Tennessee Federation

Archive for January, 2006

The campaign to re-elect Governor Phil Bredesen said it raised $2.7 million during its seven-month fundraising period in 2005, bringing the campaign’s total funds raised to $5.7 million since 2003.

In documents filed today with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, the Bredesen campaign reported more than $4.4 million in cash on hand as of December 31, the end of the most recent reporting period. The re-elect campaign has received contributions from every county in Tennessee.

“I’m pleased to be headed into this election year with a broad base of financial support and the resources necessary to run a successful statewide campaign,” Bredesen said. “I’m particularly gratified by the grassroots support I’ve received from all 95 counties.”

In each of the past three years, the Bredesen re-elect campaign has raised funds from June through December following a self-imposed blackout period during legislative sessions. During each month of active fundraising, the campaign raised an average of about $272,000.

Bredesen’s re-elect campaign is believed to be Tennessee’s first gubernatorial campaign to voluntarily limit its annual fundraising window. The campaign will maintain the self-imposed blackout period — unless credible opposition emerges and begins fundraising during that period. In that case, the Bredesen campaign would exercise its legal right to do the same.

Assuming there is opposition, the Bredesen re-elect campaign has set a total fundraising goal of $15 million. The November 7 general election is 280 days away.

Source: Bredesen for Governor

Nashville – The Tennessee Federation of College Democrats recognizes that America is at a very important point in our history. Politicians who abuse the sacred trust of the American people have become so prevalent and their greed has reached such depths that it can no longer be swept under the rug. Our federal and state governments are both in the middle of re-writing laws that have been shredded by greed. We must all insist that strict ethics laws are enacted by both our federal and state representatives.

The time is now to fix the problem.

The Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives has been convicted four times of ethics violations, and is under indictment for money laundering; the Majority Leader in the Senate, one of our Senators, is under investigation, both criminally and civilly; and for the first time in 135 years someone working in the White House has been indicted. Here at home in Tennessee, long-trusted elected officials sold our trust for a few thousand dollars.

This has to end.
 
“We believe that ethics reforms should be of highest standards,” said Christy Holden, TFCD President. “Democrats are committed to making government once again open and honest.”

Democrats in Congress have proposed a plan to end business as usual in the nation’s capital. With their “Honest Leadership, Open Government” Act, Democrats pledge to:

• Fix the gift and travel rules that allowed the Jack Abramoffs of the world to buy Republican influence in Congress,
• Increase transparency and accountability in government,
• Allow the public to see exactly what their elected representatives are doing in Washington , and
• Close the revolving door between government and K Street lobbying firms.

“We will expose the deepest roots of the culture of corruption that has so pervasively strangled the Senate and House, and give the American people a government they can at last respect, because it will be a government that respects them,” said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY). “And my friends, together America can do better, because America is better. We’re going to take our country back. And we throw the gauntlet down today.”

An interesting game known as the Samuel Alito confirmation hearings began in Washington this week. The game will provide the American public with enough misleading quotes by conservative senators to fill up Scott McClellan’s press room. In yesterday’s kickoff, we heard from various conservatives who spun myths about the type of nominee they would like to have and would like the American public to think they have. It may be true that Alito maintains the credibility that nominee Meirs lacked, but he is a conservative — one who could prove to be more conservative than Justice Scalia and one with the ability to do serious damage to Roe v. Wade. So don’t let your local senators fool you — Mr. Alito is no moderate.

• Despite conservative senators’ claims, Alito has a history of legislating from the bench. Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) both praised Alito for showing judicial restraint throughout his career, but his record proves otherwise. While on the bench, Alito has stepped over judicial boundaries and overturned existing laws. He has been described as “an activist conservative judge” and even Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) admitted that Alito “was legislating” in the case of U.S. v. Rybar.
• Despite conservative senators’ claims, Alito has allowed his personal views to influence his work. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) claimed Alito never allowed his work to “influence political ends.” In reality, since Alito belonged to the right-wing Concerned Alumni of Princeton group, his politics have influenced his work. While applying for a job in the Reagan administration, Alito said that “the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion” and while in the Solicitor General’s office, he was able to “help advance legal positions in which [he] personally believe[s] very strongly.” These were his personal views and not those of his employer.
• Despite Alito’s own claim, his decisions have all followed a conservative bent. Alito said yesterday that he was taught to decide every case on an individual basis. However, a review of all the cases Alito has heard shows that Alito’s 41 dissents as an appeals court judge “are almost uniformly conservative.” In addition, in a majority of cases, Alito urged a more conservative position than his colleagues. Throughout his tenure on the 3rd Circuit, Alito has seldom sided against conservative interests.

State Represenative Sally Love, candiate for House District 22 released the following statement today asking for her challenger, Eric Watson, to return dirty money, showing opponent cannot be trusted to fight for our families.

(Ocoee) – State Representative Sally Love (D – Polk County) today challenged her opponent, Eric Watson, to return $12,000 in campaign contributions he received from Political Action Committees (PACs) with ties to John and Joseph Gregory and King Pharmaceuticals.

“This raises serious questions about Eric’s loyalty. How can he fight for lower prescription drug costs and more affordable health care when he is clearly bought and paid for by the drug companies,” said Representative Love. “I challenge Eric to return these contributions immediately.”

According to the most recent campaign disclosure filings, Watson received contributions from Tennessee Conservative PAC, Volunteer PAC, and Target PAC. In 2005, these PACs along with the State Republican Party have received approximately $895,000 in contributions from John and Joseph Gregory.

“My opponent has chosen raw ambition over what is right and truthful,” said Love. “I am the only candidate in this race who will fight for our seniors and our families. Clearly, Eric cannot be trusted.”

King Pharmaceuticals was the subject of an SEC investigation for over-inflating its stock value and was recently assessed $1.25 million in fines for Medicaid fraud.