Cobb v Blanton II

Well, it seems as though Barbara Blanton is going to base her entire campaign on negative advertisement as her second mailing attacks Rep. Cobb's record in a negative vein. I guess Mrs. Blanton is getting rather desperate since her rantings in this week's mail piece has the ring of desperation about them. She, among other issues, obviously thinks the Tennessee Lottery should not maintain a surplus against a funding shortfall in the future.

First we are to believe Curt Cobb is against giving the local school system $7.5 million dollars! How dastardly! The problem with this position is it is totally misleading, unwise and displays at best only a very elementary understanding of the process. The truth is the lottery has a surplus fund balance of less that $400 million dollars as we speak. Prudence dictates a large surplus fund is necessary to assure funding of Hope Scholarships. The Tennessee Lottery is now mature and growth has disappeared and net proceeds have been declining. This should not be surprising since the lottery is a reflection of spending of discretionary dollars and in the present economic atmosphere, discretionary dollars are more rare than usual. The Tennessee Constitution Art XI, Sec. 5 requires that the Lottery first, fund financial assistance to citizens to attend post-secondary educational institutions. Any surplus may only be used for "(1) Capital outlay projects for K-12 educational facilities; and (2) Early learning programs and after school programs."

Rep. Cobb along with 90+% of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle voted to fund $100 million dollars this year from the surplus to be used by schools for projects to increase energy efficiency at schools across the state. Such a capital expenditure will allow local schools to reap an on-going benefit from lower energy costs. Such was the reckoning of the near entire House in which Curt Cobb sits. So had you rather deplete the entire surplus in an environment of falling revenues, thus jeopardizing the full funding of the Hope Scholarship Program, and had you rather espouse populist politics and to hell with being responsible or had you rather have someone in the House who has demonstrated a knowledge of the system and a record of doing what is best for Bedford County and the State at large? Not much of decision from where I sit.

Also Mrs. Blanton, in rather large print, wrote. "But Cobb voted FOR an $8 million underground party room at the Governor's mansion." I really don't know how to address this statement civilly because it is entirely false! ( I want to say a lie but I won't) Fact: NOT ONE PENNY OF TAXPAYER FUNDS WENT TO FUND THE "UNDERGROUND PARTY ROOM." That is as strongly as I can state it. Conservation Hall, the "underground party room" was funded totally with private funds. Approximately $6 million dollars from the Residence Foundation. The only taxpayer money involved in the total project went to repair and upgrade the Mansion including Federally mandated accouterments to meet the dictates of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was the largest single expenditure at nearly $3 million dollars. I can say no more about this cheap shot than to challenge Mrs. Blanton to produce one piece of credible evidence that clearly shows Rep. Curt Cobb voted for a single penny to fund the construction of Conservation Hall!

Just as an aside, Mrs. Blanton states on the same mail piece referred to above, "And Barbara will insist that HOPE scholarships are protected with a reserve fund. She'll safeguard HOPE scholarships before excess funds are released to local schools." Interesting statement since on the other side of the mailing piece, she vilifies Curt Cobb because he will not send the total surplus dollars directly to local schools! Oh well, just one more insult to my limited intelligence.

I also think it rather interesting Mrs. Blanton is so knowledgeable of Curt Cobb's political history but never mentions her own. Maybe I can help her get the story out. Did you know:

1. She registered as a Democrat in the 1998, 2000 and 2002 Primary elections in Bedford Cty. Her husband registered as a Democrat in the 1998 and 2002 primary elections in Bedford Cty.

2. As Mississippi Senator, she voted to raise her own retirement.

3. Being a conservative voice and claims to being a spending watchdog, in the Mississippi Senate she voted to raise sales tax 17%, lifting the state cap on property tax rates, increase tax and fee rates on timber production, gas use, phone calls, utilities and car rentals. Also she voted to increase the amount of highway contracts that could be awarded without competitive bids.

4. She voted against a lottery

Just a few issues to give you a flavor of Mrs. Blanton's political record and hopefully inspire you to look maybe a little deeper than her misleading and false ads before making up your mind who to support in this race. By the way, she served in the Mississippi Senate from 1988 to 1992. Bet you didn't know she was defeated in her bid for re-election in 1991 in her Party's Primary Election! For any Party to condone a serious candidate of their Party to run against a Party incumbent is rather unusual, don't you think?