May 24, 2006 Johnson City Press Editorial Opens Fire Hose On Rep. Matthew Hill 's Unionization Bill

More proof that Rep. Matthew Hill shouldn't be playing with legislative matches --- the editorial board of the Johnson City Press published a rather burning editorial against Rep. Matthew Hill's HB2065 firefighters unionization bill:

[...]
On Tuesday, lobbyists for the Tennessee Municipal League worked hard to defeat another bad piece of legislation to allow firefighters to elect a union to represent it in negotiations with local governments in matters concerning wages and benefits. A number of senators and representatives in Nashville already have asked that their cities and counties be exempt from this bill, and with good reason.

This misguided piece of legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, would carve out a special exception for firefighters under state law. Currently, municipal employees in Tennessee are prohibited from joining labor union. For the good of local taxpayers, we urge local lawmakers to regulate this unneeded bill to legislative purgatory.

Wow, "legislative purgatory"...pretty strong language against the legislator's quid pro quo firefighters unionization bill for the AFL-CIO, although the concept of purgatory may not register with the home-fooled "Fund-A-Methodist" Rep. Matthew Hill.

I was reading an online newspaper article yesterday pertaining to the unreimbursed cost of Metro Nashville residents to provide the additional police protection for a recent Tennessee Republican Party fundraiser that was attended by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney --- this news article cited an average hourly wage of Davidson Metro policemen as being approximately $26.00 per hour ($52,000 per year). I am not yet certain as what the average hourly wage of Davidson Metro firefighters may be, but I feel reasonably certain that both the wages of Davidson Metro firefighters and policemen are relatively close.

$52,000 (used here only as a reference point) is much higher than the average $30,000 annual wages currently paid to Tennessee firefighters...unionization of firefighters across Tennssee would likely move such wages upward across the Volunteer State with local property owners picking up the additional tax bill.

Perhaps some representatives within the newspaper industry in Tennessee could slowly explain to WPWT 870Am "Good Morning Tri-Cities" host Timothy Hill (brother and sub-employee of Rep. Matthew Hill) just how the editorial board process works for most large circulation newspapers as the little brother was ranting this morning against the Johnson City Press editorial as being the "unsigned" work of one lowly Press staffer...

Ramsey Nixes Rep. Matthew Hill's IAFF/ AFL-CIO Firefighter Unionization Bill

Yep...Rep. Matthew Hill is documented as out to screw over Tennessee municipal taxpayers with his co-sponsoring of HB2035 Professional Fire Department Employees Negotiation Act. This legislative Judas Iscariot from the 7th House District in Washington County received his "thirty pieces of silver" in the form of a $2,000 campaign donation from the Johnson City Pro. Firefighters PAC, a political action committee front-group for the AFL-CIO labor union that fully funded the local PAC during the 2004 election cycle.

Senators exempt their own counties from firefighters
Nashville City
By John Rodgers, jrodgers@nashvillecitypaper.com
May 23, 2006

With the possibility of unionized fire departments oncoming, several state lawmakers are trying to keep their local governments from being burned.

At this point, 10 senators and one state House member have moved to exempt their counties from being affected by a bill that opponents say would hurt local governments in about 40 of the state’s 95 counties.

The bill, called the Professional Fire Department Employees Negotiation Act, allows a local fire department to elect an organization, or union, to represent it. Once a union is elected, the city employing those firefighters would then be required to negotiate with them.

Bargaining points in the negotiations between the firefighters organization and the city or county could include wages, insurance coverage, pensions and benefits.

[...]

TML officials have one supporter in [Senator] Ramsey, who said he would vote no.

“I do think this completely changes the way we do business in the state of Tennessee with public employees,” Ramsey said. “I’ve always opposed the unionization of public employees.

Click the title link above to read the full story at the Nashville City Paper.

Providing More Direct Communications With The "Non-Hill" AECC Board of Directors

Just who are these AECC Board of Director members anyway? I frequently see their names and non-specific addresses listed on the AECC Internal Revenue Service Form 990s with a general location (e.g."Kingsport, TN 37660") or with a Britsol, Tennessee post office box (e.g."PO BOX 2061 BRISTOL, TN 37621') on the Federal Communications Commission AECC ownership forms filed by AECC President Dr. Kenneth C. Hill. If you are interested in engaging in some more direct communications with AECC Borad of Diretors with your questions or comments, a few of the AECC board members have posted other contact information that is found on the internet:

Mr. Guy Tilley
Bancroft Gospel Ministry, Inc.
141 Bancroft Private Dr
Kingsport, TN 37660

email Ministry Director Guy Tilley.

Bancroft Bible Camp Staff

Bancroft Board --- Dr. Hill is also a member of the Bancroft Board.

---

Rev. W.A. Johnson
Lee Street Baptist Church
1 Mary Street Bristol, VA 24201
276-669-2760

e mail Rev. W.A. Johnson.

Agape Global Missions -Dr. W. A. Johnson
Board Member / Team Leader

---

In case you are not already up to speed, the 501(c)(3) Appalachian Educational Communications Corporation --- headed up by AECC President Dr. Kenneth C. Hill --- controls a 49% ownership of Information Communications Corp. along with a 51% ownership privately held by Dr. Kenneth C. Hill.

FCC - WPWT 870 AM Ownership Report Search Results.

FCC 323 OWNERSHIP REPORT FOR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST STATIONS BOA - 20060303AAW (WPWT-870 AM) Information Communications Corporation.

FCC - WHCB 91.5 FM Ownership Report Search Results.

(2006) FCC 323-E Ownership Report For Noncommercial Educational Broadcast Station BOA - 20060302ACA (WHCB 91.5 FMAECC).

Buying Access From Rep. Matthew Hill:Union Firefighters' Quid Pro Quo

Part of the special interest money that flowed into the campaign treasury of the 2004 7th House District candidate Matthew Hill arrived in the form of a $2,000 donation from the Johnson City Pro. Firefighters PAC (100% fully funded in 2004 by the International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, CLC) --- during an interview on a public television show pertaining to the Tennessee General Assembly, Hill stated that House Bill 2035, the so-called "Professional Fire Department Employees Negotiations Act" --- that he co-sponsored --- was merely legislation aimed "...about helping firefighters get access to their elected officials."

Right. Provided that elected officials like Rep. Hill receive future campaign contributions from the national firefighter union wanting to represent Tennessee firefighters...Hill's HB2035 is placed on the Budget of Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee calander for Tuesday, May 16, 2006.

37.6% of the Johnson City Pro. Firefighters PAC treasury funds were allocated in 2004 as campaign contributions to Matthew Hill.

According to the fiscal note attached to the 2005 Senate Bill 0975 filed within the Tennessee General Assembly, the average annual salary for Tennessee firefighters is now approximately $30,000.

If you actually read the HB2035 bill summary, Hill's legislation is written toward allowing firefighters to legally form labor unions and requiring muncipalities to negotate with these unions:

This bill [HB2035] would give the employees of fire departments the right to self-organization, to form or be assisted by organizations, to negotiate through representatives, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of professional negotiations or other aid and protection. This bill would not annul or modify any agreement already entered into between a municipality and a professional employees' organization, but when that agreement is terminated the recognition of any subsequent professional employees' organization would be governed by this bill.

That is to say, for example, if the employees of the Johnson City Fire Department (or Bureau) voted to be represented by the IAFF/ALF-CIO or the Teamsters, well there you go...Hill's HB2035 did not include a specific fiscal note, but rather generally stated that " Increase Local Govt. Expenditures - Exceeds $100,000". Further down through the rather lenghtly bill summary, the documents goes on to explain procedures for union related activities such as member voting and striking. The following excerpts were from a Kingsport Times-News February 21, 2005 archive article pertaining to Hill's "Legislative Chat" interview:

Freshman legislator Matthew Hill learning the ropes in Nashville

JOHNSON CITY - State Rep. Matthew Hill took his seat as a guest on the television public affairs show "Legislative Chat" and talked about what it's like being a 26-year-old freshman lawmaker roaming the halls of the Capitol in Nashville.
[...]

Hill also defended a bill he has co-sponsored called the "Professional Fire Department Employees Negotiations Act." The Tri-Cities Legislative Policy opposes collective bargaining by public employees, but Hill insisted the bill is about helping firefighters get access to their elected officials.

"It doesn't mandate that the governing authority of the city has to do anything but listen," Hill said of the bill. "We just got done recently with a lawsuit that cost the taxpayers of Johnson City hundreds of thousands of dollars when all that was being asked was public safety officers to sit down and talk with the city about a particular issue. They were denied on countless occasions to sit down and talk.

"I'm sure there will be opposition to it. I have talked to some folks from the city, and I've had some adverse reaction from certain folks, but I think a lot of people are just getting worked up. I'm not predisposed to unions. I never have been. I'm not going to be in the future. What I am in favor of though, specifically, is access. Not only are they an employee [sic] of the city, they are also a citizen [sic], a voter [sic] and a taxpayer [sic]. They should not be denied access."

Not denied access provided that they fork over the campaign dough to Rep. Matthew Hill...

Ohhh.... the pro-RU-486 irony of it all

No, no, no... the following award is not named after Appalachian Educational Communcations Corporation (WHCB 91.5 FM) President Dr. Kenneth C. Hill:

Missourian for Choice

Missourians for Choice was launched in 1990 as a statewide nonprofit, bipartisan political organization. MFC seeks to identify and support pro-choice candidates in state legislative, state senate, and statewide races in Missouri. Missourians for Choice also presents the annual Kenneth C. Hill Founders Award to an individual in recognition of steadfast dedication to the issue of choice and his/her ability to translate that belief into action.

Contact: Rita Leifhelm, MFC, PO Box 32515, Kansas City, MO, 64171

Kansas City, Missouri is where the RU-486 abortion drug manufacturer Hoechst AE (Germany) located its U.S. subsidary Hoechst Marion Roussell (HMR) after merging with a Kansas City based pharmaceutical company. In December 1998, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (under former King CEO John M. Gregory and former President Jeff Gregory) finalized the negotiations that acquired the King Pharmaceuicals the U.S. distribution rights to Altace.

The National Right To Life Committee in 1994 organized a national U.S. boycott of all Hoechst products, including Altace.

Former King President Jeff Gregory began these Altace negotiations with Hoechst during the summer (June) of 1995.

John M. Gregory is a major contributor to both AECC (AECC offices are located within the Gregory-owned Leitner Pharmaceuticals Building) and the 2004 campaign coffers of 7th House District candidate Matthew Hill.

Rock On, Dude: Your Most Generous Tithe To WHCB 91.5 FM Rock-n-Roll...

WPWT 870 AM "Good Morning Tri-Cities" has been off the air the past several days this week, so I figured that I would tune up to another radio station operated with your generous tithes to Appalachian Educational Communications Corporation and WHCB 91.5FM --- WHGG 1090 AM "The Mighty Ten Ninety" ---and catch some more of that "...rock-n-roll, soul, and motown" music.

Funny, because just moments after I tuned my radio to 1090 AM at 8:44 a.m. (Wednesday, as I best recall), "Indian Reservation" by Paul Revere and the Raiders starting playing "Indian Reservation" --- check out the lyrics:

Indian Reservation ( Paul Revere and the Raiders )

They took the whole Cherokee Nation
And put us on this reservation
Took away our ways of life
The tomahawk and the bow and knife

They took away our native tongue
And taught their English to our young
And all the beads we made by hand
Are nowadays made in Japan

Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
So proud to live, so proud to die

They took the whole Indian Nation
And locked us on this reservation
And though I wear a shirt and tie
I’m still a red man deep inside

Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
So proud to live, so proud to die

But maybe someday when they learn
Cherokee Nation will return
Will return
Will return
Will return
Will return

No, I don't think that it is at all "funny" that true Native Americans actually belonging to the Cherokee Nation were badly treated by American society, but rather, I find it very ironic that the State of Franklin PAC President, Sullivan County GOP State Executive Committee member, and Appalachian Educational Communications Corporation President Dr. Kenneth C. Hill self identifies himself on the FCC Ownership Forms for the various AECC - WHCB 91.5 FM radio stations as being "Native American" all while identifying himself as "white" on his Sullivan County application for State of Tennessee voter registration card since 1983...

Rep. Matthew Hill's New 2006 Campaign Bean Counter: Jennifer Dier

Although Rep. Matthew Hill has yet to make any official annoucements about the subject, the Tennessee Online Campaign Finance web site is spilling the beans --- or perhaps I should say "Hill of Beans" --- within Matthew Hill's 2006 First Quarter disclosure that Kathy Anderson of Jonesborough is out as Rep. Hill's 2006 campaign treasurer and a Jennifer Dier is now the the reigning Miss Hill of Beans Counter in the Hill re-election camp...I suppose that it kind of like the adage that President Abe Lincoln once said and President George Bush forever mangled: "Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me."

However, I never did hear back from Mr. Accessible if Kathy Anderson is related to Jonesborough registered insurance lobbyist Robert "Bob" Anderson...be sure to read the Hilly Boy blog about Rep. Hill believing that his calling is not to be either a state representative or a puppet minister for the kiddies, but yes, a lobbyist.

Speaking of bean counters, I am also running down some info regarding the sideline (or past sideline) of generous contributor to Rep. Hill's campaign coffers (and reportedly a good friend to the Washington County Republican Party) who was once allegedly involved with organizing casino gambling charter flights out of Northeast Tennessee and outbound for Tunica, Mississppi...

2004-2005 (WHCB) AECC "Employee Benefits", "Payroll Taxes" Skyrocket Under Rep. Matthew Hill

Way back in 2004, Rep. Matthew Hill frequently cited his experience as the "Appalachain Radio Group operations manager" at WHCB and WPWT et al (and that experience of being a small business coffee shop owner for about six months) within the context of his being able to go down to Nashville as a state representative and help reign in state spending --- I found the following excerpts pretty useful for comparison as the 2005 AECC Form 990 is not due back to the IRS until May 15, 2006:

WHCB 91.5 FM (from the online 2006 AECC newsletter):
Financial Statement (Actual)
January through December 2005
Income
Contributions - $ 785,112
Equipment Sales & Other Income – $ 176,834
TOTAL INCOME - $ 961,946

Expense
Program Expense - $ 68,515
Event Expense - $ 34,171
Salaries & Wages - $ 422,024
Employee Benefits - $ 119,199
Payroll Tax - $ 41,797

and selected totals from "PART II - Statement of Function Expenses" of the AECC 2004 IRS Form 990:

2004 line 25: Compensation of officers, directors, etc. 68,855
2004 line 26: Other salaries and wages 281,789
2004 line 28: Other employee benefits 2,933
2004 line 29: Payroll Taxes 26,818

20055 Salaries & Wages - $ 422,024
minus
2004 line 25: Compensation of officers, directors, etc. 68,855
2004 line 26: Other salaries and wages 281,789
$71,380 increase AECC (WHCB) salaries and wages

2005 Employee Benefits - $ 119,199
minus
2004 line 28: Other employee benefits 2,933
$116,266 increase AECC (WHCB) employee benefits


2005 Payroll Tax - $ 41,797
minus
2004 line 29: Payroll Taxes 26,818
$14,979 increase AECC (WHCB) payroll taxes

I'll just wait for the 2005 AECC (WHCB) Form 990 and compare the figures with the AECC newsletter article...

Rep. Matthew Hill's Morrison City Mission Amigo Conflict: "They're Breathing My Air!"

Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly --- including Rep. Matthew Hill (R-7, Jonesborough) --- are pushing for some new legislation in order to help curb down on illegal (or criminal as some may say) immigrants locating in Tennessee and consuming resources that more properly belong to legal residents of the Volunteer State. Do you suppose that Rep. Hill picked up on the fact that a Tennessee taxpayer supported state agency (the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute) is providing language translation for the illegal immigrants opposing the TNGA legislation?:

TENNESSEE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS COALITION

TIRRC is a statewide, immigrant and refugee-led collaboration whose mission is to empower immigrants and refugees throughout Tennessee to develop a unified voice, defend their rights, and create an atmosphere in which they are viewed as positive contributors to the state.
(Click here for a printable summary in English)

Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee State Legislative Update 2006

Click on the following languages for the translation of priority issues and helpful talking points into Spanish, Arabic, Kurdish, Somali, Farsi, and Lao (special thanks to the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute).
[...]

Legislation to Oppose

State/Local Government Employees as Immigration Enforcement Officials
SB 2426 Norris, Crow/ HB3229 Gresham, Cochran, Harwell, Johnson P, Rowland, Hensley, Hill, Maggart, Todd, Matheny, Johnson C, Swafford, Crider, Casada, Montgomery, Brooks (Knox), Campfield, Mumpower, Godsey, Davis, Hargett, Lynn, Baird, Stanley, Eldridge, Pleasant, Watson E, Sargent, Dunn, McDaniel, Overbey, Strader, Bunch, Clem, Tidwell, Buck, DuBois —

REQUIRE TN HIGHWAY PATROL TO ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW
This bill is an attempt to turn state and local safety officers into immigration enforcement officers. Effective local law enforcement depends on community trust. State and local police have long sought to distinguish themselves from federal immigration agents in order to enhance public safety, because when immigrant community residents begin to see state and local police as deportation agents, they stop reporting crimes and assisting in investigations. Similar legislation proposed at the federal level has been opposed by scores of law enforcement departments and associations because its premise, turning cops into immigration agents, undermines public safety. TALKING POINTS (Passed Senate Transportation; deferred in House State Government until September)

I don't necesarily disagree with Rep. Hill's co-sponsorship of the HB3229 State/Local Government Employees as Immigration Enforcement Officials legislation, but I find that it is very remarkable that Rep. Matthew Hill--- according to his official state biography --- is a trustee of the Rev. Dr. Daddy Kenneth Hill's Morrison City Mission (MCM).

A former Morrison City Mission web site posted that MCM has (or at that time had) a "Hispanic outreach program". Given the racial makeup of Northeast Tennessee, it is most likely that the MCM Hispanic outreach program was set to attract tithing illegal immigrants...

Rep. Matthew Hill To Washington County Rape Victims: "I Don't Believe You"

Last week, a bill sponsored by Rep. Janis Sontany, a Nashville Democrat, to ban law enforcement officials from requiring sex crimes victims to take polygraph tests before investigations proceed passed the Tennessee House of Representatives 77-10-6.

Inexplicably, 16 Republicans failed to support the bill, which editorial writers noted is needed to protect victims of sex crimes and make it easier for them to come forward and report these crimes. Rep. Glen Casada, an ultra-conservative Republican from Franklin, claimed that without polygraph tests, there would be no way to tell if "the alleged victim was lying to the police."

Casada's claim rings hollow, however, because Rep. Sontany had explained to him during the floor debate that the bill allows law enforcement officials to request polygraph tests. They simply cannot refuse to continue an investigation if the alleged victim refuses to submit to one.

Joining Casada in voting against the bill were Jerome Cochran, David Davis, Steve Godsey, Joey Hensley, Matthew Hill, Judd Matheny, Frank Nicely, Bubba Pleasant, and Eric Swafford. Republicans present, but not voting were William Baird, Dewayne Bunch, Stacey Campfield, Jason Mumpower, Donna Rowland, and Curry Todd. And most bizarrely, four Republicans-Tre Hargett, Susan Lynn, Debra Maggart, and Paul Stanley-were present in the House chamber but failed to record a position on the bill.

And I am thinking that polygraph tests are not admissible as court evidence...