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
READ AND AGREE TO CONDITIONS
SUBMISSION FORM (complete ALL fields)

(1) Fill out the following fields (boxes), and submit.

(2) If acceptable, I will post your submission for others to read and respond.

(3) I will post only your first name and city of residence.

(4) I may contact you by telephone or email to confirm that you are the author of the submission.

(5) Be civil, polite, and accurate. I will not publish profane, lewd, or defamatory messages. We can disagree with one another, without resorting to name-calling or insults. Our society is losing the ability to engage in polite discourse.

YOUR BLOG MESSAGE: Under the conditions set forth elsewhere in this site, submit your message for possible posting in this Website.

YOUR NAME: Submit your full name, but only your first name will be used unless otherwise directed by you.

YOUR MAILING ADDRESS: Submit your mailing address, but your address will not be posted.

YOUR CITY/ ADDRESS/ ZIP CODE: Submit completely this information, but only your city (post office city of record) will be posted.

YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER: Submit your telephone number, which will not be posted.

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: Submit your email address, which will not be posted, unless you request it to be posted to facilitate personal communication. (Please provide; your email address will not otherwise be displayed in the format sent to me.)

IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO AN EXISTING POST: Provide the post number. Example: If responding to ED-1 (the first post in the education topic), provide "ED-1" in this box.

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

SIGN UP FOR MY FREE NEWSLETTERS
Keeping in Touch (printed newsletter, sent by postal mail)
Electronic newsletter (e-newsletter, sent by email)
These are TWO DIFFERENT newsletters.

KEEPING IN TOUCH: I will send you by postal mail a printed newsletter at irregular intervals, free of charge and free of solicitations for campaign contributions.

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER: I will send you by email information of possible interest (especially when the General Assembly is in session), free of charge and free of solicitations for campaign contributions .

YOUR NAME:

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YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (please provide-- your email address will not otherwise be displayed in the format sent to me):

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:

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:

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.