McCormick defends bust removal effort
Speaking to the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club last week, state House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, said he wanted to set the record straight over his effort to remove a bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest from the state Capitol.
Forrest was a celebrated Confederate general during the Civil War and also the first leader of the Ku Klux Klan.
McCormick said members of the House’s Black Caucus approached him to see if he would help remove the bust from the state building, and he said after doing research, he was happy to.
Early last week, amid efforts across the South to ban the Confederate flag from various venues, McCormick said he wanted to delay his effort until the “hysteria” died down. But after that, he was going to get the bust moved.
“He was a slave trader. He wasn’t a grandfatherly nice old guy,” McCormick said. “We don’t need to get into this politically correct cleansing of history, but I’m not going to defend a guy who bought and sold people like corn.”
DesJarlais rejects bill over funding switch
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais said last week he voted against a bill that he had co-sponsored after lawmakers changed its funding mechanism. DesJarlais said he supports the intent of the 21st Century Cures Act, which would boost biomedical research and streamline government approval of new drugs and medical devices.
“Before serving in Congress, I worked as a practicing physician for nearly 23 years,” DesJarlais said in a statement. “Therefore I understand the importance of enacting policies that ensure the United States remains a leader in the field of medical care and research. That is why I originally co-sponsored the 21st Century Cures Act.
“Unfortunately, in true Washington fashion, some of my colleagues at the last-minute switched the funding mechanism for this legislation from discretionary funds controlled by Congress to mandatory funding. This essentially took a good bill and turned it into another runaway government program. I am extremely disappointed these tactics were used. As a result, I simply had no choice but to vote against this legislation.”
Observer Corps to report findings
The local Observer Corps of the League of Women Voters will take part in a panel discussion at the group’s July 20 meeting.
The corps is a group of LWV members who attend governmental meetings, note what happens and report back to the league and community, according to a news release.
Panelists include Hamilton County Board of Education member David Testerman; Jeannine Alday, former chief of staff to county mayors Claude Ramsey and Jim Coppinger, and Pam Ladd, former Chattanooga city councilwoman.
“Those familiar with Chattanooga/Hamilton County’s three elected bodies will describe the role of each and give their views of how observers should relate to those bodies. Open meetings will likely be mentioned,” said Joan Hamner, president of the Chattanooga members-at-large LWV unit.
The meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. in the training room of the Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd.
The public is invited to attend and to join the LWV, with applications available at the meeting.
For more information, call 423- 622-2862 or email Janis Hashe, jhashe@epbfi.com.
CALENDAR
Monday
Hamilton County school board member Jonathan Welch will be the guest at the weekly Pachyderm Club luncheon.
The meeting is at noon at GOP headquarters, 1428 Chestnut St., Suite E. Parking is in the Finley Stadium lot.
Future scheduled speakers this month include County Mayor Jim Coppinger on July 20 and state Rep. Marc Gravitt on the 27th.
Kat Cooper, co-founder of the Nooga Diversity Center, will speak to the JFK Club’s monthly luncheon at noon in the Mountain Room of The Chattanoogan hotel, 1201 Broad St.
For more information, contact Harvey Weiss at nipc@prismnet.com.
Tuesday
State Rep. JoAnne Favors is the guest at the Greater Chattanooga Democratic Women’s Club’s monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at the IBEW, 3922 Volunteer Drive. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact GCDWC Vice Chairman-Programs Brenda Nunn at 423-364-3532.
July 16
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Mancini is the special guest at the Marion County Democratic Barbecue and Politics Dinner. Tickets are $12 and children under 12 are free. Time is 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. CDT at the Kimball Municipal Building, 649 Main St.
Please RSVP to Jim Lewis. Call 423-942-9445 or e-mail jim.lewis.217@gmail.com or click Attend Event Marion County Democratic Party on Facebook.