D Kirk Shaffer, PLLC

Fast forward to about Minute 17:30, Item #3 on the agenda, Tennessee House Bill 1176. You might see someone familiar.

Government Operations Committee Live and Recorded Public meetings of Government Operations Committee for Tennessee State Legislature

When you eliminate the checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of government in the appointment process for those charged with running substantial governmental entities, you’re undermining the foundations on which American governance was built.

When you take the next step and eliminate all due process in the removal of eminently qualified experts charged with running a business-based entity essential to the public good and a large sector of the economy, indeed authorize removal without cause, there’s no other conclusion than that you’re transparently changing that high-performing entity into nothing more than a political football.

When you’re given repeated opportunities yet can’t name one thing the high-performing entity ever did except in an exemplary manner yet you forge ahead to dramatically lessen local control over the entity, your motives are obvious and you’re headed down the path to conflict, instability, and loss of focus, while wasting lots of time, effort, and money.

Nashville airport board bill marches on, despite concern from former FAA official A key House panel continued to advance a bill giving the governor and House and Senate speakers appointment power over the Nashville airport board.