Legislation to Curb Rx Abuse & Pill Mills Passes
Major legislation sponsored by State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) designed to curb the abuse of prescription drugs in Tennessee is on its way to Governor Bill Haslam for his signature. Faison said the bill is a result of “comprehensive and collaborative effort by citizens, legislators, law enforcement and medical professionals to enhance and tighten the […]
Learn Facts about the Women’s Suffrage Movement in Tennessee Online
On this date 94 years ago, Mary Cordelia Beasley Hudson etched her place in history by becoming the first woman to legally vote in Tennessee. Hudson cast her vote – for the winning candidate, she proudly noted – in a Camden mayoral election just five days after a law giving women the right to vote […]
Fiscally Conservative Balanced Budget Passes General Assembly
In the final week of the legislative session, the House of Representatives passed Tennessee’s annual budget with an 83 – 14 vote. The bill’s passage was the culmination of months of tireless work crafting a fiscally responsible and balanced budget. The $32.6 billion budget cuts taxes, puts $100 million in the state’s Rainy Day Fund, […]
Recent Poll Shows Strong Support For General Assembly, Education Initiatives
Tennesseans give high marks to the Governor, the Legislature, and education reforms passed into law according to a recent poll commissioned by StudentsFirst, a non-profit organization advocating reforms in public education. The group had a well-respected polling organization, Public Opinion Strategies, conduct the statewide poll to test voter attitudes about Republican lawmakers’ education reform agenda […]
Governor and Commissioner Release Transportation Improvement Plan for 2013-2016
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer this week released the three-year transportation program, featuring approximately $1.5 billion in infrastructure investments for 80 individual project phases in 47 counties, as well as 15 statewide programs. Tennessee is one of only five states that do not borrow money to fund […]
Young Historians Descend on Downtown Nashville for Tennessee History Day
With state employees and other downtown office workers home for the weekend, a special group of students will be converging on downtown Nashville Saturday to compete in Tennessee History Day. About 400 sixth- through 12-graders will be participating, with the winners advancing to the National History Day finals in College Park, Maryland June 9-13. History […]
Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations
Last week, the House passed legislation I introduced to address the ongoing legal chaos that surrounds the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). On January 4, 2012, President Obama made three so-called recess appointments to the NLRB while the Senate was regularly meeting in pro forma session. These appointments were unprecedented—no other president has bypassed the […]
Legislation Providing Hall Income Tax Relief for Senior Citizens Heads For Governor’s Signature
More senior citizens will qualify for Hall income tax relief under legislation approved by the Tennessee House of Representatives this week. House Bill 192 is part of Governor Bill Haslam’s legislative package to provide tax relief to citizens across the state. The Hall tax is imposed on income derived from interest on bonds, notes, and […]
Pension Reform Plan Passes House and Senate, Awaits Governor’s Signature
A set of reforms designed to improve the long-term stability of the state’s pension plan was approved by the state House of Representatives Thursday. The bill will not affect the retirement benefits for current state employees, higher education employees, or teachers or those who are already retired. The proposed changes will only apply to state […]
House of Representatives Working Hard To Conclude 2013 Legislative Business
The Tennessee House of Representatives is working at full steam this week as business for the 2013 legislative session in Nashville begins to wind down and important bills make their way to the House floor for final action. As progress continues to be made over the next several weeks, the legislature will begin debate on […]
Tennessee Electronic Library Adds Online Language Learning Program
Learning a new language just got a little easier, thanks to a new service that’s being offered by the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL). Powerspeak Languages, an interactive online experience, allows everyone in Tennessee to learn new languages on their own schedules. This program is ideal for students, business professionals, leisure travelers, or anyone who simply […]
Secretary Hargett Warns Businesses of Statewide Corporate Scam
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office has received inquiries about an official-looking notice from Corporate Records Service. It appears that these notices began arriving in mailboxes around January 22, 2013 and Tennesseans are continuing to receive them. Corporate Records Service is not registered, affiliated, or associated with the Tennessee Secretary of State. The mailer […]
Legislation Providing Hall Income Tax Relief for Senior Citizens Passes Finance Subcommittee
More senior citizens will qualify for Hall income tax relief under Republican-sponsored legislation approved by the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee this week. House Bill 192 is part of Governor Bill Haslam’s legislative package to provide tax relief to citizens across the state. The package also includes House Bill 193 to reduce the state […]
Governor Bill Haslam Announces Tennessee Will Not Expand Medicaid Rolls
Governor Bill Haslam announced this week to a Joint Session of the Tennessee General Assembly that he will not expand the state’s Medicaid rolls pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as ObamaCare. Instead, Haslam plans to independently pursue a “Tennessee Plan” for expanding healthcare coverage to those truly in […]
Unemployment Insurance Program Plagued by Overpayments and Delayed Benefits
The $1.2 billion unemployment insurance program administered by the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development has made overpayments exceeding $73 million due to fraud and errors over the last six years. State auditors found that the department’s internal controls for the program were ineffective or non-existent, resulting in overpayments of claims due to fraud […]
Governor Haslam Observes Milestone Anniversary to Recognize Vietnam Veterans
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder formally recognized and remembered Vietnam Veterans leading into the 40th anniversary of the withdrawal of troops. On March 30, 1973, President Richard Nixon began withdrawing combat troops from Vietnam. Between 1961 and 1975, more than 49,000 Tennesseans served in Southeast Asia. Approximately 6,000 […]
