Just a little curious, how much is it costing the taxpayers of Tennessee to hold a special legislative session? The state representatives and senators are paid for their time, travel and daily expenses while in session. And this is to prevent the loss of funds from the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Transportation - who receives all of its funding from the taxpayers - the states, will not cooperate with a state on a regulation - not a federal law - a regulation.
This is upside down but illustrative of what happens when anyone accepts federal funding - there are a lot of strings attached.
Chris Cole
Signal Mountain
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I understand your concern, Mr. Cole, but one must get the bigger picture. It's not about getting federal taxpayer money back after thousands of sticky hands have received their skim. It's a higher calling of economic consideration called the Tennessee State Legislature "Trickle Down" theory.
The state legislators must insure that taxpayer money must trickle down to lobbyists, political cronies, liquor stores, restaurants, night clubs, lingerie boutiques, jewelry stores, toupee establishments, slush funds, tailors and seamstresses who enlarge pants pockets, countless bankers, lawyers and accountants with huge government supported smoke-screens, and state-sanctioned monopolies from professional licensing to legal loan sharking.
These are just a few of the legislator's friends who must be supported lest they wind-up as the poor unfortunates who sleep on Wal-Mart sheets, eat at Olive Garden, and buy clothes off-the-rack.
No, Mr. Cole, it's your duty, your sacred patriotic duty, to not question authority. So wave the flag, stand for the anthem and keep the legislature largess flowing. Our economy depends on it.
Stephen Greenfield