budget situation

Governor Bredesen,

You have been a good and strong advocate for Tennessee's Natural Heritage but the current budget situation is leading to a mistake in the manner that may be chosen to balance the state's finances.

Using the real estate transfer fees paid on every real estate transaction being used to balance the general budget is a huge mistake. This is dedicated money paid to the State for a

Chris Sanders comments on Karl Dean’s use of the word “good” in his State Of Metro address:

The Knoxville News Sentinel reveals Tennessee Republicans at odds over Governor Phl Bredesen’s handling of the budget:

By THEO EMERY and COLBY SLEDGE • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • May 7, 2008

The state will trim its payroll by over two thousand state employees because of budget cuts, and hopes to avoid layoffs by offering buyout packages, Gov. Phil Bredesen said Wednesday.

Unless, of course, they are betting that the urban forest is not likely to happen due to Metro's tight budget situation. Then they just look enlightened at low risk.

God knows we must not do anything to disrupt that Sunday morning holy-of-holies, the "NFL's game day experience." It's friggin' sacred.

Ben Cunningham notes with surprise an editorial in the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal counseling our leaders not to raid the state’s rainy day funds to make up for current revenue shortfalls: