Although I am truly happy that Governor Haslam has called a special session to fix what qualifies as "The Dumbest Political Law of the 21st Century", why should the taxpayers have to pay for their stupidity?
For those that do not know, our politicians in Nashville reduced the legal drinking age while operating a motor vehicle. Crazy huh? I believe the law was sponsored by Senator Jack Daniels and co-sponsored by Rep. Jim Beam.
The actual sponsor of the bill was State Rep. William Lambert, R-Cottontown. His bill increased the legal limit of alcohol consumption from .02 to .08, as long as you are driving a vehicle. Instead of accepting responsibility for such a bone-head move, he blames the federal government for forcing the states to have a zero-tolerance for under-age drinking.
Because of the possibility of losing $60 million in federal highway funding, Governor Haslam has called a "cover their butt special session".
Now the Tennessee taxpayers will have to pay for their stupid mistake.
This egregious law was passed almost unanimously in the House, and was passed unanimously in the Senate.
Here's my idea-
All those legislative members who have to travel to Nashville for this special session and who approved this immoral and unconscionable bill waive their per diem and mileage reimbursements or donate that amount to their favorite charity.
Just the opinion of a guy.
C. Mark Warren
* * *
Dear Mr. Warren,
Thanks for your opinion letter. It's refreshing to find a lawyer with a sense of humor as your comments blaming stupidity for the actions of the Tennessee Legislators were hilarious.
They are not stupid people. They are business people whose business is taking care of themselves. They, like all business people, seek to get a return for their investments. That they use taxpayer money for their investments is nothing new.
Where else do people spend tens and hundreds of thousands dollars for elected office to only receive a salary of around $20,000?
How many legislators leave office poorer than richer? Even the legislators caught with both hands and feet in the taxpayer cookie jar retain pensions, insurance and other perks from their "public service" on behalf of their business dealings.
However, lest I paint with too wide a paintbrush, it's important to remember that it's the 99 percent of legislators that give the honest 1 percent a bad name.
Diogenes of Sinope, when asked why he went about with a lamp in broad daylight, replied, "I am looking for a honest man."
At the state capitol in Nashville, Diogenes would need the fireball from a nuclear blast.
Stephen Greenfield
* * *
The answer to your question is very simple: The taxpayers should pay because the taxpayers elected them.
Jenny Moore
* * *
To answer your question, taxpayers will have to foot the bill because an attorney, like you, failed to do his or her duty and research the full impact of this ill-conceived law.
William Parker
* * *
All good comments. Yes, Stephen, even from the attorney who somehow got off the side of the bus to write his. Perhaps the few words of Jenny sum things up best. And certainly conspiculously absent are letters of explanation or defense from our local band of idiots, er politicians.
Michael Lawrence