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Gubernatorial Candidate Smith visits SC

Charles Smith, seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the office of Governor of the State of Tennessee, is the latest candidate to venture to Stewart County. On July 12, 2002, Mr. Smith and his wife, Shawna Lea, visited with Stewart Countians at Noon at Cindy's Catfish Restaurant. The couple has two children and four grandchildren. In his remarks to the group, Mr. Smith reflected on this family as the basis for running for governor and his desire to improve the state not only for his children and grandchildren but for every family in Tennessee.

Mr. Smith is making a 95-county bus tour of Tennessee. His related that he was born in Sparta when it had a population of less than 5,000 people and is familiar with small-town/rural life. He cites the "good common sense" he gained from this background as having helped him during four decades of professional life which has included positions as Chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents as well as Commissioner of Education. He noted that he was the only candidate with experience in state government.

Many of his comments were directed to the latest tax increase in that he feels it is a short-term solution and has hurt the "competitive edge" of Tennessee on the national scale. He believes that the governor and state legislature should take the next two years (while the latest tax bill is in effect) to look at restructuring the tax system so that it will be fair to everyone.and developing a plan to restore the state's competitive edge. Those changes will help in attracting businesses to Tennessee and help in retaining the competent and qualified people who currently live in our state.

Mr. Smith was especially concerned with the effects of the latest sales increase for Stewart County and other small counties and believes that a better distribution of taxes is possible. He adamant that Highway 79 would go on the priority list for state highways and that he would be directly active in seeing that a new road is built. Stewart County, he remarked, currently suffers in two ways: 1. It is hurt by the current tax system because of the method of distribution of revenue, and 2. The bottleneck created by Highway 79 deters people--potential tax payers-- from coming to Stewart County.

-Grayson Hansard

Gubernatorial Candidate Charles Smith

Enron, Tip of Corruption

Arthur Anderson wasn't the only accounting firm that misled stock holders. KPMG cooked the books for Xerox and PricewaterhouseCoopers deceived investors in the behalf of MicroStrategy. Arthur Anderson, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers are all part of a group known as the Big Five. These companies, as part of the top accounting tier, prove that self-regulation is a dismal failure.

Efforts to reform it have been blocked by Republican opposition in Congress. At a GOP fundraising dinner Senator Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) told guests that if the GOP regained Senate control, it was committed to "relax the stranglehold of rules, regulations, and restrictions on American business." The coporate officers and lobbyists gave $28 million in soft money for the GOP.

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) is bucking the Republican trend, however. He is supporting a bill that injects more competition into the pharmaceutical market. He is also fighting to keep his campaign finance reform from being undone. The Federal Elections Commission is trying to compose legislation to oppose the campaign finance law. Why? Consider Glaxo-SmithKline, a British pharmaceutical firm and GOP soft money contributer. If the FEC can end campaign finance reform, then Glaxo-SmithKline can contribute more money to help Republicans get elected who will oppose McCain's pharmaceutical bill that will keep drug prices artificially high in America.

The campaign finance law would keep the money already donated by Glaxo-SmithKline out of GOP hands as well as similar contributions by other major coorporations, but the very day of the GOP fundraiser, the FEC started gutting the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. FEC member Bradley Smith said, "The hysteria this has generated is just amusing. I think it's probably a good thing the American people don't pay much attention to it." Maybe from his perspective. He has a long history of opposing campaign finance reform and argues that vast sums of coorporate campaign money have no effect of public policy. Sure it doesn't.

-From the Times Daily, Tuesday, July 2, 2002, Alabama.

About Prescription Drugs

DEMOCRATS OFFER REAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG SOLUTIONS WHILE GOP PLAN FAILS SENIORS. While Democrats are introducing real solutions that will make prescription drugs affordable for all of America's seniors, Republicans are taking millions in campaign cash from drug makers and pushing the legislation the drug companies ask for.

Have the high cost of prescription drugs affected you or anyone in your family? How about your neighbor? Ever had to choose between filling a prescription and paying the rent? Send us your prescription drug horror story, and we'll pass it on to Congressional leaders.

Sign up to receive the Democratic National Party newsletter.

-From the Democratic National Party newsletter

New Websites spring up for Democrat's

Many new Democratic websites have opened in recent weeks. Vice President Al Gore launched his Leadership 2002 PAC website. You can information on how to contact his DC and Nashville offices, candidate contact info, biographies, press releases, etc.. The address is http://www.leadership02.com.

Another new website is buckstopsthere.com. In an effort to accurately diagram the responsibilities of Sept. 11, Democrats.com has created this site. Check it out at www.buckstopsthere.com.

-For more, check out the links section.

State Senator Roy Herren visits SC

Mr. Roy Herren was at the Stewart County court house speaking about his state financial platform June 17, 2002. Mr. Herren is running for the state senate position for Stewart County, which was previously under Senator Rosalind Kurita. Mr. Herren passed out paper work on the three main TN financial plans and explained what he supported and why. Some of his points included improving TN education, what TN needed to get out of the budget crisis, and which plans he supported. He believes that the state senate has to be "under conviction" and solve the budget problems this year.

-Grayson Hansard

SCDP meeting, 6-17-02

The Stewart County Democratic Party met at Cindy's on June 17th, 2002. Of the 22 people present, three were potential representatives for Stewart County. Mr. Mike Ainley, Mr. Willie "Butch" Borchert, and Mr. Larry Crawford attended the meeting and spoke to attendants. The next meeting is July 15th.

-Grayson Hansard

Volunteers needed in SC

Hello everyone! I have several BIG volunteer needs in Stewart County:

1) Phone Banking: I want to make 837 Voter ID calls on Monday, June 17th thru Thursday, June 20th at 6:00pm - 9:00pm, but I'm still looking for a location with multiple phone lines. Most importantly, I'm still looking for willing volunteers. I am also willing to let volunteers make these calls from their homes. If you or anyone else is willing to assist with these phone calls please let me know ASAP.

2) Letters to the Editor: We need Stewart County residents to write Letters to the Editor to be published in your local newspapers. You can write your own in support of Phil or we have sample letters that you can copy and sign your name to. Please let me know if you are interested in helping and I will fax or mail the letters to you.

3) Yard Signs: Our yard signs will be ready by June 17th! Please let me know if you would like one and I will add you to the distribution list.

Thank you all very much and I look forward to working with you soon.

Lori McKee
Bredesen For Governor
Middle TN Field Coordinator
615-244-7445 (office)
615-545-2308 (cell)

-From Ms. Lori McKee

Local: SCDP meeting, 5-20-02

The Stewart County Democratic Party held their monthly meeting Monday, May 20th, 2002. Jana Deluna, a representative from Phil Bredesen's office, passed around information and bumper stickers. Willie Borchert of Camden and Larry Crawford of Paris were also in attendance. Mr. Crawford, announced plans for a Democratic rally at the Paris fairgrounds on May 30th. Between the rally in Paris and the rally in Benton County (October 29th), Tennessee Democrats are going to make some noise. Make some noise at the next meeting on June 17.

-Grayson Hansard

GOP trying to lure Senior Citizens

The "Grand Old Party" has been hard at work to try to combat Democrats. House Republicans and the Bush administration are trying to spin their views on Medicare and Social Security to gain favor from the public. GOP candidates will now talk of "personal retirement accounts" rather than "privatization." Bush will now support efforts to "save" or "protect" Social Security rather than "reform" it. House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt said recently, "This argument over privatization was the same argument that went on in 1936 (when the Social Security program was created). Republicans don't want Social Security." He added, "What they are really saying is, 'Take care of yourself.'"

Support for other measures and tactics of the GOP was dropped when opinion samplings showed that many viewed it as a political gimmick. Nevertheless, Democrats are planning to stir up a debate in the run-up to this November's elections.

-This was based on an article in the Tennessean, Sunday, April 7, 2002

The White House = Motel 6

NRCC Offering White House Tours to Donors.

In a phone call from Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Davis and an unidentified woman solicited donations by offering tours of the White House as one of the perks for donating to the NRCC. According to the Tulsa World, Governor David Walters (D-OK) received such a solicitation. In the recorded message, the perks listed to donors were "a quarterly newsletter, an update from President Bush, a tour of the White House and access to polling data." [Tulsa World, 4/7/02]

-From the TNDP newsletter, signup at TNDP.org

Election 2002 Democratic Candidates

The Tennessean newspaper reports that there are 26 candidates running for governor in Tennessee. The only ones worth looking at are the 5 Democratic candidates. The rest (read: Republicans) are too concerned sending letters to each other saying "you need to step down and let a younger crowd take over." To that, we can only answer "neener, neener, neener." The Democratic candidates for governor are: L. Best, Dean Brasington, Phil Bredesen, Charles V. Brown, Floyd R. Conover, Randy Nichols, and Charles Smith. I know that this is more than five, but whether The Tennessean can count are not is up to debate (I hope they aren't working on the state budget). To learn more about the candidates, visit their webpages. You'll find them in the links section.

-For more information, go to: The Tennessee Democratic Party

Bush's First Year in Office

In George W. Bush's First year in office he:

1. Significantly eased field-testing controls of genetically engineered crops.
2. Cut federal spending on libraries by $39 million.
3. Cut $35 million in funding for doctors to get advanced pediatric training.
Cut by 50% funding for research into renewable energy sources.
4. Revoked rules that reduced the acceptable levels of arsenic in drinking water.
5. Blocked rules that would require federal agencies to offer bilingual assistance to non-English speaking persons. This, from a candidate who would readily fire-up his Spanish-speaking skills in front of would-be Hispanic voters.
6. Proposed to eliminate new marine protections for the Channel Islands and the coral reefs of northwest Hawaii (San Francisco Chronicle, April 6, 2001).Cut funding by 28% for research into cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks.
7. Suspended rules that would have strengthened the government's ability to deny contracts to companies that violated workplace safety, environmental and other federal laws.
8. OK'd Interior Department appointee Gale Norton to send out letters to state officials soliciting suggestions for opening up national monuments for oil and gas drilling, coal mining, and foresting.
9. Appointed John Negroponte - an un-indicted high-level Iran Contra figure to the post of United Nations Ambassador.
10. Abandoned a campaign pledge to invest $100 million for rain forest conservation.
11. Reduced by 86% the Community Access Program for public hospitals, clinics and providers of care for people without insurance.
12. Rescinded a proposal to increase public access to information about the potential consequences resulting from chemical plant accidents.
13. Suspended rules that would require hardrock miners to clean up sites on Western public lands.
14. Cut $60 million from a Boy's and Girl's Clubs of America program for public housing
15. Proposed to eliminate a federal program, designed and successfully used in Seattle, to help communities prepare for natural disasters.
16. Cut $200 million of work force training for dislocated workers.
17. Eliminated funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program, which encourages farmers to maintain wetlands habitat on their property.
18. Cut program to provide childcare to low-income families as they move from welfare to work.
19. Cut a program that provided prescription contraceptive coverage to federal employees (though it still pays for Viagra).
20. Cut $700 million in capital funds for repairs in public housing.
21. Appointed Otto Reich - an un-indicted high-level Iran Contra figure - to Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs
22. Cut Environmental Protection Agency budget by $500 million.
23. Proposed to curtail the ability of groups to sue in order to get an animal placed on the Endangered Species List.
24. Rescinded the rule that mandated increased energy-saving efficiency regulations for central air conditioners and heat pumps.
25. Repealed workplace ergonomic rules designed to improve worker health and safety.
26. Abandoned campaign pledge to regulate carbon dioxide, the
27. waste gas that contributes to global warming.
28. Banned federal aid to international family planning programs that offer abortion counseling with other independent funds.
29. Closed White House Office for Women's Health Initiatives and Outreach.
30. Nominated David Lauriski - ex-mining company executive -- to post of Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
31. OK'd Interior Secretary Gale Norton to go forth with acontroversial plan to auction oil and gas development tracts off the coast of eastern Florida.
32. Announced intention to open up Montana's Lewis and Clark National Forest to oil and drilling.
33. Proposes to redraw boundaries of nation's monuments, which would technically allow oil and gas drilling "outside" of national monuments.
34. Gutted White House AIDS Office
35. Renegotiating free trade agreement with Jordan to eliminate workers's rights and safeguards for the environment.
36. Will no longer seek guidance from The American Bar Association in recommendations for the federal judiciary appointments.
37. Appointed recycling foe Lynn Scarlett as Undersecretary of the Interior.
38. Took steps to abolish the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
39. Cut the Community Oriented Policing Services program.
40. Allowed Interior Secretary Gale Norton to shelve citizen-led grizzly bear reintroduction plan scheduled for Idaho and Montana wilderness.
41. Continues to hold up federal funding for stem cell research projects.
42. Makes sure convicted misdemeanor drug users cannot get financial aid for college, though convicted murderers can.
43. Refused to fund continued cleanup of uranium-slag heap in Utah.
44. Refused to fund continued litigation of the government's tobacco company lawsuit.
45. Proposed a $2 trillion tax cut, of which 43% will go to the wealthiest % of Americans.
46. Signed a bill making it harder for poor and middle-class Americans to file for bankruptcy, even in the case of daunting medical bills.
47. Appointed a Vice President quoted as saying "If you want to do something about carbon dioxide emissions, then you ought to build nuclear power plants." (Vice President Dick Cheney on "Meet the Press.")
48. Appointed Diana "There is no gender gap in pay" Roth to the Council of Economic Advisers. (Boston Globe, March 28, 200 .)
49. Appointed Kay Cole James - an opponent of affirmative action -- to direct the Office of Personnel Management.
50. Cut $ 5.7 million earmarked for states to investigate cases of child abuse and neglect.
51. Helped kill a law designed to make it tougher for teenagers to get credit cards.
52. Proposed elimination of the "Reading is Fundamental" program that gives free books to poor children
53. Is pushing for development of small nuclear arm to attack deeply buried targets and weapons, which would violate the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
54. Proposes to nominate Jeffrey Sutton - attorney responsible for the recent case weakening the Americans with Disabilities Act-to federal appeals court judgeship.
55. Proposes to reverse regulation protecting 60 million acres of national forest from logging and road building.
56. Eliminated funding for the "We the People" education program which taught School children about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and citizenship.
57. Appointed John Bolton - who opposes nonproliferation treaties and the U.N. - to Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
58. Nominated Linda Fisher - an executive with Monsanto - for the number-two job at the Environmental Protection Agency.
59. Nominated Michael McConnell - leading critic of the separation of church and state -- to a federal judgeship.
60. Nominated Terrence Boyle - ardent opponent of civil rights -- to a federal judgeship.
61. Canceled 2004 deadline for automakers to develop prototype high mileage cars.
62. Nominated Harvey Pitts - lawyer for teen sex video distributor -- to head SEC.
63. Nominated John Walters - strong opponent of prison drug treatment programs -- for Drug Czar. (Washington Post, May 6, 200 .)
64. Nominated J. Steven Giles - an oil and coal lobbyist -- for Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
65. Nominated Bennett Raley - who advocates repealing the Endangered Species Act - for Assistant Secretary for Water and Science
66. Is seeking the dismissal of class-action lawsuit filed in the U.S. against Japan by Asian women forced to work as sex slaves during WWII.
67. Earmarked $4 million in new federal grant money for HIV and drug abuse prevention programs to go only to religious groups and not secular equivalents.
68. Reduced by 40% the Low Income Home Assistance Program for low-income individuals who need assistance paying energy bills.
69. Nominated Ted Olson- who has repeatedly lied about his involvement with the Scaiffe-funded "Arkansas Project" to bring down Bill Clinton - for Solicitor General.
70. Nominated Terrance Boyle - foe of civil rights -- to a federal judgeship.
71. Proposes to ease permit process -- including environmental considerations -- for refinery, nuclear and hydroelectric dam construction. (Washington Post, May 8, 200 .)
72. Proposes to give government the authority to take private property through eminent domain for power lines.
73. Proposes that $ .2 billion in funding for alternative renewable energy come from selling oil and gas lease tracts in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve.
74. Plans on serving genetically engineered foods at all official government functions.
75. Forced out Forest Service chief Mike Dombeck and appointed a timber industry lobbyist.

-Dr. David A. Sprintzen, Professor of Philosophy, Co-Director, Institute for Sustainable Development, C.W. Post College, Long Island University.

Representative Tanner visits SC

Representative John Tanner met with residents Friday March, 22nd at the Stewart County Public Library. Mr. Tanner talked to attendants about the importance of the NATO Alliance. He also outlined the need for "accurate, timely intelligence" in the fight against terrorism. Mr. Tanner expressed concern for our war efforts and at the same time keeping our economy strong and that he would be working for Americans on both fronts.

Refreshments were provided by Cindy Luffman. They were delicious and attractive and added a lot to the festiveness of the event.

-For more information, go to: House.gov/tanner

Representative and Mrs. Tanner

Register to vote!

The next election is getting close. July 2nd is the last day to register for the August election. That sounds like a long way away, but time flies (unless you are counting the days until "W" quits playing President). Help high school seniors that you know to remember to register. If they will be 18 before August 1st, they can register now. The jury pool is selected from the phone book and driver's licenses as well as voter registration so if they drive or have their own phone line, they don't have an excuse.

-Grayson Hansard

Bush's Budget is Bad for Tennessee

The Bush administration's budget hurts Tennessee. It takes away jobs, lessens law enforcement positions, and removes help for low-income students. The budget takes away several hundred million dollars that is badly needed in this state.

-For more information, go to:Democrats.org

SCDP Meeting (3-18-02)

The Stewart County Democratic Party met at Cindy's Restaurant Monday, March 18th. Members present enjoyed meeting and visiting with Willie "Butch" Borchert, Chairman of the Benton County Party and candidate for the office of State Representative being vacated by Don Ridgeway, and Pat Guthrie, Chairwoman of the Henry County Democratic Party. Stewart County Democratic Party members are fortunate to be invited to some great democratic events in these counties this Spring and Summer. Be watching our events calendar for dates, times, and places of these events. Try to make plans to get out and support our fellow Democrats and expect to have a great time. We hear that the Benton County Democratic Party has a terrific band.

-Kathy Earhart

Thanks to Martha Yanchyshyn for the picture

Proof that we are the people's party

Republicans finally gave in to Democratic demands to help the jobless community. The (Democratic-led) Senate had passed a bill in February to extend benefits for unemployed persons after Republicans had opposed an economic stimulus bill. Republicans in the House refused to pass similar legislation and tried to link it to a massive tax cut for Enron. Democrats eventually forced them to concede by reminding them of all the families that were out of work due to September 11th.

-For more information, go to: The Democratic National Committee

Defending Daschle

Republican leaders criticized Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle after he asserted that the Bush Administration needed to provide a "clearer understanding" of where the war with terrorism was heading. Daschle was only backing the comments and questions of other Democrats. Daschle had reiterated his support for the war in his statement but Republicans still attacked Daschle as being "disgusting" and "divisive."

-For more information, go to:democrats.com & The Washington Post

Support Your Democrat Congressmen

Democrats need to be speaking out and supporting their representatives in Congress. Of course, we are loyal Americans and support our troops and our nation everywhere, but our national interests include a strong and financially secure American public. We need to be protecting Social Security, employment rights, our civil rights, and those among us who are unable to care for themselves (the aged, the very young, and the disabled). Just because there is terror afoot both abroad and at home there is no excuse for throwing away our hard-won rights.

-Grayson Hansard