State Senate Democratic leader Jim Kyle of Memphis says Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly are becoming like “Dixiecrats” – the Southern segregationist Democrats in the U.S. Congress in the late 1940s who formed their own party for a time.

2. Charter School Authorizer Bill Advances - Friday, April 19, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The sponsor of a proposal that seeks to change the way certain charter schools are authorized said Wednesday the measure is needed to continue education reform in Tennessee.

3. Municipal Schools Bill Sails Through House, Senate - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

After much speculation about resistance from other parts of the state to lifting the statewide ban on special school districts statewide, the bill to do that sailed through the Tennessee House and Senate Monday, April 15.

4. Charter Panel Bill Slowed in Senate - Thursday, April 11, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Lawmakers questioned a proposal to create a special panel to authorize charter schools in several Tennessee counties during debate at the state Legislature Tuesday, while a nonprofit group criticized the governor's decision to withdraw his school voucher program.

5. Kathleen Gomes Named Probate Court Judge - Saturday, April 06, 2013

Attorney Kathleen Gomes was appointed Monday, April 1, by the Shelby County Commission as the new Probate Court judge. She will fill the vacancy created by the pending retirement of Judge Robert Benham.

6. Gomes Named Probate Court Judge - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Attorney Kathleen Gomes was appointed Monday, April 1, by the Shelby County Commission as the new Probate Court judge. She will fill the vacancy created by the pending retirement of Judge Robert Benham.

7. Commission Votes Down Residency Referendum, Names Gomes New Judge - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners gave final approval Monday, April 1, to an exemption to the county government residency requirement for Memphis City Schools teachers and other school system employees.

The commission also voted down an August ballot question that would have put to voters doing away with the residency requirement in the county charter.

8. Commission to Consider Residency Ballot Item - Monday, April 01, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners take a final vote Monday, April 1, on a referendum ordinance that would do away with county government’s residency requirement for employment.

The commission meets at 1:30 p.m. at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St.

9. Sara Kyle Resigns From Tennessee Regulatory Authority - Thursday, March 14, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Sara Kyle has resigned from the board of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, citing the panel's diminished role under a restructuring of the agency by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.

10. Kyle Gives Democrats Voice in GOP-Dominated Senate - Thursday, March 14, 2013

State Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, the Democratic leader of the Senate, sees things at the legislature these days he does not like.

11. 2013 Political Season Begins - Friday, March 08, 2013

There was a brief time last year when it looked like 2013 would be that rare political creature in Memphis politics – an off-election year.

A citywide sales tax increase referendum in the late summer or fall is probably going to continue the unbroken string of more than 10 consecutive years with at least a special election on a ballot locally. Outside Memphis there are municipal elections in Lakeland and Arlington.

12. Back to Work - Friday, January 11, 2013

The Shelby County legislative delegation to Nashville returned to the capital Tuesday, Jan. 8, with three fewer members – one state senator and two state representatives – all Democrats – but with no new faces.

13. Kyle Wants GOP Senate Caucus Meetings Open - Thursday, January 10, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The top Democrat in the state Senate is calling on Republicans to make the upper chamber of the General Assembly subject to open government laws, saying he wants to see more transparency in government.

14. Schools Talks to Resume in Private - Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Private talks aimed at settling the federal lawsuit over municipal school districts are expected to resume with the end of the holiday season.

All sides in the legal matter had met behind closed doors at least twice after U.S. District Court Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays ruled in late November that all moves taken in 2012 toward forming municipal school districts were void. He ruled the 2012 state law allowing leaders in Shelby County’s six suburban towns and cities to move ahead with their plans immediately violated the Tennessee Constitution.

15. Suburbs to Discuss Schools Agreement - Friday, December 14, 2012

There will be plenty to discuss Friday, Dec. 14, when suburban leaders sit down with their attorneys to talk about some kind of agreement on the terms under which schools in the six suburban municipalities will be part of the merged Shelby County public school system.

16. Huffman Not In School Talks - Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman won’t be involved in any meetings this week aimed at some type of agreement among all of the parties in the municipal schools district federal court case.

17. Huffman Brings Leverage to Possible Mediation - Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman would bring lots of political leverage with him should he mediate the coming merger of schools in Shelby County.

18. Calls Come to Change Schools Merger Process - Wednesday, December 05, 2012

As suburban mayors were scheduled to meet this week to talk over their options, the consolidation of all public schools in Shelby County that begins in August began to show signs of a shift.

The shift might be to take at least some of the decisions about the schools merger out of the hands of just the countywide school board or to junk the process the board is using. The mayors of the six towns and cities have all indicated they intend to push on for their own school districts, although several have said it is highly unlikely they could form them and open them for classes by August.

19. Decision Day - Tuesday, November 06, 2012

The last election of 2012 will be one where questions continue to command as much attention if not more than candidates.

The polls are open Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters come to the polls in this election to vote in the presidential general election. That is what drives the only election cycle in which more than half of the county’s registered voters consistently show up.

20. Norris, Kyle Talk Changing Legislature - Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Democratic and Republican leaders of the state Senate see the politics of the state continuing to change and with it the nature of being the majority and minority parties in the Tennessee Legislature.

21. County Sees 21.6 Pct. Voter Turnout - Monday, August 06, 2012

Slightly less than 127,000 Shelby County residents – or 21.6 percent of 584,443 registered voters – cast ballots in the Aug. 2 elections.

The turnout in early voting and election day combined was a higher percentage than the 15 percent turnout four years ago in the same election cycle, but it was well below the 44-year high of 39.4 percent set in the August 1992 elections.

22. Muni Schools Questions Pass, Cohen Wins Big - Friday, August 03, 2012

Voters in each of the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County approved establishing municipal school districts in the unofficial results of the Thursday, Aug. 2, county general and state and federal primary elections.

23. Muni Schools, Cohen, Weirich, Johnson, Stanton, Kyle Take Early Vote - Friday, August 03, 2012

Voters in each of the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County were overwhelmingly approving the establishment of municipal school districts and a half cent sales tax hike to fund them in the first vote totals released Thursday, Aug. 2 by the Shelby County Election Commission.

24. Democrats Hoping to Win Some Seats in Primary - Tuesday, July 31, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee Democrats are looking at Thursday's primary as a critical step in the rebuilding urged by an internal analysis last year.

Since 2006, Democrats have lost 19 seats in the House and three seats in the Senate, placing them firmly in the minority of the two chambers. Another nine Democratic incumbents announced earlier this year they weren't running again.

25. Republican Voters Outnumbering Dems - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen’s campaign sent out an email newsletter Monday, July 23, that summarized the partisan reality of early voting so far in Shelby County.

26. Numerous Issues Drive Early Voting - Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Republicans have the suburban ballot questions on municipal school districts. Democrats have outrage over the voter photo ID state law.

Together the two factors could have more to do with voter turnout in the Aug. 2 elections than any of the candidates on the ballot.

27. First Lady’s Appearance Gives Local Dems Hope - Monday, July 02, 2012

Memphis Democrats haven’t had a lot to cheer about recently.

They are a blue dot in a red state. They got swept in the 2010 countywide elections. And party leaders as well as candidates in the August elections have had their concerns about a large Republican turnout in the suburbs for the municipal schools issue.

28. First Lady, Health Care Ruling Boost Dem. Faithful - Friday, June 29, 2012

First lady Michelle Obama arrived in Memphis Thursday, June 28, for a campaign rally just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court announced its ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act.

“When it comes to healthcare, please, please tell people about the historic reform this president passed,” she told a crowd of 300 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. “Tell them that today’s Supreme Court  decision was truly a victory for families all across this country. ... Because of this reform, help them understand that insurance companies will have to cover preventative care for things like contraception, cancer screening, prenatal care... Insurance companies will no longer be able to cap your coverage because you’re “too sick” … (or) deny you coverage just because you have a preexisting condition.”

29. Readers Have Their Say - Thursday, June 14, 2012

Viewer mail continues at a record pace. I love it! Phil Newman wrote, “Enjoyed your ‘Check please’ column in the Nashville Ledger, but would submit that you left out one of the most famous usages of the phrase. In “Dumb & Dumber,” after Harry and Lloyd kill the bad guy accidentally by slipping peppers into his burger, Jim Carrey raises his head from the chest of the bad guy and says, ‘Check, please!’ Perfect line and timing.”

30. Cohen Plans Rollout of Endorsements - Tuesday, June 05, 2012

There will be a Cohen ballot of political endorsements for the Aug. 2 and Nov. 6 elections.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, opened his campaign headquarters Saturday, June 2, with a pledge to not only campaign hard for re-election but to campaign on behalf of President Barack Obama and several local Democrats in county general election and state legislative races.

31. Muni School District Bill Awaits Decision - Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has said he would have preferred some other outcome. But on his desk this week awaiting his decision is the bill that sets the stage for referendums this year in Shelby County’s suburbs on forming municipal school districts.

32. Tenn. Senate Approves Muni Schools Referendums - Tuesday, May 01, 2012

The Tennessee State Senate gave final approval Monday, April 30, to legislation that sets the stage for referendums this year in Shelby County’s suburbs on forming municipal school districts.

33. Tradition of Secret Budget Meetings Alive in Tenn. - Tuesday, April 24, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee lawmakers' long tradition of meeting secretly to hash out budget plans is alive and well.

House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick confirmed to The Associated Press that key legislators met for several hours at a Nashville restaurant on Sunday to work through budget amendments.

34. Tenn. Gov's Civil Service Bill Headed to His Desk - Friday, April 13, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam's plan to overhaul state civil service rules headed to him Thursday to become law despite opposition from some lawmakers whose constituents are uncomfortable with parts of the legislation.

35. New District Lines Lead to New Races - Monday, April 09, 2012

“This time I waited to be sure,” Ian Randolph said just before the Thursday, April 5, deadline for candidates to file in the Aug. 2 elections.

36. Cohen-Hart in Congressional Race at Filing Deadline - Friday, April 06, 2012

The chairman of the countywide school board, Billy Orgel, was effectively elected to his District 7 school board seat without opposition at the Thursday, April 5, filing deadline for candidates on the Aug. 2 primary and general election ballot in Shelby County.

37. Election Filing Deadline Looms - Thursday, April 05, 2012

Candidates in the Aug. 2 set of elections have until noon Thursday, April 5, to file their qualifying petitions in the set of state legislative and congressional primary races as well as the seven general election races for Shelby County school board.

38. Deadline Looms for Complex Aug. Elections - Thursday, March 29, 2012

The August elections were already going to be more complex than usual. There are the changes from this year’s drawing of new district lines for the Tennessee Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.

39. Following Primary, Races Point to August - Monday, March 12, 2012

Two days after all the votes were counted in the Tennessee presidential primary, state Republican Party leaders had already worked out how many of the state’s at-large delegates would go to their top three candidates.

40. Revised Tenn. Lottery Scholarship Bill Advances - Thursday, March 08, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Democratic leaders say a revised proposal that would make cutting some students' lottery scholarships in half contingent on lottery revenues is unnecessary because the measure wouldn't be effective for at least another three years.

41. Dem. Lawmakers: Table HOPE Cuts - Thursday, March 01, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – A report from state lottery officials showing record sales is reason to table legislation that would cut some students’ lottery scholarships in half, Democratic leaders said Wednesday, Feb. 29.

42. Marrero 'Stunned' by US Senate Draft Effort - Thursday, January 19, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Democratic state Sen. Beverly Marrero says she's "stunned" by an online effort to draft her to run for the U.S. Senate this year.

Marrero has been a vocal critic of the legislative redistricting plan that places her in the same Memphis district as fellow Democratic Sen. Jim Kyle.

43. State Redistricting Wrinkles Save Kyle's Seat But Continue Debate - Monday, January 16, 2012

There was one very important change to the new district lines for the Tennessee State Senate as the week ended in Nashville with the legislature taking final action on the once a decade redistricting process.

44. Tenn. Lawmakers Approve GOP Redistricting Plans - Monday, January 16, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – State lawmakers have approved new boundaries for the 132 seats in the Tennessee General Assembly and nine seats in the U.S. House.

The Republican plans approved Friday would draw five African-American state House members into three seats, and pair Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle with a fellow Democratic incumbent in Memphis.

45. Lawmakers on Hold Over Tenn. Redistricting - Friday, January 13, 2012

Tennessee lawmakers were in a holding pattern Thursday, Jan. 12, over redrawing legislative and congressional maps.

House Democrats oppose Republican efforts to group five African-American incumbents into three districts and have said they plan to offer amendments on the floor.

46. Lines Still Blurred for Memphis Redistricting - Friday, January 13, 2012

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. is expressing concern over representation for the city of Memphis in the three levels of redistricting plans now pending – county, state and federal.

Wharton wasn’t specific about his concerns, but he told the Memphis Kiwanis Club Wednesday, Jan. 11, that he will have an announcement soon on the issue.

47. Tenn. Lawmakers Want More Time on Redistricting Plans - Thursday, January 12, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – State lawmakers opposed to legislative redistricting plans are questioning the desire of Republican leaders to pass them so quickly.

GOP leaders hope their redistricting plans can come up for a vote early as Thursday, Jan. 12, after the judiciary committees in both chambers passed the plans on to the House and Senate floors.

48. Tenn. Lawmakers Want More Time on Redistricting Plans - Wednesday, January 11, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – State lawmakers opposed to legislative redistricting plans are questioning the desire of Republican leaders to pass them so quickly.

GOP leaders hope their redistricting plans can come up for a vote early as Thursday after the judiciary committees in both chambers passed the plans on to the House and Senate floors.

49. Memphis Democrats Squeezed in State Redistricting Plan - Thursday, January 05, 2012

Tennessee Senate Democratic leader Jim Kyle of Memphis and Republican state Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown are in the same Senate district under a redistricting proposal unveiled by Republican legislative leaders Wednesday, Jan. 4, in Nashville.

50. Memphis Democrats Squeezed in State Redistricting Plan - Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Tennessee Senate Democratic leader Jim Kyle of Memphis and Republican state Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown are in the same Senate district under a redistricting proposal unveiled by Republican legislative leaders Wednesday, Jan. 4, in Nashville.

51. Chism Vying With Jackson for Court Clerk - Thursday, December 01, 2011

With one week to the filing deadline, the race for General Sessions Court Clerk is the busiest of the four races to be decided next year in the March 6 county primaries and the Aug. 2 general elections.

52. Chism Vying With Jackson for GS Court Clerk - Wednesday, November 30, 2011

With one week to the filing deadline, the race for General Sessions Court Clerk is the busiest of the four races to be decided next year in the March 6 county primaries and the Aug. 2 general elections.

53. Weirich Files Petition to Run for DA - Thursday, November 24, 2011

Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich filed her qualifying petition Tuesday, Nov. 22, to run in the March 6 Republican primary for the post she has held since January.

54. Shelby County DA Race Taking Shape - Monday, November 07, 2011

With a month to the Dec. 8 filing deadline for the March 6 presidential and Shelby County primary elections, the coming race for Shelby County district attorney general is beginning to show signs of life. That is as voters in one part of Memphis prepare to decide the last election of 2011 this week.

55. Casada Weighs In on Anti-Bias Legislation - Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Editor’s Note: This is an occasional series that profiles Tennessee’s state legislators. Credit his friends – and the inspiration of Ronald Reagan – with starting state Rep. Glen Casada on the road to public service.

56. Legislators Eye Lower Lottery Prize Money, Easier Ticket Purchases - Tuesday, November 01, 2011

NASHVILLE – Some Tennessee legislators are eying a reduction in prize payouts for Tennessee lottery players while letting them buy tickets with debit or credit cards.

The proposals are among ideas that are being floated as a way to generate more money that can be used for college scholarships.

57. Events - Friday, October 21, 2011

Visible Music College will hold the seventh annual 24-Hour Drumathon beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21. The entire percussion department will drum for 24 hours at the Ann and Jim Vining Concert Hall, 200 Madison Ave. The event will raise money for Visible Music College drummers to attend the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis. The Drumathon will be broadcast live online, To donate, watch streaming video or request a song, visit www.drumathon.com.

58. Terms of Consolidation Still Taking Shape - Wednesday, September 14, 2011

There is still some uncertainty about the exact terms of the transition to a consolidated countywide school board.

And that was reflected in questions preceding this week’s appointments to the board that takes office Oct. 1.

59. County Commission Completes New School Board - Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners made seven appointments Monday, Sept. 12, to the new countywide school board that takes office Oct. 1.

The appointment process completes a 23-member board that is to take office Oct. 1 with the seven appointees joining the nine current Memphis City Schools board members and the seven current Shelby County Schools board members.

60. State Sen. Kyle Quizzed on Senate Future - Monday, September 12, 2011

Among the topics explored last week during questioning of those interested in being on a countywide school board was the political future of state Sen. Jim Kyle of Memphis.

61. Commission To Pick School Board Members - Monday, September 12, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners take the final step Monday, Sept. 12, to the creation of a new countywide school board that will take office in three weeks.

The commission meets at 1:30 p.m. at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St.

62. Commissioners Hear School Board Applicants - Friday, September 09, 2011

The Shelby County Commission’s 10-hour interview session this week with several dozen applicants for appointment to seven positions on the new countywide school board was, at times, more of an education for them than it was an introduction of them to the commission.

63. County Commission Interviews School Board Applicants - Thursday, September 08, 2011

It took Shelby County Commissioners nearly 10 hours Wednesday, Sept. 7, to interview nearly 100 contenders for seven appointments to the countywide school board that takes office Oct. 1.

The general government committee session with the applicants is a good indicator of what is likely to happen Monday when the full commission makes the appointments. The seven non-binding straw polls of the commission included selections by most of the 13-member body. But they selected either three or four finalists each which means there will probably a lot of shifts in votes Monday when commissioners are limited to one vote each.

64. Haslam Wants 700 Fewer Bills Introduced Next Year - Thursday, June 23, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam wants Tennessee lawmakers to file 700 fewer legislative proposals next year.

The Republican governor said in a speech Tuesday that he would like the number of bills reduced by one-third, or from the about 2,200 filed this year to the 1,500 range.

65. Haslam Expects to Approve Higher Ed Tuition Hikes - Thursday, June 23, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam doesn't plan to stand in the way of proposed tuition hikes at Tennessee's two higher education systems.

The Republican governor is scheduled to attend the University of Tennessee's board of trustees meeting in Knoxville on Thursday, where tuition hikes are on the agenda.

66. Probe Finds Tenn. Senate Staffers Get Pay Hike - Monday, May 30, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – A special investigation has found that Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey gave pay hikes to 18 staffers last year even though no other raises were being allowed for state employees.

67. Tenn. Senate Requires Insurance Cover Hearing Aids - Friday, May 06, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Senate on Thursday approved a bill that would require Tennessee insurance companies to include hearing aids for individuals up to 18 years of age in their policies despite opponents who say the mandate could drive up health care costs.

68. Collective Bargaining Bill Passes Tenn. Senate - Wednesday, May 04, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A proposal to repeal Tennessee teachers' collective bargaining rights passed the Senate 18-14 on Monday after a measure failed that would allow school boards to maintain them if they choose.

69. Electrolux Financing Clears Senate Finance Committee - Wednesday, May 04, 2011

The Tennessee State Senate Finance committee Tuesday approved two bills that represent the state’s investment of over $90 million in bringing the appliance manufacturing plant to Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park in southwest Memphis.

70. Electrolux Financing Clears Senate Finance Committee - Tuesday, May 03, 2011

The Tennessee State Senate Finance committee Tuesday approved two bills that represent the state’s investment of over $90 million in bringing the appliance manufacturing plant to Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park in southwest Memphis.

71. Haslam Marks 100 Days as Gov. - Tuesday, April 26, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam marked his first 100 days in office on Monday, and the Republican says he is looking forward to the end of the legislative session as his administration’s next major benchmark.

72. Tenn. Lottery Scholarship Bill May be Studied - Monday, April 25, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – A proposal to make it more difficult for Tennessee students to obtain lottery scholarships may end up being studied by a task force over the summer, said the measure's Senate sponsor.

73. GOP Leader Says Dems Reckless on Hospital Fee - Friday, April 15, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris is accusing Democrats of gamesmanship for their reluctance to quickly renew a hospital fee designed to avoid millions in TennCare cuts.

74. Tenn. Proposal Would Allow Multi-Party Nominations - Tuesday, April 05, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Torn between running as a Republican or a member of the tea party? Under one lawmaker's proposal, Tennessee candidates could do both.

Republican Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville wants to allow candidates to be listed on the ballot as the nominee of more than one political party. Their total votes would then be added up to decide the election.

75. GOP, Dems Clash Over 3rd Parties on Tenn. Ballot - Tuesday, March 29, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Republicans are balking at a Democratic senator's proposal to make it easier for minor parties to be listed on the Tennessee ballot.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis wants to set a threshold of 10,000 signatures from eligible voters for a third party to be recognized in the state, down from a GOP proposal of about 40,000 signatures from registered voters.

76. State GOP Looks to Drop 'Labor' From Committee Name - Friday, March 11, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Republicans in the Tennessee Senate wants to drop "labor" from the name of the committee that handles commerce and employment issues.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville said Thursday that it's in the interest of brevity that he has proposed excising the term from the Senate Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee.

77. Schools Legislation Set for House Vote - Wednesday, February 09, 2011

The schools consolidation bill in the Tennessee Legislature and much of the political debate on the larger issue moves to the floor of the state House floor Thursday.

And if the legislation has the votes there, it will be the first bill to go to the desk of new Gov. Bill Haslam.

78. Tn. Senate Approves Schools Bill 20-10 - Tuesday, February 08, 2011

The Tennessee state Senate approved Monday evening the schools consolidation bill proposed by Senate Republican leader Mark Norris of Collierville on a 20-10 vote.

79. State Legislators Look for Education on Schools Standoff - Friday, February 04, 2011

Most members of the Tennessee Legislature are just now getting a crash course in the controversy that has dominated Memphis and Shelby County politics since Thanksgiving.

As the state House and Senate prepare for fast-tracked votes Monday evening in Nashville on schools consolidation legislation, they aren’t getting a lot of help from Democrats or Republicans in the Shelby County legislative delegation.

80. Words Chosen Carefully in Schools Standoff - Thursday, February 03, 2011

The best indication of just how carefully Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam chose his words this week in the schools standoff is in the very different interpretations of the comments in the Memphis and Shelby County political community.

81. Sen. Kyle Keeps Focus On Law Career - Thursday, July 22, 2010

Jim Kyle has spent a long time in the Tennessee Senate, but a longer time as a lawyer.

And what he wants to remind people is that, “I am a lawyer who is in the Senate, not a senator who happens to be a lawyer.”

82. Feds Match County Money 3-to-1 for The MED - Friday, July 09, 2010

Federal, state, county and city officials – both Democrats and Republicans – celebrated Thursday a larger-then-expected $30 million payment to The MED from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

83. Bredesen Endorses Democrat McWherter for Governor - Thursday, June 24, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Phil Bredesen on Wednesday endorsed fellow Democrat Mike McWherter’s gubernatorial bid, citing his experience as a small-businessman as making him best qualified to guide Tennessee out of the recession.

84. State Budget Plan Advancing in Senate - Tuesday, June 01, 2010

A state agency that seeks to reduce the infant mortality rate in Tennessee would be cut under a budget plan passed by a Senate panel Thursday night and now headed for a floor vote.

The Republican-majority Senate Finance Committee approved the proposal 8-2, the first significant progress the budget has made in weeks. The full Senate was expected to take up the plan this week.

85. Tenn. Lawmakers Say $500 Bonus Main Budget Holdup - Thursday, May 27, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – A proposal to give state workers a one-time $500 bonus is a major sticking point in negotiations over a budget plan.

Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville told The Associated Press after a Republican gubernatorial debate in Memphis on Tuesday night that such a bonus is “illogical.”

86. House Budget to Tap Reserves an Additional $147M - Wednesday, May 26, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) — House budget writers propose tapping the state's reserves by an additional $147 million, a move that would ensure state employees get a one-time bonus and keep their 401(k) match program, lawmakers said Tuesday.

87. Tenn. Lawmakers Work to Reach Budget Consensus - Tuesday, May 25, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – State lawmakers are hoping to reach a consensus this week on a budget plan that will keep the state’s cash reserves strong and also provide assistance to Tennessee flood victims.

88. Senate Democratic Leader Gives Budget Alternative - Wednesday, May 19, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) - Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle has proposed an alternative budget plan he hopes will win the support of his Republican counterparts.

89. Democratic Leaders Raise Concerns About GOP Plan - Tuesday, May 11, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) — Democratic leaders said Monday they're concerned about a Senate Republican proposal to eliminate $113 million in one-time bonuses for state employees and teachers as part of a plan to close Tennessee's budget gap.

90. State Senate Approves Hospital Fee To Avoid TennCare Cut - Monday, May 03, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Tennessee Senate on Thursday approved a bill to allow state hospitals to pay a fee to avoid $659 million in TennCare cuts.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Doug Overbey of Maryville passed on a 25-5 vote. Four of the votes against the bill came from Republicans, including one who is running for governor and two running for Congress.

91. Senate Approves Hospital Fee to Avoid TennCare Cut - Friday, April 30, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Senate on Thursday approved a bill to allow state hospitals to pay a fee to avoid $659 million in TennCare cuts.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Doug Overbey of Maryville passed on a 25-5 vote on Thursday. Four of the votes against the bill came from Republicans, including one who is running for governor and two running for Congress.

92. Democrat McWherter's Fundraising Lags His GOP Foes - Wednesday, April 14, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Jackson businessman Mike McWherter has cleared the Democratic gubernatorial field. The fundraising front has proven more problematic.

Aside from a $1 million contribution from himself, McWherter reported raising only about $103,000 in the first quarter. That contrasts with the Republican field, where Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam has amassed nearly $1.3 million and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga reported about $510,500 in contributions.

93. McWherter Fights to Get Ahead of Rivals - Wednesday, April 07, 2010

The last major candidate standing in the Democratic primary for Tennessee governor vowed this week to put Tennesseans back to work with targeted tax breaks and job training programs.

Jackson businessman Mike McWherter’s trip around the state wasn’t as much of a victory lap for the August statewide primary as it was a starting point for the November general election.

94. McWherter Gives $1M to His Tenn. Gubernatorial Bid - Wednesday, March 31, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Democrat Mike McWherter is giving his Tennessee gubernatorial bid $1 million, his campaign confirmed Tuesday.

McWherter, a Jackson businessman and son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, is one of two Democrats remaining in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Bredesen. The current fundraising period ends Wednesday.

95. Gibbons Considers Snafus In Governor Quest - Tuesday, March 30, 2010

In the end it was about money, not message, Bill Gibbons said last week as he ended his bid to become only the state’s third governor from Shelby County.

96. Gibbons Cites Lackluster Fundraising in Ending Bid - Monday, March 29, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – Republican Bill Gibbons of Memphis cited lackluster fundraising in abandoning his bid for Tennessee governor on Friday.

97. What’s Coming Up This Election Season - Monday, March 15, 2010

After a year of turbulence, the Memphis political scene continues to remake itself.

The May 4 and Aug. 5 elections don’t have the focused drama of last October’s special election for Memphis mayor, but they represent new chapters in a story that could end with a new generation of political leaders and at least a passing of the political baton.

98. Tenn. Bill Would Stamp Income Tax Unconstitutional - Wednesday, March 10, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The sponsor of a measure that would declare an income tax and payroll tax unconstitutional in Tennessee says it's necessary because of the poor state of the economy.

The proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown was approved 7-3 in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. The earliest it could go before voters is 2014.

99. State Trying to Tax Hotels For ‘Free’ Breakfasts - Tuesday, March 09, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The so-called complimentary breakfasts at many hotels in Tennessee have stirred the appetite of state revenue officials.

The state wants to tax the lodging businesses for the food they offer as free breakfasts as part of their room rates.

100. Memphis' Kyle Drops Out of Governor's Race - Friday, February 26, 2010

State Sen. Jim Kyle of Memphis is out of the Democratic primary race for governor.

Kyle, the Senate Democratic leader, withdrew in an afternoon news conference in Nashville.