Speaker Naifeh 'out of touch'

[Pat McGarrity]

Please note the one comment posted so far from a constituent. We have long referred to poster child for term limits, Naifeh, at the Shelby County TFA as "The Grim Reaper of Gun Rights". As the comment points out; Naifeh claimed to be a carry permit holder in an article he wrote claiming to support gun rights, when he had not yet even applied for a permit at that time.
Not only has Naifeh, killed our common sense Restaurant Bill in committee before getting to the House floor for a vote every time it's been proposed, he even killed a bill protecting Tennessee gun owners from government gun confiscations. This bill would have protected you from having your firearms confiscated, and gun sales suspended, in a time of emergency, as the state government of Louisiana did during Hurricane Katrina. His attacks on our gun rights are too numerous to list here.

After Rory Bricco spoke to the Shelby County TFA, there is no question in my mind that he is a true supporter of our gun rights.

In Liberty,

Pat McGarrity
Director - Shelby County, TFA


"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

Isaiah 5:20


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Millington Tipton

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Challenger calls Tennessee House Speaker Naifeh 'out of touch'
By Sherri Drake Silence, drake@commercialappeal.com
Sunday, October 12, 2008

Covington farmer Rory Bricco considers his race against Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh a "protest to the status quo."

"He's a 34-year incumbent and he's out of touch with his constituency," said Bricco.

Comments
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The Republican is challenging Naifeh, D-Covington, for his 81st District seat, which represents Haywood and Tipton counties.

Naifeh said he's been getting things done for years, including in the area of education, a topic of great importance to him. He supports increased funding to give every child in the state the option to attend pre-kindergarten.

"I not only support it," Naifeh said. "I get out front on it."

Bricco said he'd have to know the specifics about increased funding for pre-K before making a decision on it.

Bricco disagrees with Naifeh and a recent vote by the legislature to reduce the required minimum grade-point average for college sophomores with lottery-funded scholarships.

"It's a mistake on our part to do that," Bricco said. "One of the reasons our country is where it is now is because we have consistently lowered standards."

Naifeh said too many students with lottery scholarships were struggling to keep up the 3.0 GPA required after their first year.

The legislature voted to reduce the second-year GPA to 2.75 and keep it at 3.0 for juniors and seniors. Naifeh would like it to be 2.75 for all students.

With the current budget crisis, Naifeh said he'll consider reductions in state departments, but not in K-12 education. Gov. Phil Bredesen has asked for all departments to submit a plan with a 3 percent budget cut.

"The next two years are going to be very challenging because of the economic situation nationwide and in Tennessee," Naifeh said. "It's going to be hard, but we will balance our budget with no new taxes."

Bricco and Naifeh didn't offer specific ways to cut spending, other than to say they'd review the budget.

"I won't give specificity to it because there are always two sides to a story," Bricco said.

Bricco said, if elected, he'd focus on creating more jobs and finding ways to make Tennessee energy independent.

Naifeh ran unopposed in the 2006 election. In a close 2002 race, Naifeh defeated retired Air Force officer Antonio Lopez with 53 percent of the vote.

For more information about the candidates, visit rorybricco.com and jimmy naifeh.com.

-- Sherri Drake Silence: 529-2510

Jimmy Naifeh

Age: 69

Occupation: Businessman and farmer

Family: Divorced with three children and six grandchildren

Education: Graduated from Byars Hall High and the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in business

Political experience: State representative since 1974 and House Speaker

Rory Bricco

Age: 51

Occupation: Manager of a chemical manufacturing company and farmer

Family: Married with three children and two grandchildren

Education: Graduated from Millington Central High

Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully in 2006 for the U.S. House Dist. 8 seat.

Election

2008

Tennessee Legislature

District 81

Comments
Posted by ima_cracker on October 12, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.


I'm voting for Rory and yes, he's right, Jimmy Naifeh is out of touch with his constituents.

When Jimmy joined committees to kill bills that would allow honest, law abiding citizens, who have been finger printed, photographed and been subject to background investigations, to carry their LAWFULLY owned handguns into restaurants, state parks and other places, it demonstrated just how far out of touch he really is.

Did he step up and answer questions about those votes?

No.

Did he explain how he, in his infinite wisdom, as speaker of the house, was protecting us from something?

No.

Instead, he continued to mislead and obfuscate.

He announced 'I'm all for self-defense, why I've even obtained my carry permit'.

This was, of course, a lie. He hadn't even applied for it at that point. He explained that away as a simple misunderstanding.

Sure.

Right.

This, from the same guy who BEFORE the permit law was passed reserved an ARMED THP trooper to drive him to and from Nashville. A trooper who could carry any damn where he pleased, while the rest of us ran around defenseless.

Think you can figure out how *I* am gonna vote, Jimmy?

[bobsguns]

Well, seems old Jimmy boy is now OUT as TN House Speaker! As of today, Rep. Mumford has been voted in as Speaker.

Would it be wrong of me to call Naifeh's office to gloat?????

[SomeGuy]

[bobsguns]

[SomeGuy]

You wouldn't by chance be referring to the vote where they selected PARTY leaders, and Mumpower is set to be elected as speaker (assuming no turncoats) come the first day of the legislative session, in a month did you?

[bobsguns]

[SomeGuy]

Should be, and already done are not one and the same. This falls into the "Don't count your chickens before they hatch" category.

I am not letting up yet, because they could always break their pledge. If your state Rep is anything but a sure-thing, keep the pressure up.

[johnharris]

Having commitments for the votes on paper and actually having the votes on the day it counts are two entirely different things. Word on the street is Mumpower is the next speaker but don't put it in stone yet.