Unknown Legislator changes budget language to foil defunding Planned Parenthood.

[Worriedman]

I suspect that there will be a lot of scrutiny over this issue!

Unknown legislator changes wording of budget on Planned Barrenhood funding - Knoxville Tennessee Statehouse | Examiner.com

[Worriedman]

Another article re the same subject. Looks like whoever talked the staff attorney into rigging the documents was in it to force his/her view point at whatever cost.

Tennessee Legislator Secretly Alters Final State Budget Bill | Blue Collar Muse

[1gewehr]

Perhaps it might be a good idea to make an example of the offender.

"According to Section 6b of Appendix B of the Ethics Provisions Provided by Stature, the TCA views “the unauthorized exercise of official power [and] acts exceeding one’s official power” as Class E felonies."

[JayC]

Perhaps it might be a good idea to make an example of the offender.

"According to Section 6b of Appendix B of the Ethics Provisions Provided by Stature, the TCA views “the unauthorized exercise of official power [and] acts exceeding one’s official power” as Class E felonies."

If I was a betting man, I'd place my bets on the RINO of a House Speaker Beth 'anti-gun' Harwell.

[Worriedman]

Leadership of both the House and Senate are trying to gloss over the episode.

Speaker and Lt Gov Release Statement Notable for What it Does Not Say | Blue Collar Muse

[mcurrier]

This needs to be investigated and someone needs to burn down for this.

[Dolomite_supafly]

This needs to be investigated and someone needs to burn down for this.

Sounds like a plan is forming.

Maybe we need to put this somewhere along with a form letter so we all can overwhelm them with our demands that this be investigated and thos responsible be held accountable.

Dolomite

[East_TN_Patriot]

Sounds like a plan is forming.

Maybe we need to put this somewhere along with a form letter so we all can overwhelm them with our demands that this be investigated and thos responsible be held accountable.

Dolomite

I like that idea.

[Guest HvyMtl]

Hmm. I am against any legislator overstepping their limited powers.

I am against defunding planned parenthood. It is a bad idea, as way too many poor women have to rely on their services. 98% of their services have Zero to do with abortion. The 2% includes counseling, which can prevent the abortion... (I do not support abortion as birth control.)

AND ZERO tax payer $ goes toward the 2%...

So, is there any indication which legislator(s) did this? How do you punish those responsible, when you do not know who they are?

And where is the outrage for Lt. Gov Ramsey's action to give pay raises (some raises over $500 per month) to his staff, when there were to be no raises, including legislation passed stating there would be no raises, for state workers?

[Dolomite_supafly]

I don't even think Planned Parenthood provides abortion services. There was an article a while back about a reporter who called dozens of planned parenthood clinics asking about abortion and they all said they didn't provide that service.

Dolomite

[Oh Shoot]

I don't even think Planned Parenthood provides abortion services. ...

They do. Link results is an .asp page, so can't do specific URL, but search in local zip goes to Knoxville Health Clinic on North Cherry (among others). Says clinic is "Operated by: Planned Parenthood of Middle & East Tennessee, Inc." and offers abortions among other services.

Find a Health Center - Planned Parenthood

- OS

[1gewehr]

Here is a good article on Planned Parenthood's services.

Must-see graphic: Planned Parenthood’s Abortions vs. Adoptions | CatholicVote.org

Planned Parenthood was founded by Margaret Sanger with the expressed purpose of racial eugenics; aborting all non-white and 'defective' babies. They have been very successful in promoting abortion as a form of birth control. While they are expressly forbidden from using Federal funds for abortions, it merely means that they can use Federal funds for all other expenses including pre- and post- abortion care and counseling.

[Guest HvyMtl]

No offense meant, but the #1 religious group receiving abortions in the US is Catholics. And any Catholic source on abortions is skewed. It would be like asking liberal sources if there needs to be cuts in military spending. Or asking the WND if there is truth to the "birther" issue.

I wish I could find the stats I had seen. Basically, if the Catholics follow what they preach, anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 of US abortions would not happen.

Abortion Statistics

According to this anti-abortion group - Catholics are responsible for over 31% of abortions in the US. They add all the Protestants together (Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, etc.) they are responsible for over 37% -

To those religious groups, practice what you preach and over 68% of US abortions would not occur.

Interesting was the stat they have on income - the leading group who have abortions is in the $30k-$59,999 range.

Again, who are the legislatures responsible for rule violations? Any info?

[mcurrier]

Not sure if I've landed in the Twilight Zone or the Kool-Aid Zone.

[Guest bkelm18]

What Planned Parenthood actually does or who the main users are is irrelevant, the fact of the matter is a legislator abused their power and something needs to be done about it.

[Guest PapaB]

What Planned Parenthood actually does or who the main users are is irrelevant, the fact of the matter is a legislator abused their power and something needs to be done about it.

+10

Focus people, focus.

[Guest HvyMtl]

Agreed. Again, any info on who the legisfailor was?

[quietguy]

Agreed. Again, any info on who the legisfailor was?

Word is that it came out of the Senate (sorry JayC), so there are a couple of highly likely candidates.

[Warbird]

What is known is that the change was made by an attorney for the House. He made the change based on instruction from a legislator. He is not saying who the legislator is, invoking attorney client privilege. I am not sure that will fly as he could probably invoke the privilege of what was said, but not necessarily the identity of that person. But that is an argument for another day. Paul Summers has refused to make comment on that.

The change was likely made during a suspension of the rules. The suspension of rules is very common, but it is also a time when legislators have watch out for strange things appearing on their legislation. In other words a legislator better read their bill well before the final reading on the floor.

[Guest SUNTZU]

What about the torches and pitchforks privilege?

[Worriedman]

Best be careful. some one may be offended by that picture.

[G27]

My goodness, our legislators continue to embarrass us almost daily. They know we aren't going to show up en masse and throw them out of the building, so they continue to play stupid games and pass stupid laws...

[Guest HvyMtl]

Well, now there is a group pressing the Governor to use his "administrative powers" to deny the Federal funding to Planned Parenthood anyway.

Um. Has anyone really thought out what happens when the State blocks Federal funding? Is the State prepared for the repercussions of this action? Point is this: Block the Fed funding, get the wrath of the Feds. Whether we like it or not, the State relies heavily on Federal funds.If the State blocks, or redirects any Federal funds from their allocated place, will the Feds then not fund the State on other matters? Will the Feds sue (and probably win) costing even more State funds to defend a lawsuit? Is this an overstep of State powers vs Federal powers? This needs to be thought out and steps taken to ensure the State is not going to get sued, and lose funds in other areas.

Edited June 9, 2011 by HvyMtl