VITAL POLICY – STATE LAWMAKERS CONSIDER PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARD RACES IN SPECIAL SESSION
Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) has introduced proposed legislation that will allow candidates for school board to run for office and be nominated by a political party on or after July 1, 2022. Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) is the sponsor of a companion Senate Bill (9003). In light of Covid-19 issues and controversial decisions made by […]
VITAL POLICY – OPINION – Knoxville Tennessee’s Everlasting Threat to Your Property Rights
Imagine getting a letter from the local government stating that it intends to take your property, and your neighbor’s property, for private development. MOTIVATION FOR ABUSE Your little residential community just doesn’t generate enough tax revenue; so, the city or county decides to take the whole neighborhood away from its rightful owners and turn it […]
Judge Dennis “Will” Roach II Speaks On 8th Amendment To U.S. Constitution
The issue of bail reform has been in the forefront of the news in many states over the past two years. The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” That amendment deals with the issue of bail in just […]
VITAL POLICY – Arthur Bohanan Reflects on 911 Terror Attack, Advises Vigilance
“We are not dismissing school early today. Despite the events unfolding in Washington D.C., New York, and Pennsylvania, we are not canceling class. We are not changing our schedule or yielding to those who are doing evil”, words spoken to Jefferson County High School students and staff via intercom by Assistant Principal Louie Vesser at […]
VITAL POLICY – Tennesseans Will Vote on State Constitutional Amendment in November 2022
Tennessee is one of the most financially responsible states in the nation, has a fully funded retirement system for teachers and other civil service employees, no income tax, low unemployment, very low debt, and a healthy economy that has weathered many financial storms. Tennessee ended its 2020-2021 fiscal year with a budget surplus of over […]
VITAL POLICY – Jefferson County Republicans Call Primary Elections for May 3, 2022, County Commission Offices Included
Jefferson County Republican Party has called primary elections for May 3, 2022, for the following offices. Circuit Court Judge 4th Judicial District, Part I Circuit Court Judge 4th Judicial District, Part II Circuit Court Judge 4th Judicial District, Part III Circuit Court Judge 4th Judicial District, Part IV Chancellor 4th […]
Martha Dandridge Washington Chapter (MDW), National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), Officers for 2021-2022
The Martha Dandridge Washington Chapter (MDW), National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), officers for 2021-2022 are Regent Jane Chambers, First Vice Regent Janet Guyett, Second Vice Regent Jill Evans, Chaplain Elizabeth Finchum, Recording Secretary Karen Bible, Corresponding Secretary Jane Busdeker, Treasurer Wendy Randolph, Registrar Karen McFarland, Historian Jamie Snyder, Librarian Katie Schmidt, and […]
VITAL POLICY – Citizens form Task Group in Strawberry Plains to Fight Expected Creation of Zoning for Slaughterhouse
“Our government is just not responding to us”, an observation made by one resident of Strawberry Plains speaking to a group of about 30 concerned citizens that oppose the building of a slaughterhouse near their homes. The task group led by Beth and David Nelson and other families explored options for convincing planning boards to […]
VITAL POLICY – Your Civic Duty and Sacred Right to Participate in Government, A Forerunner to Constitution Day
Thomas Jefferson held the Tennessee Constitution in extremely high esteem, calling it the “least imperfect and most republican” among other state constitutions, a high complement from the man who authored the Declaration of Independence and drafted the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. The framers of the Tennessee Constitution expressed the importance of civic participation in […]
VITAL POLICY – Maine Repeals Civil Asset Forfeiture, Tennessee Struggles to Protect Property Rights
After decades of attempts, the Tennessee General Assembly continues to work around the margins to reform civil asset forfeiture. By comparison, the state of Maine is now the fourth state to abolish civil forfeiture and replace it with the constitutional model of criminal asset forfeiture. Civil asset forfeiture is the process by which government can […]
VITAL POLICY – OPINION Jefferson County’s “Tourist Punishment Tax” – a Double-Edged Sword that Must be Wielded Wisely
On any given day, the Jefferson County Tourism Office does a great job of attracting tourism business to Jefferson County, as well as the tax revenue that comes with it. Restaurants, markets, grocery stores, caterers, event venues, photographers, and many other businesses derive benefit. Tourists by the thousands sail in, spend their money, and sail […]
VITAL POLICY – OPINION Elected School Directors Back in the Legislative Meat Grinder for 2022, Local Impact Examined, Questions Raised
Until 1992 the voting citizens of Tennessee had the power to elect school directors. The time to return that constitutional power to the citizens is long overdue. Prior to the “Education Improvement Act of 1992”, potential school directors had to campaign, one-on-one with voters, and get acquainted with the citizens whose tax money they were […]
Vital Policy – Tennessee Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in School Voucher (ESA) Case
When the Tennessee legislature enacted a school voucher pilot program in 2019, a lawsuit was immediately filed by Shelby County, the Nashville Metropolitan Government of Davidson County, and Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education asking the Chancery Court of Davidson County to declare ESAs unconstitutional, essentially an effort to stop the voucher program. The trial […]
VITAL POLICY – U.S. Supreme Court Rejects “Community Caretaking” Doctrine in Fourth Amendment Case, Tennessee Court to Address Warrantless Surveillance by TWRA
Two cases involving unreasonable search by government authorities have caught the attention of constitutional activists on a national scale. The first, decided unanimously in the U.S. Supreme Court, involves the entry into a private residence and the subsequent confiscation of firearms by law enforcement under the “community caretaking” doctrine. The second involves warrantless video surveillance […]
Vital Policy – Jefferson County Republicans Hold Town Hall, Event Draws Speakers from Across State, School Board and County Commission Races Discussed
Nearly one hundred Jefferson County Republicans held a town hall meeting recently to discuss issues of interest. High on the list of priorities were topics related to fiscal responsibility, teaching constitutional principles in public schools, the importance of electing conservative officials that are willing to protect the founding principles of the nation and exercise fiscal […]
VITAL POLICY – Ogles Successfully Sponsors Legislation to Protect Small Business in Tennessee, Eliminating Discrimination by Local Governments
Tennessee saw more than 1200 small businesses close permanently in 2020, due primarily to forced closures from Covid-19 restrictions, this according to For All Tennessee, a public interest non-profit organization that lobbies for economic freedom, personal liberty, and the constitutional treatment of citizens. In response to mass business closures and the discriminatory labeling of certain […]
