FinneyBlog.com

FINNEY BLOG
www.finneyblog.com

A blog-- an online diary-- for Blount and Sevier County residents

Provided as a public service by State Senator Raymond Finney to permit Tennessee Senatorial District 8 residents to communicate with me and each other in a readily accessible format.

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peacably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Welcome! You are participating in one of our most important rights in America-- free speech.

This blog is intended to be a Web-based community forum
... to help me serve Blount and Sevier County citizens better by knowing their needs, viewpoints, fears, and expectations; and
... to provide an exchange of ideas, that we may all work together to improve our communities and state.

Please read, understand, and accept conditions before submitting or reading any comment in this blog.

SUBMIT OR RESPOND TO A BLOG POST

READ BLOG POSTS AND RESPONSES

READ AND AGREE TO CONDITIONS

I regret that I must remove the online submission form previously occupying this space. I am bombarded with hundreds of SPAM email messages weekly.

You may contact me by email, if you have a legitimate comment or inquiry. I will not open your email messaeg, though, unless it contains the code B135 typed into the message header. I regret this inconvenience, but it is necessitated by a few persons abusing the Internet with their pornographic and other solicitations.

Thank you for your input.

DIRECTORY OF POSTS AND RESPONSES TO POSTS
CLICK: ANIMAL ISSUES

( 8 posts - 2 responses - 1 editorial comment )

CLICK: CHILD WELFARE, PROTECTION
( 5 posts - 0 responses - 3 editorial comments )
CLICK: CONSUMER PROTECTION
( 1 post - 0 responses - 1 editorial comment )
CLICK: ECONOMY
( 1 post - 1 response - 0 editorial comments )
CLICK: EDUCATION
( 10 posts - 5 responses - 6 editorial comments )
CLICK: ENVIRONMENT
( 7 posts - 5 responses - 2 editorial comment )
CLICK: FINANCE, BANKING, REAL ESTATE
( 0 posts - 0 responses - 0 editorial comments )
CLICK: GOVERNMENT OPERATION
( 17 posts - 0 responses - 12 editorial comments )
CLICK: HEALTHCARE
( 7 posts - 1 response - 2 editorial comments )
CLICK: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
( 6 posts - 3 responses - 4 editorial comments )
CLICK: LAND USE, EMINENT DOMAIN
( 2 posts - 0 responses - 0 editorial comments )
CLICK: MISCELLANEOUS
( 0 posts - 0 responses - 0 editorial comment )
CLICK: SAFETY
( 4 posts - 1 response - 1 editorial comments )
CLICK: TAXES
( 6 posts - 0 responses - 5 editorial comments )
CLICK: TRANSPORTATION
( 1 post - 0 responses - 1 editorial comment )
CLICK: UTILITIES, TELECOMMUNICATION
( 1 post - 0 responses - 0 editorial comments )
CLICK: WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION, LABOR
( 0 posts - 0 responses - 0 editorial comments )

DIRECTORY OF POSTS INCLUDED IN THIS BLOG (Click on topic title to read posts in that section.)
ANIMAL ISSUES 08: Suggestions for animal laws 07: Sixth Annual Paws in the Park (announcement of event) 06: Big animal abuse 05: Update: Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation shelter 04: Recognition of importance of animal control issues 03: Animal control and child safety 02: Animal control in Blount County 01: Animal rights CHILD WELFARE, PROTECTION 05: A child's best interest 04: Network television offensive to Christians only 03: Are we in danger of losing a generation? 02: Does Tennessee have Jessica's Law? 01: What is a safe weight for backpacks? CONSUMER PROTECTION 01: Credit bureau advertisements ECONOMY 01: Local economy and poverty EDUCATION 10: Daughter will suffer, if TIPS program abolished 09: TIPS program in jeopardy? 08: More private schools needed 07: Teachers' retirement benefits 06: Lottery scholarships 05: Sexual abstinence until marriage education in public schools 04: Comments on education from a former teacher 03: Students' homework 02: Tuition fee waiver for state employees 01: Pre-kindergarten (tax money not well spent)	ENVIRONMENT 07: More energy conservation needed. 06: A proposed solution for air pollution 05: Blount County needs convenience centers 04: Comment from Tennessee Conservation Voters 03: Air quality improvement: vehicle inspection or speed reduction? 02: Horseback riding on trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 01: Roadside litter GOVERNMENT OPERATION 17: Election reform. 16: Electronic versus paper ballots 15: Senate Joint Resolution 88-- North American Union 14: High cost of running for office 13: Concerned about America's future 12: Automobile energy standards, illegal immigration, taxes, container deposit 11: Handicapped parking 10: Emergency preparedness 09: How much to run for your seat? 08: Hotline numbers 07: Local government audits 06: Buying wine on the Internet 05: Seeking attorney general's opinion 04: The Tennessee Trust 03: Reading Tennessee General Assembly bills 02: Public Expression of Religion Act 01: Labeling of incorporated churches HEALTHCARE 07: Is it time for Tennessee to license naturopaths? 06: Transfats and MSG in the food supply 05: Medical insurance for the uninsured (AccessTN) 04: Time for smoke-free buildings in Tennessee 03: Cover Tennessee information 02: Healthcare insurance differences 01: Healthcare insurance for major illnesses	ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION 06: Immigration policy loses Republican supporter 05: Illegal immigration and America's future 04: Why must we hire illegal immigrants? 03: Illegal immigration-- amnesty and language 02: Automobile insurance for illegal immigrants 01: Illegal immigration LAND USE, EMINENT DOMAIN 02: Property owners' rights 01: Land development planning SAFETY 04: Handgun carry by permit into state-managed lands 03: Cell 'phone usage while driving 02: Gun safety 01: Lack of enforcement of traffic laws TAXES 06: Taxation of utilities 05: Tax relief for senior citizens 04: Property taxation of Sevier County rental properties 03: Will we have a state income tax? 02: Taxes are too high 01: Senior citizens' homestead tax relief TRANSPORTATION 01: Interstate 3 UTILITIES AND TELECOMMUNICATION 01: Cable television vs AT&T controversy

DEMAND THAT YOUR TAX DOLLARS BE USED APPROPRIATELY AND HONESTLY

Government costs too much. Do your part to demand that spending-- and taxes-- be reduced. Here are some suggestions:

REPORT any suspected misuse of tax funds. Demand that your elected officials become conscientious stewards of the taxes extracted from your hard-earned income.

If you suspect waste, mismanagement, or fraud in any expenditure of state or local tax dollars, call the Comptroller's Hotline: toll-free-- 1.800.232.5454.

If you suspect waste, abuse, or fraud in the TennCare program, call the TennCare Inspector General's Hotline: toll-free-- 1.800.433.3982.

If you suspect abuse or fraud in workers' compensation, call the Department of Labor and Workforce Development Hotline: toll-free-- 1.888.243.7283.

If you suspect abuse or fraud in food stamps or other benefits, call the Department of Human Services Hotline: toll-free-- 1.800.241.2629.

VISIT Websites of organizations fighting government waste:

Tennessee Center for Policy Research, an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization dedicated to providing concerned citizens, the media, and public leaders with expert empirical research and timely free market policy solutions to public policy issues in Tennessee;

2006 Tennessee Pork Report, a project of The Tennessee Center for Policy Research and Citizens Against Government Waste, which finds more than 240-million dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse of your tax dollars by the Tennessee State Government;

Tennessee Tax Revolt, a grassroots effort formed by ordinary Tennesseans to give taxpayers a voice; and

Tennessee Tax Revolt Taxpayer Information Center, an impressive collection of Website links with valuable information on a wide variety of subjects.

KNOW your constitutional rights:

The United States Constitution, and

The Tennessee Constitution.

WATCH proceedings of the Tennessee Senate and/or House of Representatives. You may watch proceedings live by video streaming, or you may watch proceedings from previous dates stored in the archives. Watch proceedings in this manner:

GO to the General Assembly's Website.

On the home page that opens, click on either the "Senate" or the "House of Representatives" prompt in the menu along the lefthand margin.

On the page that then opens, click on the "Video Streaming" prompt.

Then, watch the Senate or House proceedings live (when in session); or, select a previous proceeding from the archives. (NOTE: The General Assembly will not convene until January 9, 2007.)

HOLD me to these promises I make to you:

I will oppose any effort to impose a state income tax;

I will continue to try to reduce such existing taxes as the Hall's income tax (especially for senior citizens with limited, fixed incomes) and the sales tax on food (grocery) purchases; and

I am a signatory of the Republican Caucus' Tennessee Trust initiative, which will attempt to reduce state spending and taxes in order that you may keep more of the money you earn (see the bottom of another Web page for the components of the Tennessee Trust).

I record all of my votes on Finney Votes, so that you may know how I vote on every bill and resolution. If I do not keep these promises, vote me out of office in 2008.

VISIT MY OTHER WEBSITES

CLICK on following links to visit my other Websites:

Informational Website of State Senator Raymond Finney: Biographical information, speaking engagements, outreach activities, and other topics.

Finney Votes: Complete record of my votes in the Senate.

Finney Listens: Online town-hall meeting, when in session; annual voter's preference questionnaire; other topics.

As you gather information about state government, you may also wish to go to one of my Web pages: Research Reference Sites. This page, which I am still developing, provides Internet links that will help you understand more about your government. The more involved and better informed citizens we have, the better our government will be forced to become.

Available on the Internet since September 9, 2006.

Thank you for visiting my Website. This Website is paid for by State Senator Raymond Finney.