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Summer is just around the corner even though temperatures over the past weekend may lead you to believe it’s already here. But it’s not all fun and games, despite the photo of one of my favorite Memphis politicians enjoying some summertime fun. There’s some serious stuff, particularly budget decisions on the local level, that...
I had no idea that Monty Hall, of Let’s Make a Deal fame, had his own paradox and mathematical nuisance. Who knew 70′s pop culture had such depth? Truth be told, 70′s pop culture doesn’t really have all THAT much depth, but maybe, just maybe, there’s something to be learned from this phenomena. Or...
As the budget negotiations continue to drag us into mid-June, a fundamental truth is coming into focus; pork is relative. Consider this article from the Chattanooga Times Free Press. $18m for a privately run prison the administration says it doesn’t need is still in the budget. $16m for a fish hatchery that will bring...
It’s been 18 days since Republicans in the State Senate finally got around to introducing an alternative to the budget proposed by Governor Bredesen in February. The original Republican plan offered draconian cuts to just about everything from economic development funding to infant mortality prevention. Since then, negotiations seem to have narrowed the differences...
The jury is still out, but lawmakers are working on it. Last night, on the floor of the House, Leader Odom opined that there was no way the legislature would be done by the end of the week, which elicited groans from several other lawmakers. Still, the process moves forward. This morning the Memphis...
We’ve been talking a lot about the State Budget here for the past several days. Honestly, it should be on the minds of people all across the state. With revenues down, and certain elements in the legislature demanding that no steps, even when reasonable, be made to enhance state revenues, we’re left with two...
Yesterday, we pointed out an article that led us to believe there had been a compromise on the State Budget.
Apparently not so much.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that perhaps things are not as amenable...
Yesterday we talked about one proposal to trim the dficit in the Memphis City Budget, closing Municipal golf courses. Today the Commercial Appeal reports on more of the detalis of the proposed budget cuts by Mayor A C Wharton that has at least one Council member none too happy. From the article: Wharton’s proposed...
Humphrey has the scoop. A compromise plan to balance the state budget was presented today by Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle, who said it was the result of bipartisan negotiations involving both the House and Senate. The proposal accepts that none of the major revenue-generating measures proposed by Gov. Phil Bredesen will be enacted....
No One Likes Making Tough Decisions
Budget time can be contentious, regardless of the organization. As we saw in the waning days of this state legislative session it can be VERY contentious. City budgets are no different, and are also facing the same pressures, if not more acutely, than the state government. On June 8th, the Memphis City Council approved...
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