Blog & Commentary

Academic overseers or political cronies?

By TNWatchdog Staff on August 19, 2010

by Justin Owen After the recent appointment of Governor Phil Bredesen’s top aide to head the state university system, much attention has been turned on the board that made the selection. The Tennessee Board of Regents is an 18-member board that oversees 45 universities, community colleges, and technical schools across the state. It is the [...]

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Analysis: State House members’ actions arrogant in Schelzig debacle

By TNWatchdog Staff on May 18, 2010

In a show of what could only be described as abject thuggery, elected members of the Tennessee House yelled down and ultimately bullied Associated Press reporter Erik Schelzig from the House floor’s media area. Schelzig’s transgression was attempting to take a picture with his cell phone of House Speaker Kent Williams who collapsed while presiding over a live session of the State House.

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ANALYSIS: TNInvestco procedures, amendment bad for government transparency

By TNWatchdog Staff on April 7, 2010

The Bredesen administration – with some complicit Republican sponsors in the legislature – is trying to expand the scope of the Tennessee Small Business Investment Company Credit Act, also known as the TNInvestco program. A closer examination of the law, an amendment offered by Rep. Charles Sargent (R-Franklin) and the Bredesen administration’s process to award $120 million in tax credits under TNInvestco all suggest an agenda that is as much about doing government business with taxpayer dollars in secret as it is about creating jobs.

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The TNInvestco open records suit ruling documents

By TNWatchdog Staff on March 2, 2010

Download Davidson County Chancellor Russell T. Perkins’ ruling in the TNInvestco open records lawsuit by clicking this link, courtesy of Tennessee Watchdog.

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Relevant filings in the TNInvestco court battle

By TNWatchdog Staff on February 22, 2010

Here at Tennessee Watchdog, we believe bringing our readers primary documents from the public record is an important part of our job. Perhaps there is not a court case going on in Tennessee right now with more relevance to the future of government transparency than the suit to open the files on the TNInvestco program.

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Ramsey hits Washington, Wamp at First Tuesday

By TNWatchdog Staff on February 2, 2010

A day after Gov. Phil Bredesen unveiled a start new budget proposal in the State of the State address, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey delivered a message that Tennessee needs to “live within its means” during his First Tuesday appearance today

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ANALYSIS: SCOTUS decision on campaign finance strikes blow for free speech

By TNWatchdog Staff on February 2, 2010

In an age where government regulation seems to be in vogue — and possibly inevitable — for both of America’s major political parties, the land’s highest court finds that even corporations have the right to free speech.

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Court of the Judiciary hearings in legislature begin

By TNWatchdog Staff on January 14, 2010

As promised, State Senator Mae Beavers put hearings on the practices of the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary (COJ) at the front of her committee’s legisaltive agenda this week.

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Metro Codes pushes convention center in E-newsletter

By TNWatchdog Staff on October 21, 2009

In what is a very poor use of tax payer funds, Metro Nashville’s Codes Department in their neighborhood e-newsletter devoted an entire page to pushing the Music City Center project – the largest public building project in the city’s history.

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Comptroller: Alcoholic Beverage Commission not doing its job

By TNWatchdog Staff on October 19, 2009

A damaging audit of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission came out today, listing seven different findings. The audit was a followup to a previous inquiry as to whether the ABC had control of its finances and was performing simple tasks like criminal background checks on applicants for a state liquor license. Overall, it seems the [...]

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