"...and all the pieces matter." - Freamon

Written by: Brad Watkins on Jun 14, 2008 2:00 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis, Democracy for Tennessee

 Hello all, yeah it's been a while, and let me tell you, things have not been all that rosy for your old Uncle Brad. For those of you who do not know I was the victim of identity theft back around the end of 2006. Oh and just in case you ever wondered what that was like.....imagine getting kicked in the crotch by Pele, Gene Kelly and Bruce Lee all at once. That dark chapter is now slowly drawing to a close and so I am slowly starting to get back into the game. So I thought just to get the rust out, I would touch base with you all on just a few small points.

-Obama is on his way "Thankfully", but I think there is also a way to promote real change right here in Memphis. The Memphis Charter Commission has been quite busy with a growing list of proposed changes to the City Charter that the people of Memphis will have the opportunity to vote on this November. Let's take a very brief moment to look over a few of these proposals.

-TERM LIMITS, for both the City Council and the Mayor will be on the ballot, limiting each to two consecutive terms each. Now it is important to note that these term limits will be prospective not retroactive, in other words the existing Council members would be allowed to serve another two terms, Mayor Herenton as well.

-MLG&W,If the utility Can or Cannot be sold without a public referendum, will be on the ballot as well. "This should be a no-brainer"

-STAGGERED TERMS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, This one is a little complex, originally proposed by Councilman/Commissioner Myron Lowery back in 2006, this would have the people of Memphis elect half the City Council every two years. Thus ensuring that there could not be a total over turn of that body in a single election. This also would allow the Councilmen on the staggered term to be able to run for Mayor without giving up their seat on the Council.

This could be done, by either having half the council run for a two year shift, in 2011, and for re-election in 2013. OR could be created by having all of city Government run for a ONE year term in 2011 and then have half the Council run for a short two year term in 2012. Now while this may sound strange on the surface, by putting Memphis municipal elections on even years, Memphis could split the cost with the County as they would also have elections that year, thus saving Memphis an estimated 1 million dollars.

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Attend DFM Movie Night And Bush Protest primer on June 29!

Written by: Brad Watkins on Jun 26, 2006 9:33 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

Dear Member,

Please attend DFM Movie Night And Bush Protest primer on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 7:00 PM. You can RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=970...

What: DFM Movie Night And Bush Protest primer
When: Thursday, June 29, 2006, 7:00 PM
Where: ReedMeister's
3439 Park Ave.
Memphis TN 38116

Attend DFM Movie Night And Bush Protest primer on June 29!

Written by: Brad Watkins on Jun 26, 2006 12:16 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

Dear Member,

Please attend DFM Movie Night And Bush Protest primer on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 7:00 PM. You can RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=970...

What: DFM Movie Night And Bush Protest primer
When: Thursday, June 29, 2006, 7:00 PM
Where: ReedMeister's
3439 Park Ave.
Memphis TN 38116

Attend Progressive Pep Rally on May 20,Guest Tyson Pratcher!

Written by: Brad Watkins on May 18, 2006 7:03 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

Dear Member,

Please attend Progressive Pep Rally on Saturday, May 20, 2006 at 3:30 PM. You can RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=741...

What: Progressive Pep Rally
When: Saturday, May 20, 2006, 3:30 PM
Where: Neil's Bar & Grill
1835 Madison Ave.
Memphis TN 38104

Attend Progressive Pep Rally postponed to May 20!

Written by: Brad Watkins on May 13, 2006 2:49 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

Dear Member,

Please attend Progressive Pep Rally on Saturday, May 20, 2006 at 6:30 PM. You can RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=741...

What: Progressive Pep Rally
When: Saturday, May 20, 2006, 6:30 PM
Where: Neil's Bar & Grill
1835 Madison Ave.
Memphis TN 38104

Progressive Red Alert!!!!! Senate Bill 1955

Written by: Brad Watkins on May 7, 2006 8:35 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

Over the last decade and a half, there has been a steady decrease in the mortality rate among women with breast cancer. The reason for that progress is that more women are getting mammograms. Early detection of breast cancer gives modern medicine an unprecedented edge in fighting one of the great scourges of our time. The message is out, and the message couldn't be any clearer. Mammograms do save lives.

If you look at other diseases, you'll find similar miracles. Increased screening has slowed the death rate among men with prostate cancer. The Pap smear has saved the lives of countless women with cervical cancer.

But there's a bill that will be on the floor of the United States Senate within days that threatens all of the progress of the last decade and a half.

S.1955, better known as the Health Insurance Market Modernization & Affordability Act (HIMMAA) is touted by its sponsor, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) as an effort to expand health coverage for small businesses and the working poor.

Even a cursory glance at the text of the bill leaves you wondering who Enzi is trying to protect--- Patients or insurers. A more careful examination answers that for you. Despite the title, this bill is nothing more than an attempt to completely deregulate the insurance industry.

First, this bill takes away all local control of medical insurance. In doing so, it effectively overrides more than 130 state laws mandating coverage for early cancer screening, seventeen state laws requiring maternity care, thirty-two state laws covering well-child care, and thirty-nine laws regarding mental health care. Under the federalized terms laid out in this bill, insurers are not required to pay for any treatment that is mandatory in forty-five states or less, which means that diabetic testing and supplies are at risk if just one state drops the requirement that insurers cover diabetes. Thirty-nine state attorneys general oppose HIMMAA because of the protections it strips away from the citizens they serve.

Second, while it might make purchasing coverage more affordable, it does not make access to healthcare more affordable. A plan based on HIMMAA guidelines must be the equal to a health plan offered to the employees of one of the five most populous states in the country. The State of Florida sets that bar very low by offering its employees a weak health plan with a $5000 deductible.

It also allows insurers to use discriminatory pricing practices that are illegal under most states' laws, charging more to employees of smaller companies, particularly those with older workers or women within childbearing age. The New Hampshire Deputy Insurance Commissioner did an analysis of HIMMAA and found that if insurers are using their usual practices, they will be charging companies with a "bad profile" 26 times more than companies with a "good profile". To put that in perspective, employees of Company A could well be expected to pay $2600 per month for the same coverage that Company B pays $100 for. The disparity could be even wider--- There simply are no pricing controls in this "Affordability Act".

If the state tries to enforce any laws regarding insurance, the insurers can file a case in Federal District Court, where it is to be heard and decided in an expedited manner. But if the consumer wants to dispute any treatments the insurer doesn't want to pay for, they have no redress under this law.

If HIMMAA passes, we can expect a surge in cancer mortality rates and infant mortality rates as the existing laws mandating early screening are deregulated out of existence.

Your nation needs you. Allowing this bill to pass through the Senate would be a disaster on a monumental scale.

The first step is a massive letter writing campaign. I ask that you write four letters, in email or paper format.

One to each of our Senators, Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander. One to the Commercial Appeal and one to the Memphis Flyer. Not nearly enough people are aware of this bill, and only by informing and mobilizing the masses can we hope to stop this.

The greatest tool at the disposal of the sponsors of this bill is the blissful unawareness of the populace. If we are to stop them, we must put the fear of the voter in them.

The Commercial Appeal
495 Union Ave.
Memphis, TN, 38103
Editor: Chris Peck, 529-2390
letters@commercialappeal.com

Memphis Flyer
Contemporary Media, Inc.
460 Tennessee Street, Suite 200
901.521.9000 phone
Jackson Baker
Baker@memphisflyer.com














Senator Bill Frist
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3344
202-228-1264 (fax)
Memphis
5100 Poplar Avenue
Suite 514
Memphis, TN 38137
901-683-1910
901-683-3610 (fax)


Senator Lamar Alexander
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4944
Fax: (202) 228-3398
Memphis
Federal Building
167 North Main Street, #1068
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 544-4224
Fax: (901) 544-4227
alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?F...

DFM Supports Steve Mulroy for District Five

Written by: Brad Watkins on Apr 12, 2006 1:38 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Democracy for Memphis Endorses Steve Mulroy for County Commission, District 5

Democracy for Memphis is proud to announce its endorsement of Steve Mulroy for the
Shelby County Commission in District 5.

"We're quite excited at the prospect of having Reginald Fentress, Deidre Malone, and
now Steve Mulroy on the Shelby County Commission," said Democracy for Memphis
organizer Brad Watkins. "The three of them make up the kind of progressive Dream
Team that we need to revitalize this community."

Watkins cited specifically Mulroy's positions on Smart Growth, school funding, and
county finances as issues where he was looking forward to seeing Mulroy help shape
the Shelby County of tomorrow. He later added "Steve Mulroy is a strong voice for the kind of fiscal responsibility Shelby County needs." Watkins also praised Mulroy's strong stance on Ethics " Mr. Mulroy once told me that Ethics and Election Reform are two sides of the same coin, and we at Democracy For Memphis very much agree with him. "

Democracy For Memphis members David Holt and Lynn Strickland are both involved with
the Mulroy campaign. " They are two of our best and brightest,I hope others will join them," said Watkins. "This is the start of something new in Shelby County."



Democracy for Memphis is the local chapter of Democracy for America, a political
action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive
candidates at all levels of government - from school board to the presidency

REGINALD FENTRESS SUPPORTS WORKERS RIGHTS!

Written by: Brad Watkins on Apr 10, 2006 1:20 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

ALERT** STATE REPRESENATIVE BARBARA COOPER SUPPORTS REGINALD FENTRESS**ALERT




Just Cause

Just about everyone out there works for someone. You do. I do. We all do.

That means that there's somebody else out there who gets to decide whether or not we get to feed our families.

The loss of a job is devastating. According to a poll taken a few years ago, nearly a quarter of American families would be late on the mortgage or rent if just one paycheck was delayed.

In Tennessee, there are laws on the books that make it illegal for an employer to discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, age, or sex.

However, employment in this state is regarded as "at will", which renders all of that meaningless. An employer cannot state any of those as the grounds for termination, but they can do an end run around the law by stating no reason at all.

In short, "at will" employment renders all other kinds of workplace protection meaningless.

State law forbids us from making every employer in the county state just cause when terminating an employee. But we can make it a requirement for any company that participates in a PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) program or does any business with the Shelby County Government.

And that is precisely what I'll push for if you elect me to the Shelby County Commission.



Reginald Fentress
Leading by Listening
www.Fentress2006.com


*Endorsed by Democracy For Memphis

Reginald Fentress for County Commission

Written by: Brad Watkins on Apr 6, 2006 6:11 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2006

Contact: Brad Watkins
901-237-2563



Democracy for Memphis endorses
Reginald Fentress for County Commission


Memphis - Democracy for Memphis has given its endorsement to Reginald Fentress for Shelby County Commissioner, District 2, Position 2. Fentress is one of four Democrats running in the May 2 primary election.
"We are excited by what Mr. Fentress plans to do as county commissioner and believe he can make a positive impact on the lives of all Shelby County residents," said Brad Watkins, organizer for Democracy for Memphis.
Watkins cited Fentress's pledge to enact a Living Wage rule for county employees and firms that do business with the county as one of the reasons for the group's support. DFM also believes in Fentress's call for greater accountability by companies that receive tax breaks from the county.
"Reginald Fentress believes the county should do a better job of making sure that companies that pledge benefits in exchange for tax breaks, actually deliver on those promises," Watkins said. "Fentress believes the county is losing millions of dollars each year from companies who don't do what they promise. In one case, a company said it would provide 200, but actually laid off 100 workers. Shelby County workers deserve better results for their tax dollars and we think Fentress will provide the accountability taxpayers need."
DFM also supports Fentress's plans to find jobs for those arrested for non-violent offenses once they have been released from jail. Fentress told DFM members that people need "opportunities other than crime" and that putting people to work reduces crime and helps offenders become productive citizens.
Democracy for Memphis will give citizens an opportunity to meet Reginald Fentress at a house party April 29. More information is available from Democracy for Memphis' web site, www.democracyformemphis.com or the candidate's web site, www.fentress2006.com .
Democracy for Memphis is the local chapter of Democracy for America, a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government - from school board to the presidency.

My Letter to Rep Henri Brooks

Written by: Brad Watkins on Apr 3, 2006 2:54 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy For Memphis

Rep. Brooks

It has come to my attention that you met with a group of Gay activists in Nashville, as a part of a lobbying effort. I was disturbed that you on more than one occasion have conducted yourself in a manner that was combative and unsympathetic to their fight against bigotry. I am a Black Christian man, and as a Black man and a Christian, I am saddend and ashamed that somehow we of all people would turn a blind eye to injustice, intolerance or inequality for ANY of God's children. Your comments to the activists who visited you as well as your statements on the Leon Gray show were divisive,poorly chosen, and very wrong. The people of District Two are ready for a change, not just in our government, but also in the political culture in this County. For far too long we have watched as Shelby County has remained stagnated in how we approach elections. White politicians use race to win elections, and now Blacks do the same, and when they get Blacks and Whites in a room, they blame Latinos. All the while the same handful of wealthy developers reap the benefits of an undereducated and unorganized workforce. Much like in Pro- Wrestling, The Rock,Triple H and Eddie Guerraro beat the hell out of each other, and then after the show all sit at the bar and collect their checks from Vince Mcmahon.
Your statement that you represent black churches, shows that political concerns outweigh your moral compass on this issue. you were chosen by the people of your district to Represent them...all of them, not the those who think and look like you. You represent District 92, so the vote you cast is not yours but simply something you have been loaned by those who live in the district. Some of them are Black, some of them are White, some are Heterosexual some are Homosexual, many are Christians, but others are not.
My point is that you have a duty to represent and speak up for them all.
Perhaps you should go to these churches and speak to the people of the district, see if you can convince them to embrace our common humanity.Perhaps you will find more common ground then you realized. It might not work, but your job is to try.
Reginald Fentress is a man who will represent all of district two, he understands that none of us get anywhere alone, and that we followers of Christ have a moral duty to stand up for equality and justice for all.
Reginald Fentress was on a Radio Program tonight, and he said something that I will share with you. They were speaking on the subject of Dr Martin Luther King and the various April 4th events. Fentress told the story of how when Dr. King left Oslo after receiving the Nobel Peace prize he stopped in Washington to speak to President Johnson. King thanked Johnson for his help in the passage of the Civil Rights Act, but realized that the act had no teeth without a Voting Rights act. Johnson complained that he did not have the political capital to do that. So King did not argue, but simply traveled on to Selma....and the rest is history. Fentress closed by saying that politicians lick their finger and hold it up to the wind to see which way it is blowing before they make a stand. Leaders, he said,go out and create wind.
Fentress is a leader, a good friend, and a humble man who wants to serve the people.
That is why Democracy For Memphis has endorsed Reginald Fentress for County Commission in District Two, Pos. Two. We need leadership in our county not politics.


DEMAND CHANGE
Brad Watkins
Organizer
Democracy For Memphis