OK, someone tell me why the Tennessee Legislature is getting a big pass.
Seriously.
A bill to ban bump stocks - the contraption that has no mention in the Second Amendment, mind you, but turns semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic killing machines - dies on the floor. That one screams of lobbyist influence.
Of course, in the same session, Tennessee lawmakers hustled to make sure a measure to approve increased taxpayer funding for hotel reimbursments to lawmakers on "official business" was rushed through and approved by a voice vote this week. Wow, we're a red and allegedly fiscally frugal state, unless some of our lawmakers feel like they need a few extra options in the mini-bar.
Ponder this - and feel free to email your thoughts - how many small-to-mid-sized business owners pinch their travel pennies to make the most of their business?
Countersuit to the suit among suits
The Democratic National Committee sued Donald Trump's campaign, his son-in-law, his son, the Russian Federation, the T-Birds from Grease, the two dudes who sat in the balcony on The Muppets Show, your tax guy, my tax guy and everyone in between (i.e. WikiLeaks) for a conspiracy to help Trump win the election.
The basis of the suit alleges the Trump folks and the Russians (and those crazy Muppets) broke into DNC computers and stole emails and documents.
"During the 2016 presidential campaign, Russia launched an all-out assault on our democracy, and it found a willing and active partner in Donald Trump's campaign," DNC Chairman Tom Perez said in a statement. He called it an "act of unprecedented treachery."
He did not comment on the Muppets.
He also did not comment on any of the possible countersuits that could be filed against the DNC since they clearly conspired against Bernie Sanders to get Hillary Clinton the nomination.
Ah, politics. Some people say tomato, some say conspiracy.
Money matters
OK, we're right there with you on the Hamilton County Department of Education and its proposed budget.
Hey, we want everyone to have a raise, but to act like in today's society that teachers are the only profession not getting raises to match inflation is silly. We all have been forced to find ways of doing more with less over the last 10 years - even as costs inch up.
And since I have not read every page of the education department's budget proposal, it's impossible to get into details.
But if we agree that the safety of all students is the most important priority, why, given a well-thought-out budget that includes growth money from the county and savings from retirement incentives, does the budget have 11 times more money allocated for across-the-board teacher raises than the $500,000 the system is pitching toward school resource officers and safety?
If so, where exactly does student safety rank again?
Saturday's star
Gang, we are in a time of definite unknowns.
Take this double-edged issue, for example.
The homeless among us are facing limited places to live.
Wonder what could bring all sorts of resources together to address this vexing problem?
Meet the grand folks from Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga who are finding ways to help.
Next Thursday, they have their fourth annual Low Country Boil at Miller Plaza. For more information you can visit their website at www.familypromisechattanooga.com.
Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga has been doing great work for homeless families with children in our town for two decades. Its aim is to help the families stay together, become independent and self-sufficient. Fundraisers like the Low Country Boil help the organization fulfill its mission.
Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga reports an 80 percent success rate in converting homeless families to housed families. Who doesn't love that kind of news? (And who doesn't love a Low Country Boil, right?)