Despite consistent polling showing that taxpayers overwhelmingly oppose their tax dollars being used to pay lobbyists, usually Democrats, to influence the majority Republican state legislature, cities like Nashville keep leading the way! And these private lobbyists representing cities and other public entities are raking in big money. It is a dangerous trend for taxpayers and shows no sign of slowing. Several states already prohibit or restrict the use of taxpayer money by government entities or agencies for lobbying. Tennessee does not…yet!
And now we discover that after the inept NES handling of tree trimming and disastrous response to the recent ice storm, they have hired expensive lobbyists to shield them from accountability from the Legislature! In addition to holding NES to account for their policies, leadership structure, and arrogance the Tennessee legislature should act immediately to protect tax dollars from being used, in most cases, to generate more tax dollars!
FREDDIE WASN’T ACTUALLY READY! A great new video is taking Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell to task for his actions, and inaction, during the epic ice storm of 2026! It isn’t clear who is behind the spot, or how widely it is being distributed, but it is sure to leave a mark!
![](https://<center><figure class="wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox"><a href="https://www.markpody.com/"><img src="https://tristardaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/IMG_4243.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-14416"/></a></figure>< https://www.markpody.com/)
Steve Gill is editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.
