Currently viewing the tag: "Andy Berke"
Marsha Blackburn

Congressional Republicans Fighting to Protect Discrimination

On May 8, 2012 By

Like the bat signal going up over Gotham City, Republicans in Congress got wind that someone might not be tolerating discrimination, and have jumped into action.

36 members of Congress, including Tennessee’s own Reps. Marsha Blackburn, Diane Black, Stephen Fincher and Chuck Fleischmann signed yet another letter addressed to Vanderbilt complaining about their [...]

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Are big corporate profits driving ‘virtual education’?

On December 5, 2011 By

Yes.

State Sen. Andy Berke is featured in a New York Times op-ed that explores the profit motive behind “virtual schools.”

In Tennessee, about 2,000 kids have enrolled at a cost of more than $9 million to the taxpayer. Who gets the money? A big, for-profit corporation in Virginia.

If it wasn’t bad enough that [...]

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Democrats Announce First Phase of Job Creation Legislation

On October 6, 2011 By

 

Plan includes $15 million investment in state technology centers

NASHVILLE – Tennessee House and Senate Democrats announced the first phase of their job creation plan Thursday, which includes calling for $15 million for new equipment and program expansion [...]

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An Overview of the 2011 General Assembly

On June 22, 2011 By

After just five months of Republican control in the General Assembly and the Governor’s mansion, things in Tennessee are getting worse.

“How bad is it?” Wendi Thomas of The Memphis Commercial Appeal wrote. “It’s so bad I may have to say I’m from Mississippi.”

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Money Buys Access, Access is Power

On May 31, 2011 By

Political reporters this weekend reported on the overwhelming influence of money in state politics.

Long story short: with Republicans in charge, there’s more money — from rich and powerful interests — in state politics than ever before.

And with the new GOP rules that raise contribution limits and allow direct donations from businesses, [...]

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Teacher Appreciation

On May 4, 2011 By

This week Republican lawmakers in Tennessee moved one step closer to silencing the voice of teachers — but they also took one step back.

Radical Republicans in the Senate passed a plan to do away with collective bargaining, banning teachers from advocating for instruction prep time, reasonable class sizes and more one-on-one instruction.

But [...]

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Senator Andy Berke kicks off campaign

On September 4, 2008 By

After winning last year’s special election against Republican Oscar Brock, Senator Andy Berke is at it again:

When Sen. Andy Berke launched his first state Senate campaign last year, fewer than 50 people turned out to help celebrate the occasion.

 

On Wednesday, when the first-term Tennessee Democrat started his second [...]

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Sen. Andy Berke walks the walk on education

On May 28, 2008 By

From state Senator Andy Berke:

 

After a one-year stalemate on lottery-funded scholarships, however, the General Assembly translated talk into action.  Funding over $27 million of new scholarships, I was proud to vote to give Iraq War veterans the right to go back to college; to provide scholarships to doctors [...]

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