On July 29, for instance, Amnesty International published a report critical of the Chinese government's human-rights policy. According to an Amnesty statement, "there has been little progress towards fulfilling the Chinese authorities' promise to improve human rights, but rather continued deterioration in key areas."
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders in a statement on its Web site has condemned the Chinese government's censorship policy and the International Olympic Committee's willingness to go along with it. "The organization also condemns the cynicism of the Chinese authorities, who have yet again lied," the Reporters Without Borders statement said, "and the IOC's inability to prevent this situation because of its refusal to speak out for several years."
On July 29, the group issued a report on the government's treatment of people opposed to the demolition of housing and the eviction of residents in Beijing to make room for Games venues. Human Rights Watch focused on Ni Yulan, an activist whom it said the government will put on trial Aug. 4. "To try her on the eve of the Games is an extraordinary insult to those who lost their homes to the Beijing Olympics and shows contempt for human-rights concerns raised by the international community," said Sophie Richardson, the NGO's Asia advocacy director, in a Human Rights Watch statement.
Greenpeace in a recent report praised some of the government's work to improve the environment before the Games. "A number of Beijing's achievements represent best environmental practice," a Greenpeace report published on July 28 said. "In our analysis from the information available, Greenpeace found that Beijing achieved and in some cases surpassed original environmental goals," the group added, although the NGO's report said leaders "also missed some opportunities that could have ensured a better short- and long-term environmental Olympic legacy for the city."
Gov. Opposes Early Retirement Incentive -- The reason that Gov. Bredesen has received tepid response for the state's buyout proposals is to offer voluntary retirement options to those at or near retirement age who did not guy a buy-out offer, according to State Employee Association Executive Director Jim Tucker. Gov. Bredesen has signaled more than once that the target number of buyouts accepted will probably not reach the state's target by Tuesday's deadline. Gov. Bredesen says he may be willing to extend the number of buyouts to other employees, but he opposes offering early retirement on the grounds that it will cost more and the state will likely have to hire back some of the employees it lets go. Tucker said the administration’s targeted buyout plan doesn’t appear to be working despite the administration having paid a private firm $500,000 to develop it.
Jones At It Again -- State Rep. Ulysses Jones is at his pet project again - an attempt to turn back the reforms of TN Waltz and weaken the state's new requirements against accepting meals from lobbyists. The current law prohibits lobbyists from funding meals for lawmakers and limits groups or individuals who employ lobbyists from spending more than $50 per legislator per meal. The law doesn't apply to individual constituents or groups that don't employ lobbyists. But those reasonable limits seem unreasonable to Jones, who wants to end the limits and simply offer public disclosure of all meals instead. He said he also might support spending limits of $88.20 per meal or $1,000 per group per year limit on meals.
Kurita v. Barnes Endorsement Fight -- In the State Senate primary going on in Clarksville, State Sen. Rosalind Kurita just picked up some mega endorsements to quiet the endorsements primary opponent Tim Barnes released this week. Barnes announced earlier the endorsement Clarksville’s Labor Organizations United Together, which is a union of all the major unions in Clarksville, including the Montgomery Co. Teacher's union. In addition to major union endorsements, Barnes also picked up the endorsement of the APSU College Democrats. Kurita, however, announced a string of endorsements first from NRA - an unusual endorsement for a Democrat, the TN Nurses Association and the Conservation Action PAC, an environmentalist group.
Residency Requirements on Election Day or Filing Deadline? -- That's the issue being discussed in Chattanooga, where former Rob Healy, a former city parks and recreation director, is asking state officials whether he would qualify for the election in March of next year after just having moved to the city. State Election Coordinator Brook Thompson and City Attorney Randy Nelson have both said the deadline for residency is measured from the filing deadline - and thus Healy would not be eligible to run, however the issue will ultimately be settled by a lawsuit.
Cohen Slavery Apology Passes House -- Congressman Steve Cohen's bill apologizing for slavery and Jim Crow legislation has passed the US House. After a lengthy plea by Cohen in the well, the bill passed on a voice vote. Cohen: "Only a great nation can recognize and admit its mistakes and then go forth to create, indeed, 'a more perfect union' that works to bring people of all races, religions and creeds together in unity as Americans." Sen. Tom Harkin is considering introducing a companion measure in the Senate. A total of 120 lawmakers, including two Republicans, co-sponsored the resolution, which is also supported by Senate candidate Bob Tuke, according to a recent press release. Critics of the bill say it is an election year ploy on the part of Cohen, who faces an uphill reelection bid in a majority black district. More here.
Judges On the Ballot Too -- Voters on Aug. 7 have an opportunity to reject Gov. Phil Bredesen's appointments of two Tennessee Supreme Court justices and five other appeals court judges, but it's a pretty safe bet they will not. Of the 146 judicial retention elections held since the state's system for selecting top judges was established, 145 resulted in a win for the incumbent judge. That system is to change if Republicans in the State Senate have anything to do about it. They want to scrap the so-called "Tennessee-system" for electing judges whereby a group of lawyers select nominees who are then chosen by the Governor and then confirmed in a "retention question" on the ballot. The state constitution specifies that judges should be elected and the TN system is a way to satisfy this requirement, albeit in an fairly undemocratic way. Judges, however, seem to favor the system, which they say allow them to rise above political campaigns.
Corker Criticizes Budget Accounting -- Sen. Bob Corker said the administration's budget estimate, "is not an honest view of our country's budget deficit." Corker says the budgets are inaccuarate because they include not additional funding for Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009 or beyond and the alternative minimum tax will be patched only for tax year 2008. Corker: "This is not an honest view of our country's budget deficit and the administration knows it. Their failure to include a realistic assessment for war spending and refusal to make accurate assumptions about the alternative minimum tax is disappointing and does not set the right tone for having a serious discussion about our country's dire fiscal situation."
So Long Long -- Saying he had made a number of statements that reveal a "blood-thirsty" disposition, federal prosecutors urged a jury not to give any leniency to former Hamilton Co. Sheriff Billy Long. The defense for their part have argued that Long qualifies for a federal sentencing provision called the "safety valve." Judges can use the safety valve to disregard mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug crimes when defendants meet a set of criteria including having no prior criminal history. Mr. Long pleaded guilty May 5 to 19 counts of extortion, six counts of money laundering, one count of providing a firearm to a convicted felon and one count of possession with intent to sell cocaine.
“This study confirms that our efforts to create a better business climate in Tennessee are being recognized by key decision makers,” Gov. Phil Bredesen said in a statement. “We know one size does not fit all and each company has distinct business needs, and that’s driving continued investment by new companies in Tennessee.”
Clarksville Could Get Next ED Deal -- The next major economic development project could land at the TVA megasite in Clarksville. EDC officials are apparently hoping to entice Hemlock Semiconductor Corp., a unit of Dow Corning, to come to Clarksville's megasite immediately after landing VW at Chattanooga's site. HSC is the world's largest maker of polycrystalline silicon, an ultra-pure rock-like material used in solar panels and semiconductor chips, and thus could qualify for a major tax incentive for producing environmentally friendly energy products. The project could mean 4,000 jobs. Michigan, where the company is located currently, is planning on giving up without a fight. That state has planned a major package of incentives for the company to stay.
Laura Bush Pushes Reading First -- In case you missed it, First Lady Laura Bush was in Nashville yesterday to speak at the national Reading First conference. Reading First is one of the cornerstones of the Bush No Child Left Behind law, which provides federal dollars for a science-based teaching method that emphasizes basic skills like phonics. Last year, Congress slashed the Reading First budget by 60%. This year, neither the House nor the Senate has budgeted any funds at all for Reading First.
Cooper Pushes Private Healthcare -- Rep. Jim Cooper is pushing for a bill that would allow Americans to buy their own health insurance, rather than getting it through their employer. Congress will not be taking any action on the proposal until at least next year under a new president, but while in Nashville on Monday, Cooper said it’s important to begin talking about the issue now. Under the bill, employers would give employees the money spent on health care premiums. Employees would then be required to buy health insurance with after-tax dollars. Cooper said a $15,000 tax-credit for a family of four would also allow those whose employers don’t offer health insurance to buy it.
Gay Group Asks Haslam for Recognition in Light of Knoxville Shooting -- The shooting at the Uniterian Universalist Church in Knoxville has made national news in the past few days. Now one group wants to use the shooter's apparent motive - hatred of gays - to leverage formal recognition by Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam. In an e-mail to the mayor Monday, local activist Gary Elgin, former director of the Rainbow Community Awareness Project asks the Mayor, "This is the time for you, when called upon, to answer and step up and be counted as our mayor as well." Haslam responded in part by saying, "Knoxville is a caring, compassionate city where diverse viewpoints are shared and respected. Every person, regardless of race, religion, age, sex, or sexual orientation, is a person of human dignity and a valued member of our community."
Love Out -- One of the first TN Waltzers to go down, Charles Love, is out of prison. Love, a former Hamilton Co. School Board official, was convicted in the Waltz investigation of being a bagman. Love served less than a year in prison following a plea deal.
Bits of Rove -- Sandra Clark has two bits of Karl Rove's speech to the TN Statemen's Dinner this past Saturday. That's the dinner the media wasn't invited to, despite calls from the event's chair Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam for the event to be open to the public. Apparently Rove praised the generosity of GOP Pres nominee John McCain for adopting a baby from Africa. That despite a widely reported story that Rove had been the architect behind a smear campaign during the 2000 GOP primary in SC accusing McCain of having a black love child. Rove also praised TN for not having a state income tax, comments which must have been tough for Don Sundquist, who was in the crowd. More from the event here
Toll Roads Explored in Memphis -- A bridge in Memphis could be the project that gets recommended by TDOT as a part of toll road. Unlike other toll projects, the Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization adopted a resolution favoring the initiative, and the Memphis Regional Chamber has been a strong supporter. The bridge would releave traffic on the two other bridges in Memphis - the 35-year-old Hernando DeSoto Bridge and the 59-year-old Memphis & Arkansas Bridge has exceeded 100,000 vehicles in recent years.
Sound Bites Reframed to Diversity in Cohen's Race -- The race for Congress in the 9th District will be decided by the Democratic primary, where white Congressman Steve Cohen faces a serious challenge from black exec Nikki Tinker. This year, apparently campaign advisors for Tinker are suggesting that the sound bites in favor of her candidacy call for "diversity" in TN's Congressional delegation, rather than blatantly pointing to race as an issue. Memphis Poli Sci Professor Larry Moore on race being an issue in last year's campaign: "That looked nasty nationwide ... Nobody wants to be seen doing that again." More here. More here on the national consulting firms involved.
