U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, are teaming up on a bipartisan bill to increase oversight and accountability of the federal prison system.
Ossoff and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, are the primary sponsors of the Federal Prisons Accountability Act, which would make the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons a Senate-confirmed position. The US attorney general now appoints the position, which has significant authority over taxpayer dollars and more than 30,000 federal employees.
The legislation would limit the director to a single 10-year term after a presidential nomination is approved. Ossoff has led multiple bipartisan investigations into corruption, abuse and misconduct within the federal prison system.
“Last Congress, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations revealed the depth of the chaos and dysfunction that has undermined security and civil rights at the Bureau of Prisons for more than a decade,” Ossoff said in a statement from press “I am pleased to partner with Senator McConnell on this bipartisan bill that affirms the Senate’s authority to confirm BOP leadership nominees and hold them to the highest standards.”
Blackburn said in a statement that a government agency that manages a multibillion-dollar budget and directly affects thousands of lives should not be exempt from Senate oversight.
“This bipartisan bill expands the Senate’s duty of advice and consent to the director of the Bureau of Prisons, encouraging greater transparency for employees and further protecting taxpayer dollars in the federal prison system,” he said.
Honorable Hullander
On Saturday at the Tennessee GOP’s main fundraising event, the Statesmen Dinner, the party honored Republicans who have actively promoted GOP causes and candidate campaigns. Elections are made by Republican congressmen in their respective districts.
This year, Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander was named Statesman of the Year in the 3rd Congressional District, supported by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Ooltewah.
Room staff
The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce has promoted Sarah Burnett to chief of staff for the business advocacy group.
“Sarah is an extremely talented and trusted team member at the chamber, and we are excited to have her take on this new role,” said chamber president and CEO Bradley Jackson in a news release. “Sarah has a decade of experience leading teams and building relationships, and we look forward to her continued success in delivering impactful results for our organization.”
The chamber, a lobbying force at the state Capitol, said the move was in response to the chamber’s significant growth and continued expansion of its membership, advocacy efforts and strategic initiatives. In her previous role as director of membership and foundation development, Burnett ran the chamber’s workforce development initiative, Be Pro Be Proud.
Prior to joining the Tennessee chamber, Burnett held a variety of leadership and operations roles in federal campaigns, national conventions and the Presidential Inaugural Committee. She previously served as CFO of the Republican National Committee, where she led a team of 40 staff and oversaw digital giving, marketing and fundraising efforts.
Before joining the RNC, Burnett served as deputy finance director for Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential bid.
“I am excited to take on this new role and ensure that the Tennessee Chamber can continue to build on its recent successes,” Burnett said in the statement. “Tennessee is fortunate to have a vibrant community of businesses that care deeply about their communities. The Tennessee Chamber’s job is to support our members and provide businesses with the vital information they need to operate and grow. A strong business community means a strong economy for Tennessee.”
Trump criticizes DeSantis
While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential hopeful, was in Nashville on Saturday as the keynote speaker at the Statesmen’s Dinner, former President Donald Trump was in West Palm Beach, Fla., wondering about that the governor even showed up.
“We’re totally dominating DeSantis right here in the state of Florida,” Trump told activists attending Turning Point Action, the political arm of Turning Point USA, a pro-Trump grassroots organization focused on young conservatives, reported The New York Times. “By the way, he was never that close. I don’t know why he’s not here. He should be here representing himself.
Florida Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the Tennessee Republican Party Statesmen Dinner Saturday in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
“So we want you to come home and take care of the insurance because you have the highest insurance in the country,” Trump added.
During his Tennessee speech, DeSantis took a few veiled shots at Trump, though he avoided mentioning the former president by name.
“You can’t coward bureaucrats like Dr. Fauci,” DeSantis said of Anthony Fauci, who served as an adviser to Trump during the pandemic in addition to his duties leading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Trump administration’s policies to combat the disease caused a backlash in Trump’s base.
“The way to handle them is simple,” DeSantis said. “Anthony, you’re fired.”
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-285-9480.
