http://www.metropulse.com/news/columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talk/?partner=RSSMetroPulse Stories: Frank Talk by Frank Cagleen-uscolumns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkhttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/may/16/term-limits/?partner=RSSWe often hear calls for term limits for congressmen—incumbency and safe districts have polarized Washington with each party playing to a safe base, making bipartisanship impossible. But do we really have that problem in Tennessee? Wed, 16 May 2012 16:33:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24627-734639columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNTerm Limits?MetroPulseterm-limitsurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24627-734639Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/may/09/elements-are-place-save-womens-basketball-hall-fam/?partner=RSSBefore Knox County does something rash with the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, let’s get over the anger at departing Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corp. honcho Gloria Ray and have some quick, but quiet, reflection. Wed, 09 May 2012 16:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24601-734632columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNThe Elements Are In Place to Save the Women’s Basketball Hall of FameMetroPulseelements-are-place-save-womens-basketball-hall-famurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24601-734632Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/may/02/its-refreshing-when-legislators-refuse-kiss-lobbyi/?partner=RSSWhere do you find a used crucifix these days? Wed, 02 May 2012 20:09:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24561-734625columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNIt’s Refreshing When Legislators Refuse to Kiss a Lobbyist’s, Er, Feet MetroPulseits-refreshing-when-legislators-refuse-kiss-lobbyiurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24561-734625Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/25/banning-baggy-pants/?partner=RSSI’ll be the first to admit that some legislators in Nashville and in state capitols across the country have been proposing controversial bills to provide solutions for problems that don’t exist. But I would point out that it is possible for serious people in the Legislature to be doing important work while the clowns are out in the hall getting all the press attention. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:43:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24530-734618columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNBanning Baggy PantsMetroPulsebanning-baggy-pantsurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24530-734618Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/18/gov-haslam-has-shaken-structure-state-government/?partner=RSSDemocratic leader Mike Turner said last week that Gov. Bill Haslam is now the most powerful (Tennessee) governor ever. Hyperbole? Or is there an element of truth in it? Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:24:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24507-734611columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNGov. Haslam Has Shaken Up the Structure of State Government MetroPulsegov-haslam-has-shaken-structure-state-governmenturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24507-734611Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/11/reconsidering-chattanooga-shale/?partner=RSSA lot of attention is being paid to the oil sands in Canada and North Dakota and the Keystone pipeline. What has been pretty well ignored is something called Chattanooga Shale, a pocket of natural gas-rich shale that stretches from East Tennessee into North Georgia and North Alabama. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:51:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24476-734604columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNReconsidering Chattanooga ShaleMetroPulsereconsidering-chattanooga-shaleurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24476-734604Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/04/knox-county-needs-honor-its-promise-provide-pensio/?partner=RSSYou would think the pension board and a couple of CPAs would be a better vehicle to solve problems with the Knox County Uniformed Officers Pension Plan, but it will instead be resolved by a subcommittee of the Charter Review group. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:07:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24449-734597columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNKnox County Needs to Honor its Promise to Provide Pension for DeputiesMetroPulseknox-county-needs-honor-its-promise-provide-pensiourn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24449-734597Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/mar/28/lets-pass-law-keep-secret-stuff-s-been-secret-unde/?partner=RSSSometime I think I’ve entered Bizarro World when I view public policy issues being argued in the Tennessee Legislature. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:22:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24421-734590columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNLet’s Pass a Law to Keep Secret Stuff That’s Been Secret Under Four Governors MetroPulselets-pass-law-keep-secret-stuff-s-been-secret-undeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24421-734590Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/mar/21/knox-countys-charter-revisions-need-good-unbiased/?partner=RSSThe post-election battle between Law Director Joe Jarrett and Law Director-elect Bud Armstrong has been more entertaining that the election itself. Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:44:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24391-734583columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNKnox County's Charter Revisions Need Good, Unbiased Legal AdviceMetroPulseknox-countys-charter-revisions-need-good-unbiasedurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24391-734583Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/mar/14/home-builders-perspective/?partner=RSSHome builders, chambers of commerce, Realtors, and others involved in development are frustrated. Times are hard and deals are even harder to get done. The sentiment to loosen regulation and speed up the process to get projects done has never been stronger. Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:18:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24368-734576columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNFrom the Home-Builders' PerspectiveMetroPulsehome-builders-perspectiveurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24368-734576Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/mar/07/end-privacy/?partner=RSSThe next assault on our privacy will not allow you to opt out. The Constitution protects our property rights. Even the police need a warrant to come in. But it never occurred to the Founding Fathers that we would enter the era of cheap, remote-controlled drones equipped with cameras. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:10:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24343-734569columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNThe End of PrivacyMetroPulseend-privacyurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24343-734569Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/29/romney-needs-someone-tell-him-stop-sticking-his-fo/?partner=RSSThe president’s management style must be conducive to reaching the best solutions—to get the widest variety of opinions possible. Then be able to sell those solutions to Congress and the public. Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:33:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24317-734562columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNRomney Needs Someone to Tell Him to Stop Sticking His Foot In His MouthMetroPulseromney-needs-someone-tell-him-stop-sticking-his-fourn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24317-734562Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/22/culture-warriors/?partner=RSSMost people are more concerned about their kids, their jobs, and just living life. I suppose the culture warriors among us have appointed themselves to do battle on our behalf. They fight the gay menace so you don’t have to. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:09:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24286-734555columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNCulture WarriorsMetroPulseculture-warriorsurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24286-734555Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/15/passing-political-parade/?partner=RSSSo a rich guy decides to run for office. He calls all his friends, they call their friends, and they pony up a pile of cash. He then begins the race as the perceived “front runner.” The rest of the race is about whether anyone can catch him. So who did I just describe? Bob Corker? Bill Haslam? Or Mitt Romney? Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24258-734548columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNThe Passing Political ParadeMetroPulsepassing-political-paradeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24258-734548Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/08/traditional-power-centers-have-dead-batteries/?partner=RSSTrustee John Duncan III ought to send Gloria Ray flowers. Her troubles with the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corp. have kept him off the front page or the lead TV news items for a few days. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:06:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24228-734541columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNKnoxville's Traditional Power Centers Have Dead BatteriesMetroPulsetraditional-power-centers-have-dead-batteriesurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24228-734541Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/01/appointing-state-appellate-justices-unconstitution/?partner=RSSA special panel of the state Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s appellate justices are being properly elected to office by being appointed by the governor then one day facing a retention election. This in spite of the Tennessee Constitution, which says judges are to be elected by a vote of the people. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:02:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24206-734534columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNAppointing State Appellate Justices UnconstitutionalMetroPulseappointing-state-appellate-justices-unconstitutionurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24206-734534Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/25/gloria-still-gloria/?partner=RSSSo how did Gloria Ray get to be Gloria Ray? Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24185-734527columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNIs Gloria Still Gloria?MetroPulsegloria-still-gloriaurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24185-734527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/18/cutting-taxes-recession/?partner=RSSIt’s an election year so expect the Legislature to at least talk about cutting taxes. This might seem odd in the middle of a recession (remember the crisis last year to pass a balanced budget?) but the state Legislature is likely to cut something, even if it just nibbles around the margins. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:40:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24155-734520columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNCutting Taxes in a RecessionMetroPulsecutting-taxes-recessionurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24155-734520Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/11/tennessee-redistricting-may-run-afoul-voting-right/?partner=RSSThe Republicans are in control now and they are redrawing House district lines following the 2010 census and they are attempting to secure a filibuster proof majority. It is likely the Republican plan this time around will face a great deal more scrutiny. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:10:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24130-734513columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNTennessee Redistricting May Run Afoul of the Voting Rights ActMetroPulsetennessee-redistricting-may-run-afoul-voting-righturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24130-734513Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/04/lets-avoid-another-knox-county-train-wreck/?partner=RSSWe had hoped to put the turmoil in county government behind us with the election of a new County Commission and a new-broom county mayor. But there is a mess looming out there and somebody needs to deal with it now before it lands county government back in court. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:16:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24107-734506columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNLet’s Avoid Another Knox County Train WreckMetroPulselets-avoid-another-knox-county-train-wreckurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24107-734506Change0Usable