The 11 members of the Knox County Commission took up the issue of their discretionary money. Each Commissioner has $3,000 to distribute to whatever group they personally desire. At their Chairman’s luncheon on Monday the discussion is to increase the the amount to $10,000 per Commissioner. While Commission Chairman Hammond says that this is the taxpayers money being given back to the taxpayers, is bull crap. It is political patronage money. The Commissioners give this money to groups and organizations that they need to court favor with. The then get their picture made given the political patronage money to give the appearance that they are doing a worthy good deed. When in fact over 4 years they are buying re-election favors. Here is the story from yesterday’s News Sentinel.