Vance Dennis e-mailed me in response to my comment to Ted Cook article in the Savannah Courier last week I have posted Vance's e-mail to me in it entirty and here is my respose to his e-mail.
Vance,
I am a strong Republican and I will always be, but Randy is a friend and is a good person I have listed below just a few of the many things Randy has done for our district.
District-specific improvements included $4 million for a capital project in Pickwick Landing State Park; $650,000 to construct an entrance to the UT Martin McNairy County/Selmer Campus; and, $200,000 in funding for the development of the UT Martin Center at Parsons in Decatur County. ÂThis budget demonstrates the strength of our stateÂs economy. It is our fourth-consecutive balanced budget without new taxes, he said. ÂJust a few years ago, Tennessee was in financial trouble. With some common sense and sound decision-making, we have been able to overcome those difficulties. Due to this sound fiscal management, Rinks said he was able to Âvote to return money to the stateÂs taxpayers by creating two separate sales tax holidays and, senior citizens and disabled veterans will see property tax relief because of raised eligibility ceilings. Rinks sponsored and supported many successful bills in the 104th General Assembly. In addition to $95.2 million for the Basic Education Program, other education legislation he helped pass included: Increased teacher pay at $42.4 million; Expansion of the Pre-K program to 250 new classrooms Increased HOPE scholarships to $3,800 for students at four-year institutions and $1,900 for those at two-year institutions; Increased Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grants to $1,500 for students in the skilled trades; Increased overall appropriations for higher education to $185.1 million, resulting in the lowest tuition increase for families in many years.
In the FY06-07 Budget, Randy Rinks secured: $200,000 in funding for the development of the UT Martin Center at Parsons in Decatur County (Higher Education facility)
$24,000 in funding for At-Risk childrenÂs programs in Decatur County
$71,000 in funding for At-Risk childrenÂs programs in Hardin County
$73,000 in funding for At-Risk childrenÂs programs in McNairy County
$650,000 in funding from TDOT to construct an entrance to the UT Martin McNairy County/Selmer Campus
Past budgetary highlights include:
$50,000 for the Decatur County Fairground
$14 million for the construction of the new Pickwick Landing State Park and Conference Center in Hardin County
$2 million for the Tennessee Technology Center at Crump in Hardin County
$25,000 for the McNairy County Industrial Park
4 Lanes for Highway 45 in McNairy County
4 Lanes for Highway 64 in McNairy and Hardin Counties
Extension of Highway 69 in Decatur; a new bridge in Decatur; and improvements to Highway 69 in Hardin County
Current Road Projects include:
The improvement of State Route 128 in Hardin County
The widening of US 64/State Route 15 in Hardin and McNairy Counties
posted by kesmls @ 5:14 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I understand that Mr. Rinks is your friend, and I would never ask someone to vote against a close personal friend, but I have to point out a few issues.
1. 90% or more of the state and federal funding Mr. Rinks claims to have brought to the district would have come regardless of who was representing us.
2. If Mr. Rinks was single-handedly responsible for all this funding, which some would call pork, does that outweigh his liberal voting record, i.e. pro income tax, pro abortion, pro illegal immigration, anti eminent domain reform, anti tort reform, etc.
3. Do we really want a state government that grants such omnipotence to a few good ol' boys just because they manage to get elected over and over.
Not me. That's why I am going to make sure we get all the state and federal funding we need AND maintain a voting record the people of this district can be proud of.
Vance Dennis
Well now, you forgot to mention those soft summer breezes and the star lit nights as some of Randy's efforts for the district.
If you buy into Randy's campaign copy, as you seem to, you yourself note that "Just a few years ago, Tennessee was in financial trouble."
Just a few years ago, Randy had been up in Nashville for 10-12 years. Has it ever crossed your mind that Randy had some of the responsibility for the financial troubles.
His solution for the financial trouble was a state income tax. The Govenor's is not.
It seems that this is an attempt to ride the Govenors's coat tails when he wants to take credit for the sound fiscal management by the Govenor for the last four years without taking responsibility for the 10-12 years of less than sound fiscal management.
Thanks for your time
Ted
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