Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has drawn fire for allocating at least $735,000 to the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) from taxpayer funds.
Despite a glaring lack of required documentation or transparency, he has claimed the funds are a “grant”. House Speaker Cameron Sexton is calling for an investigation into the funding and questioned whether, among other things, it violates Tennessee laws against sanctuary cities for illegals.
Senator Marsha Blackburn has also chimed in. The question remains: where is the money actually going and for what purpose?
TIRRC is clearly engaged in direct political activities as new door hangers have become popping up at addresses in Nashville. The politically charged rhetoric in the materials calls the Republican legislature “corrupt” for complying with the US Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v Callais finding racially drawn congressional districts to be unconstitutional discrimination. Are Nashville tax dollars directly funding the political operations of the radically pro-illegal alien TIRRC, or simply freeing up their other sources of revenue to engage in partisan political activity?
MORE STRAW POLLS. Republican dinners in two counties this week produced straw polls regarding the GOP primary for Governor. In Gibson County on Saturday night the winner was Monty Fritts with 49 of the 108 cast. John Rose tallied 34 and Marsha Blackburn rolled up 25 for third place.
In Cheatham County John Rose recorded 192 votes out of 205 cast for a huge win over Blackburn and Fritts, where undecided outpaced Fritts’ total.
Early voting in the primary begins July 17 for votes that actually matter.
FARRIS WHEELING TOWARDS VICTORY IN PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S RACE. Fresh off of drawing over 1600 to his political rally in Cookeville last week, Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris pulled over 450 people out for his fish fry event in tiny Baxter on Saturday.
Farris shows no sign of slowing down in seeking his third term as Sheriff on August 6 despite some desperate and scurrilous online attacks from Marsha (…Marsha, Marsha) Blackburn supporters who are upset over his strong support for John Rose. The cheap shots are clearly not hurting Farris but are beginning to generate justifiable backlash against Blackburn in Putnam County and beyond.
Steve Gill is editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.
