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Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Salute Your Shorts
A State Representative Tom DuBois of Columbia wants to create a legal state pledge to our flag. Not only that, but he wants to require the state lawmakers to recite the pledge before sessions and then maybe make it required for school children. The pledge was drafted by Lucy Steele Harrison when she led the Tennessee Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Here is the pledge itself: "Three white stars on a field of blue / God keep them strong and ever true / It is with pride and love that we / Salute the flag of Tennessee." I think the mentioning of God could stir up some controversy; I say the ACLU is already preparing for such a fight. I think the pledge idea isn't that bad, but I doubt it will ever really catch on. Most people don't even salute the American flag anymore; why would people start with Tennessee's? (story here)
The Democrat-lobbyist dinner was cancelled yesterday after The Tennessean came out with a story about the party. The Democrats were being criticized for having a lobbyist-cozy party that was taking in contributions a month after ethics legislation was passed. Not only that, but the dinner itself was being advertised on the House floor. The keynote speaker was suppose to be a lobbyist himself. I think a better idea for the Democrats is to have a party for the people of Tennessee. They aren't in Nashville for the lobbyists; they are there to represent our voice. Have a big dinner that supports our voices, not one that silences us. (story here)
It also looks like blogger Bob Krumm could be gearing up for a run for state office. His website over the past few days has changed and now looks more like a campaign site. This guy is pretty smart (at least with his online postings) so I wouldn't mind to have him at the Capitol.
filed under: tennessee, politics
Senate Questions Big Oil
Senate members of the Judiciary Committee confronted oil executives today about mergers and high gas prices. You all know my position regarding gas companies. I found a few things interesting from today's public hearing:
>>The industry only invests 3% of profits in developing new energy sources. The big guys responded by saying that most of their money went to shareholders through stock buybacks and dividends. (Glad to know that my $30 per fill-up goes to make the rich richer)
>>None of them responded when asked if they needed the $2.8 billion worth of government subsidies in our current economic condition. The Exxon head certainly couldn't say anything since that company earned over $36 billion last year. (Anyone embarrassed by taking government handouts that's not needed?)
>>Exxon's head took a turn on the government by saying that it would be helpful if they would stop introducing so many varieties of reformulated gasoline.
>>One reason that natural gas is so expensive is because energy companies defeated a plan to import the gas from Canada and buried excess supplies. The gas companies declined at least six opportunities to have a free pipeline built for the imported natural gas.
>>The five largest American refiners control 56% of refining operations while the top 10 control 85%. (No monopoly, huh?)
(stories here and here)
filed under: news, politics, business