Gibson County Democratic Party

Rep. Mike Turner Fighting Republican Plan to Eliminate Veterans’ Preference

TNDP — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:20:47 +0000

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner stood up for Tennessee veterans and their families Tuesday defending the state’s “veterans’ preference” hiring policy.

Governor Bill Haslam and Republicans are proposing to eliminate preference given to military veterans and spouses of deceased and disabled veterans with a change to state personnel rules.

Haslam’s “TEAM Act,” sponsored [...]

Early Voting Underway in Tennessee

TNDP — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:09:03 +0000

Early voting for the March 6th Presidential Primary is underway in Tennessee, and you have one week — until February 28 — to cast your vote early.

If you miss early voting, Tennessee is among 10 states holding its Presidential Primary on “Super Tuesday” March 6th.

But why wait? Click here [...]

Democrats Launch Online Petition Against Governor’s Move to Increase Class Sizes

TNDP — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:44:37 +0000

View the Petition: http://tndp.org/blog/take-action/tell-governor-haslam-class-size-matters/

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Democratic Party launched Wednesday an online petition drive opposing Governor Bill Haslam’s proposal to eliminate average class size requirements at public schools. Chairman Chip Forrester released this statement to accompany the petition:

“Parents and teachers know first hand what a difference small class sizes make [...]

Forrester: Focus All Tax Relief on Working, Middle Class Families

TNDP — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:15:58 +0000

Eliminating the Grocery Tax Should Come First

NASHVILLE – Chip Forrester, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, urged the General Assembly Thursday to give working and middle class families top priority on tax cuts and move all tax relief efforts toward eliminating the sales tax on groceries.

“Tennessee has one of the highest grocery taxes [...]

Black History Month: Honoring Tennesseans Who Made A Difference

TNDP — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:50:29 +0000

Recommit to Progress Tennesseans Have Fought For

Today we begin our celebration of Black History Month honoring the critical role African Americans have played in making our nation a more perfect union and our state a better place for all Tennesseans.

We recognize the vast accomplishments of African Americans throughout our nation’s and our state’s [...]

Forrester Blasts House Republicans’ Vote to Raise Taxes on 160 Million Americans

TNDP — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:31:47 +0000

Following Tuesday’s vote by House Republicans to reject an extension of the payroll tax cut for the middle class passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate, Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester issued the following statement:

“In less than two weeks, 160 million Americans will be hit with a tax hike in the middle [...]

Tennesseans with Medicare save $33M this year – WSMV Channel 4

TNDP — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:29:53 +0000

Thanks to the new health reform law, tens of millions of Americans are saving money, and getting the health care security they need.

Tennesseans with Medicare save $33M this year – WSMV Channel 4

TNDP — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:29:53 +0000

Thanks to the new health reform law, tens of millions of Americans are saving money, and getting the health care security they need.

Unfortunately, Tennessee Republicans are threatening to repeal the law, taking away the many critical — and POPULAR — reforms like ensuring people with preexisting conditions are no longer discriminated against, requiring insurance companies to cover preventative care like mammograms and immunizations with no out-of-pocket costs, and preventing them from dropping you when you get sick.

Republicans want to take us back to the days where insurance companies were unaccountable, premiums rose by double digits every year and millions of Americans lived without health care or went bankrupt trying to afford the care they need.

Overall, seniors are seeing a 40% drop in drug costs because the health reform law is closing the Medicare’s Part D “doughnut hole.” That’s just one of the Affordable Care Act’s many common-sense reforms, like the one that has already provided free annual physicals and other preventive benefits to over 24 million Medicare beneficiaries.

That’s not chump change. That’s real savings for Americans who can’t afford to be charged unfairly for the health care they need. Medicare Advantage premiums have already fallen by seven percent this year, and will keep dropping over the next year by another four percent.

From WSMV:

Federal health officials say Tennesseans with Medicare have saved $33 million this year on their prescriptions.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the figure Tuesday in reminding beneficiaries that the open enrollment period for 2012 ends at midnight Wednesday.

The centers said Medicare savings average about $554 per person in Tennessee. The center also said about 564,000 Tennesseans with Medicare have taken advantage of free preventive coverage.

Tennesseans with Medicare save $33M this year – WSMV Channel 4.

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Tenn. Rep. Stewart Responds to Mitt Romney’s Plan to Voucherize Veterans’ Health Care

TNDP — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:24:28 +0000

NASHVILLE – In response to Mitt Romney’s dangerous plan to voucherize our veterans’ health care, Tennessee State Rep. Mike Stewart, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, released the following statement today ahead of Romney’s fundraiser in Knoxville:

“Veterans’ healthcare is the moral responsibility of the American people. [...]

Honoring Our Veterans

TNDP — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:57:39 +0000

Today, in communities across Tennessee, we honor the courage and sacrifice of the many brave servicemen and women who have given so much to their country and fought to ensure that America continues to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that make our nation great.

We owe each and every one of America’s veterans our eternal [...]