News

Kyle Withdraws Bid for Governor
Jim Kyle Campaign—February 26th, 2010

Memphis Senator Jim Kyle (D-Memphis) announced today that he will be withdrawing from the 2010 Tennessee Gubernatorial race, and issued the following statement:

“After careful consideration and consultation with my family, I have decided that I will no longer be a candidate for Governor of Tennessee.

It is clear to me that while our campaign had the assets to be competitive in the Primary, the legislative fundraising restriction, the economy, and my duties as Senate Leader have severely hampered my ability to generate resources which would have been vital to our success in the general election. Our state faces unprecedented budget and funding issues that cannot wait for the next Governor, and I plan to devote all my energies to working with Governor Bredesen and my colleagues in the legislature to ensure that the best interests of all Tennesseans are placed first. Read More »

Tennessean Sides with Kyle on Open Record Issue
The Tennessean—February 12th, 2010

A series of bills filed in the Tennessee General Assembly would take public-notice advertising out of newspapers and leave them to government Web sites. Read More »

Kyle focusing on education in quest for governor’s mansion
NWTN Today—February 9th, 2010

State Sen. Jim Kyle of Memphis said that’s the focus of his campaign to win the Democratic nomination for governor of Tennessee. He visited Union City Friday to promote his candidacy. Read More »

Rex: Coin in pocket
The City Paper—February 7th, 2010

Like a lot of people in this state, Rex isn’t ready for the onslaught of political advertisements and mailers now that a major gubernatorial election is upon us.

Unlike most people, Rex has to pay attention to these things. So he might as well dig in and break a couple things down. Read More »

Ward Cammack Endorses Jim Kyle for Governor
Jim Kyle Campaign—February 4th, 2010

Ward Cammack today endorsed Jim Kyle for governor, breaking his silence since leaving the gubernatorial contest earlier last year. Kyle and Cammack made the announcement on a statewide conference call earlier this afternoon. Read More »

Kyle Shows Strong Numbers
Jim Kyle Campaign—February 2nd, 2010

Since he announced his campaign for Governor in August Jim Kyle has had a great response with contributions from West Tennessee to East Tennessee responding to his message of getting Tennessee back to work. Read More »

Gubernatorial candidates sign letter supporting Race to Top
Chattanooga Times Free Press—January 22nd, 2010

All seven major Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates have signed a letter promising to support Tennessee’s Race to the Top reform plan.

The state’s two U.S. senators and nine congressmen also have written a letter supporting the state’s application for $501.2 million in federal grants to pursue innovative education reforms. Read More »

Lawmakers Approve Bredesen’s Higher Ed Proposal
WSMV-TV Nashville—January 21st, 2010

The House has joined the Senate in passing Gov. Phil Bredesen’s plan for overhauling the state’s higher education system to improve Tennessee’s poor graduation rate at community colleges and four-year schools.

The House passed the measure 93-2 on Thursday and the Senate approved its version 32-0 earlier in the day. Read More »

Special Session-Higher Ed-Glance
The Tennessean—January 21st, 2010

Lawmakers on Thursday overwhelmingly passed Gov. Phil Bredesen’s plan for overhauling the state’s higher education system in an effort to improve Tennessee’s poor college graduation rates.

Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle said the measure is “about taking higher education to a higher place.” Read More »

Accountability will be key this session
The Tennessean—January 20th, 2010

Just as citizens sit down with their family budgets and make hard decisions, the state must do the same. Gov. Phil Bredesen has led this state responsibly through both good economic times and the difficult ones we are in now, but we must do more.

In everything we do, we must require accountability. Just as every household has to make the tough choices — not spending more than you have or can afford — so, too, must Tennessee government. Read More »