House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh of Ripley took aim at Bill Haslam today on the heels of Haslam's announcement of a new Commissioner at the embattled Department of Children's Services. On reading the announcement, Fitzhugh tweeted:
"Jim Henry will be a welcome respite from mismanagement and scandal we've seen from other Haslam Commissioners."
No doubt, Fitzhugh is referencing the DCS scandal that resulted in the ouster of Katie O'Day at that agency and the scandal at Labor and Workforce Development involving both unemployment fraud and workplace discrimination. That scandal also resulted in the resignation of a Commissioner. And lately, attention has turned to information that Tom Ingram, personally paid by Haslam for political advice, also lobbied the TWRA to allow drilling and mining on public lands. Ingram failed to disclose his lobbying relationship for two years and Haslam says it is no one's business how much he pays Ingram.
Of course, when Ingram comes to the TWRA it's hard to believe they don't suspect Haslam is tacitly endorsing his requests. After all, he helped Haslam's campaign and is paid directly by Haslam for political advice. It's safe to say that when Ingram calls, state agencies listen. And for that, he's paid handsomely by a variety of clients.
Fitzhugh, meanwhile, is rumored to be a likely Democratic candidate to challenge Haslam in 2014. He even said as much at the outset of the 2013 legislative session.
Any serious challenger to Haslam needs to get in soon and tend to the business of raising the cash it will take to mount a legitimate campaign.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Democrats Set to Announce Campaigns Against Haslam, Lamar!
Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Roy Herron said this week that Democratic candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate will soon be making announcements.
Herron made the remarks in Chattanooga at a meeting of that city's JFK Club.
No word yet on who those candidates might be.
While both Haslam and Lamar! will be difficult to beat, a potential challenger to Haslam has many opportunities to focus on the Governor's failed leadership.
There's the matter of a somewhat minor-seeming ethics problem. Which wouldn't seem so bad except that Haslam's family business, Pilot, is in big trouble for some alleged shady business dealings. Haslam still earns income from his share of the Pilot business and it is unclear what (if anything) he knew about the alleged unethical conduct.
There have been problems at both DCS and Labor and Workforce Development -- Commissioners have been forced to leave amid scandals at both agencies - Commissioners hand-picked by Haslam.
Then, there's his failed (and seemingly direction-less) education agenda. This session, Haslam attempted to get both taxpayer-robbing school vouchers and a statewide Charter School authorizer passed. The latter would have taken away local control from elected School Boards. Both are bad policy and fortunately, thanks to Haslam's mismanagement of GOP super-majorities in both Chambers, both failed.
In 2012, Haslam proposed an education agenda that included raising class sizes by about 5 students per class while laying off up to 2000 teachers. Members of his own party (and anyone who has kids in school) knew this was bad policy (and bad politics) and he backed off the plan.
Now, there's an issue of a no-bid state contract costing taxpayers millions and given to the friends of a Haslam Administration insider.
And then, the matter of Haslam's under the table, personal payments to lobbyist and political consultant Tom Ingram. For advice, it seems, on how to handle a state government that so far, has been poorly managed by Haslam. Two Commissioners gone in scandal, no-bid contracts, insider deals with business partners, and a failed education agenda. Looks like Ingram definitely has his work cut out for him.
Herron made the remarks in Chattanooga at a meeting of that city's JFK Club.
No word yet on who those candidates might be.
While both Haslam and Lamar! will be difficult to beat, a potential challenger to Haslam has many opportunities to focus on the Governor's failed leadership.
There's the matter of a somewhat minor-seeming ethics problem. Which wouldn't seem so bad except that Haslam's family business, Pilot, is in big trouble for some alleged shady business dealings. Haslam still earns income from his share of the Pilot business and it is unclear what (if anything) he knew about the alleged unethical conduct.
There have been problems at both DCS and Labor and Workforce Development -- Commissioners have been forced to leave amid scandals at both agencies - Commissioners hand-picked by Haslam.
Then, there's his failed (and seemingly direction-less) education agenda. This session, Haslam attempted to get both taxpayer-robbing school vouchers and a statewide Charter School authorizer passed. The latter would have taken away local control from elected School Boards. Both are bad policy and fortunately, thanks to Haslam's mismanagement of GOP super-majorities in both Chambers, both failed.
In 2012, Haslam proposed an education agenda that included raising class sizes by about 5 students per class while laying off up to 2000 teachers. Members of his own party (and anyone who has kids in school) knew this was bad policy (and bad politics) and he backed off the plan.
Now, there's an issue of a no-bid state contract costing taxpayers millions and given to the friends of a Haslam Administration insider.
And then, the matter of Haslam's under the table, personal payments to lobbyist and political consultant Tom Ingram. For advice, it seems, on how to handle a state government that so far, has been poorly managed by Haslam. Two Commissioners gone in scandal, no-bid contracts, insider deals with business partners, and a failed education agenda. Looks like Ingram definitely has his work cut out for him.
Friday, May 10, 2013
What's Wrong with This Picture?
This handy little graphic shows the highest paid public employee in each state.
They are NOT teachers. Or Firefighters or police officers.
If we wonder why America's status in public education is slipping, we might look at this.
They are NOT teachers. Or Firefighters or police officers.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Elizabeth Warren Takes on Big Banks
And stands up for students in the process. Not just wondering aloud, but filing a bill that is designed to give college students that same deal on loans that Big Banks get from the Federal Reserve.
The chances of it passing are pretty damn slim, though. Republicans always stand with the Big Banks and there are enough Big Bank Democrats who will also vote against it (Max Baucus, Chuck Schumer).
And, even if by some miracle it did pass the Senate, there's no way the GOP-controlled House would pass such legislation that goes against the wishes of their Big Bank donors.
The chances of it passing are pretty damn slim, though. Republicans always stand with the Big Banks and there are enough Big Bank Democrats who will also vote against it (Max Baucus, Chuck Schumer).
And, even if by some miracle it did pass the Senate, there's no way the GOP-controlled House would pass such legislation that goes against the wishes of their Big Bank donors.
New Spears Strategy Website
So, my business website has been updated and MUCH improved. Check it out!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Franzen and Fracking
Back in 1991, Jonathan Franzen published a book that would foreshadow one of the big environmental controversies of our time -- 2012. How did he do it? Probably, like all great writers, he did his research on an issue and based his book on solid facts. Nevertheless, Franzen highlights "Fracking" in this text and its results set the stage for all sorts of happenings. The text: Strong Motion.
It's not the story, really that moves me. It's the characters. Franzen's characters are your neighbor, your college roommate, possibly even you. Not a close approximation, the real thing. By writing this way, he puts you IN the novel. You can't escape wanting to know more about what happens to these people you know - you really know.
His writing is descriptive, fluid, wonderful. At times, nearly perfect in the way a scene is described. At times, exactly perfect.
I first found Franzen via The Corrections and fell in love with his writing style and with the characters he writes so well.
Strong Motion is a beautiful, elegant read well worth your time.
It's not the story, really that moves me. It's the characters. Franzen's characters are your neighbor, your college roommate, possibly even you. Not a close approximation, the real thing. By writing this way, he puts you IN the novel. You can't escape wanting to know more about what happens to these people you know - you really know.
His writing is descriptive, fluid, wonderful. At times, nearly perfect in the way a scene is described. At times, exactly perfect.
I first found Franzen via The Corrections and fell in love with his writing style and with the characters he writes so well.
Strong Motion is a beautiful, elegant read well worth your time.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Kentucky and Tennessee -- Football and Schools
My column that appeared in the Hendersonville Star-News on Friday, December 2, 2011:
As I watched UK claim its first football victory over UT in 26 years, I began to ponder what might happen if the tables were turned. How would Tennesseans react if Kentucky beat Tennessee in football 26 years in a row? Already, the first coach to lose to Kentucky in 26 years is facing some griping from Vols fans. Lose to UK two years in a row and there will certainly be talk of a coach on the “hot seat.” While Tennessee certainly owns football supremacy, at least Kentucky has basketball.
There is, however, one arena in which Kentucky consistently beats Tennessee: Education. Since the 1991 passage of the Kentucky Education Reform Act, Kentucky schools have been on a tireless forward march. Indicator after indicator demonstrates that Kentucky has far out-paced Tennessee in education results over the last twenty years. And, Kentucky keeps moving forward. Meanwhile, Tennesseans watch as reform efforts here get off to noble starts only to fizzle out when the going gets tough (Career Ladder, BEP 2.0).
Let’s take a look at the indicators to see just where we stand in relation to our neighbor to the north. For starters, eight states test 100% of high school graduates on the ACT. Of those eight states, Tennessee ranks 7th in statewide average score. Perhaps not surprisingly, Tennessee spends less per pupil than all of the states ahead of us. Kentucky is one of those states and spends $1000-$1500 more per pupil (depending on the source) than we do.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the one test that students in all states take in 4th and 8th grade. It measures proficiency levels in math, reading, science and writing. Year after year, Kentucky’s students demonstrate greater proficiency than Tennessee’s. The most recent results in math and reading showed that Kentucky’s students tested 8 points ahead of Tennessee in reading and 10 points ahead in math. These numbers held even when looking at those students on free and reduced lunch. In Science, Kentucky’s 4th graders hold a 13-point lead over Tennessee’s; by 8th grade that lead expands to 18 points.
Finally, in terms of college degree attainment, nearly one in three Kentuckians holds a 4-year degree. On the other hand, barely one in five Tennesseans has a college diploma. An individual with a college diploma has been shown to earn $1 million more over a lifetime than a high school graduate. Moreover, if you’re a business deciding where to locate, you’ll find Kentucky has more college graduates available. If you took 1000 Tennesseans and 1000 Kentuckians to a job interview, 100 more of those Kentuckians (300 vs. 200) would have a college degree. That makes it difficult for Tennessee to compete.
So, let’s assume we don’t want to keep on losing to Kentucky. And, we should certainly be outraged by the consistent beating we’re taking. What do we do?
Over the last twenty years, Kentucky has maintained a focus on bold reform with three essential components: 1) Invest in schools 2) Invest in teachers and 3) Invest in students. As I noted, Kentucky spends $1000-$1500 more per student than Tennessee. Teachers there also make about $2000 more per year than Tennessee’s.
Kentucky’s success is not just about more money, though. It’s about smart investments that get proven results. Kentucky invests in teachers by way of the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP). KTIP is an intensive first-year teaching experience during which new teachers are assigned a mentor and an advisor from a local university. Those two individuals along with the school’s principal form the new teacher’s internship committee. The teacher is observed at least nine times in that first year and given constant feedback. At the end of the year, the teacher is either recommended for a teaching license, recommended for an additional KTIP year, or not advanced to a full teaching license. This focus on the critical first year of teaching, while certainly not perfect, does emphasize teacher development and demonstrate Kentucky’s commitment to ensuring that proven teachers stay in the profession. While Tennessee has adopted new evaluations, there is no support structure similar to Kentucky’s for new teachers.
Kentucky has also committed to extra learning time – providing targeted tutoring to students most in need of extra assistance. Again, this research-based approach is paying dividends as can be seen by Kentucky’s solid NAEP and ACT performance. Smart investments, not just throwing money at the problem, pay off in the long term.
For 26 years, the last Saturday in November has meant certain victory for Tennessee football. I have no doubt that UT will again claim victory over Kentucky – maybe for another 26 years. While the folks on Coach Dooley’s staff focus on getting the football right, we have a more important challenge – building strong, effective schools. Our children should have more to look forward to than singing Rocky Top in Neyland Stadium as UK heads back to Lexington after another loss.
As I watched UK claim its first football victory over UT in 26 years, I began to ponder what might happen if the tables were turned. How would Tennesseans react if Kentucky beat Tennessee in football 26 years in a row? Already, the first coach to lose to Kentucky in 26 years is facing some griping from Vols fans. Lose to UK two years in a row and there will certainly be talk of a coach on the “hot seat.” While Tennessee certainly owns football supremacy, at least Kentucky has basketball.
There is, however, one arena in which Kentucky consistently beats Tennessee: Education. Since the 1991 passage of the Kentucky Education Reform Act, Kentucky schools have been on a tireless forward march. Indicator after indicator demonstrates that Kentucky has far out-paced Tennessee in education results over the last twenty years. And, Kentucky keeps moving forward. Meanwhile, Tennesseans watch as reform efforts here get off to noble starts only to fizzle out when the going gets tough (Career Ladder, BEP 2.0).
Let’s take a look at the indicators to see just where we stand in relation to our neighbor to the north. For starters, eight states test 100% of high school graduates on the ACT. Of those eight states, Tennessee ranks 7th in statewide average score. Perhaps not surprisingly, Tennessee spends less per pupil than all of the states ahead of us. Kentucky is one of those states and spends $1000-$1500 more per pupil (depending on the source) than we do.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the one test that students in all states take in 4th and 8th grade. It measures proficiency levels in math, reading, science and writing. Year after year, Kentucky’s students demonstrate greater proficiency than Tennessee’s. The most recent results in math and reading showed that Kentucky’s students tested 8 points ahead of Tennessee in reading and 10 points ahead in math. These numbers held even when looking at those students on free and reduced lunch. In Science, Kentucky’s 4th graders hold a 13-point lead over Tennessee’s; by 8th grade that lead expands to 18 points.
Finally, in terms of college degree attainment, nearly one in three Kentuckians holds a 4-year degree. On the other hand, barely one in five Tennesseans has a college diploma. An individual with a college diploma has been shown to earn $1 million more over a lifetime than a high school graduate. Moreover, if you’re a business deciding where to locate, you’ll find Kentucky has more college graduates available. If you took 1000 Tennesseans and 1000 Kentuckians to a job interview, 100 more of those Kentuckians (300 vs. 200) would have a college degree. That makes it difficult for Tennessee to compete.
So, let’s assume we don’t want to keep on losing to Kentucky. And, we should certainly be outraged by the consistent beating we’re taking. What do we do?
Over the last twenty years, Kentucky has maintained a focus on bold reform with three essential components: 1) Invest in schools 2) Invest in teachers and 3) Invest in students. As I noted, Kentucky spends $1000-$1500 more per student than Tennessee. Teachers there also make about $2000 more per year than Tennessee’s.
Kentucky’s success is not just about more money, though. It’s about smart investments that get proven results. Kentucky invests in teachers by way of the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP). KTIP is an intensive first-year teaching experience during which new teachers are assigned a mentor and an advisor from a local university. Those two individuals along with the school’s principal form the new teacher’s internship committee. The teacher is observed at least nine times in that first year and given constant feedback. At the end of the year, the teacher is either recommended for a teaching license, recommended for an additional KTIP year, or not advanced to a full teaching license. This focus on the critical first year of teaching, while certainly not perfect, does emphasize teacher development and demonstrate Kentucky’s commitment to ensuring that proven teachers stay in the profession. While Tennessee has adopted new evaluations, there is no support structure similar to Kentucky’s for new teachers.
Kentucky has also committed to extra learning time – providing targeted tutoring to students most in need of extra assistance. Again, this research-based approach is paying dividends as can be seen by Kentucky’s solid NAEP and ACT performance. Smart investments, not just throwing money at the problem, pay off in the long term.
For 26 years, the last Saturday in November has meant certain victory for Tennessee football. I have no doubt that UT will again claim victory over Kentucky – maybe for another 26 years. While the folks on Coach Dooley’s staff focus on getting the football right, we have a more important challenge – building strong, effective schools. Our children should have more to look forward to than singing Rocky Top in Neyland Stadium as UK heads back to Lexington after another loss.
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