Free Republic

NASHVILLE - John Stamps, longtime friend of former Gov. Don Sundquist, was sentenced to two years in prison Monday for lying to keep a government contract and for dodging taxes on income that included $2.6 million from lobbying. "I think your offense has really harmed the integrity of Tennessee state government," said U.S. District Court Judge Todd Campbell in imposing the two-year term that is at the top end of what is authorized under federal sentencing guidelines. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Fardon had asked the judge to deviate from the guidelines and impose a harsher sentence, an indication that Stamps...

On Saturday, I received the news that former Tennessee governor, Don Suncquist, had been named by the Bush admimistration to LEAD an avisory committee to reform Medicaid (story here> and my first reaction was pretty much the same as Bob Tuke, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, "This must be a joke". It is rare that I agree with anything that the DNC says, but this is one of those rare occassions. For those of you not familiar with the disgraced former governor, here are a few of the headlines in the local Tennessean newspaper, Judge says Sundquist was reason...

CHATTANOOGA - John Stamps, a Monteagle businessman and longtime friend of former Gov. Don Sundquist, has been indicted on federal charges of making false statements and separately on four counts of federal income tax evasion. Stamps owned a Chattanooga-based company called Workforce Strategists, which secured a no-bid $644,000 contract in 1999 from the state.

Governor's Office Retaliates In the wake of a Channel 5 exposé, Sundquist's administration pulls PSAs By Matt Pulle It's hardly the way to discredit a damning story. In the wake of a recent WTVF-Channel 5 investigation that claimed Gov. Don Sundquist's administration doles out lucrative contracts to his buddies, the governor's office has pulled $160,000 in public service announcements from the station. "They were trying to portray the governor as a buffoon, and I was personally insulted by that," says Art Victorine, the director of the governor's highway safety office who made the decision to pull the administration's ads. Channel...

Dissent greets beltway decisionTransportation chief says 'no choice' but Orange RouteBy Hayes Hickman, News-Sentinel staff writerAugust 1, 2002Boos, insults and one state legislator's near-tussle with state troopers interrupted Transportation Commissioner Bruce Saltsman as he announced plans to build the Knoxville Beltway along the controversial Orange Route. The words had barely left Saltsman's mouth before the shouting began at Wednesday's press conference - particularly from state Rep. H.E. Bittle, who has vehemently opposed the Orange Route. The route would come directly through Bittle's own community in West Knox County's Hardin Valley, and the legislator confronted Saltsman on an alleged promise to...

NASHVILLE - Gov. Don Sundquist said on Thursday he will vote for Jim Henry to succeed him in the Republican primary, believing Van Hilleary would be a "horrible governor." Sundquist said he "could say the same thing" about Phil Bredesen, the apparent front-runner for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, though he and the former Nashville mayor "get along fine personally." "I think Bredesen has lost a great opportunity to exhibit leadership. All he's done is 'me, too' to Van Hilleary," he said. Sundquist also reaffirmed his support for Lamar Alexander in the Republican U.S. Senate primary. He characterized Ed Bryant, Alexander's...

JULY 2 @ 8:30 pm UPDATED AS EVENTS OCCUR CATS BUDGET FAILS IN THE HOUSE 47 to 45. NAIFEH INCOME TAX VOTE FOLLOWS SHORTLY. PROTEST DOWNTOWN NOW IF YOU WANT YOUR VOICE HEARD PRIOR TO THE VOTE!!!!

Clement critical of state's security efforts Sundquist spokesman calls lawmaker's remarks 'nonsense' By Tom Humphrey, News-Sentinel Nashville bureau June 5, 2002 U.S. Rep. Bob Clement, campaigning for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, on Tuesday attacked Gov. Don Sundquist for "ridiculous" shortcomings in the state's homeland security efforts. However, the man in charge of those security efforts seems somewhat baffled by Clement's remarks and overtures to help him gain security clearance. But what might be even more baffling is why a former Army brigadier general is still waiting for security clearance from the feds. Clement's position was labeled as "nonsense" by...

Gov. Don Sundquist on Tuesday endorsed Lamar Alexander over Rep. Ed Bryant in the Republican Senate primary to succeed Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn. quot;I think he'd be a great senator,quot; Gov. Sundquist said of Mr. Alexander, 61, who served as governor from 1979 to 1987 and twice ran unsuccessfully for president. quot;There is a short time between now and the filing deadline. He can raise the money. He's a proven leader, and I think he'd be elected.quot; Rep. Bryant, 53, said he had spoken with the governor about the matter last weekend. quot;I'm not surprised by his statement today,quot; Rep....