colleagues have placed in me today. I will give it my best effort as we continue to work hard on the things that matter most to Tennesseans in these challenging times.
“I am grateful to Senator Herron for his thoughtful and thorough leadership as well as his friendship.”
SEE ALSO: Aunt B. and Mary Mancini, who will interview Finney in the near future.
How ‘Bout Ned Ray You Intend To Be Friends With Him?
Posted on April 26, 2009 at 8:01 pmSenator Roy Herron on the battle of Dresden, Tennessee gubernatorial candidates:
Asked about the announcement by Mike McWherter, son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, that he is also running for governor, Herron said “I’m not running against him. I’m running for governor.”
“We were friends before the election, and I intend to be friends after it. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about my good friend Mike McWherter.”
Roy Herron Will Have To Earn Every Vote
Posted on at 2:44 pmIncluding that of his communications director’s daughter. Jane Q. says she will not commit to a gubernatorial candidate until she knows where he or she stands on a issue near and dear to her heart:
What I need to know in order to make my decision is whether or not our next governor is willing to consider clemency for Abu Ali Abdur’Rahman. I’ll leave it to you to research his case if you’re unfamiliar, and explain that aside from the piss-poor case against him, he is absolutely the kindest, most thoughtful human being I know.
Abu is a dear friend and I do not want to see the State of Tennessee murder him. This issue is very personal to me, and the power our next governor will have over it affects me more than any other problem he or she could possibly handle.
So I need to know what the candidates will do about my friend. Then I will make my decision.
Cammack To Use His Financial Wizardry For Good Instead Of Evil
Posted on April 12, 2009 at 11:44 pmGubernatorial candidate Ward Cammack in a blog posting on the TNDP’s new social networking site gives his take on the financial crisis and more specifically the company formerly known as AIG. Spokesman Mark Brown tells us what to take away from the keen financial analysis of Cammack:
Ward has an understanding of the current economy that is unmatched in this field of candidates. To put it bluntly, the 21st Century economy is a complex beast, and we’re presently going through a reset. It’s important that we have political leaders that understand what’ s going on and can see beyond the old paradigms.
Yes, this is similar to some of the risks municipalities were taking with derivatives. Three of our opponents (Herron, McMillan, and Ramsey) voted to allow municipalities to purchase these, and I’m not sure any of them understood what they were voting for. Ward understand the complexities of contemporary financial transactions.
Throughout the campaign, we’ll use our online communications to address various issues. Some of them might not seem campaign related, but, to borrow from Mayor Dean, it’s all connected.
MORE: Post Business
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Herron A Go For Guv
Posted on April 8, 2009 at 7:07 amKen Whitehouse reports that the state senator representing some of the most economically distressed areas of the state is running for governor:
The word that has come down from on high – well, at least the 16th floor of the Nashville City Center – is that State Sen. Roy Herron (D-Dresden) is running for governor.
Herron’s name had been widely circulated in the Democratic ranks as being on the verge of throwing his hat into the 2010 governor’s race. According to several NashvillePost.com sources that were in the room, Herron said that he is definitely a candidate.
SEE ALSO: Newscoma
Do Senate Democrats Have An Agenda?
Posted on March 10, 2009 at 1:03 pmApparently not, but goshdarn it, they are sure in search of one.
A memo sent out about a bit over an hour ago by Senator Roy Herron, chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, calls attention to the need for a “theme” to define their “brand” as Senate Democrats. Several strategies are then thrown out to achieve the maximum publicity, ya know, after they figure out what it is they are about. From the memo:
Andy Berke was approached by a Chattanooga Times reporter yesterday who said the House Democrats have made their message clear, but he is not hearing one from the Republicans or us.
What about an overarching theme or themes that we want as our brand?
It has been suggested that we focus on the middle class. If so, what are the major issues under that heading that we want to roll out to the media over the next few weeks?
UPDATE: The TNGOP reacts
Funnelling The Theocratic Urge Through Constitutional Restraints
Posted on April 18, 2008 at 12:35 pmThe Jackson Sun editorializes in favor of Senator Roy Herron’s bill allowing public schools to teach the bible:
What makes Herron’s bill appealing is that he already has answered the constitutionality question. He has gotten an opinion from the state attorney general confirming the bill’s constitutionality. That means school systems should be able to offer the course, using the guidelines to be developed, without fear of being sued.
Another good thing about Herron’s bill is that it provides clarity to an often murky and emotional issue. It would create a workable framework for talking about the Bible in school, something people in Tennessee want to do and have been trying to do with mixed results for years.
Tennessee’s Unique Political Heritage
Posted on April 17, 2008 at 7:25 pmTennViews on the rejection of an informed consent abortion bill by the legislature:
Is there anywhere else in the U.S. besides the State of Tennessee where Democrats introduce pro-life legislation based on Heritage Foundation studies only to have it struck down by Republicans?
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