Good morning, all. Since the potential change to the make-up of the TNDP’s Executive Committee was brought to my attention Wednesday by a state Rep. and confirmed by a state Sen. Friday morning, I will share what I was told:
Many of the Executive Committee members don’t work campaigns and don’t give money to candidates;
Many on the Executive Committee only want to go to the Convention;
Executive members have not returned Sen. Finney’s phone calls (yes, I was told that);
The bill would be written in a way that the GOP would not have to change the make-up of their Executive Committee;
The proposed make up would be by Congressional District (we only have to Dem Congressmen, so who would select/appoint the other seven?) and the House and Senate Dems would make appointments (i.e. Senate five, House five);
The Senator I spoke with informed me that he talked with Sen. Finney last week and that Sen. Finney is adamant about this bill and that he is “ready” to move on it.
This is what I was told. It concerned me greatly that none of my colleagues (other than Rep. Mike Turner who serves with us), to my knowledge, knew what going on. We haven’t been given an opportunity (democratic process) to defend ourselves or plead our case. I know Executive Committee members have worked hard all over this state, given money to campaigns and been right there when the TNDP’s staff needed them in the field for state and other races.
I can’t understand the strategy of having fewer dedicated Democrats working for the good of the state, I just can’t understand that. We need more Dems working and energized. I asked many questions of both legislators I talked with and neither could answer my questions regarding the actual make-up of the new Executive Committee, how would the chair and other officers be chosen, or the true motive behind what’s going on.
I truly believe that our efforts to return our state to the color it should be – Blue – will not happen if good Democrats are sent out to the pasture upset and angry. Our in fighting must stop. The enemy should not be “us”.
I truly believe that the GOP would NOT remotely consider doing this to their valued state Executive Committee. My questions, that no one seems to be able to answer:
Can a bill be written/passed that would only impact the state Democratic Executive Committee and not the state Republican Executive Committee?
Would the GOP be allowed to vote on such a bill or only the Dems in the state House and Senate?
At this juncture, I don’t know if it matters, but for those who care all hands need to be on deck trying to talk with Sen. Finney and Rep. Powell to discuss this matter. Have an awesome day.
Gale
From: Roy Herron [mailto:roy@tndp.org]
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2013 1:55 PM
To: Executive Committee
Cc: Lowe Finney; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; SENIOR STAFF
Subject: IMPORTANT: POTENTIAL CHANGES TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT COULD GREATLY IMPACT YOU
Dear Executive Committee Members:
Yesterday your fellow Executive Committee Member Gale Jones Carson of Memphis told me that she'd heard that legislation might be pushed which could greatly impact you.
Gale said that she was told legislation might change the number of Executive Committee Members and how you are elected or even selected. She also said she was told that the legislation was being sponsored in the Senate by your fellow Executive Committee Member and Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Lowe Finney of Jackson.
Today I talked with Senator Finney. He shared that Representative Jason Powell of Nashville had brought him a "caption bill", but that the terms and language of the amendment that would make the bill had not yet been decided.
Senator Finney did share, however, that Representative Powell and he feel that the Executive Committee should have fewer members.
Senator Finney also said that he would not move the bill in the Senate Committee this coming week, but that he could not speak for what Representative Powell might do.
I have tried to reach Representative Powell this morning and again this afternoon, but so far have not been able to do so. We believe that the bill is House Bill 898 (Senate Bill 297 by Finney) and is on the calendar of the Local Government Subcommittee for this Wednesday, the 20th. (Keep in mind that the language that would impact you would be in an amendment.)
I asked Senator Finney if he and Representative Powell would meet with some of you Members of the Executive Committee and me before proceeding with any legislation impacting you. Senator Finney responded that he would talk with Representative Powell next week about my request. He committed to communicating with me again before he proceeds forward in the Senate Committee. He did, however, make clear that he was not speaking for what Representative Powell will do about moving the bill forward this week. Nor did he commit either himself or Rep. Powell to meeting with Members of the Executive Committee or me before he proceeds.
I will let you know more when I know more. If you have questions, please feel free to call me (731.234.7289) or your Executive Director Kevin Teets (931.237.2180).
Your friend,
Roy