Latest news with #JohnPartipilo
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP bill would oust, arrest elected officials who share immigration enforcement information
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement walk back to the agency's North Nashville facility after escorting a bus filled with immigrants out of the parking lot. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Tennessee Republican lawmakers unveiled legislation this week that would make it a felony for public officials to release the names of immigration officers in yet another public swipe aimed at the Democratic mayor of Nashville. The bill, filed by a half dozen lawmakers who comprise Tennessee's GOP House and Senate leadership, would also subject state and local officials to ouster from office under the state's moral turpitude laws for revealing the names of immigration agents or information 'related to specific future immigration enforcement operational activities.' The bill's filing, announced in a news release, is the latest effort by Republicans in Tennessee and members of the Trump Administration to target Mayor Freddie O'Connell, who decried mass immigration sweeps on Nashville streets in early May. 'The people of Tennessee expect their elected leaders to protect law enforcement — not endanger them,' said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson of Franklin, who is sponsoring the measure. 'When a public official like Mayor O'Connell chooses political activism over public safety, especially by interfering with federal immigration enforcement, he has no business holding office in the state,' Johnson said. The bill, he said, 'sends a message not only to Mayor O'Connell, but to any other blue-city mayor who may consider following his lead.' Republican leaders have focused on an executive order by the mayor requiring certain city employees to report any interaction with federal immigration officials to the mayor's office. The order, originally issued by former Nashville Mayor David Briley in 2019, was revised by O'Connell to require reporting within 24 hours, instead of three days. The mayor's office then began publicly posting notes of those reports in an online spreadsheet. 'There will be repercussions' Homeland Security official targets Nashville mayor over immigration The initial public posts identified three federal immigration officials by their full names and one by her first name. The posts were inadvertent and later removed, the mayor's office said. Trump Administration officials highlighted the posts as an effort by O'Connell to disrupt immigration enforcement activities and 'dox' immigration agents. White House 'border czar' Tom Homan pledged to 'flood the zone' with immigration enforcement activities in Nashville in response to the mayor's public statements condemning immigration raids. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton publicly called on O'Connell to rescind the executive order. Two Republican-led U.S. House panels — the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees — also launched an inquiry into the response by Nashville's mayor to federal immigration enforcement activities. Asked Tuesday to address O'Connell's statement that the release of immigration agent names was inadvertent, Johnson noted the bill addresses both intentional and negligent actions, calling them 'unacceptable and dangerous.' House Speaker demands Nashville mayor ax order to report federal immigration interactions 'This bill ensures that such breaches are not tolerated,' Johnson said. 'Regardless of the intention behind the release of the information, public officials have a duty to protect sensitive information. Any failure to do so puts both public safety and the lives of law enforcement officers and their families at risk.' The bill makes clear that sharing information between local, state and federal agencies to support the enforcement of immigration laws remains 'fully permitted,' he said. Johnson did not address a question about whether a mayor had a right or responsibility to ascertain whether immigration enforcement actions were taking place in his city. O'Connell's office did not respond to a request for comment about the bill filing Tuesday. At the height of immigration sweeps, which took place in the heart of Nashville's busy immigrant enclave in early May, O'Connell spoke out against the actions he said were conducted by 'people who do not share our values of safety and community and have the authority to cause deep community harm.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stockard on the Stump: Tennessee tax refund boosts private prison operator
CoreCivic, based in Brentwood, Tennessee, one of the state's biggest donors to lawmakers, scored a recent tax refund from Tennessee. (Photo: John Partipilo) Tennessee's private-prison operator lost nearly $45 million in state payments over three years for failing to meet contractual requirements, but it's landing a nice windfall as part of the state's business tax cut deal. Newly-released records show Brentwood-based CoreCivic Inc. and its affiliate CoreCivic TRS LLC & Subs each received refunds of more than $10,000 for three years of tax rebates after lawmakers approved an estimated $1.9 billion franchise and excise tax reduction in 2024. Because of the wide range for payouts, the public will never be able to find out exactly how much the state returned to CoreCivic or 16,000 other companies, many of them based out of state, that received more than 10 grand each. Lawmakers approved categories of less than $750 for the list, between $750 and $10,000 and more than $10,000. CoreCivic is one of the state's biggest donors to lawmakers' biggest donors, as well, even though we know that legislators don't base their decisions on campaign contributions. At least that's what they tell us. Tennessee levied $44.78 million in penalties against private prison operator in three years Release of the lists in the past week has spurred a bit of debate about whether it is transparent enough, especially since it doesn't specify exact amounts refunded and will be up on the state's website for only 30 days. Aside from that argument and discussion about whether this tax break was a giveaway to make the rich richer, it shows that numerous business entities got what some might call the old double dip. Take, for instance, SmileDirectClub. The company landed a $300,000 grant from the state in 2017, then hit it big with $10 million from Tennessee in 2019 and the blessing of Gov. Bill Lee for a Nashville expansion. But the tooth-straightening company hit the skids and filed for bankruptcy in 2023, then closed up shop. Yet even though it's no longer operating, SmileDirect is drawing a refund in excess of $10,000 from the state. The list is long for companies receiving state grants over the last decade and now tax refunds. FedEx netted a $10 million grant for a $44 million investment in Shelby County in 2019, and Hankook Tire landed $6 million in 2022 for a $611 million project in Clarksville. And don't forget about Ford Motor Co., which received nearly a billion dollars worth of incentives for BlueOval City in West Tennessee and will draw a refund in excess of $10,000 under the new scheme (I mean law). Production at the electric truck plant is running more than a year behind schedule mainly because of concerns about the EV industry. World's top businesses, Lee Company receive biggest Tennessee tax rebates The debate centers on whether this stuff is creating a business-friendlier state, putting Tennessee in the midst of economic recruiting wars or simply donating to corporate welfare. The conservative Beacon Center puts out an annual Pork Report declaring the state's biggest winners of government largesse. In December, it asked people to weigh in last year on three finalists: Memphis Area Transit Authority spending tens of millions on Grizzlies suites and a downtown office; Lebanon City Council approval of a $1.5 million for an unnamed restaurant; and the $2.3 billion from state and local taxpayers for a new Titans stadium at the same time $80,000 is going toward the old stadium. Axing of the franchise tax on business property didn't make the cut. But if that's not a giveaway, what is? After all, these companies knew the rules when they started, and a letter to the state by businesses challenging the constitutionality of the franchise tax on property could be considered a form of extortion. One lawmaker said this week if you consider the money as belonging to the businesses and then being turned over to the government in the form of taxes, then it's not a giveaway. That begs the question, though, what about the sales taxes millions of people pay every time they buy a package of bacon? Where's the love for the little people? To which some might say, 'What's love got to do with it?' Former Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn failed to list a new company called New Horizon BluePrint Group on her federal disclosure form, then dissolved it shortly before the U.S. Senate took up the confirmation hearing for her appointment as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Records show she started the business, a Florida LLC, with Donald Fennoy, former director of the Palm Beach County School District in Florida, in February, after President Donald Trump nominated her for the post. Schwinn's sister took over the company in late March, before it was dissolved, raising questions about the timing. Typically, folks don't start businesses after they've been nominated for federal jobs, and they don't forget to put them on their conflict of interest disclosure form either. The74, an online education publication, reported the failure to disclose the business – which never really came to fruition – might cause Schwinn problems in her Thursday hearing. Former Tennessee education leader promises feds she will cut conflicts But that would be the least of her problems, if the Senate looks at her history and not just her work resume. She spent most of her time Thursday bragging about gains Tennessee students made during her tenure. But Schwinn had some hiccups too during her time here working for Gov. Bill Lee. The Tennessee Department of Education signed an $8 million contract in 2021 with TNTP, a teacher training company that employed her husband. She had to sign an ethics agreement promising not to discuss TNTP stuff with him. Lawmakers also passed legislation removing the education commissioner from the textbook approval process because they felt Schwinn was directing business to favored companies. In addition, the Education Department saw an exodus of experienced people during her tenure. This list could continue. Not that anyone in Washington, D.C. cares much about conflicts of interest or questionable business dealings. Those are status quo. But at some point, the public will rebel against this type of corruption and put someone else in charge of lining pockets. Chip Saltsman sparked speculation about the political future of House Speaker Cameron Sexton this week when he posted a photo of a Crossville video shoot and said people should 'stay tuned' for a 'big announcement coming.' Does this mean Sexton is leaving Nashville and moving back home to Cumberland County? It's possible. More than likely, Sexton will be announcing his intentions to run for Congress to replace U.S. Rep. John Rose, who is running for governor. The Lookout asked Sexton more than a year ago if he was considering a run for the District 6 seat. His response was that Rose held the post. At that press conference, other House Republican leaders laughed and wondered why they weren't being asked the same question. Probably because nobody cares? Recently, though, state Rep. Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville said he was considering seeking the District 6 seat. We haven't heard much about it since then. Come to think of it, we haven't seen much out of Rose, either, since the bitterly cold day he announced he was running for governor. Whatever the case, we'll be staying up nights to monitor X (formerly Twitter) to see Sexton's forthcoming pronouncement. It could cause a bigger ripple effect than the time the Mississippi ran backwards. 'Take me to the river, drop me in the water / Washing me down, washing me down.' * *'Take Me to the River,' Talking Heads SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Appeals Court upholds state law halving Metro Nashville Council
Historic Nashville Courthouse. (Photo: John Partipilo) A split Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the state's effort to cut the Metro Nashville Council in half, overturning a trial court decision in a battle between state and local governments. The three-judge panel upheld a 2023 bill passed by the Republican-controlled legislature cutting the size of metropolitan government councils to 20, a move that would dramatically reduce the size of the Metro Nashville Council from 40 members — 35 from districts and five elected at-large. The appeals court overruled a Davidson County Chancery Court's decision that the state law violated two sections of the state Constitution, the home rule amendment that prevents the state from targeting specific local governments and a clause exempting metropolitan governments from a 25-member cap on legislative bodies. 'In resolving this dispute, we remember that it is our duty 'to resolve every reasonable doubt in favor of the constitutionality of a legislative enactment,'' the decision states. The Court of Appeals rejected Metro Nashville's argument that the law applies only to Nashville, thus violating Tennessee's Home Rule law that prevents state lawmakers from passing legislation targeting a local government without its permission. State appeals court ruling keeping Nashville's 40-member council intact While Tennessee has three counties that voted to form metropolitan governments, the law only requires Davidson County to shrink its council to comply. The Court of Appeals sided with the state in affirming the idea that though the law would only impact the current governing structure of Davidson County, two smaller counties that already have Metro Councils with fewer than 20 members will be required to maintain that compliance. Any counties that form metropolitan governments in the future would also have to comply with the law. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, a Portland Republican, applauded the court's decision in affirming constitutionality of the Small Government Efficiency Act. 'The action reins in excessive government growth while ensuring local municipalities across the Volunteer State remain accountable and responsive to their constituents,' Lamberth said in a statement. The Republican-controlled legislature started targeting Metro Nashville two years ago with a spate of bills designed to give the state greater control of the local government, including reducing the size of the council. The conflict stemmed, in part, from the council's decision to reject a move to lure the Republican presidential convention to Nashville. Allison Bussell of the Metro Legal Department said, 'We are understandably disappointed and concerned about the ruling's implications on local sovereignty. But we are also encouraged by Judge Armstrong's compelling dissent. We are digesting the ruling and considering our options.' 'The Home Rule Amendment of the Tennessee Constitution, in part, stands for the proposition that the size of the Metro Council is a decision for the voters of Metro Council,' said Vice Mayor Angie Henderson in a statement. 'The General Assembly's 2023 Small Government Efficiency Act was advanced purportedly to address the 'efficiency and effectiveness' of Nashville's legislative branch.' 'For the last 60 years, this 40-member Council has capably and effectively served the interests of our constituents, who today number some 715,000,' Henderson said. The obvious reason for exempting a consolidated government from the restriction on the size of its membership is to accommodate the far larger population of a consolidated government as compared to a single county or municipality. – Judge Kenny Armstrong Judge Kenny Armstrong of Memphis dissented from Judge Steven Stafford of Dyersburg and Judge Carma Dennis McGee of Savannah in the ruling. Armstrong argued in his dissent that Metro Nashville, as a metropolitan government with home rule, qualifies for an exemption from state-set restrictions on its legislative body's size. 'The obvious reason for exempting a consolidated government from the restriction on the size of its membership is to accommodate the far larger population of a consolidated government as compared to a single county or municipality,' Armstrong stated. This decision is a significant blow to Metro Nashville's continued efforts to combat what city leaders have classified as unconstitutional state overreach. The Court of Appeals' ruling runs counter to a slew of victories for Metro Nashville in related cases. Nashville's legal department has also sued to block laws targeting the city's authority over boards controlling Nashville sports stadiums, its convention center, the fairgrounds and the Nashville International Airport. The Court of Appeals noted that its decision on the Metro Council case opposes a separate Court of Appeals ruling nullifying the state's attempt to vacate the Metro Nashville Airport Authority and appoint new members. The court in that case concluded that the law, which applied only to Metro Nashville, violated the home rule provision. Tuesday's ruling stated the airport case is 'readily distinguishable' from the question of the Metro Council size statute, because the airport authority law was 'unlikely' to apply to other counties in the future. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee program makes progress on EV chargers while frozen federal projects languish
Tennessee has closed a loop of electric vehicle chargers in the state even as a federally-funded program to round out Tennessee's charging network remains halted. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Tennessee closed a loop of electric vehicle chargers connecting Nashville, Knoxville, Cookeville and Chattanooga in May, marking a significant milestone in the state's push to support EV adoption. Meanwhile, a federally funded program intended to round out Tennessee's EV charging network — particularly on the state's major interstates and U.S. 64 — has been halted since February at the instruction of President Donald Trump's administration. Tennessee's Fast Charge TN program aims to position an EV charger every 50 miles along Tennessee interstates and highways. In the roughly 400-mile loop closed in May with the installation of chargers in the small town of Athens, EV drivers can now access chargers every 34 miles. The state's $24 million program is funded separately through funds from the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust, electricity revenues from TVA and cost share from grant recipients. Some U.S. Republicans are pushing to keep energy tax credits. Tennessee lawmakers aren't among them. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Office of Energy Programs released a Notice of Intent for the Fast Charge program's second round in February and expects to solicit projects for 13 gap areas throughout the state 'in the coming months.' Fast Charge TN's federally backed counterpart remains at a standstill. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) allocated up to $5 billion to support EV charger installation along 'Alternative Fuel Corridors' across the nation. Tennessee was set to receive $88 million over a 5-year period to complete a plan created by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Upon taking office, Trump issued an executive order to pause the disbursement of federal grant money for programs supporting electric vehicles and clean energy initiatives under the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration officially suspended NEVI funding in February, despite having already approved states' program plans. TDOT awarded $21 million in NEVI funds to 10 applicants in January 2024 to install 30 new charging locations, but none of those contracts have been executed as the pause remains in effect, according to TDOT Community Relations Director Beth Emmons. Sixteen states, Washington D.C. and multiple environmental and clean energy groups sued the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration in a Washington federal court in May, arguing the federal agencies had no authority to freeze funds already appropriated by Congress. The Executive Branch, the suit contends, cannot 'override or suspend this process based on changing policy priorities.' EVs in Tennessee: Uncertainty abounds as Trump targets Biden-era electric vehicle funding Tennessee is not one of the plaintiffs. Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee's Congressional representatives have largely been mum on the tension between the state's work to grow the EV industry and the Trump administration's efforts to retract federal support. Tennessee has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into incentives and grants to entice EV-related businesses to locate their manufacturing plants in the state. Lee and the state's economic development department have celebrated the hundreds of jobs promised by EV enterprises since 2017, many in rural areas. All but one of Tennessee's representatives in the U.S. House voted in favor of an amended version of Trump's budget reconciliation bill — which would eliminate electric vehicle tax credits for consumers and create new annual taxes for EV and hybrid owners — in May. Lee also celebrated the bill's passage in the House, and did not respond to a request for comment regarding the potential impact to Tennessee's EV industry. The bill must pass in the U.S. Senate to become law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stockard on the Stump: CoreCivic battles former consultant over ICE business
CoreCivic, based in Brentwood, Tennessee, is suing a consulting firm that was hired to pursue business for the private prison company. (Photo: John Partipilo) Tennessee's private prison operator is suing a consultant for $500 million for allegedly stealing a contract for non-detention services with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. CoreCivic, a Brentwood-based company that runs four Tennessee prisons, filed suit against Universal Strategic (US) Advisors this year, claiming it breached a deal to bring in business for CoreCivic by landing its own $73 million contract with ICE in March. The case was filed in Metro Nashville Circuit Court, but US Advisors is seeking removal. Wanting to expand its web beyond federal and state prison operations, CoreCivic hired US Advisors for $30,000 a month to help it ink an agreement with ICE to handle administrative work dealing with undocumented immigrants who are under federal supervision. The job involves people who are released from detention on humanitarian grounds, bond or parole, those waiting for removal after immigration proceedings or people classified as fugitives from ICE or should be removed for other reasons, according to the filing. The idea was to enable ICE agents to work the front lines amid increased deportations under the Trump administration with CoreCivic taking over personnel and administrative work such as checking records, collecting documents, answering phone calls, entering data and doing criminal history checks. CoreCivic signed a one-year contract with US Advisors and paid the company $1.56 million. But, according to the lawsuit, shortly after President Donald Trump was sworn in, the consulting firm notified CoreCivic in early February it was ending the contract in 30 days. Both companies hoped to take advantage of inside contacts. US Advisors' chief executive officer, Tim Robbins of Utah, had held numerous leadership jobs in ICE and was an old acquaintance of Bart Verhulst, vice president of federal relations for CoreCivic. He was privy to the CoreCivic's proprietary information and helped shape its plan to 'penetrate' the Department of Homeland Security market. CoreCivic contends Robbins was supposed to avoid conflicts of interest, and he helped CoreCivic submit a proposal to ICE in 2023 for case management services. It was re-submitted in August 2024 and January, and CoreCivic was told that ICE was interested in its proposal. But 'out of the blue,' on Feb. 9, CoreCivic received a letter from US Advisors terminating their agreement. In early March, 'much to its shock and dismay,' CoreCivic found out US Advisors and Robbins, while under contract, submitted their own proposal to ICE and then won the contract. Is there no honor among profiteers? Tennessee is using a vendor on shaky ground in other states to send out the money for its private-school voucher programs. The state has been contracting with Student First Technologies for two years, with an annual licensing fee of $695,000, for the Education Savings Accounts targeting low-income students in three counties and its Individualized Education Account program for special needs students, according to the Department of Education. The department executed an amendment to the contract in early April to launch the so-called Education Freedom Scholarships for up to 20,000 students, depositing money into students' online accounts to pay for tuition and other expenses at private schools, but not directly to parents. The legislature's Fiscal Review Committee approved the expansion in March at a cost of $625,000 for the initial buildout and launch. Despite Breakdowns in Two States, ESA Provider Student First Seeks to Expand Privatizing education isn't cheap. The newest iteration is costing north of $140 million annually, at least half of it going to students already enrolled in private schools, while the cost for ESAs could reach $25 million a year. Add the $1.3 million for disseminating money, and you're creating a cottage industry. The problem is that Student First Technologies promised West Virginia officials in September 2024 it wouldn't go after more business until it repaired glitches that caused more than 3,000 unfilled orders and forced parents to spend their own money for books, technological equipment and other services, according to a States Newsroom report. Besides those shortcomings, Student First lost a $15 million contract for an Arkansas voucher program when it couldn't do the job correctly. Tennessee and Student First have run into some of their own technical problems, but the company apparently has handled them. And instead of looking for another vendor, the state is doubling down with more work and a bigger contract. The state's relationship with Student First comes on the heels of a $2.5 million no-bid contract with Florida-based ClassWallet that used Career Ladder funds for teachers to pay the tab. Former Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn, who is going for a deputy secretary position in the U.S. Department of Education, caught the ire of lawmakers when she inked the deal without taking bids. Which is worse, skipping the bidding process or sticking with a company facing lawsuits for shoddy work? It's a toss-up. Nashville Democrats are trying to recall Metro Councilman David Benton after his appearance with xenophobic U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in an anti-immigrant press conference at the State Capitol, on Memorial Day no less. While Ogles accused Metro Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell of opposing President Trump's efforts to deport people without legal documentation, Democrats are peeved that Benton is backing the move to 'Stop the invasion.' Recalling a Metro Council member could be difficult. The last time it happened took place way back in 2009 when Nashville attorney Jamie Hollin defeated Pam Murray, who was tied up in turmoil over allowing mobile vendors on Cleveland Street. Aside from Democrats, the Metro Council's Immigrant Council also condemned Benton, saying his 'racist' propaganda is especially problematic because he represents a district with a large Latino population, which was targeted by ICE in a South Nashville roundup two weeks ago. Nashville immigrant caucus 5-29-25 Never mind that many of the people Ogles and his ilk want to deport are washing the dishes, cooking the food and changing the bed sheets for white-bread America. Also put out of your mind that a handful of state lawmakers, mainly from Williamson County, used the State Capitol on a federal holiday to conduct a publicity stunt inside the Old Supreme Court chambers on the first floor, which is controlled by the governor. According to one report, the event was moved abruptly into the Capitol because of the threat of rain. But a press release sent out on Friday, May 23, said it would be held in the Old Supreme Court. Did it rain that day? 'Now I will stand in the rain on the corner / I watch the people go shufflin' downtown.' * * 'Fool in the Rain,' Led Zeppelin SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
