Two Tennessee legislators who are not focused on jobs
During this entire legislative session, I want to turn my attention to state legislators who waste our time and money instead of focusing on job creation.
Today I want to single out a Republican and a Democrat for their choice of priorities: booze and boobs. These two legislators need an earful from voters who deserve a government focused on making life easier for Tennessee’s job creators: small businesses.
Rep. Curry Todd (R-Collierville) kicked off his legislative agenda focused on his legislative priority: shutting down Nashville’s honky tonks.
Todd, a retired Memphis police officer, also filed a bill to cut off the sale of alcohol and beer at midnight. Todd said he believes most alcohol-influenced crimes occur after midnight.
But Sam Sanchez, owner of Sam’s Sports Bar and Grill, said such a law would hurt tax collections and eliminate jobs across the state.
“If I’m not mistaken, we’re coming up short already in tax collections,” Sanchez said. “So go ahead and come up much shorter and take away jobs while we’re at it. That’s not the right direction to be heading in.”
Sen. Doug Jackson (D-Dickson) kicked off his legislative agenda with a picture show of his favorite topic: Girls Gone Wild.
A proposal that would ban late-night TV ads showing half-naked young women is advancing in the Senate - again.
The measure sponsored by Democratic Sen. Doug Jackson of Dickson failed the last two legislative sessions. But it passed the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday 8-0, with one abstention.
The companion bill is scheduled to be heard by the Criminal Practice and Procedure Subcommittee next week.
Don’t email these guys. Call them. Make their time your time, and make them understand that will happen every time they stop working for the people of Tennessee.
Rep. Curry Todd (R-Collierville)
home: (901) 853-1348 (Sorry for waking you)
work: (615) 741-1866
Sen. Doug Jackson (D-Dickson)
voicemail that doesn’t work: (615) 446-5631 (nice touch, Senator)
work: (615) 741-4499
UPDATE 10:04 am: Rep. Todd’s secretary, Lisa Falkenbach, was nice enough to return my call this morning, but things went sour real quick. As Falkenbach proceeded to tell me there was a lot about Rep. Todd’s bill I didn’t understand and that the media wasn’t talking about, I asked her to explain what part was about jobs.
That’s when Falkenbach lost it. She told me to not interrupt her like that again. When I asked her if that’s how she speaks to her boss she said I wasn’t her boss and that I was “just a constituent.” When I set the record straight as to who pays her pay check and repeated that I would like to hear Rep. Todd talk about jobs, Falkenbach literally began crying on the phone. She explained how she’s a constituent too and doesn’t appreciate being spoken to like that. In the middle of mumbling something in tears, she hung up.
I’m sorry I brought her to tears, but Rep. Todd clearly doesn’t hear from the boss enough.
I’m all for the need for job creation but they can propose more than one bill at a time, man. I wouldn’t want legislators doing only one thing at a time. There’s too much that needs done.
I thought a standard line among Republicans and right-wing talk show hosts is that “Government cannot make jobs, business makes jobs.”
So why even try?
I totally agree, but when you kick off your legislative agenda on behalf of your constituents with anything but their #1 priority, you clearly aren’t listening to the boss.
These ridiculous bills and grandstanding can come after every minute that can be spent is spent on jobs, jobs, and jobs.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/WTVC-TV-NewsChannel-9-News/40397252103
Christian - Keep up the good work holding them accountable, most appreciated
Thanks Josh. Impressive community WTVC has built on Facebook. Wow.
I’m surprised someone hasn’t started whining yet about this poor staffer and how she’s “just a civilian” too, and how dare you make her cry!
Seriously, keep up the good work!
I certainly didn’t try to make her cry, and I don’t want to make anyone cry, especially public servants.
@Christian Grantham
I don’t know what you stand for or what you believe and I really don’t care, but I can see that you are typical common person. I mean “idiot” not person. My wife is not a public servant, but a state employee. I guess you are calling all state employees “public servants”. You might want to be careful of what you print it might get you in trouble. Some state employees may not want to be called “public servants”.
Larry, I do apologize if Lisa may or may not want to be called a “public servant” and / or prefers to be called a “state employee.” If that is the case and / or offends her, I’m happy to change it, but I haven’t heard any sort of concern from her.
I don’t know what you stand for or what you believe, either, but I’m sorry you feel like I’m an “idiot” and especially sorry you feel it necessary to call me that.
Good idea! After all of “Tennessee Waltz” problems a while back, the legislature needs watching by as many eyes as possible.
I really don’t understanding the purpose of the alcohol law… I mean, lets say most gun deaths happen during the day. Does that mean we ban gun use during that time?
I’d always thought “public servant” was a complimentary term, giving the person credit for performing public service. But I guess if someone resents providing service to the public, she’d prefer to be thought of as a state employee, presumably one whose motto is, “The public can go screw itself.”
Just for the record, GoldnI, at least a couple of people (not just Mr. Falkenbach) have, as you predicted, come to the defense of “this poor staffer.”
http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2010/02/10/hes-the-boss/